The Star is given to an individual who has demonstrated outstanding commitment to supplier diversity, fostering inclusivity, and driving positive change within the University and our community. 

This year’s award goes to Paying Thao at the School of Social Work, Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare. 

Paying serves as the Administrative Finance and Program Support in which she oversees and processes all the finances for her department including her office’s targeted spend. 

Paying first learned about targeted group businesses from last year’s Supplier Diversity Expo. She shares that by attending the Expo, she felt inspired and sought out more information on what it means to use and support BIPOC, Women, and Disabled-owned businesses to meet their office needs. When staff are in search of suppliers, she intentionally seeks out and provides staff with targeted suppliers to select from. 

This award is given to a prime contractor in construction who has shown unwavering commitment and support to Targeted Businesses, and who continue to meet or exceed proposed inclusion goals in constructive disciplines. 

The Prime Contractor of the Year award goes to Loeffler Construction. 

Loeffler’s story is a pretty fantastic one. As a former Targeted Group Business (TGB), they responded to 20 RFPs before landing their first University project. 

Loeffler reached out to the OSD to co-host a speed-networking event where their project managers met one-on-one with diverse trade business owners. It was so effective, and now hoping to co-host more of these round-robin sessions with them and other prime contractors in the future.

The Supplier of the Year award recognizes a supplier of goods or services who has shown commitment and support to Targeted Businesses.

The 2025 Supplier of the Year goes to Allied Blacktop Company. 

Allied Blacktop was awarded the 2024 Annual Asphalt Maintenance Services for the Twin Cities Campus. They committed 10% of their proposal to subcontracting with Restoration and Construction Services, a Targeted Business. The actual payment to Restoration and Construction Services was 25 percent of the contract, which was more than double Allied’s original Targeted Business commitment.

The Stellar Award goes to Targeted Businesses to recognize their commitment to building a business that encourages inclusion and embraces diversity.

Five businesses were awarded the Stellar Award this year:

• Big Spirit
• DeYoung Consulting
• KW Specialty Services
• Namaste Brows & Boutique
• Pihlstrom Consulting Group

The first Stellar Award goes to Shanne Soulier, CEO and founder of Big Spirit Inc.

Big Spirit Inc. is a strategic marketing, creative design, and consulting agency with a personalized promotional products supply division. They also offer graphic design and branding, and custom print, packaging, and fulfillment services. 

They specialize in serving major non-profits, tribal entities, educational institutions, state agencies, and mission-oriented organizations; Big Spirit understands the marketing goals and the cultural perspectives that shape these organizations’ missions. 

The second Stellar Award for a Targeted Business goes to Karen DeYoung, founder of DeYoung Consulting.

DeYoung Consulting is a values-driven and collaborative consulting firm that helps organizations untangle interconnected issues to clearly identify and achieve what matters most.

They do that by facilitating an inclusive exploration of possibilities and authentically uplifting the stories of communities, partners, clients, leaders, and employees to chart a path forward. In moving from dialogue to action, we balance meticulousness and reflection with urgency and momentum.

In FY25, DeYoung Consulting worked on 4 different projects with 3 different departments: the U of M Libraries, the College of Food and Natural Sciences, and the Medical School’s Dean’s Office.

The third Stellar Award for a Targeted Business goes to  Charlotte Nisleit, owner of KW Specialty Services, a Mechanical Insulation & Scaffold Contractor located in St. Paul, MN.

Established in 2008, KW is a union contractor who has worked on the following U projects:

• Scaffold:
  • Fraser Hall Project Scaffold for 3 different contractors- Mortenson- Berg- Horwitz
  • Carlson School of Business- JE Dunn
  • Dwan Building-LS Black
  • UMN Arboretum –- Loeffler
• Mechanical Insulation:
  • Shepherd Lab Building- Knutson-Egan- 2 year project
  • UMN Northrop- Stage Project- JE Dunn- MMC
  • Operations Building – McGough- Egan
  • Hasselmo Hall Cyro Lab Project- Terra Construction- Spriggs

Just as importantly, Charlotte has been eager to share tips for winning work at the U to other small business owners in the trades. It is because of Charlotte that we are hosting a panel of trade partners will share their secrets for success.

The fourth Stellar Award for a Targeted Business goes to Jeena Gurung Vumhof, owner of Namaste Brows & Boutique.

Jeena Gurung Vumhof was nominated by 6 different individuals, which makes a new AIR Awards record! One record from Lynn Herbert of the Women’s Business Dev Center:

Through her boutique, Jeena creates market access for Nepali artisans, while also offering mentorship, connection, and encouragement to emerging small business owners across Minnesota. Her work directly furthers the mission of the Office for Supplier Diversity by promoting inclusive economic growth and fostering equitable opportunities for all suppliers.

Beyond her business, Jeena’s leadership includes serving on the City of Roseville’s Human Rights, Inclusion, and Engagement Commission; the board of Do Good Roseville; and the Rice & Larpenteur Alliance—advancing equity, fostering belonging, and strengthening neighborhoods. She is an active volunteer with WomenVenture and Junior Achievement, a graduate of the St. Paul Area Chamber’s Leadership Saint Paul program, and recently had her story featured at the Chamber’s Annual Meeting under the theme “The Power of One.”

