I am Alan Turkus, a Minneapolis-based entrepreneur with a passion for acquiring, operating, and growing profitable small businesses in the Greater Twin Cities area.

 

Entrepreneurship runs in my family. My paternal grandfather owned and operated a solder company, and my maternal grandparents founded a specialty advertising business, which my parents later acquired, managed, and successfully sold. Inspired by their legacy, I have built a career as a results-driven operator and leader, committed to fostering innovation, growth, and long-term success in every organization I work with.

 

Early in my career, I honed my skills as an editor in the publishing industry, working for both the world’s largest publisher and a small literary press. I edited and published hundreds of books, including Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award winners. Transitioning to the tech sector, I became a product management executive, overseeing the development of software and services used by millions of customers worldwide.

 

At Amazon, I was a founding member of the team that launched the company’s in-house publishing division, growing it into a $100 million international business in just five years. As Editorial Director & Publisher of Amazon’s mystery and thriller imprint, I led three consecutive years of double-digit growth, more than doubling unit sales, revenue, and profits.

 

Most recently, I led the turnaround of a $40 million organic food warehouse following a failed ERP implementation. This role included joining the Office of the CEO at Twin Cities Co-Op Partners, where I helped guide the $80 million parent company, including The Wedge, back to profitability.

 

I hold a bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan. With my deep operational expertise and strong ties to the Minneapolis-St. Paul community, I am dedicated to preserving and growing the legacy of the right small business.

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