Alumni

Jude Bricker

Jude Bricker

2023: Jude Bricker arrived at MSP in 2017 to run the little airline that couldn’t, mostly. In and out of bankruptcy and shifting business models, Sun Country Airlines was vast
Ann Kim

Ann Kim

2021, Alumni: Raising a middle finger to fear has become one of the James Beard Award-winning chef’s signatures, along with genre-bending cuisine. So as other restaurants fell all around her,
Luz María Frías

Luz María Frías

2021, Alumni: Elevating the voices of those who’ve been marginalized is Luz María Frías’ work; in 2020, that mission took the longtime public servant and former CEO of YWCA Minneapolis
Dayna Frank

Dayna Frank

2021, Alumni: Teaming up with YouTube on virtual concerts and hosting private weddings at the iconic First Avenue is but a small part of Dayna Frank’s pandemic pivot. Frank has
Brian Cornell

Brian Cornell

2021, Alumni: Brian Cornell remained calm and steady in the face of unprecedented challenges and supply chain shortages, while an agile response to constantly changing conditions drove soaring Q2 profits,
Tawanna Black

Tawanna Black

2021, Alumni: Tawanna Black’s background in both corporate jobs and philanthropy helps anchor the mission of the St. Paul-based nonprofit. It has a data-driven approach to advocating for expanding business
Charlie Youakim

Charlie Youakim

2021, Alumni: After doubling his fin-tech company’s headcount in 2020, Charlie Youakim is looking to bring even more employees on board in the new year. The company, which is based
Dean Hager

Dean Hager

2021, Alumni: Initial public offerings from Minnesota-based companies are few and far between, but the industry-leading enterprise software company went public in July at $26 per share. A tech industry
Corie Barry

Corie Barry

2021, Alumni: What a first year. After closing stores and furloughing 51,000 employees, a quick pivot to curbside pickup, e-commerce, and an ongoing “shop your way” strategy produced strong results,
Mary Grove and Steve Grove

Mary Grove and Steve Grove

Mary, 2021, Alumni: In June, former Google exec and Revolution’s Rise of the Rest Seed Fund partner Mary Grove teamed up with investor Brett Brohl on Bread & Butter Ventures.
Joan T.A. Gabel

Joan T.A. Gabel

2021, Alumni: Joan Gabel has had a lot to navigate amid Covid-19 and the disruption to normal class schedules. She’s decisive and not afraid to make unpopular calls, such as
Ping Yeh

Ping Yeh

2021, Alumni: Under Ping Yeh’s guidance, stem cell-based research firm and 2016 MN Cup winner StemoniX is currently working out the final details of a major merger with New Jersey-based
Pahoua Yang Hoffman

Pahoua Yang Hoffman

2021, Alumni: Following George Floyd’s death, Pahoua Yang Hoffman is expanding grantmaking to nonprofits serving people of color. With the goal of redistributing power, she’s also focused on diversifying the
Mukhtar Ibrahim

Mukhtar Ibrahim

2021, Alumni: Sahan means “pioneer” in Somali. The St. Paul-based news nonprofit led by Mukhtar Ibrahim has been drawing national notice for its coverage of immigrant and refugee communities. In
Michael Roman

Michael Roman

2021, Alumni: Quick to recognize 3M’s ability to play a key role in combating Covid-19, Michael Roman directed his team to double global production of N95 masks, while expanding production