Milestone Growth Fund Recognizes Key Players in Twin Cities' Thriving Minority-Owned Business Community.MINNEAPOLIS -- -Milestone Growth Fund celebrated its 15th anniversary last night by recognizing the top achievements in and contributions to the Twin Cities minority-owned business community. Milestone Growth Fund honored 17 local corporations and business leaders for entrepreneurial excellence, volunteer service, financial contributions and outstanding leadership. "I'm pleased to recognize the achievements and contributions of the individuals and corporations who have helped initiate a positive 'ripple effect' in the community," said Esperanza Guerrero-Anderson, president and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. of Milestone Growth Fund. "Without their time, talent and dedication, the Twin Cities minority-owned business community would not be where it is today." Entrepreneurial Achievement Awards were given to Roberta Bonoff and Cynthia Gerdes, Creative Kidstuff; Richard Copeland, Thor Construction; and Darshan darshan or darsan In Hindu worship, the beholding of an auspicious deity, person, or object. The experience is often conceived to be reciprocal and results in a blessing of the viewer. Karki, SuperSolutions Corporation. Their innovation, dedication and entrepreneurial spirit helped make them three of the most successful minority-owned businesses in the Twin Cities today. Two types of awards were given to recognize outstanding volunteer service. The Exceptional Board Service Awards recognize outstanding dedication to Milestone Growth Fund's Board of Directors and its mission for over 10 years. Recipients were Steven Ashley of Wells Fargo Wells Fargo armored carriers of bullion. [Am. Hist.: Brewer Dictionary, 1147] See : Protectiveness Wells Fargo company that handled express service to western states; often robbed. [Am. Hist. and Dorothy Bridges of Franklin National Bank Franklin National Bank, based in Franklin Square in Long Island, New York was once the United States' 20th largest bank. On October 8, 1974, it collapsed in obscure circumstances, involving Michele Sindona, renowned Mafia-banker and member of the irregular freemasonic lodge, . Outstanding Volunteer Awards were given to John Erickson John Erickson may refer to:
n. A beer mug. [German, from Middle High German s  del, from Latin situla, bucket.]Noun 1. , Faegre & Benson; and Terrie Wheeler, Professional Services (job) professional services - A department of a supplier providing consultancy and programming manpower for the supplier's products. Marketing, Inc.--four individuals who have volunteered hundreds of hours to providing pro bono Short for pro bono publico [Latin, For the public good]. The designation given to the free legal work done by an attorney for indigent clients and religious, charitable, and other nonprofit entities. consulting to Milestone Growth Fund and its clients. For their financial partnership, which allows Milestone to fund many more Twin Cities minority-owned businesses, M&I Bank, Medtronic, Inc., Minnesota Urban Initiative Program, US Bancorp, US Small Business Administration, Wells Fargo and Xcel Energy were presented with Financial Partner Awards. The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to John Stout, Fredrikson & Byron. Stout is one of Milestone's founders and still serves as Milestone's Chairman of the Board. His vision and belief that a successful minority community contributes greatly to social stability and economic prosperity has been at the center of Milestone's work. According to Guerrero-Anderson, John's energy, passion, leadership and personal support has truly made an impact on Milestone, its staff and its clients--an impact that can be seen in the growing social and economic prosperity of several Milestone clients. About Milestone Growth Fund Milestone Growth Fund is the only Minnesota venture capital fund that is focused on providing equity-type financing to minority-owned companies. It fills a gap in funding ethnic minority businesses by providing financing that is either too risky for banks or too small for other venture capital firms Name Location Founding date Managing Partners/Directors Specialty Capital managed 5AM Ventures Menlo Park, CA; Waltham, MA 2002 John Diekman, PhD (managing partner), Scott Rocklage, PhD (managing partner), Andrew Schwab (managing partner) life sciences $200M [1] . Since 1990, Milestone has helped 70 such companies with investments totaling more than $24 million. In addition to capital, the company provides management services such as consulting on building a board to strategic planning and access to information sources and experts. Licensed by the U.S. Small Business Administration, Milestone Growth Fund has clients that include such business success stories as Creative Kidstuff, iXmatch, Latino Communications Network, and SuperSolutions. Website: www.milestonegrowth.com Editor's note: Photos available upon request by contacting Sara Cziok at 612-392-7602. |
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