AUSTIN, MINN. — Hormel Foods Corp. announced Debbra Schoneman, president of Piper Sandler Co., has been elected to the Hormel Foods board of directors, effective Sept. 21. Schoneman joined the audit and governance committees of the Hormel Foods board of directors.

“I am delighted to welcome Deb to the Hormel Foods board,” said Jim Snee, chairman of the board, president and chief executive officer of Hormel Foods. “She has an impressive background and brings extensive expertise in finance and corporate development, which will be invaluable as we continue to transform, modernize and grow our company.”

As president of Piper Sandler Co., a leading investment bank and financial services company, Schoneman manages the equities, fixed income and public finance businesses. She has been with the firm for 34 years, having served as president since 2018 and previously as chief financial officer from 2008 to 2017. 

Schoneman holds a long history of board service in the public, private and philanthropic sectors. Currently, she is a director on the Allina Health board — a $5 billion healthcare system — having served as its chair for three years. She also is a member of the board of trustees for the University of St. Thomas, a private university in Minnesota. 

Schoneman earned her bachelor’s degree from Minnesota State University, Mankato, and her master’s from the University of St. Thomas.