Jeena volunteers regularly at local senior living centers, befriending and supporting seniors, and works with nonprofits to organize “mom showers” for teen mothers—bringing joy, resources, and dignity to young women navigating motherhood in challenging circumstances.

The fifth Stellar Award for a Targeted Business goes to Armetha Pihlstrom, founder of Pihlstrom Consulting Group

PCG is a future-forward consulting firm helping brands become household names through strategic growth, cultural relevance, and values-driven innovation. Founded by Armetha Pihlstrom, a dynamic Black woman entrepreneur and CEO. PCG is built on the belief that business should be both impactful and intentional.

PCG specializes in developing long-term partnerships and delivering the blueprint for accelerated growth, go-to-market success, and brand elevation. If you're ready to scale with purpose, we’re ready to partner.

Armetha’s leadership in the plant-based sector is especially notable. Armetha helped launch and shape the Pioneer brand and proudly partnered with Impossible Foods as PCG’s first client. This is a relationship that continues today through her role as a shareholder. Her work reflects a deep commitment to advancing plant-based solutions for a healthier planet and more equitable food systems.

Armetha is an U of M alum. She holds a Master’s degree in Human Resources Development and Organizational Change Management, and a BSB in Human Resources and Industrial Relations from the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management.

Armetha is a driving force and mentor to many. Armetha inspires rising women entrepreneurs and elevates all entrepreneurs around her. She believes in everyone’s success. 

In 1999, Richard Pfutzenreuter created the Office for Business & Community Economic Development, which is today the Office for Supplier Diversity. 

The Richard Pfutzenreuter III Award of Excellence was created in 2001, to honor Mr. Pfutzenreuter and to recognize university executives who exemplify his unwavering support to diversity and inclusion at the University of Minnesota. 

This year’s FITZ award goes to Kate Nelson, the Director of Campus Sustainability at the U of M Twin Cities Office for Campus Sustainability to recognize Kate for her proactive dedication to ensuring equitable bidding opportunities.

Last spring, during the very early planning stages of a solar installation project, Kate proactively reached out to OSD. She invited a team member to join her in a meeting with our office, and asked to learn best practices for writing RFPs that would actively welcome and encourage the widest possible range of bidders.

This year three awards go to University departments who have shown outstanding commitment to supplier diversity.

This can involve either pure numbers that show a significant percent of their available spend on Targeted Businesses, OR the effort they make to discover and request quotes from Targeted Businesses. 

The University Departments who won AIR Awards are: 

• School of Public Health
• Facilities Management - West Bank District
• School of Social Work Multidisciplinary Institute for Child Welfare, or MICW

In the 2025 fiscal year, the School of Public Health spent almost 5% of their external budget on 35 separate Targeted Businesses. With every purchase, they were intentional in considering and inviting a wide range of small and local businesses for bidding opportunities.

SPH Remarks: On behalf of the faculty, staff, and students in the School of Public Health, we would like to thank the Office of Supplier Diversity for this 2025 AIR Award. We believe that supporting small, local, and developing businesses contributes to healthier communities, which is directly tied to our school’s mission. We plan to continue this work and look forward to more partnerships with the OSD and local businesses.

The West Bank District’s commitment to equitable bidding opportunities at the U was demonstrated this past year through a fire extinguisher inspection contract. By unbundling what was originally one large contract, they successfully awarded the West Bank District portion to Paramount, a local and service-disabled veteran-owned company.

Farrukh’s Remarks: I believe that responsible sourcing and inclusion is not just a regulatory or social obligation; it is a strategic business decision and a moral commitment for us. By integrating this initiative into our operations, we are creating a more resilient and innovative campus while authentically upholding our values of stewardship, integrity, sustainability and respect.

For FY25, MICW spent an astonishing 25% of their available external spend on Targeted Businesses. Their dedication is evident not just in their results, but in their actions. Last year, eight staff members from MICW attended this very Expo, and this year, they are here again, eight strong! That level of consistent engagement shows a genuine, team-wide investment in our mission.

MICW Remarks: At the Multidisciplinary Institute for Child Welfare, our commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging is not just a stated value—it’s a guiding principle. In alignment with that commitment, we intentionally seek out diverse suppliers whose contributions help us fulfill our mission: "to [advance] the knowledge, skill, and well-being of child welfare and allied professionals through research, policy, training, and education." We are honored to receive this award and thank the Office of Supplier Diversity for the recognition.

The Catalyst Partner Award, recognizes a business or organization for their impactful dedication and work towards advancing responsible sourcing and supplier inclusion across the industry.

This year's award is presented to The Association of Women Contractors, or AWC.

The AWC is a true catalyst for change in the construction industry. 
Their commitment to empowerment is undeniable. Since its inception in 1995, the AWC has grown into a diverse community of over 200 professionals working on some of the largest projects right here in Minnesota.

And since 2001, their scholarship program has awarded over $300,000 to underrepresented groups entering the construction field. AWC has also won Finance and Commerce's 'Empowering Women' award for two the last two years in a row. As they celebrate their incredible 30th anniversary this year, AWC continues to differentiate itself through the extraordinary willingness of its members to lend a helping hand.

Led by their Executive Director of 17 years, Barb Lau, AWC is built on a core foundation of teamwork and collaboration—the very principles that drive supplier inclusion.