Notable LGBTQA Executives 2021

Look around the Twin Cities and you’ll find many high-profile LGBTQA leaders: activist, poet, and Minneapolis City Council member Andrea Jenkins; Tom Hoch, founder of the Hennepin Theatre Trust and former Downtown Council board chair; former General Mills chief marketing officer and senior vice president Mark Addicks—to name a few. Our Notable LGBTQA Executives, working in a broad range of industries, help illustrate the growing reach of LGBTQA presence, involvement, and leadership in communities and businesses around the state.

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 LGBTQA, 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.

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Sheri Beck

Sheri Beck

Assistant vice president, privacy and ethics officer, Prime Therapeutics
As Prime Therapeutics’ privacy and ethics officer, Sheri Beck has overseen numerous improvements that have helped the Eagan-based pharmacy benefits management firm achieve growth and protect members’ health data. One
Tom Clemens

Tom Clemens

Chief marketing officer, Calliope
While helping build Minneapolis marketing agency Calliope, Tom Clemens has also built a global network of health care pioneers and advocates committed to transforming health care outcomes. Before joining Calliope,
Brian Davis

Brian Davis

Senior vice president and chief marketing officer, Sun Country Airlines
Brian Davis has overseen transformations of brand, product, and digital experience at Sun Country Airlines since becoming the Twin Cities-based airline’s CMO in 2018. Through his leadership of Sun Country’s
Lauren Graber

Lauren Graber

Vice president of population health and quality, interim vice president of medical care, Minnesota Community Care
At St. Paul-based MCC, Dr. Lauren Graber sees patients, provides treatment to patients with substance use disorders, and oversees all medical directors, clinical teams, and providers. She also works to
Samantha Hanson

Samantha Hanson

Chief administrative officer, North Memorial Health
Samantha Hanson is a trusted leader and advocate for North Memorial Health’s 6,500 workers. She has been spearheading efforts to foster a supportive culture for LGBTQA and other employees at
Patrick Kindler

Patrick Kindler

Executive director, One Heartland
In 2020, Willow River-based One Heartland, a camp for children from across Minnesota and surrounding states facing significant health challenges or social isolation, couldn’t open because of Covid-19. The pandemic
Josh Le

Josh Le

Chief marketing officer, Pinky Swear Foundation
At Edina-based Pinky Swear Foundation, which provides financial and emotional support for children with cancer and their families, Josh Le oversees national strategies for marketing and communication, corporate relations, large-scale
John Medeiros

John Medeiros

Shareholder and head, corporate immigration group, Nilan Johnson Lewis PA
In May 2020, John Medeiros integrated his corporate immigration law firm, Myers Thompson Medeiros, into Minneapolis-based Nilan Johnson Lewis. In addition to his work on U.S. immigration matters for domestic
Anthony Niedwiecki

Anthony Niedwiecki

President and dean, Mitchell Hamline School of Law
Since being named the law school’s president and dean in July 2020, Anthony Niedwiecki is working to make Mitchell Hamline even more accessible to people who haven’t traditionally attended law
Brian Pietsch

Brian Pietsch

Senior vice president, public affairs and community relations, Ameriprise Financial
At Minneapolis-based Ameriprise, Brian Pietsch directs community relations programs that deliver more than $17 million annually to communities in need through grants, giving campaigns, gift matching, and nonprofit partnerships. His
Rita Pomroy

Rita Pomroy

Senior vice president and senior audit manager, U.S. Bank
Rita Pomroy oversees a team at Minneapolis-based U.S. Bank that is responsible for evaluating and monitoring risk directions, executing audit strategy, and reporting results to senior management and the board
Erin Maye Quade

Erin Maye Quade

Advocacy director, Gender Justice
As a Minnesota state representative from 2017 to 2019, Erin Maye Quade established herself as an advocate for paid family leave, expanding access to affordable child care, and eliminating gun
Rubén Vázquez Ruiz

Rubén Vázquez Ruiz

Vice president of equity, people, and culture, Minnesota Community Care
Diversity and inclusion are important to Rubén Vázquez Ruiz, who is a member of both the LGBTQA and the immigrant communities in Minnesota. Having come to the Twin Cities from
Ryan Ruud

Ryan Ruud

Founder and CEO, Lake One
The Minneapolis-based digital sales and marketing agency has posted double-digit growth every year since Ryan Ruud launched it seven years ago. In 2019, Lake One was recognized by inbound marketing
Paula Schuster

Paula Schuster

Vice president and due diligence manager, Wells Fargo
In addition to her professional duties at Wells Fargo, where she has worked for more than 20 years, Paula Schuster chairs the Greater Twin Cities United Way’s Arise Project, which
Seth Viebrock

Seth Viebrock

Founder and CEO, 08
Seth Viebrock has ensured that O8, his Bloomington-based digital marketing agency, is devoted to diversity and inclusion. One sign that his efforts are succeeding: His agency was awarded a National
Jeremy Hanson Willis

Jeremy Hanson Willis

CEO, Rainbow Health Minnesota
In 2019, Jeremy Hanson Willis became CEO of St. Paul-based Rainbow Health Minnesota (then known as JustUs Health). The organization, which was formed in 2018 from the merger of the