Term expires: 2008
Lee Anderson* is Manager of State and Local Government Relations for General Mills. Prior to joining the company, he worked at the Minnesota State Capitol for several years, working both as staff and as a lobbyist for the Minnesota Grocers Association and in private practice. Lee manages the state and local lobbying efforts, implements grassroots and public affairs efforts throughout the company, and administers the General Mills Political Action Committee.
Lee says: I hope to continue to serve on the Citizens League Board as we look forward to the future with our exciting Minnesota Anniversary Project plan, and to deepening the involvement and importance of the Citizens League to the Minnesota business community.
Duane "Jake" Crandall is the retired president and CEO of AAA Minnesota/Iowa. During his time with that organization, Jake served four Minnesota governors: he co-chaired Minnesota's No-Fault Conversion Committee for Governor Wendell Anderson; chaired a ride-share commission for Governor Al Quie; and served on Governor Arne Carlson's transition team. He is currently a member of the Board of Trustees of William Mitchell College of Law; the Board of Directors of the University of Minnesota's Center for Transportation Studies; and the Board of Directors of the Minnesota Taxpayers Association. Jake holds a B.A. from St. Thomas College and a J.D. from William Mitchell College of Law. He lives in Sunfish Lake with his wife, Angel, and daughters Allison and Sarah.
Jake says: I had the privilege of serving on three different Citizens League task forces in the 1970s. What I remember most was the quality of the Citizens League's leadership and the anticipation with which Citizens League reports were received by this community. I would love to see the Citizens League once against viewed as the honest broker on matters of public policy.
Nate Garvis* is Vice President of Government Affairs for Target Corporation. He is a member of the Executive Committees of the Board of Directors of the Minnesota Retailers Association, the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of the Illinois Retail Merchants Association, the Executive Committee of the California Business Property Owners Association's Board of Directors where he serves as first vice-chair, and the Executive Committee of the California Retailers Association's Board of Directors. He is a former policy fellow at the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Policy at the University of Minnesota and currently serves as Chairman of the Policy Forum's Advisory Board. Nate is the current chairman of the Washington D.C. based Public Affairs Council and recently stepped down as chairman of the Council's Foundation for Public Affairs. In June of 2004, Nate was honored as a recipient of the Hubert H. Humphrey Public Leadership Award. Nate holds a B.A. from the University of Minnesota and a J.D. from the University of Oregon.
Nate says: The Citizens League's tag line, "Common Ground. Common Good" is what excites me about being on the board. The organization's tremendous legacy is about moving us in the right direction with legitimacy, credibility, creativity and sustainability. The benefits derived from working in this manner and beyond partisanship has never been greater...nor has the need.
Term expires: 2007
Keith Halleland* is a founder and shareholder of Halleland Lewis Nilan & Johnson, where he co-chairs the health law practice, and is a founder of the firm’s affiliated consulting company, Halleland Health Consulting. He serves as general counsel for the Health Care Compliance Association (HCCA), as well as the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics (SCCE). He has published numerous articles and is active in the Minnesota State Bar Association, Health Law Section; the American Bar Association, Health Law Forum; the American Health Lawyers Association; and is Past President of the Minnesota Chapter of the Federal Bar Association. In addition, Keith is the current chair of the Citizens League Board of Directors and chair of the Board of Directors of Way to Grow. He also serves on the Boards of Directors of Children’s HeartLink and Courage Center, as well as the Advisory Council of the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs. Keith is a graduate of the University of Iowa and the Seattle University School of Law.
Keith says: The Citizens League has a great history of civic engagement, and is a big reason why Minnesota is at the top of the list in the U.S. for places to live and work. The Citizens League is much more than a think tank - it is a place where good ideas are both born and implemented, with a strong focus on building Minnesotans' capacity for more effective community leadership. If you are the kind of person who cares about Minnesota's future, and you believe that the role of citizens in the process will make a difference, you should be part of the Citizens League.
Elliot Jaffee* is currently Senior Vice President and Manager for Midwest Corporate Banking for U.S. Bank. Mr. Jaffee has resided in the Twin Cities for the past ten years, and been professionally associated with U.S. Bank (and its predecessor companies) since 1995. Jaffee holds a B.S. from Cornell University and an M.B.A. from The University of Chicago. He lives with his wife, Judy, and three children: Katie, Steven and Billy.
Elliot says: Our family relocated to the Twin Cities ten years ago in part due to the many attributes of this community. The Citizens League provides a way for me to help facilitate long-term strategic thinking about the aspirations of our State and citizens, and develop action plans to meet those goals.
Dee Long* is the Tax and Incentives Program Director at Minnesotans for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ME3). Prior to joining ME3, Dee spent twenty years in the Minnesota House of Representatives where she served as House Speaker, House Majority Leader, and Chair of the Tax and Local Government Committees. In addition to her work on tax policy, she was the chief House author of numerous pieces of landmark legislation, including the Minnesota Superfund Law, the Metropolitan Livable Communities Act, the Community-Based Planning Act, and the Sustainable Development Act. Dee is a graduate of the University of Minnesota and has completed all course work for a Ph.D. in experimental psychology.
