Cover of Twin Cities Business magazine's August/September 2023 issue

2023 Notable BIPOC Executives

Diversity drives creativity and innovation. It sets the stage for a culture of inclusivity that’s essential to retaining today’s top talent. TCB’s 2023 Notable BIPOC Executives are dynamic leaders from a wide range of industries and expertise, and they’re influencing change beyond office walls. Introducing 31 BIPOC executives you’ll want to know.

Methodology: The individuals featured did not pay to be included. Their profiles were drawn from nomination materials. This list is not comprehensive. It includes only people who were nominated and accepted after editorial review. To qualify for this list, individuals must self-identify as BIPOC, be serving in a C-suite or senior-level role in Minnesota, have at least five years of experience in their current industry, and have shown the ability to create significant, positive, and measurable results in their field.

To nominate other best-in-class executives in their fields, click here.

2023 Notable BIPOC Executives

2023 Notable Logo

Lynnea Atlas-Ingebretson

Lynnea Atlas-Ingebretson

Chief diversity, equity, and inclusion officer, Girl Scouts River Valleys
With more than 27 years of nonprofit and public administration experience, Lynnea Atlas-Ingebretson has a track record of building partnerships across rural and urban communities. Her expertise extends to advising
Dorothy Bridges

Dorothy Bridges

President/CEO, Metropolitan Economic Development Association
A respected and celebrated business leader, Dorothy Bridges brings more than 40 years of banking experience to the Metropolitan Economic Development Association (MEDA), a Minneapolis business organization that supports BIPOC
Ken Charles

Ken Charles

Senior vice president, chief DEI, and corporate responsibility officer, Thrivent
Ken Charles is responsible for leading Thrivent’s DEI and corporate responsibility teams and enterprise-level culture initiatives. Through his leadership, the Minneapolis-based financial services company is enhancing its efforts to be
Adrian Chiu

Adrian Chiu

President and executive vice president of Water Solutions, Pentair
Adrian Chiu first joined Golden Valley-based Pentair in 2011 as senior director of HR technology and services. After quickly demonstrating his effective leadership, Chiu assumed more responsibility, including a pivotal
Rachel Crowley

Rachel Crowley

Chief operating officer, Tierra Encantada
Just over two years ago, Rachel Crowley stepped into the newly created position of operations coordinator at Tierra Encantada and immediately began improving operations and customer service for the Minneapolis-based
Ryan I. Daniel

Ryan I. Daniel

CEO, St. Cloud Metropolitan Transit Commission
As CEO of the St. Cloud Metropolitan Transit Commission for the past decade, Ryan I. Daniel has been committed to community improvements and instrumental in building the careers of other
Nima Desai

Nima Desai

Vice president of medical affairs/chief medical officer, Methodist Hospital
Throughout her 20-year career, Dr. Nima Desai has developed a reputation as a strategic, people-focused leader in health care. She helped HealthPartners navigate the Covid-19 pandemic by leading an initiative
Mychal Frelix

Mychal Frelix

Co-founder/chief operating officer, TurnSignl
Mychal Frelix co-founded TurnSignl, the fast-growing Minneapolis-based startup that provides on-demand legal guidance to drivers across the country. Launched in 2020 in the wake of George Floyd’s murder, TurnSignl has
Hanna Getachew-Kreusser

Hanna Getachew-Kreusser

Executive director, Face to Face Health & Counseling Inc.
Hanna Getachew-Kreusser joined Face to Face Health & Counseling in 2018, at a time when the St. Paul nonprofit was floundering financially, which resulted in high staff turnover. Under her
Cordell Hardy

Cordell Hardy

Senior vice president of corporate R&D operations, 3M
A 20-year veteran of 3M management, Cordell Hardy currently leads a functionally and geographically diverse solid-line reporting organization responsible for international enterprise, technical infrastructure, and support from 3M’s Maplewood office.
Helen Hardy

Helen Hardy

Chief financial and operations officer, Brother Justus Whiskey Co.
Helen Hardy joined Brother Justus in April 2022 as the six-year-old whiskey company was still recovering from myriad challenges brought on by the pandemic. Minneapolis-based Brother Justus had earned national
Alfonso Cornish II

Alfonso Cornish II

Managing partner, gener8tor
Following a 15-year career in key leadership positions at Fortune 500 companies and law firms, Al Cornish brought his expertise to the venture capital and startup landscape. As the first
Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson

Founder/CEO, Black Tech Talent
Amid a global pandemic and civil rights movement in 2020, Michael Jackson founded Black Tech Talent, a recruiting service that is increasing the representation of Black technologists in both corporate
Erica Jensen

Erica Jensen

Senior vice president of marketing, member engagement, enrollment and experience, and central marketing, NMDP/Be The Match
Erica Jensen leads a cross-functional team of 250 people responsible for audience journey from awareness to advocacy, for the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) and Be The Match registry. A
Joanne Jones-Rizzi

Joanne Jones-Rizzi

Vice president of science, equity, and education, Science Museum of Minnesota
Joanne Jones-Rizzi is nationally respected for creating systemic change within museums and expanding audience access. At the Science Museum of Minnesota, she ensures that science and education initiatives are effective
Briana Joyner

Briana Joyner

Chief human resources and inclusion officer, Minnesota Historical Society
Briana Joyner is the first woman of color to serve as chief human resources and inclusion officer for the Minnesota Historical Society (MNHS) and is the youngest member on its
Steven H. Kenney Jr.

Steven H. Kenney Jr.

Senior vice president of human resources, equity, and inclusion, St. Catherine University
Steven Kenney’s work in human resources has taken him to many different environments around the globe, from corporations to owned and operated businesses and higher education. He came to St.
Eh Tah Khu

Eh Tah Khu

Co-Executive director, Karen Organization of Minnesota
Eh Tah Khu is one of the first nonprofit executives of Karen descent in the U.S. with more than 10 years of leadership experience at the Karen Organization of Minnesota