Saint Paul – Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced the appointment of Grady Appleton, Sharon Bloodworth, Christopher Cassirer, Brian Grogan, Sarah Hezlett, Marisa Novak, Gustavo Rosso, Patrice Tetta, and Sheila Williams Ridge; and the reappointment of David Pinto and Fannie Primm to the Minnesota Academic Excellence Foundation (MAEF) Board of Directors.

Appleton, of St. Paul, is a new media associate with the Minnesota Humanities Center where he provides on-site server, desktop and technical support for its online learning platform. Previously, he worked at the University of Minnesota, where he provided desktop and technical support for faculty and graduate staff, implemented training procedures, and was a liaison between the University faculty and the communications department. Appleton earned his bachelor of arts degree from the University of Minnesota. Appleton replaces Steve Bissen on the MAEF as a representative of business and is appointed to a four-year term that expires on January 6, 2014.

Bloodworth, of Plymouth, is a partner and vice president of White Oaks Wealth Advisors, Inc., where she manages client strategy and investments. She has over 16 years of experience in the financial services industry, and has the Certified Divorce Financial Analyst designation. British-born Bloodworth earned her bachelors degree of science of economics (honours) in European Community Studies with fluency in French and Italian from the University of Wales, College of Cardiff. Bloodworth replaces Christopher Burns on the MAEF as a representative of business and is appointed to a four-year term that expires on January 6, 2014.

Cassirer, of Robbinsdale, is a director and special assistant to the provost of Capella University in Minneapolis. He previously served as Capella’s president, faculty director, and dean of its School of Health and Human Services. He has also held a number of academic and health care consultant positions in his professional career. Cassirer earned his doctor of science degree from the Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health in Baltimore, Maryland, his master of public health degree from the Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut, and his bachelor of arts degree from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Cassirer replaces Debra Bowers on the MAEF as a representative of education and is appointed to a four-year term that expires on January 6, 2014.

Grogan, of Minnetonka, is the founder and president of Optimum Financial Group, which primarily specializes in developing business transition-succession plans for business owners. Grogan earned his master of business administration degree from the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire, and completed the Chartered Financial Consultant and Chartered Life Underwriter degree programs from American College in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. Grogan replaces Steve Glynn on the MAEF as a representative of business and is appointed to a four-year term that expires on January 6, 2014.

Hezlett, of Eagan, is a senior research scientist with Personnel Decisions Research Institutes in Minneapolis, where her work focuses on helping organizations facilitate individual and organizational development. She has previously been an assistant professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where she taught courses in training, human resource development, and organizational psychology. Hezlett earned her doctorate and masters degrees in industrial and organizational psychology from the University of Minnesota, and her bachelor of arts degree from Princeton University in Princeton, New Jersey. Hezlett replaces Otto Luknic on the MAEF as a representative of business and is appointed to a four-year term that expires on January 6, 2014.

Novak, of Woodbury, is a community volunteer whose service includes being an education co-chair with the Woodbury Life Resource Center, and a member of the South Washington County High School Peer COR core team. She has also taught high school grade levels at the Chicago Academy for the Fine Arts in Chicago, Illinois. Novak earned her master of education degree in curriculum and instruction with secondary certification from Loyola University in Chicago, and her bachelor of arts degree from St. Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Indiana. Novak replaces Jana Garcia on the MAEF as a representative of education and is appointed to a four-year term that expires on January, 6, 2014.

Pinto, of St. Paul, is an assistant Ramsey County Attorney, and previously was an attorney with the Robins, Kaplan, Miller and Ciresi law firm in Minneapolis, where he was a member of the firm’s recruiting team. Pinto holds graduate degrees in law and business administration from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, where he earned the Raven Award – the University honor society’s highest award, and his bachelor of arts degree cum laude from Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Pinto, who has been a member of the MAEF since 2007, is reappointed as a representative of business to a four-year term that expires on January 7, 2013.

Primm, of Minneapolis, is the chief executive officer of Vanguard Realty in Minneapolis. She was a teacher and advisor to at-risk students at Folwell Middle/Green Central Community School in Minneapolis, and is active in numerous professional associations and community organizations. Primm earned her doctorate degree in educational administration from Atlanta University in Atlanta, Georgia, master’s degrees in education and social work, and her bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota. Primm, who has been a member of the MAEF since 2004, is reappointed as a representative of education to another four-year term that expires on January 6, 2014.

Rosso, of St. Paul, works for the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Minnesota, where he handles outreach, marketing, media and communication, member recruitment and event planning. Previously, Rosso held positions in production with Century College Productions, production manager for KMWB-23 television’s “The Minnesota Experience”, and a camera operator for ESPN-Español. Rosso earned a degree in video production from Century College in White Bear Lake. Rosso replaces Ruthe Batulis on the MAEF as a representative of business and is appointed to complete a four-year term that expires on January 7, 2013.

Tetta, of Minneapolis, is a communications and development consultant, where she plans and implements development strategies for a variety of non-profit clients. She has a professional background in development, administration, and communications with a variety of non-profits, and also served as the executive director of the West Bank School of Music. Tetta earned her master of science degree in scientific and technical communications from the University of Washington in Seattle, and her bachelor of arts degree in communication studies from State University of New York in Oswego. Tetta replaces Keith Downey on the MAEF as a representative of business and is appointed to complete a four-year term that expires on January 7, 2013.

Williams Ridge, of West St. Paul, is the lead preschool teacher and a naturalist at the Dodge Nature Center in West St. Paul as well as the executive assistant and event manager with the Minnesota Independent School Forum. She previously served as the Dodge Nature Center’s preschool business manager and assistant director. She serves on the North American Association for Environmental Educators’ Early Childhood Environmental Education National Guidelines Writing Team. Williams Ridge earned her master of arts degree in education with an emphasis on early childhood education from Concordia University in St. Paul, and her bachelor of arts degree in biology from the University of Minnesota, Morris. Williams Ridge replaces Dennis Morrow on the MAEF as a representative of education and is appointed to complete a four-year term that expires on January 7, 2013.

The Minnesota Academic Excellence Foundation provides teachers with educational tools; administers the Education Quality Leadership Academy; offers workshops and training sessions to help school leaders improve school performance; and presents awards to outstanding students, educators, and supporters of education. MAEF is governed by a 21 member board of directors appointed by the Governor.