[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 82 (Thursday, May 29, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E860]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         HONORING RANI ENGINEERING & PRESIDENT SUSAN PARK RANI

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. KEITH ELLISON

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 29, 2014

  Mr. ELLISON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Susan Park 
Rani on being named one of eleven ``Champions of Change'' by the White 
House for ensuring that our transportation facilities, services, and 
jobs help connect individuals and their communities to greater 
opportunities.
   Ms. Rani is the Founder and the President of Rani Engineering, which 
has grown from having two employees and a vision to a team of more than 
45 people with offices in Minnesota, California and South Dakota. Under 
Ms. Rani's leadership, Rani Engineering has worked to deliver high-
quality solutions and build long lasting relationships within the 
communities she serves. As a result of the company's efforts, Rani 
Engineering was named the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) 
Contractor of the Year in 2012 by the Minnesota Department of 
Transportation.
   Ms. Rani is an inspiration for women, minorities, immigrants and 
anyone who aspires to start their own business. She moved to the United 
States as a child from South Korea without knowing English, but 
excelled in school and obtained a civil engineering degree in 1993. She 
is one of the first minority women to own an engineering firm in 
Minnesota. There is no doubt that Ms. Rani's ambition and dedication 
have enabled her company to compete with the largest institutions in 
the industry.
   Ms. Rani's many achievements have been recognized by regional groups 
and national organizations. She has earned the Minority Business Award 
for Small Business Excellence by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business 
Journal, Debener Award for Small Business Growth by St. Paul Area 
Chamber of Commerce, Engineering Excellence Award by the American 
Consulting Engineering Companies, SBA Emerging 200 by the U.S. Small 
Business Administration and many more highly renowned awards.
   With her past positions on the boards of the American Consulting 
Engineering Companies of Minnesota, the St. Paul Area Chamber of 
Commerce, Mounds Park Academy, the Association of Women Contractors, 
and the National Association of Minority Contractors, Upper Midwest 
along with her recent position on the Destination Medical Center 
Corporation Board, she is inarguably a Champion of Change.
   I commend Ms. Rani on her award and her thoughtful contributions as 
both an entrepreneur and as an excellent member of the community.

                          ____________________