Staff
This is a list of the Citizens League's full- and part-time staff, interns and primary contractors.
- Lindsey Alexander, Project Director
- Stacy Becker, Project Director
- Cat Beltmann, Membership and Engagement Manager
- Greg Bullard, Operations Director
- Bob DeBoer, Project Director, Pathways to Prosperity
- Kim Farris-Berg, Project Director
- Sean Kershaw, Executive Director
- Annie Levenson-Falk, Senior Policy Manager
- Juventino Meza, Program Assistant
- Larry Schumacher, Communications Manager
- Jacob Taintor, Office and Membership Assistant
lindseyalexanderconsulting@gmail.com
651-329-1328
Lindsey Alexander began working with the Citizens League in 2006 as project coordinator for the Citizens League MAP 150 property tax group. She continues to work with the Citizens League in a variety of policy areas, including budgeting and education. Her independent consulting practice, Lindsey Alexander Consulting, advises government agencies, nonprofits and foundations on the creation and implementation of strategic programs and policies. She formerly worked as an analyst for the City of Minneapolis Finance Department and a project manager for Springsted Incorporated, a public sector consulting firm in St. Paul. She holds an M.P.P. from the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs.
Her latest work for the Citizens League includes a look at the Central Corridor development process, the Common Cents project and the higher ed reform initiative.
Currently reading: Bill Bryson's
A Walk in the Woods. I love any time I can steal with the
New Yorker and
FastCompany.
Currently watching: The Ken Burns
Baseball in America miniseries.
What I enjoy when I'm not working: Spending time with my family, being active, trying to find ways to nurture my creative side.
Most people don't know that: I've run two marathons. (I think my next one needs to be someplace exotic!)
stacybecker@comcast.net
651-646-5288
Stacy Becker served as the project director for the Citizens League Minnesota Anniversary Project (MAP 150). Her efforts with MAP 150 have been featured in the Stanford Social Innovation Review and with the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy. She continues to work with the Citizens League in a variety of policy areas, including long-term care, education and state budget and taxes.
Her independent consulting practice, Becker Consulting, advises government agencies, foundations, policy groups and nonprofits on strategic and financial matters. She formerly served as budget director for the City and County of San Francisco, budget director for the City of Saint Paul, and public works director for the City of Saint Paul.
She holds an M.P.P. from the John F. Kennedy School of Government and a M.Sc. in City Design and Social Science from the London School of Economics, which she attended as a Bush Leadership Fellow.
Her latest work for the Citizens League includes
Common Cents budget and tax workshops and
Citizen Solutions health reform.
cbeltmann@citizensleague.org
651-289-1075
Cat joined the Citizens League staff in June of 2008. In the past, Cat has volunteered with the Citizens League as a co-chair for the Public Leadership Action Group. The group organized
Connect for a Cause on February 11, 2008 -- a volunteer speed-matching event that brought together area nonprofits needing volunteers with young leaders looking to contribute civically. She has also served as a public achievement coach for a group of middle school students. Currently, she is serving on the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network Board of Directors where she faciliates monthly Emerging Leaders Network Lunches in conjunction with the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits.
Cat has a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Minnesota and is currently working towards a Masters in Nonprofit Management at Hamline University. She is actively engaged in the community and is passionate about finding opportunities for people to connect.
What I enjoy when I'm not working: Traveling, attending emerging leaders/young professional events, getting involved in the community, gardening, and spending time with my husband and friends.
Most people don't know that: Nothing...I tell anyone willing to listen my life story.
gbullard@citizensleague.org
651-289-1078
Greg joined the Citizens League staff in February of 2013. He is an independent management consultant who - over the past two decades - has has advised, started, managed, acquired and sold a number of companies, in industries such as telecommunications, business services, promotional products and light manufacturing.
Specialties include senior level operations management, providing responsible financial oversight, effective personnel management and a meticulous approach to performing, evaluating and improving business processes.
Greg currently serves on the Board of Directors of
North Central Equity, a Minneapolis-based private equity firm, and recently completed nearly eight years, six as chairman, on the Board of
Red Eye, a local theater non-profit.
Greg received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with honors from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Campus in 1993.
What I enjoy when I'm not working: Traveling, attending local theater/performing arts events, exploring new tap rooms in the area.
