Saint Paul – Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced the appointment of Venora Hung, Tran Nhon, Tricia Perez, Mechelle Severson, Wilfred Tun Baw, and the reappointment of Bee Lee, Jodie Tanaka, and Mukhtar Thakur to the Council on Asian-Pacific Minnesotans.

Hung, of Golden Valley, attends the University of Minnesota School of Law and is a member of the University of Minnesota Board of Regents. She is a member of a number of professional associations including the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association. Hung holds a bachelor of science degree in finance and management information systems from the Carlson School of Management. She is appointed as a Chinese member to a four-year term that expires January 2, 2012. She replaces Yi Li You on the council.

Nhon, of Maplewood, is a management consultant serving clients in the area of minority economic development. He is the former executive director of the Minnesota Minority Supplier Development Council, and has served as a member of a number of career and business development councils. Nhon earned his masters of business arts degree from the University of Alberta, Canada and his bachelor of science degree in business administration from the University of Western Ontario. Nhon is appointed as a Vietnamese member to a four-year term that expires January 2, 2012. He replaces John Doan on the council.

Perez, of Edina, is a business development and public affairs assistant with UCare Minnesota. She holds an associate degree in liberal arts from Minneapolis Community and Technical College, and currently attends Metropolitan State University. Perez is a member of Athletes Committed to Educating Students, and participates in the D.A.R.E program. She is appointed as a member from Guam to fulfill a four-year term that expires January 4, 2010. Perez replaces Shahid Islam on the council.

Severson, of Rochester, is an independent diversity consultant who provides informational presentations in cultural awareness, poverty, communications and race. She coordinates summer education programs for the city of Rochester and is certified in alternative dispute resolution. Severson is the founder of Prejudice Reduction Workshops for students and teachers in K-12 education and serves on the Rochester Diversity Council. She holds a bachelor of arts degree in business administration from the University of Minnesota. Severson is appointed to a four-year term as a Filipina member. She replaces Alberto Poliarco on the council.

Tun Baw, of St. Paul, is a former educator from Burma who came to the Unites States as a refugee in 1998. He works as a project manager for the Karen Support Project at Vietnamese Social Services of Minnesota. Tun Baw is appointed as a Burmese member to fulfill a four-year term that expires January 5, 2009. He replaces Tin Win on the council.

Lee, of St. Paul, is a program manager for the English language learners department of the St. Paul public schools. In addition to his duties with the St. Paul public schools, Lee is a former instructor of Hmong language and culture at the University of Minnesota. He is actively involved in the Hmong community and plays the drums in a local Hmong band. Lee has a master of arts degree in teaching and learning from St. Mary’s University. Lee is reappointed as the Hmong member to a four-year term that ends January 2, 2012.

Tanaka, of Shorewood, is the CEO of Tempo Creative Consultants, a marketing, communications, advertising, and design firm in the Twin Cities. She has been involved in the communications industry for over 20 years and has been recognized as a leader in the business community by the Metropolitan Economic Development Association. She is the current chair of the Council on Asian-Pacific Minnesotans. Tanaka is reappointed as the Japanese member of the board to a four-year term that expires January 2, 2012.

Thakur, of Woodbury, is a civil engineer and director of the Office of Technical Support with the Minnesota Department of Transportation. Prior to his 20 years with the State of Minnesota, Thakur worked globally in Tanzania, Great Britain, and the Middle East. He is the creator and executive producer of two PBS programs that air in the Twin Cities and speaks five languages. Thakur is reappointed as the Asian Indian member to a four-year term that expires January 2, 2012.

The Council on Asian-Pacific Minnesotans advises the Governor and the legislature on issues encountered by Asian-Pacific people in Minnesota. The council is made up of 23 members, 19 are appointed by the Governor to represent the Asian-Pacific community.