2010 Board Slate
At the 2009 Annual Meeting, Citizens League members will be asked to vote on the following slate of nominees to the Board of Directors:
Brian Bell
Brian Bell is the Civic Education Manager for the Minnesota State Bar Association, a voluntary professional association of attorneys. As the manager of the Association's civic education programs, he works with a voluntary committee to administer programs teaching youth about "the rule of law and democratic rights and responsibilities." From 2006-2008, Brian worked for the Citizens League in various capacities, including as office manager and project coordinator.
Brian serves on the Minnesota Supreme Court Historical Society's Education Subcommittee. He also serves on the Minnesota Council for the Social Studies Board of Directors. His involvement with the Citizens League includes serving as an Ambassador in the New Member Ambassadors program. He is also heavily involved in the development and implementation of the Quantum Civics program -- including as co-facilitator of the first course.
Laura Bishop
Laura Bishop is director of government relations for Best Buy Co., Inc. She is responsible for the strategic direction and management of the federal and state government relations function for Best Buy. Before joining Best Buy in 2003, Bishop spent most of her career in the public sector. She served as Assistant Commissioner of Public Affairs for the Minnestoa Department of Administration from 1999 to 2002. Prior to that, Bishop spent five years working in the Clinton Administration including working in Switzerland with the US Department of State and in Washington, DC in the White House and with the US Department of Education.
Laura supports the Citizens League because "they find interesting forums to bring together diverse interests to look at some of the biggest issues facing Minnesotans -- they are tackling the real challenges and proposing real solutions. Anyone can tap into the Citizens League. This is a group for everyone -- for example the League has college students, policy wonks or not, those most affected by an issue working as part of a study group, business community -- and everyone is working toward common good."
Laura served her first term on the Citizens League Board 2007-2009.
Emmett Coleman
Emmett Coleman serves as vice president of government affairs with responsibility for Comcast's Twin Cities Region. In this role, Emmett oversees a team that works closely with regulators, public officials and community organizations.
Emmett's interest in serving on the Citizens League Board stems directly from the unique nature of the organization. The Citizens League's history of bringing together a broad cross section of community and business leaders with elected officials, regardless of political ideology, has provided a critical forum that has continuously helped make Minnesota a better place to live and work.
Claudia Dengler
Claudia Dengler enjoyed 25 years in senior leadership at the Wilder Foundation, culminating with her role as the Vice President of Programs. In her various roles at Wilder, she provided leadership inside and outside the organization on a wide range of reform initiatives in housing, health, education, and human service issues.
After leaving Wilder, Claudia has developed a consulting practice working on sustainability and business planning with mission-driven entrepreneurs and organizations. Claudia's professional commitment to better outcomes has repeatedly led to work on large-scale public sector change efforts in corrections, education, affordable housing, children's mental health and family services.
Michele Engdahl
Michele Engdahl is manager of government and community affairs for Thomson Reuters, Legal and West, a business that provides intelligent information to the US legal market. She is involved with the company's community relations programs such as Books for Africa and the pro bono initiative. Michele's experience includes managing political campaigns and building grassroots coalitions.
Michele has served as a coach and committee member for an area youth athletics association and served on the board of the Dayton's Bluff Neighborhood Housing Association. Michele is looking forward to joining the board because Sean Kershaw's enthusiasm is contagious. The Citizens League harnesses the power of people working towards a common goal, and Michele wants to be a part of that leadership team.
Jennifer Godinez
Jennifer Godinez is executive director of the Minnesota College Access Network, in conjunction with the Minnesota Minority Education Partnership, Inc. Her professional experience includes nonprofit management, fund development, and speaking both locally and nationally on topics related to education and emerging demographics in the US. Jennifer was awarded as a "Top 25 under 40" by the Hispanic Business Chamber in 2005 and named "Leader of the Year" by La Prensa newspaper for her work advocating on immigrant access issues in education. She earned a BA in sociology at Drake University, and completed an MA in public affairs with a concentration in nonprofit management and education policy from the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs.
Jennifer has served on the Board since 2007 and is being nominated for her second term.
Kevin Goodno
Kevin is a shareholder and Chair of Fredrikson's Government RElations practice. Kevin has extensive experience in state and local government with particular focus on health care and tax policy. Appointed commissioner of Minnesota's largest agency, the Department of Human Services, by Gov. Tim Pawlenty, he served on the Governor's Health Cabinet to develop ways to inform, partner, and create efficiency in the health care industry.
