About Our Staff

About Us: Staff Bios

Dave Glenn (dglenn@mnproject.org) serves as Executive Director for the Minnesota Project and comes from a long history of nonprofit management, community organizing and public administration. He joined the Minnesota Project staff in 2007. Dave is drawn to environmental issues through his agricultural roots in Kansas and South Dakota as well as his respect for indigenous cultures, artwork and wild, undisturbed places. Dave is a potter, sculptor and consummate community volunteer.

While some might see it as a contrast to his artistic skills, he also brings leadership, event and financial management, and project management expertise to the organization. He’s been volunteering for arts activities, community efforts and organizations for over 25 years. Dave and his wife Vicki are now empty nesting since children Jennifer and Michael are finding their own paths in forestry and land resource management.

Snacks and organization planning.

Jake Fischer, J.D. (jfischer@mnproject.org) serves as the Clean Energy Program Manager at the Minnesota Project. Jake has focused his practical and academic endeavors around gaining experience in the areas of renewable energy development and community ownership. At the Minnesota Project, Jake plans to continue his work in these areas, while facilitating rural economic growth and stability. Jake grew up on his family’s farm in South Dakota, where he learned the value of hard work and ingenuity. Jake also observed a rural community’s need for alternate avenues of sustainability and hopes to work toward this important goal. Jake has a J.D. and B.S. from the University of Minnesota and is admitted to the Minnesota State Bar. Jake enjoys sports of all kinds, the Golden Gophers, and listening to music new and old.

Theresa Heiland (theiland@mnproject.org), Local Food Coordinator, comes to The Minnesota Project with a diverse background in nonprofit, county and state programs – primarily collaborating for social and economic well-being in rural and urban communities. Program areas include business retention and expansion, expanding rural communication networks, organic certification, neighborhood and local government relations and literacy. Theresa received a BA in Social work from the College of Saint Benedict. Prior to completing a Master of Science in Community Development from the University of Maine, she was a Peace Corps volunteer for the Ministry of Agriculture in Kenya – helping women farmers find markets for their crops.

Theresa’s interest in farmers and local food stems from her own farm upbringing in Carver County, where her favorite chore was feeding chickens and collecting the eggs. Poultry was her mother’s enterprise and Theresa helped her sell fresh eggs to a small store in Gotha, MN. She believes there is much potential to renew and reinvigorate the vital connections between producers and consumers that serves the local economy so well.

Heidi Coe (hcoe@mnproject.org), Fruits of the City Coordinator, comes to The Minnesota Project with a background of over 15 years in the Landscape and Nursery business. She has an degree in Landscape and Nursery Technology and also owns a garden design, install and maintenance business. She is certified through the MNLA (Minnesota Nursery and Landscape Association).

Heidi’s love for all things green and growing started from her upbringing on a hobby farm in Nebraska and then spending part of her adult years in Alaska. She has a passion for doing her part to keep foods local, healthy and accessible to everyone. She also enjoys spending time with her 4 adult children, as well as running, biking, rollerblading and hot yoga.

Shaun Daniel (sdaniel@mnproject.org) is the new Clean Energy Program Associate at The Minnesota Project. Originally from the small town of Metaline Falls (pop. 250) in northeastern Washington and a Political Science graduate of the University of Idaho, he comes to Minnesota by way of rural Eastern Oregon. After working for nearly four years with the community organizing nonprofit Oregon Rural Action, as a community organizer and Communications Director, he decided a change was in order, so he packed his bags and moved to Minneapolis. (It helped that his partner Teresa was accepted to grad school at the U of M.) With more time to focus on his music and writing, Shaun also realized that he couldn't keep away from working towards stronger, more sustainable communities. He's excited to be involved in The Minnesota Project's work. Shaun loves playing music, writing, reading, photography, talking politics and philosophy, going to concerts and films, biking, backpacking, local foods, and microbrews.