Dee says: In this age of bitter partisan disputes, the Citizens League provides common ground for people of all political stripes to come together and seek solutions to critical problems. I'm proud to be a part of this effort.
Nancy Longley is Executive Vice President for Health Care and Public Affairs for Weber Shandwick Worldwide. In addition, Nancy has served as a producer for a statewide public affairs program on KTCA-TV and as a general public affairs commentator for Minnesota Public Radio. Nancy is on the board of two voluntary health agencies, SA/VE and the Arthritis Foundation. She holds a B.A. from the College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph, Minnesota, and a J.D. from William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul. Nancy lives in Saint Paul with her husband, Chris, and her three children.
Nancy says: Minnesota was once lauded -- and, occasionally, denigrated -- as a “good government” state. I'm in the camp that believes we probably get the government we deserve, which means we have a responsibility to participate in the community and to serve when we can. Part of this stems from my belief that volunteerism is a uniquely American value that is a fundamental strength of our national character and must be nurtured and maintained. I hope to fulfill part of my obligation through my Citizens League service.
Term expires: 2006
Kathy Mock is Vice President of Policy and Legislative Affairs for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota. Before joining Blue Cross, Mock served as government affairs counsel and director of administration and research for the Insurance Federation of Minnesota. She is a graduate of the William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul and the College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph, Minnesota. She serves on the boards of the Minnesota Comprehensive Health Association, the Minnesota Council of Health Plans and the Minnesota Institute of Public Health. Kathy also served as a 2004-2005 Policy Fellow with the Humphrey Institute Policy Forum.
Kathy says: I am honored to be asked to serve on the Citizens League Board of Directors. I am a firm believer in citizen involvement in the formation of public policy and see the Citizens League as the ideal place for this work to take place.
Photo forthcoming.
Cheryel Perez is Clinic Director for West Side Community Health Services and manager of La Clínica en Lake. This clinic currently serves the Latino, African and Caucasian populations. Cheryel is a key leader in a number of new initiatives: Youth Development Program, Youth Weight Management Program and Women's Health Program.
Cheryel says: It is quite motivating to be part of a board that makes a difference in the development and shape of challenging issues faced by all communities. In addition, the hope is that my experience and background would help complement the most impressive board member roster.
Alicia R. Phillips* is the founder and principal of IDEALOGICS, a Minneapolis-based consulting firm that provides development and communications planning services to civic organizations throughout the Twin Cities and country. She currently serves as the Director of Major Gifts for the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation. Phillips is a past recipient of the City Business "40 Under 40" and the Macalester College Young Alumni Awards.
Alicia says: Today, more then ever, we need people and organizations who have immense creativity, vision and the ability to get things done. People who can unify across differences and do what is best for the whole community. I believe that the Citizens League plays a role in uniting and engaging citizens, business leaders and government to bring out the best for Minnesota.
Hussein Samatar is the founder and executive director of the African Development Center in Minnesota (ADC). Prior to founding ADC, Hussein spent eight years with the Wells Fargo Business Banking Division. Hussein is a past recipient of the City Business "40 Under 40" award and a former Humphrey Institute Policy Fellow. He also serves on the Board of the Home Ownership Center and the advisory committee of the Payne-Lake Community Partnership. Hussein holds an MBA in Financial Management Services from the University of St. Thomas.
Hussein says: For the last twelve years I have lived the American Dream. I completed my MBA, worked for Wells Fargo, and founded a community economic development organization that serves my fellow Africans. I want to serve on the Citizens Leagues Board because Minnesota has been good to me. I want to repay the favor by helping it become even more generous, prosperous and hospitable for future generations.
Judy Titcomb is a lawyer and public affairs consultant currently working for Pulse Innovation on a series of projects for the University of Minnesota. She serves on the Board of the Minnesota Community Foundation, TPT and Vocal Essence.
Judy says: I am very concerned with the level of political discourse and the quality of our decision making in Minnesota and the United States. I have been very excited about the new leadership and energy at the Citizens League. I believe the Citizens League can play an important role in shaping Minnesota's agenda and I would love to help.
Andrea Walsh* is the Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at HealthPartners. She has been with HealthPartners since 1994, and began her HealthPartners career in government relations, law and compliance. Andrea is currently the Chair of the Board of Directors for the Metropolitan Minneapolis YMCA. She also serves on the Minneapolis Downtown Council and the Regions Hospital Foundation boards. In 1998 Andrea received the “40 Under 40” business leader recognition from CityBusiness, and in 1999 was recognized by the Health Care Forum as an “International Emerging Leader in Health Care.” Andrea is a graduate of the University of Kansas and the University of Minnesota Law School.
* indicates returning Board member.