Most people don't know that: I minored in Russian language and literature, which comes in handy when reading the menu at my neighborhood restaurant, Moscow on the Hill.
citizenbob1@gmail.com
Bob joined the Citizens League staff in October 2003. He staffed the
2004 Transportation Study Committee and the
2005-06 Medical Facilities Study Committee. Bob is currently staffing
the Citizens League Pathways to Prosperity Project.
Before coming to the Citizens League, Bob was director of communications at the
Office of the State Auditor and committee administrator for the Minnesota House
of Representatives Committee on Taxes and Committee on Local Government and
Metropolitan Affairs. Bob also has experience as a journalist, market
researcher, and health care manager and worker. During a short stint as a
consultant, Bob produced a report on the efficiency of the state lottery in
April 2003.
After years of "research" into the transient behavior of college undergraduates
(including study in Birmingham, England and Tel Aviv, Israel), Bob received a
Bachelor of Arts in Speech-Communication from the University of Minnesota in
1987. He has also completed coursework in state-local fiscal relations and
economic development at the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs.
What I enjoy when I'm not working: Live local music, running and baseball
Most people don't know that: When looking for more creative forms of expression than property tax spreadsheets, Bob moonlights on the trumpet in two local
bands, Chooglin' and GST, as well as sitting in occasionally with the Minneapolis Free Music Society.
farrisberg@cox.net
Kim Farris-Berg directs the Citizens League
Students Speak Out initiative, our social network (both online and offline) where students influence policy conversations by co-defining public problems and co-creating solutions. Most recently, students are examining "What is Student Achievement?"
In her independent consulting practice, Farris-Berg Consulting, Kim advances game-changing ideas and strategies, primarily in education policy. Among her roles is bringing the voices of students and teachers into the current discourse. She is a visionary strategist, project/process designer and manager, researcher and analyst, author, and creative. Kim is especially interested in analyzing where incentives can make a difference. She earned an M.P.P. from the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs.
Kim's work has been acknowledged in McGraw-Hill's
Disrupting Class, the Stanford Social Innovation Review and in
Customized Schooling edited by Bruno Manno and Frederick M. Hess. She received a Changemaker Award from the Minnesota Women's Press for promoting greater self-determination, equality, and justice for women and girls.
What I enjoy when I'm not working: Spending time with my family, creative design in any area, food (eating it, cooking it, admiring it!), and fitness.
Most people don't know that: I am a singer.
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high resolution photo (suitable for printing)
skershaw@citizensleague.org
651-289-1070
In 2003, Sean Kershaw became just the sixth Citizens League president in its
50-plus-year-history. Sean had been a member of the Citizens League Board of
Directors since 1996, and co-chaired the Citizens League's 50th Anniversary
report,
Doing the Common Good Better.
Sean left his position as Deputy Director for the City of Saint Paul's
Department of Planning and Economic Development (PED), where he had worked for
11 years. During his tenure, Sean chaired then-Mayor Norm Coleman's e-Government
initiative and coordinated Coleman's information technology, charter school and
education initiatives. Sean also worked as community outreach coordinator on the
Mayor's Y2K initiative (where he learned many now-important aspects of community
emergency preparedness!). Before coming to Minnesota, Sean was planning
coordinator for the Public Housing Authority in his hometown of Omaha, Nebraska.
Sean describes his life work as
building the institutions necessary to "make
policy public." Sean is passionate about active citizenship, civic organization
and good public policy. He is a founding member of the Active Citizens School for Young Adults, a young-adult civic leadership program, and is currently working on non-profit civic leadership efforts through the
Minnesota
Active Citizenship Initiative. He's not afraid to admit that he's been a policy
wonk his whole life; he drew political cartoons even as a third grader.
Sean has a BA in Sociology from Haverford College. He lives in Saint Paul's West
Seventh neighborhood with his partner Tim Hawkins and their son, Aidan, and daughter, Grace.