Fruits of the City Neighborhood Coordinators

Lindsey Novak is currently in her second year as a Neighborhood Volunteer Coordinator for Fruits of the City. Originally from a small town in North Dakota, Lindsey now resides in Northfield, MN. Her interest in urban agriculture and sustainability is what drew her to The Minnesota Project organization. A self-proclaimed foodie extraordinaire, Lindsey loves to cook, eat, and read about great food.

Sarah Denzer grew up in Brainerd, MN, and graduated from Saint Cloud State University with a degree in Ecology and Field Biology with a focus on Natural Resources. She is currently working on a degree in Dietetic Technology at Normandale Community College and work as a chemist for a food testing facility in Minnetonka. After graduating she hopes to work with public schools on improving their lunch program or in community nutrition education. She believes that keeping food as local as possible is not only healthy for us and the land, but it also strengthens communities. Her other interests include cooking, reading, gardening, biking, hiking, birding and taking care of her mini zoo at home.

Christy Dolph is a Ph.D. student in the Water Resources Science program at the University of Minnesota, where she studies the ways that human activities can affect the biodiversity of stream and rivers, particularly in highly disturbed agricultural landscapes. Originally from Ann Arbor, Michigan, she is inspired to work towards community resilience and self-reliance by a long line of community organizers in her family. Her idea of a great life is to live in time with natural cycles, advance a just and sustainable future for all people, and sit around making jokes with her friends. She lives in Northeast Minneapolis with her husband and her dog.

Mark Anema has been an enthusiastic volunteer at a commercial orchard down state, and became a Minnesota Tree Care Advisor in March, 2011. He enjoys gleaning fruit grown on city lots, and learns something new with every harvest. Mark lives in Minneapolis with his wife and teenage children. This year is his first as a Neighborhood Coordinator for Fruits of the City.

Jared Walhowe serves as a Neighborhood Coordinator for Fruit of the City. A graduate of the University of Minnesota, Morris, in Sociology and Social Sciences, he brings to the Minnesota Project his passions for food justice, sustainability, diversity, and asset based community development. Jared also brings his experience in volunteer management and community organizing within the non-profit sector from his years of being a student activist, an AmeriCorps member, and as an engaged citizen that bridges the gap between urban and rural communities. Jared is a gleaner, a gardener, a volunteer, a bicyclist, a musician, and a life-long learner.

Volunteers

Valerie Steffl serves as the Communications/Social Media Intern. After living in New York City for a year, she realized how much she appreciates clean air, green spaces, community, fresh food, and Minnesota. Valerie grew up in New Ulm and Sleepy Eye, Minnesota and has many great memories of harvest time with her uncle and summer gardening with her grandmother. She was drawn to The Minnesota Project's mission through studying food politics, social justice and communications at St. Cloud State University. Currently she enjoys her Minnesota time enjoying local food, biking, practicing yoga, taking pictures, writing, and learning life's lessons the can't be found in textbooks.

Rebecca Baumann (rbaumann@mnproject.org) ) now serves as a Senior Advisor to The Minnesota Project. She moved from Madison, Wisconsin in August of 2007 to serve as Executive Director of TMP through August of 2010. For six years she was the executive director of the Wisconsin Land and Water Conservation Association. In that position she worked extensively with farm policy and farming issues bridging legislative and on-the-ground environmental concerns. She has experience with Great Lakes issues, renewable energy and the Farm Bill. She has Ohio farm roots but lived in Chicago where she attended Loyola University School of Law. She brings an entrepreneurial business background along with in-depth nonprofit experience. Considering herself a student of life, she enjoys new experiences, time with family and friends and the diversity and vibrancy of her St. Paul neighborhood.

Aaron Seegmiller (aseegmiller@mnproject.org) serves as a Communications Intern. Originally from Iowa City, Iowa, he is currently an undergrad student at the University of Minnesota. His responsibilities at the Minnesota Project include utilizing his background in design software to layout and edit both print and online publications. His interest in sustainability was sparked by summers spent on his family farm, and it continued to grow while studying in China. Outside of work, his interests include good food, writing, yoga, and enjoying the outdoors.