General Session
Organizational Change Workshops
Integrated Service Models Workshops
General Session
Sarah Caruso is president and chief executive officer of Greater Twin Cities United Way, the largest nonprofit social service agency in Minnesota and the second largest United Way in the country. In 2009, Greater Twin Cities United Way raised over $94 million to help the communities it serves solve its most pressing issues in the areas of basic needs, health and education. As CEO, she oversees the organization’s progress against 10 measurable goals developed to create pathways out of poverty for the region’s most vulnerable citizens.
Caruso began her career in the business world, primarily at General Mills where she managed some of the largest consumer brands in the U.S., including Cheerios and Wheaties. She has received numerous national industry awards and citations for her marketing skills.
Caruso has a Masters in Business Administration from Stanford University and a Bachelor of Arts with high honors in economics from Smith College. She lives in Minneapolis with her husband and three teenage children.
Ellen Goldberg Luger, executive director, General Mills Foundation and vice president, General Mills, Inc., joined the General Mills Foundation in 1997. Earlier, Luger practiced corporate law in private practice and as a corporate lawyer for Best Foods, and practiced and was a partner at Leonard, Street and Deinard, P.A., Minneapolis. She graduated with a B.A. from Wellesley College -Magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa, with Honors in Political Science and Sociology, J.D., Georgetown University Law Center.
Ellen’s current volunteer work includes: Trustee, Wellesley College; Breck School; Advisor, Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs Center for the Study of Politics and Governance; National Council on Foundations Committee on Corporate Grantmaking; and Conference Board’s Contributions Council.
Tom Stinson is an associate professor in the Department of Applied Economics at the University of Minnesota. Since 1987 he has also served as the Minnesota State Economist, where he supervises the preparation of the state’s revenue forecast. His current research interests include the impact of Minnesota’s changing age structure on the state’s economic and financial outlook.
He also is a member of the National Center for Food Protection and Defense, where he is studying the economic impact of terrorism. Stinson has published on a wide range of topics related to public finance. He received his Ph.D. in economics from the University of Minnesota in 1973.
Mary Brainerd has been a leader in health care since 1984. Prior to joining HealthPartners in 1992, Brainerd held senior level positions with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, including senior vice president and chief marketing officer. She was also senior vice president and chief executive officer of Blue Plus. Before that, she was a marketing instructor in the graduate program at Metropolitan State University.
Brainerd is one of the founding CEOs of the Itasca Project, a group of 40 government, civic and business leaders addressing the issues that impact long-term economic growth, including jobs, education, transportation, and economic disparities. She also serves on the boards of Minnesota Life/Securian, Minnesota Council of Health Plans, The St. Paul Foundation, Minneapolis Federal Reserve and SurModics.
Education: B.A., University of Minnesota, M.B.A., University of St. Thomas. Born and raised in St. Paul, Minnesota. Married with two children. Recipient of the Medal of Distinction from the College of St. Catherine in 1998. Named one of the Business Journal‘s Most Influential Women in Business, 1999 and 2002. Received the University of St. Thomas Award for Ethical Leadership in 2002. She was named Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal‘s 2007 Executive of the Year.
Steve Cramer, president and executive director rejoined Project for Pride in Living in August 2003, after serving as Director of the Hennepin County Department of Housing, Community Works & Transit, a post he assumed in February 2002. For the preceding three years he had served as Executive Director of the Minneapolis Community Development Agency. From 1994-1999, Cramer served as PPL’s Director of Housing and Development, CEO and finally President and Executive Director.
He was elected to the Minneapolis City Council and served as a council member from 1984-1993. Cramer received his M.A. in Public Affairs from the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota and his B.S. in Urban Planning from the University of Tulsa.
He currently serves on the Minnesota Task Force to End Homelessness, the Minnesota Multi Housing Association Board of Directors, and chairs the Minneapolis Consortium of Community Developers and the Minnesota Ballpark Authority. He has served on the House Minnesota Advisory Committee, Fannie Mae National Housing Impact Advisory Committee, Catholic Charities Board of Directors, St. Joseph’s Home for Children Advisory Board, and as vice chair of the Metropolitan Airports Commission.
