GPM Profiles

Frank Vargas

Frank is a classic product of America’s cultural and racial melting pot. Born in Wichita, Kansas, his father’s family was of the Mescalero Apache Tribe and his mother’s family immigrated from Mexico but were of French, German, and Native American descent. Hard work won him admission to Harvard College and, later, the University of California Berkeley, where he earned dual JD/MBA degrees. Since coming to Minnesota over 20 years ago, Frank has pursued careers in investment banking, corporate finance, and as an attorney advising business entrepreneurs. While his credentials allow him to work anywhere he wishes, he is now on his second tour of duty with Gray Plant Mooty.

“When I first moved here and started attending board meetings, people would look at me because I didn’t ‘look like Minnesota.’ But when I joined Gray Plant Mooty, nobody looked at me in that way. I think one of the distinguishing things about our firm is that it is an easy place to be if you are different. People are looked at for who they are, not what they look like. That’s important to me, because I don’t want to be treated better or worse for being a minority. I just want to be treated the same. That’s what happens here, and that’s why it is a great place to work.”

Angie Jesme

Angie is the picture of someone unafraid to tackle new challenges. Originally hired as a receptionist in 1991, her duties at Gray Plant Mooty have expanded to include project support for several departments, including accounting, human resources, and marketing. While Angie’s determination to excel clearly shows in her work, her independent spirit goes well beyond the office. Despite physical limitations that have caused her to use a wheelchair since childhood, she navigates the downtown Minneapolis streets and skyways with practiced ease. During the business day, her constant companion is Dozer, a service dog that Angie has had for two years.

“This firm and its people have always embraced me openly. At my wedding, a number of attorneys said they felt like they were at a family reunion because there were so many current and former Gray Plant Mooty people in attendance. Those comments are a testament to my 19 years with the firm. I’m a coworker, but also friends, with people at all levels of Gray Plant Mooty. They may not be related to me by blood, but they are family.”

Inchan Hwang

Japan America Society of Minnesota (JASM)

Fluent in both Japanese and Korean, Gray Plant Mooty attorney Inchan Hwang’s international business experience and work in business law made him an ideal fit as a board member of the Japan America Society of Minnesota (JASM) and cochair of its chamber of commerce, which provides support services for Upper Midwest companies seeking to do business in Japan.

“A successful, full-service law firm must meet the expectations of a diverse group of clients facing a wide range of issues, and employees with diverse interests and experiences can help the firm meet those expectations. Gray Plant Mooty understands that diversity is good for employees, the firm, and, ultimately, the clients.”

 Judith Bevin Langevin

Growing up along Florida’s Gulf Coast in the 1950s and 1960s, Judy Langevin gradually came to realize that quality of life often depended less on what one did than on how one looked. Her understanding of the cruelty of racism, which only intensified during Judy’s undergraduate years at the University of California Berkeley, fueled a lifelong commitment to social justice and racial equality. At Gray Plant Mooty, she found a place where her professional goals and personal standards could effectively coexist. While the world has clearly made strides on race and gender issues since the turbulent 1960s, Judy knows all too well that constant vigilance is the key to success.

“Running a law firm requires much more than sitting around thinking deeply about discrimination issues, but I think that everything we do as mentors and managers must be consistent with a belief in fundamental fairness. To me, promoting diversity at Gray Plant Mooty is exactly the same as promoting fundamental fairness, and both are essential to the success of the firm. Gray Plant Mooty has a culture that is very much based on respect, kindness, and the long view. If we can maintain our current efforts to promote and embrace diversity, that will only add to our long-term viability.”