Target Corp.

The nation's No. 2 retail discount chain, Target has established a reputation for "cheap but chic" by offering upscale, fashion-forward merchandise through its 1,685 Target and Super Target stores in 48 states as well as through Target.com.

Ranked No. 31 on the Fortune 500 list and the third largest company in the Minnesota Census sample, Target has a board comprised of 13 directors, four of whom are women (30.8%). Two of the women come from financial services, one from retail services and one from manufacturing:

• Roxanne Austin, president, Austin Investment Advisors;
• Mary N. Dillon, executive vice president and global chief marketing officer, McDonald's Corp.;
• Mary E. Minnick, partner, Lion Capital; and
• Anne M. Mulcahy, chair of the board and chief executive officer, Xerox Corp.
• Roxanne Austin chairs the audit committee, and Anne Mulcahy chairs the finance committee and serves on the nominating committee.

Three of Target's 10 executive officers are women (30%). These include Jodeen A. Kozlak, executive vice president, human resources; Kathryn A. Tesija, executive vice president, merchandising; and Beth Jacob, senior vice president and chief information officer.

MTS Systems Corp.

MTS Systems is a leading global supplier of test systems and industrial position sensors. The company's testing hardware and software solutions help customers accelerate and improve their design, development and manufacturing processes and are used for determining the mechanical behavior of materials, products and structures. MTS had 1,575 employees and revenues of over $400 million in 2007. The board of directors of MTS Systems is comprised of eight directors, three of whom are women (37.5%):

• Laura B. Hamilton, president and chief executive officer of MTS Systems, was appointed chair of the board as of September 2008 after serving as a board director since 2007.
• Lois S. Martin, senior vice president and chief financial officer of Capella Education Co., has served on the MTS Systems board since 2006.
• Barb J. Samardzich, vice president of Ford Motor Co. and vice president of Powertrain Engineering, received her appointment to the MTS board in 2001.

In addition, MTS Systems has appointed three women executive officers among a total of five executive officer positions (60%). These include Laura B. Hamilton, president and chief executive officer; Susan E. Knight, chief financial officer and vice president; and Kathleen M. Staby, vice president, human resources.