Ridgway's leadership and service continues to have an extraordinary impact on the Twin Cities community
Minneapolis/St. Louis Paul – The Minneapolis/St. Louis Paul Business Journal today named Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx Chief Impact Officer Jennifer Ridgway as a 2024 Women in Business honoree. Ridgway joined the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx in 2018 as vice president of social responsibility and executive director of the Fast Break Foundation. During her tenure, she received several promotions and was recently named Chief Impact Officer. Since joining the organization, Ridgway has become entrenched in the nonprofit and civic community, using sports as a vehicle for change.
“I am humbled and honored to join such an inspiring and outstanding group of women leaders in our community,” Ridgway said.
“Jen is a servant leader whose influence extends far beyond the organization,” Timberwolves and Lynx CEO Ethan Casson said. “Her dedication, passion and tireless work in the community truly made a difference in the lives of so many people. We are delighted to see her receive this well-deserved recognition.”
Ridgway will be responsible for creating the organization's robust “Pack the Vote” platform, providing nonpartisan voter resources for elections. Under her leadership, she positioned the organization as a key supporter of the “Restore the Vote” effort in Minnesota. Additionally, she was instrumental in the organization's partnership with the National Basketball Social Justice Coalition to support the right to register and vote for more than 50,000 formerly incarcerated or paroled Minnesotans. This effort earned the organization the prestigious 2023-24 NBA Inclusion Leadership Award.
Ridgway works with organizations such as Building Bridges Through Basketball, the Minneapolis Foundation's Safe Communities Fund, NBA/WNBA Team Up for Change, and RISE, which unite young people from diverse backgrounds to improve race relations and build cultural competency. Launched important programs and partnerships using the team's platform to deliver (the Ross Initiative in Sport for Equality).
The Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal's Women in Business Awards celebrate the professional success and community involvement of the Twin Cities' top executives, nonprofit leaders, entrepreneurs and business owners.
Business Journal will announce the names of this year's winners in an online article and special email over five days (March 18-22). All 2024 award winners will be published in the May 17 issue of Women in Business magazine and recognized at a high-profile luncheon and exhibition on May 17.
