St. Paul – Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced the appointment of Gary Brintnall, RD Brown, Judge John E. Cass, Robert Dolan, Matthew Henderson, Chad Ridler, and Robert A. Stein; and the reappointment of Patrick R. Fallon to the Minnesota Boxing Commission.

Brintnall, of Burnsville, is assistant director of taxes with Canadian Pacific Railway, and has 20 years of experience in its tax department. Previously, he was a tax examiner with the Minnesota Department of Revenue for five years. Brintnall, a licensed attorney and certified public accountant, earned his law degree from William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul, his masters degree in business administration from the University of St. Thomas, and his bachelor of science degree in business administration from the University of Minnesota. Brintnall’s mixed martial arts experience includes training at Combat Jujitsu School in Minneapolis and Bisons Submission Grappling (now known as Team Bison), and serving in a volunteer organization aimed at providing a regulatory structure for mixed martial arts events prior to its incorporation with the Minnesota Boxing Commission. Brintnall is appointed to a new position on the Boxing Commission for a person with knowledge of the mixed martial arts industry to an initial term that expires on January 5, 2009.\

Brown, of St. Paul, recently retired as vice president of child and family support services for Children’s Home Society and Family Services. His professional career was in strategic planning, management, budgeting, and community development. He holds masters degrees in health services administration and business administration from Columbia Pacific University in San Rafael, California, and a bachelors degree in business administration and management from Central College in Pella, Iowa. Brown has been very active in local community organizations having served on numerous federal, state, and local committees. His mixed martial arts experience includes participating in local shimsas, assisting with regional tournaments, and he has won numerous awards in seniors free fighting. Brown is appointed to a new position on the Boxing Commission for a person with knowledge of the mixed martial arts industry to an initial term that expires on January 4, 2010.

Cass, of Stillwater, retired earlier this year from the Tenth Judicial District trial court bench in Washington County. He was appointed a judge in Washington County in 1983 and was elected in 1984, re-elected in 1990, 1996, and 2002. He was an attorney in private practice for 14 years prior to becoming a judge. Cass earned his law degree from the University of Minnesota Law School; and his masters degree, as well as his bachelors degree, from the University of Massachusetts. Cass replaces Judge James Morrow as a retired judge member of the commission to complete a four-year term that expires on January 3, 2011.

Dolan, of Golden Valley, is an attorney and partner with the Minneapolis law firm of Yaeger, Jungbauer and Barczask, a position he has held since 1995. He has also been an attorney and partner with Hunegs, Stone, Koenig and Dolan, an assistant Hennepin County Public Defender, and an associate attorney with McEachron, Johnson and Milota in Minneapolis. Dolan earned his law degree from Drake University Law School in Des Moines, Iowa and his bachelor of arts degree from St. Thomas College in St. Paul. Dolan served on Minnesota’s previous state Board of Boxing in the 1990s. Dolan replaces Senator Dick Day as a member with knowledge of the boxing industry to complete a four-year term that expires on January 5, 2009.

Fallon, of Minneapolis, is the founder and chairman of Fallon Worldwide, an international business marketing and consulting firm based in Minneapolis with offices in Hong Kong, London, Sao Paulo, Singapore, and Tokyo. He has served on numerous community boards including the Children’s Defense Fund, Camp Heartland, Guthrie Theater, Minnesota Orchestra, and Minnesota Zoo Board. Fallon, who has been a member of the Boxing Commission since its reauthorization in 2006, is reappointed to a four-year term that expires on January 2, 2012.

Henderson, of Eagan, is the employee relations manager for Coca-Cola Enterprises in Eagan, and previously held human resources positions with companies including U.S. Foodservice, and Deloitte and Touche. He is also a trial counsel with the U.S. Army and has served on the U.S. Army Reserve Judge Advocate General’s Corps. Henderson earned his law degree from William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul, his masters degree in industrial relations from the University of Minnesota, and his bachelor of science degree in industrial psychology from North Dakota State University in Fargo. He has trained in both Tae Kwon Do and Judo. Henderson is appointed to a new position on the Boxing Commission for a person with knowledge of the mixed martial arts industry to an initial term that expires on January 2, 2012.

Ridler, of New London, is the owner and head instructor of Ridler’s Martial Arts Academy in Willmar. The academy trains students in various martial arts disciplines. Ridler has been training in martial arts over 20 years, and holds the rank of Second Degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do, Third Degree Black Belt in Judo/Jujitsu, Third Degree Black Belt in Karate, and is testing for his Fifth Degree Black Belt in Ching Sai Do. He has received training certificates in pressure point control tactics, spontaneous knife defense, and is a grand champion sword competitor. Ridler is appointed to a new position on the Boxing Commission for a person with knowledge of the mixed martial arts industry to an initial term that expires on January 3, 2011.

Stein, of Minnetonka, is currently a senior consultant with Teleplus Consulting in Minneapolis. He has 30 years of experience in sports as a competitor, attorney, and senior executive, including serving as president and CEO of the Minnesota Timberwolves NBA franchise, and Target Center Arena; a self-employed attorney representing NFL, NBA, and NHL athletes; director of the Association of Representatives of Professional Athletes; and eight years in the NFL as a linebacker, where he played on the 1969 Kansas City Chiefs Superbowl Championship team. Stein earned his law degree from the University of Missouri Law School, graduating in the top 10 percent of his class while concurrently playing in the NFL. Stein earned his bachelor of arts degree from the University of Minnesota, where he was a Rhodes Scholarship semi-finalist, and one of only two football players to ever be selected both academic all-American and first team all-American. Stein replaces Nancy Schuster on the Boxing Commission to complete a four-year term that expires on January 3, 2011.

The Minnesota Boxing Commission, created by the 2006 Legislature, was expanded by the 2007 Legislature to include mixed martial arts. The commission has sole direction, supervision, regulation, control, and jurisdiction over all boxing and tough person contests held within the state; sole control, authority, and jurisdiction over all licenses; may adopt rules including, but not limited to, the conduct of boxing exhibitions, bouts, fights, and their manner, supervision, time, and place; and must adopt unified rules for mixed martial arts. The Minnesota Boxing Commission, whose purpose is to protect health, promote safety, and ensure fair boxing and mixed martial arts events, now consists of nine members appointed by the Governor, one of whom must be a retired Minnesota judge, three of whom must have knowledge of the boxing industry, and four of whom must have knowledge of the mixed martial arts industry.