Dean Riesen

Biography

Dean Riesen is Managing Partner of Redrock Capital Partners, a real estate investment company based in Phoenix. Before he founded Redrock, Riesen was Chief Financial Officer of Carlson Holdings, Inc. (parent of Carlson Companies, TGI Fridays, Radisson Hotels, Seven Seas Cruises, Carlson Wagonlit Travel) and General Partner and CEO of Carlson Real Estate Company, LP.Riesen serves on the boards of Famous Dave's of America, Inc. and Meridian Bank, N.A. Riesen served on the board of Thomas Cook Holdings (U.K.). Riesen was Vice Chairman of the Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce and Vice Chairman of the Minneapolis Downtown Council. Riesen also served as a director of NAIOP-Minnesota Chapter. Riesen was a founding director of the Center of the American Experiment (a state-based conservative think tank in Minneapolis, MN). He also served on the board the Taxpayer's League of Minnesota and was Finance Chairman of the Republican Party of Minnesota.In 2002, Riesen was Director of Policy for Minnesota Governor-elect Tim Pawlenty's transition team and member of his kitchen cabinet.He currently serves on the board of the Goldwater Institute, Chairman of the Arizona Free Enterprise Club and serves on the board of the Arizona School Choice Trust.Riesen, via the Riesen Foundation, is active in village water development in the Singida District of Tanzania recently completing an innovative $1 million multi-village project with the World Bank and Government of Tanzania.

Research Interest

 Business and Management