Bill Text: MN SR66 | 2023-2024 | 93rd Legislature | Draft
Bill Title: A Senate resolution honoring Michael Cherwayia Thao for a lifetime of community service
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-02-12 - Referred to Rules and Administration [SR66 Detail]
Download: Minnesota-2023-SR66-Draft.html
1.1A Senate resolution
1.2honoring Michael Cherwayia Thao for a lifetime of community service.
1.3WHEREAS, Mr. Michael Cherwayia Thao was born on April 2, 1965, in the city of Pham
1.4Nau, Long Cheng, Laos, to Mr. and Mrs. Tong Xao Thao and was the second of four children; and
1.5WHEREAS, Mr. Thao immigrated to St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1978 and has resided in the
1.6great state of Minnesota ever since, contributing to the community as a state employee, successful
1.7businessman, political activist, and volunteer; and
1.8WHEREAS, Mr. Thao graduated from Augsburg College in 1991 with a Bachelor of Science
1.9in computer science and minors in mathematics and physics; and
1.10WHEREAS, from 1990 to 2009, Mr. Thao served the state as a system analyst at the
1.11Department of Human Services; and
1.12WHEREAS, Mr. Thao is also a businessman with a passion for helping one family at a time
1.13to build generational wealth. By 2008, Mr. Thao owned several businesses such as Partners Enterprise
1.14Realty, LLC; MCT Tax Services, Inc.; and Generational Properties, Inc. In 2022, he worked with
1.15the city of St. Paul to build an affordable 60-unit apartment complex on the East Side; and
1.16WHEREAS, Mr. Thao served the community as a political activist, fulfilling roles such as
1.17co-founder and treasurer of the Hmong American DFL Caucus. He was instrumental in helping
1.18many people to elected office, including St. Paul School Board Members Neal Thao and Al Ortwig;
1.19Councilmember Dai Thao; State Senators John Marty, Ellen R. Anderson, Mee Moua, and Foung
1.20Hawj; Congressman Bruce Vento; and United States Senator Paul Wellstone; and
1.21WHEREAS, Mr. Thao also actively serves in leadership roles as Vice President of Thao
1.22United National, Inc., Chair of Gold Medalist Sunisa Lee Welcome Celebration Committee, treasurer
1.23of Hmong Youth Association of Minnesota, Inc., co-founder of Minnesota Hmong Chamber, board
1.24member of North East Neighborhood Development Corporation, chairperson of Hmong American
1.25New Year Pageant Committee, and hosts a local Hmong radio and television program; and
1.26WHEREAS, Mr. Thao is most notable for his leadership and fundraising with the Minnesota
1.27Hmong-Lao Veterans Statue Committee to establish a monument to commemorate the fallen soldiers
1.28of the "Secret War" in Laos; and
1.29WHEREAS, Mr. Thao will continue to serve the communities he resides in and the great
1.30state of Minnesota; and
1.31NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the State of Minnesota that it
1.32recognizes Michael Cherwayia Thao for a lifetime of community service.
1.33BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is directed to prepare an
1.34enrolled copy of this resolution, to be authenticated by the Secretary's signature and that of the
1.35Chair of the Senate Rules and Administration Committee, and transmit it to Michael Cherwayia
1.36Thao.
1.2honoring Michael Cherwayia Thao for a lifetime of community service.
1.3WHEREAS, Mr. Michael Cherwayia Thao was born on April 2, 1965, in the city of Pham
1.4Nau, Long Cheng, Laos, to Mr. and Mrs. Tong Xao Thao and was the second of four children; and
1.5WHEREAS, Mr. Thao immigrated to St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1978 and has resided in the
1.6great state of Minnesota ever since, contributing to the community as a state employee, successful
1.7businessman, political activist, and volunteer; and
1.8WHEREAS, Mr. Thao graduated from Augsburg College in 1991 with a Bachelor of Science
1.9in computer science and minors in mathematics and physics; and
1.10WHEREAS, from 1990 to 2009, Mr. Thao served the state as a system analyst at the
1.11Department of Human Services; and
1.12WHEREAS, Mr. Thao is also a businessman with a passion for helping one family at a time
1.13to build generational wealth. By 2008, Mr. Thao owned several businesses such as Partners Enterprise
1.14Realty, LLC; MCT Tax Services, Inc.; and Generational Properties, Inc. In 2022, he worked with
1.15the city of St. Paul to build an affordable 60-unit apartment complex on the East Side; and
1.16WHEREAS, Mr. Thao served the community as a political activist, fulfilling roles such as
1.17co-founder and treasurer of the Hmong American DFL Caucus. He was instrumental in helping
1.18many people to elected office, including St. Paul School Board Members Neal Thao and Al Ortwig;
1.19Councilmember Dai Thao; State Senators John Marty, Ellen R. Anderson, Mee Moua, and Foung
1.20Hawj; Congressman Bruce Vento; and United States Senator Paul Wellstone; and
1.21WHEREAS, Mr. Thao also actively serves in leadership roles as Vice President of Thao
1.22United National, Inc., Chair of Gold Medalist Sunisa Lee Welcome Celebration Committee, treasurer
1.23of Hmong Youth Association of Minnesota, Inc., co-founder of Minnesota Hmong Chamber, board
1.24member of North East Neighborhood Development Corporation, chairperson of Hmong American
1.25New Year Pageant Committee, and hosts a local Hmong radio and television program; and
1.26WHEREAS, Mr. Thao is most notable for his leadership and fundraising with the Minnesota
1.27Hmong-Lao Veterans Statue Committee to establish a monument to commemorate the fallen soldiers
1.28of the "Secret War" in Laos; and
1.29WHEREAS, Mr. Thao will continue to serve the communities he resides in and the great
1.30state of Minnesota; and
1.31NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the State of Minnesota that it
1.32recognizes Michael Cherwayia Thao for a lifetime of community service.
1.33BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is directed to prepare an
1.34enrolled copy of this resolution, to be authenticated by the Secretary's signature and that of the
1.35Chair of the Senate Rules and Administration Committee, and transmit it to Michael Cherwayia
1.36Thao.
| Tom BotternSecretary of the Senate | Kari DziedzicChair, Senate Committee onRules and Administration |
| Foung HawjState Senator, District 67 |
