Business People: Pakou Hang takes program post at Northwest Area Foundation

NONPROFITS Pakou Hang Northwest Area Foundation a St Paul-based organization providing grants to Native American society nonprofits publicized the appointment of Pakou Hang as vice president of effort Hang is a founding member and executive director of the Hmong American Farmers Association Northwest Area Foundation targets communities in eight northwest U S states from Minnesota to Oregon generally following the direction of the former Great Northern Railway ARCHITECTURE ENGINEERING The American Council of Engineering Companies disclosed that Barr Engineering Minneapolis has earned a National Recognition Award for its work on the Morningside Neighborhood Flood Menace Reduction project in Edina EXPANSION Kraus-Anderson Cos a Minneapolis-based multi-disciplined real estate developer communicated Audra Williams as general counsel succeeding Tom Wratkowski who is retiring Williams previously served as in-house counsel at Ryan Cos US SCHOOLING Minneapolis College of Art and Design broadcasted the appointment of Gwendolyn Freed as president effective June Freed has held higher guidance leadership roles at Gustavus Adolphus College Cornish College of the Arts and Wallin Guidance Partners FINANCIAL SERVICES Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union St Paul communicated the ballot of Chad Trench as chair of its board of directors as well as the referendum of Isaac Durant as a board member Trench currently is director of operations at Special Olympics Minnesota Durant is a system engineer STRENGTH CARE AMADA Senior Care Twin Cities a Golden Valley-based in-home care agency for seniors and families broadcasted Kelly Merriman has joined the company as executive director of operations Merriman previously was at PRESS Premium Alcohol Seltzer and was founder and president of Lice Lounge Hair Care Center in White Bear Lake and Duluth HONORS The U S Small Business Administration communicated it has recognized Jules Bistro in downtown St Cloud as the Minnesota Woman-Owned Small Business of the Year The business is owned by Donella Westphal The Performance Excellence Architecture stated the recipients of its Minnesota Performance Excellence Award Benedictine Duluth State of Minnesota Department of Human Services Direct Care Healing divisions of Ambulatory Services Public Based Services Forensic Services MN Sex Offender Operation Mental Fitness and Substance Abuse Recovery Services and River s Edge Hospital St Peter The award is based on the Baldrige Framework a recognized business achievement criteria LAW Dorsey Whitney revealed attorney Laura Morgan has rejoined the firm as a partner in the Healthcare Transactions and Regulations practice group in Minneapolis Morgan previously was a senior counsel with the inspector general s office at the U S Department of Fitness and Human Services Morgan previously was with Dorsey from MANUFACTURING Sleep Number Corp a Minneapolis-based maker and retailer of specialty beds and mattresses broadcasted the following internal executive changes under the new leadership of CEO Linda Findley Melissa Barra has been appointed executive vice president chief product and enterprise strategy officer a new position Chris Krusmark appointed executive vice president chief retail and people officer Tanya Skogerboe appointed senior vice president chief supply chain and transformation officer and Amber Minson joins the company as executive vice president chief marketing officer Findley joined the company last month HEALTHCARE MECHANISM Lifecore Biomedical a Chaska-based contract manufacturer of pharmaceutical equipment informed that it has appointed Thomas Tom Salus as chief legal and administration officer and corporate secretary Salus previously held a similar role with Viatris Inc an international pharmaceutical company OPENINGS Rosedale Center in Roseville released Legendary Spice Boba X has joined its Potluck Food Hall The owner is Grace Huang The organization behind Mr Paul s Supper Club and Mothership Pizza Paradise in Edina publicized the opening of Carnival Bar also located in the th and France commercial district of Edina Tommy Begnaud is the chef owner POLITICS The Minnesota DFL Party revealed Jim Heighington will become executive director in June succeeding Heidi Kraus Kaplan Charlene Briner will serve as transition director Heighington most of of late worked as chief of staff to Google s chief diversity officer Related Articles Warren Buffett shocks shareholders by announcing his intention to retire at the end of the year St Paul Sharrett s Liquors to briefly close as longtime owners retire Business People MPR society and arts reporter Euan Kerr retiring after years New editor at Minnesota Star Tribune has St Paul roots Business People Jay Willms named director of St Paul City Council operations EMAIL ITEMS to businessnews pioneerpress com