MayKao Hang has served as the Wilder Foundation’s director of Children and Family Services since 2007; on July 1, 2010 she will assume new responsibilities as the sixth president and CEO of the Foundation. She graduated from Brown University, Providence, RI, with a B.A. in psychology. She holds a Master of Arts in Public Affairs from the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs and is currently a doctoral candidate in Public Administration at Hamline University, where she is studying private-public partnerships. Hang currently serves on the board of The Saint Paul and Minnesota Community Foundations, and past board appointments include Regions Hospital and HealthPartners.
Prior to joining the Wilder Foundation, Hang served as director of Adult Services for Ramsey County Human Services, a division annually serving approximately 15,000 individuals with disabilities, vulnerable adults, the elderly and persons experiencing chemical dependency or behavioral health issues. In 2009, Hang received the prestigious Ann Bancroft Dream Maker Award in recognition of her work with Hmong girls and women.
Mark Stenglein is Hennepin County Commissioner, Vice Chair of the County Board. After completing his undergraduate degree, Mark worked several years in the Middle East and Africa, spending one year in Kuwait City, Kuwait, and two years in Lagos, Nigeria. Mark worked primarily in accounting-related areas for several companies. In 1989, Mark opened Les Work Executive Suites & Business Support, leasing single-person offices to independent businesspeople, while also providing secretarial support services. Mark sold his company in 2000.
Mark was first elected as Hennepin County Commissioner in 1996 and subsequently re-elected in 2000, 2002 and 2006. Commissioner Stenglein was appointed Vice-Chair of the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners in 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2009. He currently serves as Chair of the Budget and Capital Investment Committee. His district of 160,000 residents encompasses St. Anthony, Northeast and North Minneapolis, Golden Valley, Medicine Lake, and portions of Crystal, New Hope, and Plymouth. His district is by far one of the most diverse in Hennepin County.
Valeria Silva began serving as the St. Paul Public School District’s Superintendent in December 16, 2009. Silva has served in a variety of roles at SPPS, most recently serving as chief Academic Officer. Prior to that assignment, she was director of English Language Learner Programs, principal at Adams Spanish Immersion School, assistant principal at Dayton’s Bluff Elementary, and coordinator of Spanish Immersion Program/Curriculum. She has also spent time as a specialist for Standards and Accommodations for the Minnesota Department of Education.
Silva holds B.A. degrees from St. Cloud State University and Pontificia University of Chile and M.A. and ED.S. degrees from the University of Minnesota. She also is a recent graduate of the prestigious Broad Superintendent’s Academy.
Organizational Change Workshops
Critical Times: Critical Board Questions
Judy Alnes has been executive director of MAP for Nonprofits since 1997. Since joining MAP, Judy has built the organization’s services to the nonprofit community and broadened community support for MAP.
Prior to joining MAP, Judy served as vice president, marketing and fund development at CommonBond Communities for four years and as director, Programs and Public Policy at Resources for Child Caring from 1990 to 1993. From 1978 to 1989, Judy served in a variety of positions at Control Data Corporation, including director of public affairs and vice president of individual and organizational development. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota and was a Mondale Fellow at the Hubert Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs from 1990 to 1991. Judy currently serves as the chair of the community advisory board of Twin Cities Public Television. Judy has held several leadership positions with the Greater Twin Cities United Way including board member and chair of the Council of Agency Executives.
Michael Wirth-Davis began his tenure November 1990 at Goodwill/Easter Seals of Minnesota. The $50 million organization with over 900 employees assists over 12,000 Minnesotans with barriers to education, employment, and independence achieve their goals. He and his board led a successful $15 million Capital Campaign. He has begun initiatives to strengthen the organization’s endowment.
