 Rebecca Baumann (rbaumann@mnproject.org) moved from Madison, Wisconsin on August 23, 2007 to assume the position of Executive Director. 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. With a global concern for sustainable development and environmental stability and renewal, she welcomes the opportunity to provide collaborative and visionary leadership. Considering herself a student of life, she enjoys new experiences, time with family and friends and the diversity and vibrancy of her new St. Paul neighborhood. |
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 Jennifer Blecha, Ph.D., (jblecha@mnproject.org) joined the Minnesota Project as the new manager of the Local Foods program on September 2, 2008. Jennifer comes most recently from San Francisco State University where she was on the faculty of the geography department, teaching courses on food, agriculture, waste reduction and recycling. Previously she lived in Minnesota for seven years while pursuing her doctorate at the University of Minnesota. Jennifer has expertise in urban agriculture, sustainable agriculture, and urban ecology. She also has a background in social justice and is committed to improving access to healthful, local foods for all Minnesotans regardless of income, age, or country of origin. Jennifer will also direct the program’s attention to the entire life cycle of food – from the soil to the plate back to the soil – by helping to develop community-scale composting systems. Jennifer lives in St. Paul with her partner, six laying hens, and several thousand composting worms. |
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 Luke Ekelund (lekelund@mnproject.org) started working for the Minnesota Project in June 2008. His responsibilities involve coordinating logistics for the biennial CERTs statewide conference as well as working with various other CERTs projects. Luke grew up on a beef cattle farm in Northern Wisconsin and studied Environmental Studies from St. John’s University. His love for the outdoors developed from his experiences on the farm and exploring his natural surroundings. |
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 Tim Gieseke (tgieseke@mnproject.org) rejoins the Minnesota Project as the Agricultural Program Director. He has worked with the Minnesota Project since April 2004 on the 2008 Farm Bill and been actively involved with renewable energy, water quality, and development and delivery of conservation planning curriculum to agricultural professionals and local governmental technical staff. Tim founded, and is the president of, Ag Resource Strategies, LLC. In the past, he was the manager at the Carver Soil & Water Conservation District in Waconia, MN developing conservation implementation programs for the diverse natural resources in Carver County. As an office holder in both the state and national employees associations, he was involved with the numerous efforts in developing state and national policies such as the USDA 2002 Farm Bill and MPCA NPDES Program. He has also served on the MEI's Impaired Waters Stakeholders' G40, MPCA Funding Option Workgroup, EQB's Water Resource Committee, and as a BWSR Advisor for the MACDE. He holds a Masters degree in Environmental Sciences from Minnesota State University-Mankato and a BS in Biology. Tim grew up on his parent's dairy and crop farm in Nicollet County. He and his wife Jenny have taken the opportunity to return to the farm and to operate a small and diversifying farming operation. Their three boys are the fifth generation in the family to be on the farm. |
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 Dave Glenn (dglenn@mnproject.org) comes to the Minnesota Project from arts management and public administration. He joined the Minnesota Project staff in 2007. He’s drawn to environmental issues because of his agricultural roots in Kansas and his respect for indigenous peoples and wild, undisturbed places. Dave is a potter and sculptor. In contrast to those skills as an artist, he brings skills in the area of event and financial management, spreadsheet design, and organizational change. He’s been volunteering for arts organizations for over 25 years. Dave is now empty nesting with his wife, Vicki, since children Jennifer and Michael are finding their own paths in forestry and land resource management. |
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 Annalisa Hultberg (ahultberg@mnproject.org) is a second year Masters student in Natural Resources Science and Management at the University of Minnesota. Annalisa is interning this summer with the Minnesota Project to work on a research project on local foods distribution in Minnesota for her thesis. She is excited to hopefully improve small farmer’s ability to access new markets, and increase the amount of tasty locally grown veggies in the restaurants she frequents. She hopes to work internationally in food security and small farm development and assistance. Annalisa lives in Minneapolis with her husband Will and cat Kitro. In her non-thesis writing time she cooks big dinners and makes Will clean up, plays Frisbee, and loves to garden. Anna has run her own business, “Anna the Weed Woman Gardening,” since 2001. Ask her to weed your garden, divide your hostas, and deadhead those daisies- she’ll most likely do it. |
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 Kristine Igo (kigo@mnproject.org) joins the Minnesota Project after 12 years in the Twin Cities Food and Wine community where she taught wine classes and worked with local chefs to promote regional and sustainable foods. In the Fall of 2007, Kris journeyed to Berkeley where she is working on her Masters of Public Policy. A mother of two boys, Kris is motivated in her work to increase the availability of healthy, locally grown foods in our school lunch programs. She is interested in a ‘whole system’ approach to sustaining our family farms, which has led her to examine small scale energy production as well. She has and will continue to work with agencies in California and the Midwest on dairy farm anaerobic digestion and community digesters. Wine continues to be a passion, and California is currently providing endless opportunities to explore. |
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 Eileen McLaughlin (emclaughlin@mnproject.org) has been a resident of Minnesota except for the first 13 years of her life. She has worked in the banking / brokerage business for 38 years starting in the back office at the old Northwestern National Bank and working her way up to a assistant vice president of Miller Johnson Steichen and Kinnard working directly with the president’s clients and doing a lot of number work. Due to shifts in the industry, Eileen decided to switch from the corporate world to the non profit world. She currently works part time as office manager for a small church in St. Paul doing all their books as well as newsletters and web site. Eileen expanded her non profit portfolio when she joined the Minnesota Project in mid October 2007 as a part time employee working with the Director of Finance and Operations, Dave Glenn. Eileen is married to musician, Jim ten Bensel and has a step-son Adam. One of Eileen’s great loves is music and related activities. She plays the oboe, clarinet and sings soprano in her church choir. She also manages the music for the Minneapolis Trombone Choir and helps with the Sunday summer concerts at Como Park Pavilion which is directed by her husband. In the last year, she has also become a Sudoku fan. |
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 Dan Thiede (dthiede@mnproject.org) is the Energy Program Coordinator at the Minnesota Project. He has been with the Project for nearly a year. He coordinates the CERTs Web site and worked with the project partners to spearhead a total Web site redesign (www.cleanenergyresourceteams.org). Dan also coordinates the biennial CERTs statewide conference. He is also the keeper of CERTs communications tools such as fact sheets, display materials, and project case studies, among others. Dan has a solid knowledge base in a range of environmental issues, as well as significant experience in writing, web and print publishing, speaking, event planning, and collaborative project development. Dan has undergraduate degrees from the University of St. Thomas in geography and English writing, as well as a minor in Environmental Studies. When he is not in the office, Dan is likely on his bicycle — rain, snow, sleet, and shine — or digging around in the garden. |
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 Kristen Weber (kweber@mnproject.org) joined the Minnesota Project at the end of 2003 as Office Manager. In 2001, she made a conscious decision to align her career path more closely with two strong interests that have permeated her life: understanding and improving the intersection between humans and their environment and a passion for the arts. The perfect opportunity materialized in supporting Minnesota Project’s work given Weber's many years of experience in publishing and custom software development. When not at the office, you will likely find Kris in her studio working on her kilnformed glass. |
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