What I enjoy when I'm not working: family time, my yard, and not working
Most people don't know that: I took a glass blowing class (and loved it); and
I'm proud of being a Nebraskan.
alevensonfalk@citizensleague.org
651-289-1072
Annie joined the Citizens League staff in April 2006. As senior policy manager, she oversees and coordinates the Citizens League's policy work. Annie also leads the Citizens League's work on
electrical energy,
water policy, and
immigrant students' access to higher education, among other topics. In this work, she organizes Citizens League members and other stakeholders through all stages of policy development: identifying and framing policy problems, developing recommendations, and advancing the recommendations in institutions of all kinds. Annie also developed the Citizens League's social media presence.
Annie is the chair of the board of
NAVIGATE, a leadership development program for Minnesota immigrant students pursuing higher education. She is a Policy Fellow at the University of Minnesota's Humphrey School and a Spanish-English translator. Annie has a BA in Political Science from Haverford College in Pennsylvania and is originally from Maine.
What I enjoy when I'm not working: Dancing salsa, cooking and eating with friends, and frequently injuring myself in team sports.
Most people don't know that: I can wrestle sheep.
jmeza@citizensleague.org
651-289-1073
Juve Meza graduated from Augsburg College in 2011 in Justice and Peace Studies. As a student, Juve was involved in study groups that informed the Citizens League's
Immigrant Students and Higher Education in MN report.
In 2009, through HECUA, Juve became an intern here to help advance recommendations from the report. Juve's work with the Citizens League involves supporting various projects, including the Citizens League
Pathways to Prosperity Project,
Health Reform project and
Common Cents.
Juve spent a life-time working with
NAVIGATE, a leadership development program for young immigrant students in Minnesota seeking a path to higher education. During his years at Augsburg, Juve was the student body president, conducted research through
URGO, interned at the Citizens League, TakeAction MN, the MN State Legislature, and Waite House.
Currently, Juve serves on the Latino Advisory Board of the
Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota and is a member of the
Latino Economic Development Center's Latino Scholarship Fund Selection Committee.
What I enjoy when I'm not working: Reading, exercising, going to the (unfrozen) lakes, watching too much news, being at home.
Most people don't know that: I speak three languages: English, Spanish, and Spanglish. Oh, and I loathe peanut butter.
lschumacher@citizensleague.org
651-289-1074
Larry Schumacher is the Citizens League's communications manager, developing and implementing overall strategic communications and brand management. He works with staff, board members and membership to deliver the Citizens League's message to a broad audience, using new and traditional media, written materials and presentations. He joined the Citizens League staff in September of 2011.
In his own communications consulting and freelance writing
business, Larry works with nonprofits and other organizations to provide a wide array of communications services. He writes for publications including
Initiative Quarterly Magazine,
Politics in Minnesota,
Twin Cities Daily Planet and
Business Central.
Larry brings 12+ years of experience in print journalism to the Citizens League, having won awards from the Minnesota Associated Press Association, Minnesota Newspaper Association and Minnesota Society of Professional Journalists for his work at Minnesota newspapers including the St. Cloud Times and Fergus Falls Daily Journal. He was a legislative reporter for five years, covering the state Capitol in St. Paul, and lead election reporter in 2006 and 2008.
He lives with his wife, two sons and two dogs in St. Cloud. He is a graduate of
Carleton College, where he majored in political science, and originally hails from Tempe, AZ.
What I enjoy when I'm not working: Family time, reading, walking our dogs, cooking out and day trips to visit family and friends.
Most people don't know that: I taught English in the former Soviet Union republic of Lithuania for almost three years.
jtaintor@citizensleague.org
651-289-1076
Jacob joined the Citizens League in April 2013 to support the functions of Membership, Development, and the Executive Director. While gaining experience working with several nonprofit organizations and associations around the state and country, he found his niche in supporting and gaining a deeper understanding of operations management and administration in a nonprofit setting.
Prior to joining the Citizens League, Jacob provided operational management and guidance to professional associations such as the
Minnesota Magazine and Publishing Association,
Minnesota Interactive Marketing Association and the
Insurance Regulatory Examiners Society. He began his career in the nonprofit world as an intern at the
Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy and the
Healthy Legacy Coalition.
Jacob graduated in 2006 from the
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities with a B.A. in Communication Studies.
What I enjoy when I'm not working: Bicycling around the Twin Cities, tackling home improvement projects, creative writing, engaging in the improvement of my Longfellow neighborhood, and enjoying craft beer.
Most people don't know that: I had a very short stint as an improv comic (Now you all know).
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