Wirth-Davis has over 30 years of experience in a variety of nonprofit and community leadership positions, including Courage Center, the Ray Graham Association in Illinois and state-funded programs in California. Dr. Wirth-Davis combines visionary leadership with a pragmatic focus. He focuses on service excellence, innovation, financial stability, and growth.
Wirth-Davis is active in the local community. He serves on the boards of The Nonprofit Assistance Fund and Books for Africa. He is a member of Minnesota Council of Nonprofits Public Policy Advisory Committee. He has served on the board of the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits, the Midway YMCA and Northern Voices. He has served on the Baldrige Minnesota Quality Award Panel of Judges. He co-chaired a capital fund-raising campaign for his church.
Dr. Wirth-Davis is adjunct faculty for Hamline University’s School of Business Graduate Program in Nonprofit Management, teaching the core course of Governance and Planning. He was also faculty with Hamline’s program for faith-based organizations. He has served on the University’s Law and Graduate School’s Faculty Advisory Committee. He received the Outstanding Faculty Member of the Year Award in 2006.
He is also adjunct faculty for the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey Institute’s Center for Public and Nonprofit Leadership. He teaches the graduate core course: Governance and Management. Wirth-Davis is active nationally. He has been a member of Goodwill Industries International (GII) Board of Directors, chairing its Band Committee, and a member of its Leadership Development, Strategic Issues and Planning, Executive, and Global Advisory Committees. He also served as Secretary of GII’s Conference of Executives. He is the current Chair of the Easter Seals National Easter Seals Leadership Association and services on the Easter Seals National Board of Directors. He is in his 28thyear as a surveyor for CARF International, The Accreditation Commission.
Financial Forecasting: Data, Tools and Processes
Michael Anderson is responsible for advising nonprofits through the Nonprofits Assistance Fund loan application and review process, as well as throughout the lifecycle of the loan. He provides technical assistance as well as develops and delivers trainings and workshops on a wide variety of nonprofit financial management topics. He holds a Master of Public Policy degree from the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs. Michael serves as adjunct faculty at the University of Minnesota and on the Board of Directors of PRG, Inc., and a nonprofit community development corporation.
Healthcare Reform: Assessing the Impact to Minnesota
Lauren Gilchrist serves as health policy advisor to U.S. Senator Al Franken. Before joining Senator Franken’s staff, she was a public health policy fellow under U.S. Senator Edward Kennedy on the State Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. In addition to her health policy experience, Ms. Gilchrist is a graduate of the University of Minnesota School of Public Health and Wesleyan University.
Brian Osberg is the state medicaid director for the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS). He is responsible for federal Medicaid relations, state health care reform, and performance measurement and quality improvement efforts in Minnesota Health Care Programs. In addition, Osberg oversees purchasing of $2.8 billion in health care services from managed care plans which serve approximately two-thirds of the state’s nearly 700,000 program enrollees.
From 2002 to mid-2009, Osberg was the assistant commissioner of Health Care for DHS. Prior to joining DHS, Osberg was executive vice president of Oakwood Healthcare, Inc., and president and CEO of Michigan Affiliated Providers Company. He has more than 35 years of experience in health care management and policy.
Osberg earned a master’s degree in public health administration from the University of Minnesota, where he was on the adjunct faculty of the School of Public Health. He also served as board director and president of the Minnesota Comprehensive Health Association, a state insurance pool for uninsurable Minnesotans.
Donna Zimmerman is the senior vice president of government and community relations for HealthPartners, a nonprofit, consumer-governed health care organization in Bloomington, Minnesota. HealthPartners provides health care coverage to 1.25 million members in medical, dental, individual and Medicare/Medicaid products. She is responsible for developing and managing federal and state public policy and regulatory relationships, community affairs and Medicare sales for the HealthPartners organizations. She was previously the Director of Government Programs, with responsibility for the health plan Medicare and state public programs, including strategic planning, product development, and state and federal government relations. Her background is in community health administration and policy, with leadership and executive experience in public and nonprofit sectors.
