~ Pawlenty also announces plan to merge Minnesota Department of Employee Relations with Department of Administration and other state agencies ~

Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced two personnel moves within his administration and plans to merge the Department of Employee Relations with the Department of Administration and other state agencies.

Governor Pawlenty has appointed Dan McElroy as Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) and Matt Kramer as Chief of Staff.

“Dan McElroy and Matt Kramer are seasoned leaders who will be able to hit the ground running in their new positions,” Governor Pawlenty said. “Together, we’re looking forward to getting things done for Minnesota.”

New DEED Commissioner McElroy, 58, of Burnsville, has served as Senior Advisor on Innovation to the Governor since September 2005. Previously he served as the Governor’s Chief of Staff and as Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Finance. He served eight years in the Minnesota House of Representatives, including as Chairman of the House Jobs and Economic Development Finance Committee, and is also a former mayor of Burnsville. In addition to his public service career, McElroy has extensive private sector experience, purchasing a small travel agency in 1979 that he later grew and sold in 1991.

New Chief of Staff Kramer, 45, of Shoreview, has served as Acting Commissioner of the Department of Employee Relations since August 2006. Previously he was Vice President of Sales for NOW Medical Centers and served as Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development from January 2003 through April 2006. Before joining the Pawlenty Administration, Kramer was Vice President of Sales at Syntegra.

The Governor said merging DOER with the Department of Administration and other state agencies will make state government more efficient and effective. An Acting Commissioner of DOER who will oversee the merger and distribution of duties is expected to be named in early 2007.