Metro & State

Peter Bell elected to TCF Board of Directors

Elected Friday, Bell also serves as chairman of the Metropolitan Council.

Published: 11/23/2009

Peter Bell, chairman of the Metropolitan Council, was elected to the TCF Financial Corp. Board of Directors on Friday.

Bell has served on the Met Council since Gov. Tim Pawlenty appointed him in 2003. He was executive vice president of corporate community relations at TCF Bank from 1994 to 1999 and a regent at the University of Minnesota from 2002 until 2007.

“[Bell] brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in government services, business development, transportation, higher education and housing,” said William A. Cooper, chairman of the board and CEO of TCF, in a prepared statement. “We look forward to his guidance and counsel.”

Bell co-founded the Institute on Black Chemical Abuse and served as its executive director. He has also written several books on chemical dependence. In addition to his participation in the Board of Regents, Bell has been a member of the board of directors for many local and national social and civic organizations.

Wayzata-based TCF has $17.7 billion in total assets and 443 banking offices across eight states, including Minnesota where it is considered the official bank of the University.

2 Comments

The Minnesota Daily wants to host a forum for discussion regarding issues and stories regarding the University of Minnesota and surrounding communities. However, the online comments should not be used to threaten or defame. This is a place for people to be heard, and want to contribute to discussion. Those who persist to use expletives, inappropriate, racist, defamatory or abusive postings risk losing the privilege to post.

To comment, please login.

Do you think that the Board of Regents Chairman

Submitted by wbgleason on Mon, 11/23/2009 - 7:37pm.

might now be willing to give Peter Bell an audience to discuss the light rail situation? After all, he's now on the board of our closest financial partner and is himself a former member of the Board of Regents. TCF Stadium (aka The House That Bob Built) is a visible sign of this close relationship as well as all the ATMs and credit cards on our campus. Common courtesy would seem to dictate that the Board listen to what Mr. Bell has to say. However, that would make it difficult to deny that matters other than the sanctity of research equipment have found their way back to the table. Things like parking re-imbursement, $20 mil, the U's own consulting expenses, $2 mil, fare-free zone for students, etc.

For more information about the Board Chair's latest refusal to meet with Mr. Bell, please see:

http://ptable.blogspot.com/2009/11/just-say-no.html

Is it time for the University administration to start doing some of that public engagement that is the new paradigm of the month in Morrill Hall?