Throughout her career she has consulted nationally on public/private partnerships and community health issues, holding national association leadership positions. She is on the boards of the Minnesota Council of Health Plans, the HealthPartners Research Foundation, the Minnesota Citizens League, the St. Paul Conservatory of Music, Human Services Incorporated and the Minnesota Chapter of the March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation. She also co-chairs the March of Dimes Western Region Public Affairs Committee.
In 2006 Donna was named as one of “25 Women to Watch” by the Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal. She has been recognized by the national March of Dimes with the Volunteer of the Year awards and the Elaine Whitelaw Volunteer Award in 2009. She holds a master’s degree in Public Health from the University of Minnesota and a bachelor’s degree in Nursing from St. Olaf College, Minnesota.
Optimizing Impact and Sustainibility: Strategic Realignment and Partnerships
Renae Oswald-Anderson joined MAP for Nonprofits in January 2009 to lead Project ReDesign’s work with nonprofits’ mergers. The new director position represents a continuation of Renae’s career in nonprofit management and leadership.
Prior to joining MAP, Renae served as vice president of community building for Neighborhood House, a multi-cultural community center and settlement house in St. Paul. While at Neighborhood House, she was responsible for operations for all programs and services serving more than 10,000 people annually. She helped lead Neighborhood House’s internal efforts to create a program evaluation; effectiveness department, forged new partnerships to develop and launch programs such as Family Literacy, a multicultural arts access program, and a community based college access resource center.
Renae has over 25 years experience in the nonprofit sector at many levels in both the Twin Cities and in Greater Minnesota. Prior to joining Neighborhood House, she was the Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President of Neighbor to Neighbor, a community center similar to Neighborhood House. From 1990-1998, she led the Good Neighbor Foundation, which she co-founded and directed until its merger with Capitol Community Services to form Neighbor to Neighbor. The Good Neighbor Foundation worked with older adults throughout the Twin Cities and south central Minnesota. Renae holds a bachelor’s degree in community health from Minnesota State University-Mankato, and a graduate degree in non-profit administration and management from Metropolitan State University. In 2008, she completed the Shannon Leadership Institute.
Jim D’Angelo is a management consultant and executive coach, D’Angelo Consulting. His consulting practice focuses on strategic restructuring, new program start-ups, quality assurance systems, crisis management and board development. Jim has over 30 years of experience in healthcare and social service environments, in both for-profit and nonprofit organizations. Most recently, Jim served as the president & chief executive officer at Nexus – a $40 million, 720 employee, nonprofit behavioral health agency with operating locations in Minnesota and Illinois. Jim possesses a MBA in Strategic Management and Organization from the University of Minnesota and a Master of Social Work (MSW) from the University of Oklahoma. His current consulting engagements include working with MAP for Nonprofits as a Project Redesign consultant helping nonprofits through all forms of strategic realignment up to and including mergers.
Social Enterprise: Earned Revenue Models
Kate Barr is executive director of Nonprofits Assistance Fund. Their mission is to foster community development and vitality by building financially healthy nonprofit organizations. Kate has led the organization’s growth as a premier resource for training, strategic financial counsel, and financing for nonprofit organizations. Kate was formerly a Senior Vice President at Riverside Bank. With her unique insight and experience, she is a popular speaker, trainer, and writer on nonprofit management and financial issues. Kate has a Master’s degree from Hamline University and is currently an adjunct faculty member at both Hamline and the University of Minnesota Humphrey Institute. She serves on the boards of directors of several nonprofits.
Kevin Lynch is president of Rebuild Resources, a $2.2 million non-profit social enterprise in St. Paul, Minnesota that helps addicts, alcoholics and ex-felons find a path to sobriety and self-sufficiency through a program of spiritual recovery and work. Rebuild’s business operations, include a custom apparel and promotional items business, and a contract manufacturer. Kevin spent 21 years in the advertising industry, the last 14 as founder and principal of Lynch Jarvis Jones, a social enterprise ad agency. Lynch, with co-author Julius Walls, Jr., is author of a just released book, Mission, Inc.: The Practitioner’s Guide To Social Enterprise. Kevin led the turnaround of Rebuild Resources, a nationally recognized social enterprise organization that provides transitional employment to individuals recovering from addiction.
