Gail Gruikshank

Bringing Talent to Our Region's Table

Gail joined Greater St. Cloud in June 2014  as its first-ever Talent Director—a role created to strengthen and grow Central Minnesota’s talent ecosystem. In this capacity, she leads initiatives focused on attracting, retaining, and expanding the region’s workforce, partnering closely with education institutions, employers, nonprofit organizations, and workforce partners to identify challenges and create meaningful, collaborative solutions.

With 28 years of experience in retail management and corporate human resources at Bon-Ton Department Stores, Gail brings deep expertise with a business lens in recruitment and talent acquisition, relationship-building, training and development, and college relations. This background uniquely positions her to connect people, organizations, and opportunities in ways that drive both business success and community impact.

Nomination to the Governor’s Workforce Development Board in 2026 allows Gail the ability to bring the voice of central MN to the table ensuring that perspectives and recommendations are part of the decision making process for the growth and vitality of central MN.

Raised on a farm in St. James, Minnesota, Gail is a proud graduate of St. Cloud State University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in management with an emphasis in human resources. She and her husband, Tom, have two adult children, Tyler and Katie, and three cherished granddaughters—Chloe, Sydney, and Wren. Outside of work, Gail enjoys spending time with family and friends, puzzles, flowers and more time with grandchildren.

Community involvement is central to Gail’s life and work. She is a passionate advocate for numerous non profits in the region.  Tanner’s Team Foundation, an organization that supports Central Minnesota families whose children are facing life-threatening illnesses in the work closest to her heart. Gail has served on the Foundation’s board since 2014 and currently holds the role of Vice Chair.