Bryan Anderson, Arrowhead Regional Development Commission
Gordy Anderson, Two Harbors Chamber of Commerce
Tom Bislow, TJ's Country Corner
Lee Debe, Cloquet
Bill Forder, Aitkin
Jamie Juenemann, Two Harbors
Robert Lindahl, Allete - Minnesota Power, Cohasset
Mike Mageau, University of Minnesota, Duluth
Tony Mancuso, St Louis County, Duluth
Riki McManus, Upper Minnesota Film Office
Cynthia Messer, University of Minnesota Tourism Center
Sue Ellen Moore, Duluth Entertainment Convention Center
Mike Reichenbach, University of Minnesota Extension, Cloquet
Jeff Sanborn, Crane Lake
Mary Somnis, Eveleth
Melinda Welch-Spinler, Grand Marais
Shengrui Yao, University of Minnesota North Central Research & Outreach Center, Grand Rapids
Bryan Anderson
Arrowhead Regional Development Commission
221 W 1st Street
Duluth, MN 55802
Phone: (218) 529-7529
E-mail: banderson@ardc.org
Byran Anderson is a Senior Planner specializing in transportation issues for the Arrowhead Regional Development Commission. His areas of interest include trail development, Scenic Byways, tourism, Enhancements, bicycle education, and community planning. Anderson has a BA in Geography from the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
Gordy Anderson
Two Harbors Chamber of Commerce
1313 Fairgrounds Road
Two Harbors, MN 55616
Phone (218) 834-2600
E-mail: gordy@twoharborschamber.com
Gordy was born and raised in Two Harbors leaving for almost 20 years while pursuing his career in the Communication Industry. He spent over 25 years of his 30 year career in customer service. Starting as a construction lineman he retired in the mid 90's as a District Manager of Northern Minnesota.
After retiring he was hired as a part-time Director for the Two Harbors Area Chamber of Commerce and today works as President/CEO in a full-time capacity. Working as the Chamber President he wears many hats from marketing the community and North Shore of Lake Superior to creating events to business retention and recognition.
He belongs to many local organizations and represents Two Harbors as a director on different Northeastern Minnesota Tourism boards.
Tom Bislow
TJ's Country Corner
2751 Market Street, Box 948
Mahtowa, MN 55707
Phone: (218) 389-4494
E-mail: tbislow@netzero.net
Tom Bislow has run a retail food business for over thirty years in a very rural area. He is very interested in promoting tourism and a local sustainable environment.
Lee Debe
436 River Road
Cloquet MN 55720
Phone: (218) 879-1540
Born on the Fond du Lac Indian Reservation, Lee is an enrolled member of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe. Lee has worked for the benefit of Indian people in many capacities, most recently by his tireless contribution to the Gitigaan Gardening Program. Receiving his early education in Carlton County schools, Lee was a motivated and accomplished student with a special interest in science. Lee entered the US Army as a teenager and has proudly given 22 years of distinguished performance. Lee is currently enjoying his retirement back on the Reservation and is frequently called upon during times of concern and crisis.
Bill Forder
43405 320th Place
Aitkin, MN 56431
Phone: (218) 927-4251
E-mail: billforder@yahoo.comBill Forder is a Registered Professional Mechanical Engineer. He worked for Ellerby Architects and Engineers in St. Paul for seven years after graduating from the University of Minnesota. He founded and ran, Faircon, Inc. a mechanical contracting firm for twenty years. He has done consulting in the area of forensics and HVAC design since leaving the contracting business. He has served in numerous business and professional organizations as a director and has been president of several. He is presently serving the following organizations: Rotary, Aitkin Growth, Jaques Art Center, Blandin Foundation Community Advantage Leadership Program, NMSDP, Aitkin Plasma Gasification Project.
Jamie Juenemann, Vice Chair1454 Press Camp Road
Two Harbors, MN 55616
Phone: (218) 834-4642
E-mail:
jamie.juenemann@silvercreekinstitute.orgJamie graduated from the University of Minnesota - Duluth in 1993 and has been active in natural resource management and protection for most of his life working for both the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for a combined 18 years. The educational and professional experience he received provided Jamie with a deep appreciation of the environment and climate change in particular. As part of his commitment to reducing carbon emissions and living a more sustainable lifestyle, Jamie retro-fitted his home north of Two Harbors to be entirely energy self-sufficient in 2001. What began as a personal effort quickly transitioned into helping others do the same and led to the co-founding of Silver Creek Institute in 2004, with Dr. Okey Ukaga. In 2006, Jamie created Clean Energy Solutions to fulfill Silver Creek Institute's energy education goals by providing home and small business owners with consulting, design and installation of renewable energy systems. In addition to serving as Associate Director of Silver Creek Institute and managing the Clean Energy Solutions program, Jamie is also Vice Chair of the Northeast Minnesota Sustainable Development Partnership and is a member of the Northeast Clean Energy Resource Team. Jamie spends much of his free time with his wife and two daughters skiing, sailing, dogsledding and running the family farm.
