Congrats to Diversity in Business nominees!

Shea would like to congratulate all the nominees for the 2012 Diversity Awards presented by The Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal, especially our clients: Anoush Ansari, Hemisphere Partners; Sameh Wadi, Saffron Restaurant/World Street Kitchen; and Alfredo Martel, Caribou Coffee Co. 

Business Journal announces 2012 Diversity in Business honorees
John Vomhof Jr. , Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal 

The Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal is pleased to announce the honorees for its 2012 Diversity in Business awards. The awards recognize 20 local business owners and executives who represent the ethnic minority, GLBT, disabled and veteran communities. The honorees were selected through a highly competitive nomination process based on the contributions they've made to their companies, industries and communities.

The 2012 honorees are:
 Jim Anderson and John Moore, owners, AMPA Inc. (The Saloon)

Anoush Ansari, managing partner, Hemisphere Restaurant Partners

Hamid Berenjian, vice president and chief operating officer, Polar Semiconductor Inc.

Paul Blom, owner, Right at Home Twin Cities & South Suburbs

Akhtar Chaudhri, CEO and founder, Virtelligence Inc.

Gary Eppinger, chief information security officer and vice president of IT security, real estate, market development, legal and pharmacy services, Supervalu Inc.

Cem Erdem, CEO and founder, Project Skyway

Joseph Gibbons, vice president and financial advisor, Merrill Lynch Global Wealth Management

Ryan Heining, owner and president, MSpace Inc.

Sanjay Kuba, senior vice president of business development, GSS Infotech

Lynn Littlejohn, director of community affairs, Mortenson Construction

Gary Mao, president, North Star Container

Alfredo Martel, senior vice president of marketing and product management, Caribou Coffee Co. Inc.

Charles "Mac" McIntosh, senior director of human resources, University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview and University of Minnesota Amplatz Children's Hospital

Michael Ponto, partner, Faegre Baker Daniels

Chris Reid, chief financial officer, Marsden Holding

Chandra Smith Baker, president and CEO, Pillsbury United Communities

Lisa Tseng, CEO, hi HealthInnovations, a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group

Sameh Wadi, owner and chef, Saffron Restaurant & Lounge, World Street Kitchen and Spice Trail

Laysha Ward, president of community relations, Target Corp.

The award recipients will be recognized in the July 13 edition of the Business Journal, and at a July 12 event at the Westin Edina Galleria. Click here for more info and to register for the event.