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Name: Kaplan, Samuel
Current Position: Previous Ambassador

Samuel L. Kaplan was sworn in as U.S. Ambassador to Morocco on September 18, 2009. He earned his B.B.A. degree from the University of Minnesota in 1957 and his J.D. degree from the University of Minnesota in 1960. He worked as an adjunct professor of law during the early years following law school graduation, and is often a visiting lecturer at law schools and a speaker at continuing legal education programs. Kaplan is a founding member and president of the law firm of Kaplan, Strangis and Kaplan, P.A., established in Minneapolis in 1978. Kaplan has served on the boards of directors of several publicly held companies, and at present sits on the board of investment bank PiperJaffray. With his business partner Ralph Strangis, Kaplan owns numerous nursing homes and senior housing facilities in the Upper Midwest, apartment facilities in the St. Cloud, Minnesota area. In 1988, Kaplan and Strangis organized Windsor Bancshares, Inc. which owned Bank Windsor, operating at several locations in the State of Minnesota. That company was later acquired by Associated Banc-Corp. Kaplan was also an organizer and former president and director of Banking Corporation of Florida, which owned First Florida Bank in Naples, Florida. That company was later acquired by Synovus Financial Corp.

 
Kaplan has long been involved in Democratic Party affairs and served as chairman of Senator Paul Wellstone’s successful 1990 and 1996 election and reelection campaigns. He now serves as a member of the Board of Directors of Wellstone Action. He was substantially involved in Tom Harkin’s 1992 and Bill Bradley’s 1996 presidential campaigns in Minnesota, as well as R.T. Rybak’s campaigns for Mayor of Minneapolis and campaigns for numerous congressional candidates. He also served as one of the chairs of John Kerry’s 2004 presidential campaign in Minnesota. He was a member of the National Finance Committee of Barack Obama’s Presidential campaign. Since 1989, Kaplan and his wife have donated $269,396 to Democratic candidates and organizations, including $55,500 to the Democratic National Committee, $28,275 to the Minnesota Democratic Farmer Labor Party, and $4,600 to the presidential campaign of Barack Obama. 
 
Mr. Kaplan is married to Sylvia Chessen Kaplan. They have six children and thirteen grandchildren.
 
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