Governor Pawlenty announced today that Commissioner Matt Kramer of the Department of Employment and Economic Development is leaving his administration to return to the private sector effective April 3, 2006. Deputy Commissioner Ward Einess will serve as Acting Commissioner. Einess previously was a Senior Policy Advisor to Governor Pawlenty on economic and employment issues. 

"Matt has been an outstanding leader for our administration and a strong contributor to the economic success we have enjoyed," Governor Pawlenty said. "He has been a fantastic public servant for Minnesota.  We will miss him, but wish him well."

Kramer will be joining Now Care Medical Centers, a Minnesota-based healthcare provider. Now Care operates seven walk-in medical clinics, six in the Twin Cities metro area and one in Mankato. Two of the clinics are located in Cub Foods stores in Apple Valley and Maple Grove.

Before joining the Pawlenty Administration in January 2003, Kramer worked for Syntegra USA, a U.S. subsidiary of British Telecom, formerly Control Data Systems, where he managed marketing and communications within specific industries, which included telecommunications, manufacturing and energy.