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September 2009
Strong Philosophy +  Great Presentation = Success! Anderson Mitchell
 
Anderson Mitchell knows exactly what he is doing when his company, Mitchell Construction, is building or rehabbing single and multi-family housing.  How to describe his experience passionately and succinctly enough to win additional bids, however, was an obstacle for him.  He came to MEDA looking for help on how to present himself and his company's capabilities in the best possible way to impress decision makers on future business opportunities. 
 
Mitchell, along with his wife and co-owner Lisa Mitchell, built their company on the belief that it is not just the iron, wood and steel which are the basic building materials of structures that are important. They also know that their business philosophy of integrity, flexibility and satisfaction are critical tools for building relationships that will, ultimately, provide long term success for their company and forge quality foundations with customers.  It is this commitment to integrity that goes into developing respect and trust which last far longer than the brick and mortar part of a project. 
 
MEDA met the immediate needs of Anderson Mitchell by Summit Academy Interns on the joblistening well and then developing a presentation that took their deep commitment to customer satisfaction and put it into a professional proposal. " Working with MEDA was great and Kathleen Riopelle, my consultant, was wonderful.  We accomplished our goals, the proposal looked great - more importantly, it was successful in getting us some more business with the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority."
 
Established in 2004, Mitchell Construction, Inc., located at 125 West Broadway, Suite 100 in Minneapolis, is in its fifth year of operation in the Twin Cities with 5 employees and $2 million in revenues.   Mitchell Construction works with Summit Academy to bring other people of color into the construction industry.  The company is certified at the local and national level as an MBE.  Mitchell currently sits on the board of the Hawthorne Neighborhood Council and is chair of the Hawthorne Business Council.  
Get ready to Salsa!
 
The MEDA Gala is Coming Soon! 
 Click here to get to the Gala website!
 
Don't miss this year's MEDA Gala -
FIESTA LATINA!
where we will celebrate the cultures of Latin American!
 
Now is the time to sponsor or reserve your table!  Visit our website at www.medagala.net 
 
 
If you cannot sponsor or attend this year, have your company recognized by donating an auction item. It will be viewed by MEDA's 700 Gala guests! Please contact Ellen Orndorf at eorndorf@meda.net or 612-259-6562.
New Board Members in 2009
 
Since June we have been grateful to earn the attention and participation from five new board members from area Twin Cities corporations - Peter Glass of Xcel Energy, Tony Heredia of Target, Tony Williamson of AJASA Technologies, Tony Abena ofThomson Reuters and Laurie Paal of Wells Fargo. Their individual talents bring a wealth of expertise and strength to the MEDA Board. 
 
Peter Glass is the Assistant General Counsel at Xcel, has a Business Administration degree from St. Thomas and a JD from William Mitchell College of Law.  In addition to being an experienced strategist, Glass is also a member of the White Earth Tribe in Northern Minnesota and is involved with the American Indian Neighborhood Early Learning Center in Minneapolis.
 
Tony Heredia is the Vice President of Corporate Risk and Responsibility for Target with past experience as a management consultant and in law enforcement.  He holds an undergraduate degree in Management from St. Mary's College of California and a Masters in Public Administration from KennedySchool of Government, Harvard University.  Tony has jumped in with both feet by offering to be Honorary Co-chair of the MEDA Gala along with MEDA board member, Cathy Cruz Gooch of Catallia Mexican Foods.
 
Tony Williamson is the CEO of AJASA Technologies.  He and his wife, Shelleye, were the MEDA Entrepreneurs of the Year in 2009, an honor that also comes with a stint on the MEDA Board.  We welcome his perspective, especially for our Strategic Plan formation that will guide us through the next three years.  Tony has a BA in Economis and MIS from University of Minnesota.  AJASA Technologies is an information technology and management consulting firm.
 
Tony Abena is the Senior Vice President, Law Firm Group and President of Consulting Services for Thomson Reuters and has been with the company since 2006. He has an MBA in Strategic Management and Finance from the University of Minnesota.  His undergraduate degree is from Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon, in both International Relations and Physics! 
 
Laurie Paal is Senior Vice President and Area Business Banking Manager - Minnesota Business Banking for Wells Fargo and has been with the company since 1983. She went to St. Catherine University and has a B.S. in Business Administration - Finance.  "I look forward to working with the MEDA board and staff and to help out this great organization while learning more about economic parity in our community," said Laurie. 
 

Anthony Heredia  Tony Williamson AJASA  Tony Williamson AJASA 
              Laurie Paal WELLS FARGO   Tony Abena Photo

 
MEDA Gala 

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Volume: 3.7
In This Issue
Strong Philosophy
Gala is Coming!
New Board Members
MEDA Website
MEDA Accomplishments
Upcoming Events
August Supporters
MEDA on Facebook
 
MEDA Website

SERVICES

EVENTS

ECONOMIC IMPACT

 
 
 
2009 Accomplishments
Year To Date 

439 entrepreneurs of color made it their business to succeed with MEDA.
 
Year-To-Date MEDA approved $814,000 for 6 loans and helped secure an additional $180,000 in loans from area banks.
 
 
UPCOMING
EVENTS
 
 
October 6, 2009
Introduction to Government Contracting
Brooklyn Center, MN 
 
October 7, 2009
WBDC COSI Workshop -  How to turn any Company into a Profitable High-Growth Business.
Minneapolis, MN 
 
October 27, 2009
Selling to the Federal Government: Successful Strategies.
Bloomington, MN
 
November 13, 2009 
GSA Schedules and More: A Business Perspective
Bloomington, MN
 
November 20, 2009
"ABC's of WBE Certification" Workshop
Minneapolis, MN

 *****************
 
September 24, 2009 
Workshop with Fredrikson and Byron:
Have a Plan: Understanding your partners and shareholders.
This workshop is not full so if you are interested in attending, just arrive at the offices of Fredrikson & Byron, US Bank Plaza
200 South Sixth Street Suite 4000 (Check in on the 40th Floor)
Fee is $20 at door.
 
*****************  
EXECUTIVE DEVELOPMENT SERIES (EDS)
 
Don't miss the chance to attend small group luncheons and meet these execs.
Limited to 25 entrepreneurs of color only.
 
 
October 7, 2009
Andy Bessette,
Executive VP/CAO
Travelers Companies
 
October 20, 2009
 SOLD OUT
Kenneth Powell, Chair and CEO - General Mills
 
November 18, 2009
Mary K. Brainerd, President and CEO - HealthPartners
 
Register (612) 332-6332 or online at www.meda.net
 
 
 ***************** 
 Construction Partnering Program (CPP)Award Reception
October 6, 2009
RSVP by contacting Tim Wagner at 612-259-6576 or email him at twagner@meda.net 
 

Thank You To Our General Operating Supporters in 

 August
 

 
Al Nuness
 
Morris Goodwin Jr. 
 
Pentair Foundation 
 
Rasmussen - Northeast Bank Foundation 
 
Richard Venegar
 
Target
 
Whitney Foundation 
 
Xcel Energy Foundation 
 
 
 
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