Ecolab has been a cornerstone of our mission to equip Minnesota students with essential career and financial literacy skills since BestPrep was founded. In 1976, their commitment began with then-CEO E.B. Osborne, who supported the establishment of the organization that would become BestPrep through leadership and funding. Bill Podas, VP at Ecolab, served on our original Board of Directors, followed by Kristie Greve, who worked closely with BestPrep’s Founder and Senior Advisor Bob Kaitz to develop early publications that shaped our voice and built our presence within the community.
For nearly five decades, Ecolab has provided consistent financial support and extraordinary volunteer engagement, contributing an estimated 32,000 hours with the help of dedicated employees like Tanya Schmitt and Shannon Toren.
Leadership from Ecolab has enhanced our organization at every level. Kris Taylor, VP of the Ecolab Foundation, has partnered on strategic initiatives; Pat Elliott (1999–2001) and Kim Christiansen (2009–2011) served as Board Chairs; and Roz Tsai (2013-2019), former Ecolab employee and current board member, led impactful staff development retreats and was a speaker for Minnesota Business Venture.
[Paul Langlois presenting at BestPrep’s Cloud Summit at Ecolab.]
Paul recently explained, “What began as a shared commitment to preparing students for success has grown into a dynamic collaboration that touches hundreds of lives each year. It’s been incredibly rewarding to see how our collective efforts — driven by passion, purpose, and people — continue to shape the future of Minnesota’s youth.”
We are proud to celebrate Ecolab’s unwavering partnership, built on leadership, service, and a shared belief in the transformative power of education.
Thank you, Ecolab, for being a partner in purpose since 1976.