Kevin holds a Bachelors of Science degree from Saint John’s University, is currently a board member of the Social Enterprise Alliance and has served on several national and local boards, including those of Social Venture Network, Headwaters Foundation for Justice, Twin Cities Community Gospel Choir, and (as the cofounder) Responsible Minnesota Business.
Trixie Ann Golberg has served as president and CEO of Lifetrack Resources, Inc, an award winning, nonprofit agency, serving the metro area for nearly 60 years since July 2006. With offices located in St. Paul and Minneapolis, Lifetrack Resources serves families, children and adults most challenged by poverty, trauma, and isolation. Lifetrack’s work focuses on employment; children’s safety, health and developmental progress; and physical, speech, sensory and mental health therapies. Lifetrack reaches nearly 10,000 people annually.
Lifetrack Resources has an annual budget of $11 million and 100 employees at their University Avenue headquarters and other office and partner sites throughout the metro. Lifetrack has built on its expertise in vocational services and at-risk children and families to become one of the largest non-profit providers of employment services and at-risk early childhood and family services in the East Metro with a recognized strength in serving a culturally diverse client base.
Trixie joined Lifetrack Resources in July, 2006. She has a Masters Degree in Public Services from DePaul University and an undergraduate degree from Minnesota State University, Moorhead.
Trixie has been honored as a Salzburg Seminar Fellow, a University of Minnesota Humphrey Institute Policy Fellow and a Blandin Community Leadership Alumni. Trixie serves as a member of the Ramsey County Workforce Investment Board and has previously served with Workforce Investment Initiatives in Southern Minnesota and Illinois.
Prior to joining Lifetrack Resources, Trixie, lead the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation for 12 years and developed and funded numerous initiatives in economic development, workforce advancement, early childhood, housing, diversity services and nonprofit development.
Armando Camacho, now president, joined Neighborhood House in May of 2008 from the Saint Paul Public School District, where he was assistant director of Alternative Learning Programs. He was also a principal for the Minneapolis Public School District, where his leadership of Whittier International Elementary School attracted national attention. During his tenure, Whittier earned International Baccalaureate certification, just one of his accomplishments that resulted in enrollment at the school increasing by over 70%. Shortly after becoming President of Neighborhood House, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce listed Armando among the top 25 on the Rise.
He attended the University of Saint Thomas and graduated from Saint Cloud State University with a bachelor’s degree in special education, and holds a master’s degree in education from Saint Mary’s University as well as Superintendent and Director of Community Education Licensures.
Technology: Increasing Service Capacity and Engaging End Users
Suzanne Koepplinger, M.A., is the executive director of the Minnesota Indian Women’s Resource Center. She has a background in international project development, communications, domestic violence advocacy, and fundraising. Suzanne serves on Boards for the American Indian Community Development Corporation Board and the Greater Twin Cities United Way. Civic/volunteer activities include serving on the Steering Committee of the Sheila Wellstone Institute, the FBI Civil Rights Advisory Group, and ArtSpace Diversity Task Force. Suzanne is of Canadian Mohawk and European ancestry, holds a Masters degree in the Art of Leadership from Augsburg College. She is the recipient of the Minneapolis FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award, the 2008 Sheila Wellstone Gold Watch Award from WATCH, and the 2010 Ruby Award from Soroptimist International.