Robert (Bob) LindahlAllete-Minnesota Power
Bowell Energy Center
1210 NW 3rd Street
Cohasset, MN 55721
Phone: (218) 313-4349
Email:
rlindahl@mnpower.comBob is a native of Hibbing, MN with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the University of Minnesota - Duluth. He currently resides in Grand Rapids, MN and works for Minnesota Power as a Technical Group Leader for the chemistry department. My areas of interest are water resource management, education and energy.
Mike Mageau5815 Glenwood Street
Duluth, MN 55804
Phone: (218) 525-5311
E-mail:
mmageau@d.umn.eduMike is an Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies and Director of the Center for Sustainable Community Development (CSCD). He received his Ph.D. from the University of Maryland in Environmental Science with a certificate in Ecological Economics. His teaching activities cover a variety of sustainable development topics including the basics of ecosystem structure and function, global environmental problems along with their root economic and political causes, US and global energy issues and Ecological Economics. For the past few years his primary research and project activities at the CSCD have focused on the development of community based renewable energy production and distribution solutions. This work includes analyzing the technical capabilities, cost, job creation, local economic development potential, and environmental health impacts associated with these emerging technologies, as well as the challenges of community implementation.
Tony MancusoSt Louis County
100 N 5th Avenue W
Duluth, MN 55802
Phone: (218) 725-5085
Email:
mancusot@co.st-louis.mn.usTony was born and raised in the Duluth area and graduated from Cromwell High School in 1974. He served four years in the United States Navy. He has 25+ years experience in building management, maintenance and operations with St Louis County, Hennepin County, Federal Reserve Bank, ISD 698, and Control Data Corporation. Tony received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Administration from Metropolitan State University in St Paul. He is a member of the American Solar Energy Society, Midwest Renewable Energy Association, Minnesota Renewable Energy Society, Building Owners and Managers Association. He serves on the board of the Duluth Steam Cooperative Association, Duluth Area YMCA, Duluth Area Regional Care Centers and volunteers for the Duluth Children's Museum. Tony is a long time advocate and activist in facilities related energy conservation, water conservation, and renewable energy programs. He has implemented several successful conservation and renewable energy projects in public sector facilities resulting in significant ongoing annual energy cost savings. Tony has held his position of Director of Property Management for St Louis County since 1997.
Riki McManusUpper Minnesota Film Office
21 West Superior Street #100
Duluth, MN 55802
Phone: (715) 395-0122
E-mail:
riki@mnfilmtv.orgRiki McManus has been working in the Film Industry all her working career. She started as an on camera and voice over talent in the commercial industry in Minneapolis. McManus then became an agent with the model and talent agency that represented her. After taking on the roll of Agency Director at Plaza Three Models and Talent, she landed the contract for the casting of the feature film, "Purple Rain." McManus then started her own business. "Riki Wuolle Casting Company" was the first casting company to start in Minneapolis. She received a Clio Award for a self promotion piece to announce her opening and introduce her casting company which was a fairly new concept in the Minneapolis production community. Since then she has cast over15 Feature Films/Movies of the Week and Television Series. While in Minneapolis, McManus was part of a group of people that found a need for a Film Office in Minnesota and helped bring that to fruition. She has also been a past President for the Minnesota Film and Television Board. Since moving to Duluth she started the Upper Minnesota Film Office which is a public/private project under the umbrella of Northspan designed to promote the region to film makers in hopes that they would bring the projects to our area. This is a model that supports tourism, economic development for the region and the arts. McManus has been listed in the Who's Who for Women in Minnesota. She has served on The Duluth Playhouse Board, and on the Duluth Entertainment & Convention Center Board. She is currently on the Visit Duluth Board, as well as the NMSDP Board.
Cynthia MesserUniversity of Minnesota Tourism Center
1390 Eckles Avenue
120c BioAgEng
St. Paul, MN 55108
Phone: (612) 624-6236
E-mail:
cmesser@umn.eduCynthia is an Extension Professor with the University of Minnesota Tourism Center on the St. Paul campus of the University. Ms. Messer's research and programming interests are in the areas of sustainable tourism, community tourism development and customer service/satisfaction. She has worked extensively with communities and tourism organizations in Minnesota, written curricula for the World Tourism Organization, and was a delegate to the UN Commission on Sustainable Development in 1999. In addition to working with communities and tourism organizations in Minnesota, she is a nationally and internationally recognized speaker on sustainable tourism development and customer service topics. Ms. Messer is the co-author of the Tourism Center's At Your Service program and Community Tourism Development manual. A California native, Ms. Messer has more than 30 years of tourism industry experience ranging from tour operations to running a rural regional convention and visitors bureau. Ms. Messer has taught tourism at the college level for more than 20 years. She holds a B.A. from UCLA and a Masters degree in Education and Human Development with a specialization in tourism development from George Washington University.
