Allison Campbell Jensen

A dash of chutzpah distinguishes The Innovatives, whom I interviewed for the April 2011 Twin Cities Business, including Olga Selifonova, green chemistry entrepreneur, who wants to establish “the bio-based capital of the world in the Twin Cities.” Good on her for that ambitious goal. For Abir Sen, CEO of Bloom Health, the goal has been the same—improving the health care business—but he’s co-founded three companies along the way. And the force behind Medtronic‘s “hospital of the future” project, Paul Thompson, keeps finding new problems to solve in a company renowned for innovation. Jennifer Ford Ready revamped philanthropy with GiveMN. Engaging ideas, implementing changes, envisioning the future—these innovative Minnesotans are downright fresh.

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Recycle an aluminum can, save enough energy to power your TV for three hours. Hockey mom Pamela Huey shared this fact with me for the “Earth Day, Every Day” special section in the April issue of Mpls.St.Paul magazine. She was one of many encouraging people I spoke with who make intentional choices to be Earth-friendly. Passionate recycler Nancy Lo shares insights and information on her Trashbasher blog. Eric Hofstad, one of the Minnesota Energy Challenge competitors, keeps his thermostat set low in winter, no AC in summer—and avoids packaging at the market. Can you compete?

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Even among the primary colors and fun shapes of the decor of the Minneapolis Children’s Hospital, the Geek Squad’s orange wall stands out. A first among U.S. hospitals, the Geek Squad arrived at Children’s in 2009—services donated by Best Buy—to help patients and their families cope with glitches and smooth connections using technology, as told in my story in Minnesota Medicine.

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