Experiment in Rural Cooperation Board of Directors
Photo Page of Board Members and Executive Director
Sheila Craig - Preston, MN: Sheila is a retired University of Minnesota Extension Educator and specialist in Leadership and Civic Engagement. She currently serves as a Community Sewage Treatment Facilitator for the SE MN Wastewater Initiative, a 319 Clean Water Project of the SE MN Water Resources Board. But, you'll also find her planning Preston's sesquicentennial and bowling when she can.
Darline Freeman (Executive Committee) – St. Charles, MN: Darline is a retired RN who lives on a Century Farm in rural Elba Township with her husband Jerry Heim, 3rd District Winona County Commissioner. She serves as the Elba Township Clerk and is a member of PHASED, a private economic development group. She is on the Hiawatha Valley Mental Health Board and the Winona County Community Health Advisory Board. She is interested in rural economic development, social justice and tourism.
Stacy Fritz -- Chatfield, MN:
Jay Haws – Faribault , MN: Jay is a banker in Faribault and lives in rural Richland Township with his wife, Chris, a computer programmer and son, Tom. He has worked with several banks and credit unions, primarily in the Twin Cities. He is interested in rural economic development and new and renewable energy.
Jerry Hildebrandt - Stewartville, MN:
Larry Landherr – Rochester, MN: Larry retired in July, 2004 after almost 30 years with the MN Pollution Control Agency, of which he was Regional Director for 25 years. Prior to that, he served 7 years as City-County Sanitarian for Austin-Mower County. He is a lifelong resident of southeast MN and is a Class of ’67 graduate of the University of Minnesota. Since retiring from MPCA he has served for 3 years concurrently as chairperson of the SE MN CERT Steering Committee and also a board member of SE RSDP. He enjoys his 4 grandchildren and is still active in social justice issues.
Ressano De Souza-Machado – La Crescent, MN: Ressano is a lecturer in Chemistry at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. He is currently a Councillor for the La Crosse-Winona Section of the American Chemical Society and also serves as Secretary to the La Crescent Lions. Ressano is interested in the economic development of SE Minnesota and in new and renewable sources of energy.
Wayne Martin - UM Twin Cities rep
Trish Olson – University of MN: Trish has many roles within the University of Minnesota Extension Service: Interim Capacity Area Leader for Family Development, Area Program Leader for Resource Management and Director of the Center for Personal and Family Financial Education. She also has a personal connection to the SE through her family farm in Winona County.
Al Schacht (Executive Committee) – Hammond, MN: Al is retired from the U.S. Forest Service where he worked in various positions and locations since 1966. He received Congressional recognition and the USDA Superior Service Award for his work.
Bob Sixta – Rochester, MN: Bob is a resident of Rochester, where he lives with his wife, Helen Monsees and their son, Joe Sixta. Bob is employed as a Registered Investment Advisor and insurance agent for Sammons Securities and Sixta Insurance, LLC. Bob grew up in Eastern Iowa, attended Central College, Pella, Iowa and the University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa. Bob moved to Rochester in 1980 and worked for a Regional Development Commission in Southern Minnesota. Bob’s interest and training are in Rural Development and community preservation. Bob enjoys gardening, farmer’s markets and American History.
Margo Stich - Rochester, MN:
Marcia Ward - Dakota, MN: Marcia has been a resident of SE Minnesota for most of her life. She is married with four children and she and her family raise Suffolk Sheep in rural New Hartford Township, where she has lived for 28 years. Marcia is a business graduate of the U of MN and owned and operated a retail/wholesale business with her husband in La Crosse for 25 years. She was elected Winona County Commissioner in 2002.
Photos of ERC Board Members & Director