Elaine Cunningham has worked for the Children’s Defense Fund Minnesota as the Outreach Director for the past nine years. CDF Minnesota is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that seeks to improve the lives of children and their families through research, education and policy development. Cunningham joined the staff to direct Covering Kids and Families, a health care outreach initiative to help enroll uninsured children into public health care programs. She is currently director of the Bridge to Benefits project, which grew out of the earlier health care initiative with the goal of improving the economic stability of low-income families by connecting them to an array of public work support programs and tax credits. Cunningham brought more than 20 years of experience in nonprofits to her current position, primarily in the fields of communications, public relations and outreach. Past employers include St. Joseph’s Hospital, United Way of Minneapolis Area and the University of Minnesota. She holds a BA degree in journalism from the University of Minnesota.
Laura Bernhardson is currently the account manager for SwimCreative, an advertising and marketing agency located in Duluth, Minnesota. She started her career as an Events & Marketing Operations Coordinator at Mall of America, which led to her position there as the Community Relations Specialist, where she was able to work daily with local nonprofit organizations. From there, she moved to the Muscular Dystrophy Association where she was the St. Paul District Director. In 2008 she moved to Duluth where she transitioned to the area through the United Way of Greater Duluth before becoming the Marketing, Communications & Events Specialist at the Miller-Dwan Foundation, which is a local hospital/health Foundation. Laura has a passion for social media and Internet marketing; she’s seen how powerful it can be, and the positive results that can transpire. Laura graduated from the University of St. Thomas with a B.A. in Marketing Management. Laura lives in Cloquet, Minnesota with her husband, Jake and their dog, Nala.
Beth Haukebo is the Deputy Director of the Family Supportive Housing Center, LLC which serves the member agencies of the Supportive Housing Provider Group through the exploration of needs and the provision of collaborative services. She has considerable experience working in affordable housing combining housing finance, property and asset management, and resident service planning and development. Ms. Haukebo has managed limited- equity and leasehold cooperatives and low-income rental, transitional and senior housing. Her experience also includes working with housing communities to identify capacity and unmet needs, create solution-oriented strategic plans, and secure resources to implement plans. Ms. Haukebo has designed career exploration and planning programs for special populations. She has received a national performance review award. She is the co-author of service-planning curricula and has authored several asset management publications. Currently she is working on the production and implementation of a web-based tool called the Asset Manager ™ and coordinating the Visible Child Initiative training series on healthy family development.
Trends in Philanthropy: National and Local Perspectives
Bruce Flessner is a principal at Bentz Whaley Flessner and has served hundreds of clients in his more than 25 years of consulting. Prior to founding the firm, he served as vice president of the University of Minnesota Foundation. Previous to that he was the annual fund director at Kalamazoo College, Michigan.
Bill Tippie is a principal at Bentz Whaley Flessner and leads the firm’s healthcare practice serving academic medical centers, healthcare systems and children’s hospitals. He has a particular interest in working with healthcare leaders to grow their philanthropic cultures leading to more robust fundraising programs. Prior to joining the firm in 1984, Mr. Tippie was vice president of a private fund-raising and marketing consulting firm, director of development for the Medical College of Wisconsin, development officer at the University of Minnesota Foundation, and director of annual giving at The Ohio State University.
Mr. Tippie holds a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from The Ohio State University. He is a member of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), and the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP), where he serves on the AHP Journal’s Advisory Council.
Bill King has managed the Minnesota Council on Foundations‘ education and professional development programs, strategic planning efforts, race and diversity initiatives and a variety of special projects.
Prior to joining the Council, King was a consultant in grant review and program development with several corporate and private foundations, primarily under contract with the ReliaStar Foundation and the Medtronic Foundation. He also spent six years as division manager for community development at the Greater Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce, where he managed the Keystone Awards Program (5% and 2% Corporate Contributions Programs), Leadership Minneapolis and a number of other community development programs. King’s nonprofit work experience includes five years with Red Cross Blood Services, first as a field representative in St. Paul, Minn., and then as director of donor resources in Wichita, Kansas.
