Hinzmann named nominee for top CFO award

The top leader of the Leo Augusta Children’s Academy in Blooming Prairie is competing for a top award from Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal.

Amy Hinzmann of Blooming Prairie was recently nominated for the 2023 CFO of the Year Award which recognizes the achievements of financial officers who play a vital role in making businesses, institutions and nonprofits successful in Minnesota.

Hinzmann has served as board chair for Leo Augusta since the center opened its doors in 2021. Since then, the organization has flourished under the talented leadership of Hinzmann, Leo’s top leaders said.

“Amy is the ideal CFO because she brings relevant experience in finance, accounting, HR, marketing and management,” said Craig Kruckeberg, found of Leo Augusta. “She oversees the board and the leadership of the academy. She has directed the academy’s growth into a regional children’s development center.”

Kruckeberg added, “We are exceedingly proud to have her on our leadership team.”

After several years as a CPA in public accounting, Hinzmann pursued a financial career in the private sector. She was primarily involved in manufacturing. The nonprofit opportunity came through her current employer, Kruckeberg Industries in Blooming Prairie.

“Amy was emboldened to do more and help build her community,” Kruckeberg said. “Because of her savvy accounting and management background, the academy quickly became best in class. The academy shines as a model for curriculum and hands-on integrated STEAM programming. This is because of Amy and her leadership,” he said.

Leo Augusta offers day care, before and after school care and summer care programs for infants to 12-year-old children. The learning center’s core purpose is providing area children a foundation of knowledge, athletics, stewardship, arts, ethics and life skills.

“I’m a little loss for words,” said Hinzmann when asked about being nominated. “It’s an honor to even be considered as CFO for nonprofit. It’s humbling, especially when you work really hard,” she said.

Hinzmann said getting nominated is something that never crossed her mind when she top on the challenge a few years ago. “There is always a battle every day to conquer,” she said, adding, “It’s an honor I never thought would come my way.”

The winners will be announced in September followed by a luncheon recognizing the top honorees in November. Business executives from a 24-county area centering on the Twin Cities metro area and including Steele County are eligible for this competition.