Business People: Pakou Hang takes program post at Northwest Area Foundation

NONPROFITS Pakou Hang Northwest Area Foundation a St Paul-based organization providing grants to Native American society nonprofits revealed the appointment of Pakou Hang as vice president of plan Hang is a founding member and executive director of the Hmong American Farmers Association Northwest Area Foundation targets communities in eight northwest U S states from Minnesota to Oregon generally following the road of the former Great Northern Railway ARCHITECTURE ENGINEERING The American Council of Engineering Companies reported that Barr Engineering Minneapolis has earned a National Recognition Award for its work on the Morningside Neighborhood Flood Peril Reduction project in Edina PROGRESS Kraus-Anderson Cos a Minneapolis-based multi-disciplined real estate developer released Audra Williams as general counsel succeeding Tom Wratkowski who is retiring Williams previously served as in-house counsel at Ryan Cos US DEVELOPMENT Minneapolis College of Art and Design disclosed the appointment of Gwendolyn Freed as president effective June Freed has held higher schooling leadership roles at Gustavus Adolphus College Cornish College of the Arts and Wallin Coaching Partners FINANCIAL SERVICES Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union St Paul reported the vote of Chad Trench as chair of its board of directors as well as the referendum of Isaac Durant as a board member Trench at this moment is director of operations at Special Olympics Minnesota Durant is a tool engineer VITALITY CARE AMADA Senior Care Twin Cities a Golden Valley-based in-home care agency for seniors and families declared Kelly Merriman has joined the company as executive director of operations Merriman previously was at PRESS Premium Alcohol Seltzer and was founder and president of Lice Lounge Hair Care Center in White Bear Lake and Duluth HONORS The U S Small Business Administration communicated it has recognized Jules Bistro in downtown St Cloud as the Minnesota Woman-Owned Small Business of the Year The business is owned by Donella Westphal The Performance Excellence Architecture informed the recipients of its Minnesota Performance Excellence Award Benedictine Duluth State of Minnesota Department of Human Services Direct Care Therapy divisions of Ambulatory Services Area Based Services Forensic Services MN Sex Offender Operation Mental Healthcare and Substance Abuse Medicine Services and River s Edge Hospital St Peter The award is based on the Baldrige Framework a recognized business achievement criteria LAW Dorsey Whitney disclosed attorney Laura Morgan has rejoined the firm as a partner in the Healthcare Transactions and Regulations practice group in Minneapolis Morgan previously was a senior counsel with the inspector general s office at the U S Department of Healthcare and Human Services Morgan previously was with Dorsey from MANUFACTURING Sleep Number Corp a Minneapolis-based maker and retailer of specialty beds and mattresses communicated the following internal executive changes under the new leadership of CEO Linda Findley Melissa Barra has been appointed executive vice president chief product and enterprise strategy officer a new position Chris Krusmark appointed executive vice president chief retail and people officer Tanya Skogerboe appointed senior vice president chief supply chain and transformation officer and Amber Minson joins the company as executive vice president chief marketing officer Findley joined the company last month CURATIVE APPARATUS Lifecore Biomedical a Chaska-based contract manufacturer of pharmaceutical equipment publicized that it has appointed Thomas Tom Salus as chief legal and administration officer and corporate secretary Salus previously held a similar role with Viatris Inc an international pharmaceutical company OPENINGS Rosedale Center in Roseville revealed Legendary Spice Boba X has joined its Potluck Food Hall The owner is Grace Huang The club behind Mr Paul s Supper Club and Mothership Pizza Paradise in Edina communicated the opening of Carnival Bar also located in the th and France commercial district of Edina Tommy Begnaud is the chef owner POLITICS The Minnesota DFL Party informed Jim Heighington will become executive director in June succeeding Heidi Kraus Kaplan Charlene Briner will serve as transition director Heighington largest part lately worked as chief of staff to Google s chief diversity officer Related Articles Warren Buffett shocks shareholders by announcing his intention to retire at the end of the year St Paul Sharrett s Liquors to briefly close as longtime owners retire Business People MPR way of life and arts reporter Euan Kerr retiring after years New editor at Minnesota Star Tribune has St Paul roots Business People Jay Willms named director of St Paul City Council operations EMAIL ITEMS to businessnews pioneerpress com