Eight CLA Alumni Recognized in the Twin Cities Business 100 List
Eight CLA alumni were listed in the Twin Cities Business 100 list of people in Minnesota most "likely to make news and drive change in the year ahead" for 2024. Big congratulations to Gabrielle Greer, Ethelind Kaba, Shelly Lanning, Janie Mayeron, Suzanne Sobotka, Chuck Tryon, Tom Wolfe, and Ka Vang for this achievement! Read and learn more about each of their careers in Minnesota below.
Mayor Jacob Frey tapped her to serve as co-chair of his downtown retail work group. The Minneapolis Downtown Council asked her to lend her insights to help develop a 10-year plan for the city’s urban core. That’s all in addition to her day job at the African American Leadership Forum.
TBC 100: Gabrielle Grier, Chief Innovation Officer of the African American Leadership Forum
A strategic leader who has moved between nonprofit and corporate roles, the pandemic found Ethelind Kaba asking herself how she could “meet the moment.” That search led her to the Ann Bancroft Foundation.
TBC 100: Ethelind Kaba, Executive Director of the Ann Bancroft Foundation
Visana Health started out as a digital health coach startup for complex women’s health conditions such as endometriosis. Now, it's available in 50 states and focused on scaling by innovating its tech and products.
TCB 100: Joe Connolly, Shelly Lanning; Co-founder/CEO, Co-founder/president of Visana Health
A retired U.S. magistrate judge and lawyer, Janie Mayeron leads the Board of Regents as members search for the university’s 18th president.
TCB 100: Janie Mayeron, Chair of the University of MN Board of Regents
As the legislative liaison for the city of Minneapolis, Suzanne Sobotka advises on infrastructure and legislative affairs for Mayor Jacob Frey.
TCB 100: Suzanne Sobotka, Senior Policy Aide for the City of Minneapolis
Owatonna-based Bushel Boy Farms has been selling greenhouse-grown tomatoes for much of its more than 30 years in business. Ever since Chuck Tryon took the top spot in late 2020, though, the company has been expanding its lineup with the launch of cucumbers, strawberries, and sweet peppers.
In “stealth mode” since 2017, SiteKick’s software has already been adopted by major players including Ryan Cos. and Mortenson, and 2024 will be the year the Minneapolis-based company starts to make some noise.
Hmong American Ka Vang is the first in her role at Meet Minneapolis, and she plans to lean into DEI to “sell the city.”
TCB 100: Ka Vang, Vice President of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Access for Meet Minneapolis