Sue Ellen MooreDuluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC)
350 Harbor Drive
Duluth, MN 55802-2698
Phone: (218) 722-5573 ext. 204
Email:
smoore@decc.orgFor over twenty years, Sue Ellen Moore has been involved in the Hospitality and Tourism Industry. Although she is originally from this area, she lived abroad for many years in Sweden and Italy, returning to Duluth with her family in 2001. Sue Ellen is the Director of Sales at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC). Because the DECC is such a massive facility handling conventions, community, entertainment and sporting events, it has the capacity to inflict great harm on the environment. By creating and upholding environmental initiatives and efforts, the staff and management have succeeded in significantly reducing the DECC's environmental impact. In October of 2008, the DECC held it's first zero-waste conference and now continues to expand on its efforts by building one of the first LEED certified arenas in the world. The DECC is always eager to work with clients who wish to plan a "greener" event. These practices are not only the responsible thing to do, but they are paving the way for new business opportunities in the area. Such environmental efforts are a source of pride for the DECC team and the city of Duluth. In 2008, the DECC became the proud recipient of the Governor's Minnesota Great Award, as well as the Lake Superior Bi-National Forum Award within the US Business category.
Mike Reichenbach
University of Minnesota Extension
Cloquet Regional Office
179 University Road
Cloquet, MN 55720
Phone: (218) 726-6470
E-mail: reich027@umn.edu
Spanning a career of 28 years I have served as an educator and advocate for sustainability and environmental issues. I was influenced by the environmental movement of the 1970’s when I helped organize the first community recycling program in the Village of Oak Park, Illinois. I studied forestry at the University of Illinois receiving a Bachelor of Science in Forestry in 1978 and a Masters of Science in Forestry in 1984. As a one time business owner working to protect natural resources and trees during development, I found ways to work with developers to achieve both economic and environmental goals. I have worked as a natural resource educator, 5 years for the Oregon State University and 9 with the University of Minnesota Extension Service.
As an educator, I organized, facilitated or presented at more than 200 workshops, conferences or training seminars. I have provided leadership for developing and presenting educational programs on economic development, forest management, business practices, and sustainable forestry. My interest in increasing citizen involvement and understanding of sustainable development is rooted in learning about others sense of place and how the viewpoints expressed shape our world.
Jeff Sanborn
7123 Handberg Road
Crane Lake, MN 55725
Phone: (218) 993-2214
E-mail: Jeff.handberg@citlink.net
Mary Somnis, ChairPO Box 441
Eveleth, MN 55734
Phone: (218) 744-7340
E-mail:
mary.somnis@state.mn.usMary Somnis has over 30 years of experience in tourism and hospitality, having worked in outdoor recreation, restaurants, resorts and outfitting Boundary Water Canoe Area Wilderness trips. Mary began her career in destination marketing and tourism development as Executive Director of the Lutsen-Tofte Tourism Association. In 1997 she was appointed to direct the tourism program for Iron Range Resources and has worked with the Northern Lights Tourism Alliance to promote northeastern Minnesota's Wild North. Mary is Past President and on the board of the Minnesota Arrowhead Association, a board member of the NMSDP, chair of the North Shore Scenic Drive Council and participates with several other tourism-related organizations in northeastern Minnesota.
Melinda Welch-SpinlerP.O. Box 177
Grand Marais, MN 55604
Phone: (218) 387-2186
E-mail:
bike@boreal.orgMelinda Welch-Spinler lives and works in Cook County, MN. While interested in all aspects of sustainability her focus is on sustainable agriculture. Living on a sustainable farmstead she and her husband produce their own power, fuel, and food, both for themselves and their C.S.A. (Community Supported Agriculture). She started the local farmer's market in Grand Marais in 1997. Concern for the high cost of transportation and the long distance to Cook County plus the need for self-reliance she is currently working on community gardens for Grand Marais and a community farm for the county residents. She and her husband own and operate a bicycle shop in Grand Marais promoting commuting and the silent sports.
Shengrui YaoUniversity of Minnesota North Central Research & Outreach Center
1861 East Highway 169
Grand Rapids, MN 55744
Phone: (218) 327-4615
Email:
yaos@umn.eduShengrui is a Research Fellow of Horticulture at North Central Research & Outreach Center, University of Minnesota, at Grand Rapids, MN. She received her PhD degree from Cornell University in Horticulture with minors of Soil Science and Plant Pathology in 2005. She had worked with tree fruits for 13 years at Shandong Institute of Pomology in China before she moved to the United States. For the past several years her research has focused on strawberry and blueberry breeding and culture practice, season extension of vegetables and perennial crops (raspberry and blackberry) with high tunnels, annual and perennial flower trails, and apple, chrysanthemums and woody ornamental cold hardiness evaluation. She works closely with local communities (farmers, home gardeners, Master Gardeners and volunteers) and her research results serve as guidance for horticultural crop variety selection or technology adoption in northern Minnesota.
