Neela Mollgaard

Neela Mollgaard has built her career around bringing people and organizations together to create opportunities and strengthen communities. Her experience spans the corporate, nonprofit, and government sectors, with a focus on collaboration, innovation, and economic opportunity.

Neela currently serves as Executive Director of Minnesota’s Office of Small Business and Innovation, supporting entrepreneurs, startups, small businesses, and the organizations that serve them across the state. Previously, she founded Red Wing Ignite, where she worked alongside community, education, business, and government partners to support entrepreneurs, businesses, and students.

Neela values the opportunity to connect people, ideas, and resources in ways that contribute to stronger, more vibrant communities.

“I feel blessed to live in such an amazing community. I feel strongly that together we can do anything and that alone, we can accomplish little.”