Susan K. Nestegard Named to ALLETE Board of Directors

DULUTH, Minn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Susan K. Nestegard, a member of the board of directors for Hormel Foods,
has been elected to the ALLETE Inc. (NYSE:ALE) board of directors.

Together with nine years of service on the Hormel Foods board,
Nestegard’s most recent industry career included serving as executive
vice president and president of Global Healthcare, and chief technical
officer and global head of research, development and engineering for
Ecolab, Inc. Prior to joining Ecolab, Nestegard was with 3M company for
20 plus years driving revenue expansion through innovation in multiple
technical and business leadership roles, while making significant
contributions to growth through 26 patents in her name.

In addition, Nestegard served on the board of directors for American
Capital Ltd. through 2017, when the company was acquired by Ares
Capital. During that time, she also served as interim CEO of Alcami
Ltd., one of American Capital’s holdings. She also is an advisor at True
Wealth Ventures.

"Susan brings a wealth of experience in project management, product
development and strategic thinking to the board. A big part of her
career was focused on building successful teams, a good fit for ALLETE
where people, culture and leadership differentiate us," said ALLETE
Chairman, President and CEO Al Hodnik. "In addition, during her tenure
with Ecolab, she gained valuable insights into the value of the
energy-water nexus and will bring added depth to our Board in connection
with ALLETE’s investment in and growth strategy for U.S. Water Services."

Nestegard’s election to the board reflects ALLETE’s longstanding
commitment to having a diverse, best-practices governance board. Her
appointment brings the board to 12 members.

"Susan’s election is part of the ALLETE board’s long-term succession
planning,” ALLETE Lead Director Heidi Jimmerson said. “The board is
excited to welcome Susan as she joins us at our next meeting. Her strong
background in corporate governance and broad experience in leading
successful product launches, growing business divisions and leading
technological changes will bring significant value to ALLETE."

Nestegard earned a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from the
University of Wisconsin-Madison and a master’s degree in materials
science engineering from the University of Minnesota. She completed
executive education in strategic marketing at Harvard Business School
and in finance at Columbia University.

Nestegard and her husband live in Austin, Texas. Throughout her career,
Nestegard has been passionate about supporting women in reaching their
full potential, particularly through science, technology, engineering
and math (STEM) education and careers.

She joins a diverse, experienced, best-practice governance board at
ALLETE, which includes Hodnik, Lead Director Jimmerson
(former executive vice president, secretary and general counsel at
Florida East Coast Railway LLC) and directors Kathryn W. Dindo
(retired vice president and chief risk officer for FirstEnergy Corp.), Sidney
W. Emery Jr. (chief executive officer and owner of Supply Chain
Services LLC), George G. Goldfarb (president and chief executive
officer of Maurices Inc. and president and chief executive officer of
the Value Fashion Segment of Ascena Retail Group Inc.), James S.
Haines Jr. (former chief executive officer and director of Westar
Energy Inc.), James J. Hoolihan (former chief executive officer
and chair of the board of Industrial Lubricant Co.), Madeleine W.
Ludlow (founder and chair of the board of West Capital Advisors
LLC), Douglas C. Neve (former executive vice president and chief
financial officer of Ceridian Corp.), Robert P. Powers (retired
vice chairman of American Electric Power), and Leonard C. Rodman
(retired chairman, president and chief executive officer of Black &
Veatch).

ALLETE, Inc. is an energy company headquartered in Duluth, Minnesota. In
addition to its electric utilities, Minnesota Power and Superior Water,
Light and Power of Wisconsin, ALLETE owns ALLETE Clean Energy, based in
Duluth, BNI Energy in Bismarck, North Dakota, U.S. Water Services in St.
Michael, Minnesota, and has an eight percent equity interest in the
American Transmission Co. More information about ALLETE is available at www.allete.com.
ALE-CORP

The statements contained in this release and statements that ALLETE
may make orally in connection with this release that are not historical
facts, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements
involve risks and uncertainties and investors are directed to the risks
discussed in documents filed by ALLETE with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.

Contacts

ALLETE, Inc.
Amy Rutledge, 218-723-7400
[email protected]