Joan Gabel

Minnesota Business Partnership, Inc. engages in helping the Minnesota residents maintain a high quality of life ensuring that the state's economy remains strong and globally competitive. The firms works with elected officials, state agency staff, and others on a range of public policy issues relevant to all Minnesotans such as education, jobs, economy, and health. The company was founded in 1977 and is headquartered in Minneapolis, MN.

The Council on Competitiveness is a nonpartisan organization that has been advocating for a competitiveness agenda for over three decades. The non-profit company is based in Washington. The organization aims to attract investment and talent, spur the commercialization of new ideas, and enhance productivity to raise the standard of living for all Americans. The council's members include CEOs, university presidents, labor leaders, and national lab directors who provide real-world perspective to policymakers. The council believes that with the right policies, the strengths and potential of the economy far outweigh the current challenges the nation faces on the path to higher growth and greater opportunity for all Americans. Deborah L. Wince-Smith has been the CEO of the American company since 1993.

Digi-Key Corp. distributes electronic components. It also distributes semiconductors, discrete, electromechanical parts. Its products include audio products, batteries, cable assemblies, capacitors, computer & video accessories, connectors, crystals & oscillators, discrete semiconductor products and many more. The company was founded by Ronald A. Stordahl in 1972 and is headquartered in Thief River Falls, MN.

Securian Financial Group, Inc. provides insurance, retirement planning and investment services. It offers individual and group life and disability insurance, annuities and mortgage life insurance. The firm also provides mutual funds, institutional asset management, annuity and retirement plans through its subsidiaries. The company was founded by Russell Dorr on August 6, 1880 and is headquartered in St. Paul, MN.

United Way of the Midlands offers social services. The company provides programs and resources through its certified partner agencies to improve the quality of life in Calhoun, Fairfield, Lexington, Newberry, Orangeburg and Richland counties. The company was founded in 1887 and is headquartered in Columbia, SC.