King’s extensive community involvement has included serving on the boards of a number of local nonprofit organizations, including the St. Paul Chapter of the American Red Cross and the Charities Review Council of Minnesota. He currently serves on the board of directors of Philanthrofund Foundation, a community foundation serving the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities in the Upper Midwest. On the national level, King was a board member of the Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers in Washington, D.C., a national service association for philanthropy. King graduated from the University of Minnesota, Morris in 1973 with a B.S. in elementary education.
Integrated Service Models Workshops
Business and Non-profits: Partnering to Provide Services
Jeff Bradley is director of dry channel logistics at General Mills, his responsibilities include capacity planning for the Big G, Meals, Snacks and Baking Divisions. In addition, Jeff is responsible for deployment, transportation and warehousing operations for General Mills dry products.
Jeff has been with General Mills for 26 years and has held a variety of Manufacturing and Logistics positions at Pillsbury and more recently at General Mills. Prior to his current position, Jeff was responsible for Logistics leadership of the Temperature Controlled Channel. He has held a variety of corporate Logistics roles over the past 14 years. Before moving into Logistics functions, Jeff held a variety of positions in manufacturing plants from a Team Leader role to Plant Manager. Jeff was also a Plant Manager at Ralston Purina.
Jeff and his wife Mary have two daughters, Kris and Lauren. He has been very active in coaching both girls in traveling basketball. In his spare time, he is an avid, erratic golfer. Jeff was a long time member of the Board of Directors at Second Harvest Heartland food bank in the Twin Cities and held a variety of leadership roles on the board.
Jeff holds a BS in Business Management from Indiana University. He is a native of Philadelphia and is still rooting for the Philadelphia Eagles to win a Super Bowl.
Mary Jane Melendez is the associate director of community action at General Mills. Her responsibilities include management of the Foundation’s Social Services Grantmaking, the International “Local” Giving Program, General Mills product donations to Feeding America, and disaster relief support. She is the recipient of a 2009 General Mills Champions Award for her work on the company’s product donations program which helped to generate more than two million dollars worth of food donations for Feeding America Food Banks across the country.
Mary Jane currently serves on Greater Twin Cities United Way’s Food Acquisition Steering Team (FAST), a team that is focused on finding creative solutions to ending hunger in the Twin Cities and on the Minnesota Council on Foundations Annual Conference Committee. She has also served on the Minnesota Council on Foundations Program Officers Network Steering Committee. While at General Mills, Mary Jane has had the opportunity to take part in many volunteer activities. Some of those activities include volunteering with Minneapolis Crisis Nursery, Metro Meals on Wheels, and St. Joseph’s Home for Children and Second Harvest Heartland. Mary Jane received her undergraduate degree from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN where she recently earned her Master’s in Business Administration.
As Executive Director, Rob Zeaske has overall responsibility for leadership, planning and management of Second Harvest Heartland. Rob is a hopeful voice intent on finding more efficient and innovative ways to help neighbors in need. “We in hunger relief can see the finish line,” Rob likes to say. “In Minnesota, ending hunger need not be a coin-in-a-fountain-wish. I am hopeful because, although the root causes of poverty are complex, feeding a neighbor isn’t. We can do this.” Rob’s experience speaks for itself. He’s directed important organizations like Boston-based Jumpstart, which is nationally recognized for preparing schoolchildren for success and Mercy Corps, where he served as Harvard Business School Service Leadership Fellow. Rob holds an M.B.A. From the Harvard Business School and a B.A. in political science from Stanford University. He lives in south Minneapolis with his wife Jessica and their three young children.
Hennepin County, Non-profits and Communities: Regional Services Planning and Client Service
Dan Engstrom has served as the Assistant County Administrator for Human Services of Hennepin County since 1998. In this role he oversees the activities of the Human Services and Public Health Department (HSPHD), which has as its primary goals: 1) protect children and vulnerable adults; 2) support communities and families in raising children who develop to their fullest potential; 3) assure that all people’s basic needs are met; and 4) build healthy communities and self-reliant individuals. Dan began his career in Hennepin County as a caseworker in 1973, and has held numerous positions in the County since then, including managing the county’s Medicaid program and serving as director of the economic assistance department from 1991-1998. In his role as the county’s lead administrator for Human Services and Public Health, he has directed the County’s Welfare Reform effort and is currently focused on the Human Services redesign, a strategic effort to integrate service delivery and case management.
