The cover of Twin Cities Business magazine's October/November 2022 issue

Notable Leaders in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion 2022

When done right, diversity, equity, and inclusion isn’t just one job on a team; it’s a mindset for the entire organization. Meet 18 Twin Cities-based executives who are raising the bar.

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 have at least five years of experience in their field and have shown the ability to effect change in their roles or areas of practice.

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

Notable DEI executive logo

Keith Allen

Keith Allen

Senior manager of community health programs, M Health Fairview
As a member of M Health Fairview’s community advancement team, Keith Allen is the link between the health system, BIPOC communities, and the company’s community partners to ensure people’s needs
Toweya Brown-Ochs

Toweya Brown-Ochs

Director of diversity and inclusion, HealthPartners
Toweya Brown-Ochs works with her team on DEI strategy for HealthPartners’ employees, patients, and members. Brown-Ochs launched Black and African American, LGBTQ+, and Leaders of Color employee resource groups, which
James Burroughs

James Burroughs

Senior vice president, government and community relations, and chief equity and inclusion officer, Children’s Minnesota
James Burroughs plays a critical role in advancing DEI for Children’s Minnesota. Burroughs implemented an equity and inclusion internship program to provide a more racially diverse employee pipeline. He revised
Brittany Clausen

Brittany Clausen

Founder and visionary strategist, Envision Greatness
At Envision Greatness consultancy, founder Brittany Clausen helps executives become inclusive leaders and achieve business goals through DEI. Clausen specializes in strategic and organizational planning that also encourages clients to
Kiera Fernandez

Kiera Fernandez

Chief diversity and inclusion officer and senior vice president of talent & change, Target
Kiera Fernandez is responsible for leading enterprise-wide DEI strategy for Target Corp. She serves as a leader of the retailer’s Racial Equity Action and Change committee, which focuses on equity
Tracey Gibson

Tracey Gibson

Vice president and chief diversity officer, Andersen Corp.
Tracey Gibson is dedicated to accelerating Andersen Corp.’s work to foster an inclusive and diverse workplace where all employees feel respected and driven to realize their full potential. Her work
Amelia Hardy

Amelia Hardy

Vice president of strategic community engagement, Best Buy
As a key leader of Best Buy’s strategic community engagement team, Amelia Hardy is responsible for engaging teams across the company to connect with communities and bring about social change
Burgess Harrison

Burgess Harrison

Executive director, National Minority Health Association
Burgess Harrison is leading the National Minority Health Association’s mission of health equity through vaccine education hesitancy-reduction programs, clinical trial diversity, and applying the Patient Activation Measure to the health
Vicki Heinz

Vicki Heinz

Assistant vice president of talent management, Prime Therapeutics
Vicki Heinz has 20 years of experience in talent management and acquisition, compensation, and as a human resources business partner. In the last three years at the Bloomington-based pharmacy benefit
Mark Irvin

Mark Irvin

Chief supply chain officer, Best Buy
Before transitioning to his current role in February 2022, Mark Irvin served as Best Buy’s chief inclusion, diversity, and talent officer for two years. In that role, Irvin oversaw the
Amina Jaafar

Amina Jaafar

Chief inclusion and strategy officer, Twin Cities PBS
Since joining Twin Cities PBS in January 2021, Amina Jaafar has worked with staff, trustees, community stakeholders, and public media leaders nationwide to implement inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility (IDEA)
Melissa Muro LaMere

Melissa Muro LaMere

Partner and chair of Maslon diversity, equity, and inclusion committee, Maslon LLP
As chair of the law firm’s diversity, equity, and inclusion committee, Melissa Muro LaMere works to elevate and increase opportunities for attorneys of color, especially women. She chairs the Diverse
Hector Martinez

Hector Martinez

Vice president of supplier diversity and senior procurement relationship manager, U.S. Bank
Hector Martinez works with his team to support U.S. Bank’s efforts to build a sustainable and diverse procurement program. Entering the role in 2014, Martinez expanded the suppliers program to
Dr. Taj Mustapha

Dr. Taj Mustapha

Chief equity strategy officer, M Health Fairview
Dr. Taj Mustapha is responsible for the vision, leadership, and strategic planning to promote health equity for M Health Fairview. Recently stepping into the chief equity strategy officer role, Mustapha
Dr. Sally Saba

Dr. Sally Saba

Chief inclusion and diversity officer, Medtronic
As Medtronic’s first chief inclusion and diversity officer, Dr. Sally Saba is responsible for delivering the company’s vision to be a DEI leader in health care and instituting a long-term
Jacqueline Thomas-Hall

Jacqueline Thomas-Hall

Vice president and chief diversity, equity, and inclusion officer, Allina Health
Jacqueline Thomas-Hall has expertly guided organizations to become more diverse, equitable, and inclusive. At Allina Health, Thomas-Hall and her team have implemented systemwide approaches to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging,
Katie Thueringer

Katie Thueringer

Partner and diversity and inclusion leader, Brooks Cameron & Huebsch
Katie Thueringer, a partner in the Minneapolis-based Brooks, Cameron & Huebsch, is responsible for spearheading and driving diversity. Under her guidance, the firm’s team recruits and mentors employees from communities
Diane Tran

Diane Tran

System executive director of community health equity and engagement, M Health Fairview
Diane Tran is a founding member of M Health Fairview’s HOPE commission, a multiyear transformational change effort to drive more equitable outcomes and inclusive environments for patients, employees, and communities.