In addition, Kevin served as co-chair of the Minnesota Mental Health Action Group (convened by the Citizens League), the Advisory Council to End Long-Term Homelessness, and was a member of the Governor's Drive to Excellence Sub-Cabinet. Before joining the Department of Human Services, he served in the Minnesota House of Representatives for twelve years representing the Moorhead area.
Kevin served a first term on the Board 2007-2009 and is being nominated for Board Chair in 2010.
Peggy Gunn
Peggy Gunn, of Wells Fargo, is being nominated for her third term on the Citizens League Board.
Sarah Lutman
Sarah Lutman became President and Managing Director of The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra in November of 2008. Previous to joining the SPCO, Sarah was senior vice president, Content and Media, for American Public Media, where she was responsible for all broadcast, digital, and live-event programming on all three of Minnesota Public Radio's broadcast services, as well as the portfolio of American Public Media's national programs. She has earned two Peabody Awards as executive producer of two American Public Media programs. In 2005, she spearheaded the development and launch of 89.3 The Current, an alternative music station designed to reach and serve new audiences.
Sarah Lutman has served on the Citizens League Board since 2006.
Kathryn Roberts
Kathryn Roberts became CEO and President of Shoreview-based Ecumen in 2003. Ecumen is one of the country's largest nonprofit senior housing, services and development companies. Once referred to by the Minneapolis Star Tribune as "state government's #1 management doctor," Kathryn led the transformation of several Minnesota state agencies and councils including the Minnesota Zoo, the Minnesota Department of Human Rights, Minnesota's Professional Sports Agency and Veterans Health Care Advisory Council.
Kathryn values the Citizens League for the non-partisan forum it offers and how the work of the Citizens League impacts public policy in Minnesota. Engaging a wide mix of stakeholders is a sure way to design solutions, and the Citizens League does just that very effectively.
Kathryn served her first term on the Citizens League Board 2007-2009.
Tom Teigen
Tom Teigen is communications director for the Minnesota Business Partnership, a public policy organization composed of 110 chief executives leading some of Minnesota's largest employers. Tom has been involved in public policy and communications for nearly 20 years. He joined the Citizens League in 2001 and has served on several committees and task forces. Currently, Tom co-chairs the Membership and Engagement Committee. He also is a member of the Marketing Committee for the Mentoring Partnership of Minnesota. "I enjoy my work with the Citizens League because of our focus on bringing people into the public policy process in a productive, nonpartisan way," Tom says.
Tom is up for election for his second term; he has served on the Citizens League Board since 2007.
Donna Zimmerman
Donna Zimmerman is the Vice President of Government and Community Relations for HealthPartners, a nonprofit, consumer-governed health care organization in Bloomington, Minnesota. In her role, Donna is responsible for directing public policy, community affairs and Medicare sales, sales call operations and marketing for the HealthPartners organizations. Her background is in community health administration, with leadership experience in public and nonprofit sectors. In 2006, Donna was named as one of "25 Women to Watch" by the Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal. 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.
Donna says: "I am looking forward to continuing work with the Citizens League. There has never been a more important time in public policy for our work. Creating opportunities to include more people in the Citizens League and its work is very exciting.
Donna is being nominated for her third term on the Citizens League Board.
Board members returning in 2010:
Lee Anderson, General Mills
Judy Blaseg, Development Consultant
Steve Dornfeld, Metropolitan Council
Jennifer Ford Reedy, The Saint Paul Foundation
Nate Garvis, Target
Tom Horner, Himle Horner, Inc.
Robert Josephson, US Bancorp
Katie Kelley, Marshall and Ilsley Bank
Leslie Kupchella, Carlson Companies
Acooa Lee, Saint Paul City Council Member Melvin Carter
Kathy Mock, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota
Alberto Monserrate, Latino Communications Network
Jeff Peterson, Ecolab
Zach Pettus, Northmarq
Karri Plowman, Central Corridor Partnership
Carolyn Smallwood, Way to Grow
Nena Street, Dorsey & Whitney, LLP
Judy Titcomb, Pulse Innovation
Diane Tran, Dakota County Smoke-Free Communities Partnership