Rex Holzemer is an area director for protection and assessment services for Hennepin County in the 2,700-person Hennepin County Human Services and Public Health Department. Rex joined the department in 1977 and worked as a Social Worker and Supervisor for 17 years. He established the first adolescent home-based services units and children’s shelter diversion program for Hennepin County. He moved into management in 1994, initially managing several community-based initiatives.
Schools, Non-Profits, and Cities: Practices to Integrate Community-based Services
Kari Denissen Cunnien is the coordinator for the City of Saint Paul’s Second Shift Initiative which seeks to create a city-wide system of out-of-school-time learning in Saint Paul. Kari has over ten years of experience in the field of youth development, community organizing, and collaborative work. She has developed and coordinated out-of-school-time programs for both elementary and high school aged youth. She has also facilitated two community-based youth collaboratives, one of which developed the first Youth Circulator Bus. Kari has a B.A. in Political Science and is finishing her masters of Education and Youth Policy Leadership at the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs.
Keith Lester, an educator for the past 40 years, has been superintendent of the Brooklyn Center School District #286 since September 2005. He graduated from Moorhead State College in 1969 with a BS in Music Education. In 1981 he earned a Master of Fine Arts in Vocal Music Performance from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. Mr. Lester received his Masters of Educational Administration and completed the Sixth Year Program at St. Cloud State University.
His experience in education has ranged from 20 years as a High School Vocal Music Instructor and three years as Staff Development Facilitator in Mora, MN. His administrative experience includes two years as high school principal in Ogilvie, MN and five in Mora, MN. In 2000 Mr. Lester became Superintendent of Schools in Mora until 2005 when he moved to Brooklyn Center.
For the past 13 years, Lynnell L. Thiel has been an integral part of the development of the Achievement Plus initiative, and the creation of John A. Johnson Achievement Plus Elementary School. As Director of Student and Family Support, Lynnell is responsible for forming partnerships with community organizations and managing the Learning Supports component of the Achievement Plus schools. Before coming to Achievement Plus, Lynnell worked as a trainer, educator and social worker. Lynnell has an M.A. in Human Resource Development from the University of St. Thomas and a B.A. in social work from the University of Minnesota.
Matt Kjorstad is the school success program executive for the Minneapolis YMCA and supervises three Minneapolis Beacon centers, a School Success center in Brooklyn Center, and a unique YMCA building entirely devoted to serving youth and teens in North Minneapolis. He began his YMCA career as director of one of the first Beacon Centers in Minneapolis, during which time he was awarded the after school Hero of the Year award and served as the Minnesota Ambassador for the After school Alliance. Matt is committed to supporting youth and staff in creating high quality program environments that are safe, intentional, and engaging.
Andre Dukes leads the outreach and engagement efforts of the Northside Achievement Zone. As Engagement Director, one of his key responsibilities is to recruit and manage a growing team of NAZ Connectors as they directly engage the youth and families within the zone and provide them with on-going support. All NAZ outreach efforts are focused on helping families create achievement plans as a tool in directly connecting them to opportunities, resources, and services within the zone. Andre believes that the long-term goal is to create a, “culture of achievement,” within the zone that serves as a tipping point for the rest of the community and our city.
Andre has also served as Pastor of Community Affairs at Shiloh Temple International Ministries where he oversees several ministries geared toward helping families and individuals improve their quality of life. In addition, he has worked with the City of Minneapolis to organize a community effort to reduce youth violence called the “Shiloh Safe Zone”. This effort contributed to the reduction of violence in North Minneapolis, found jobs for young people and engaged over 450 families. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Minnesota Graduate School of Theology.
