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Congrats to four Policy Fellows alumni named to the 2013 Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal’s Forty under 40: Jeff Davidman (2005-2006), Allison Barmann (2009-2010), Kashif Saroya (2010-2011) and Kate Johansen (2011-2012).
Lt. Col. Mark M. Weber’s (2009-2010) book Tell My Sons was picked up by Random House publishers. www.tellmysons.com For more on Mark’s journey with cancer, family, Iraq, and more, visit Operation True Grit on Facebook.
Kathleen Motzenbecker (2011-2012) named as the new executive director of the Minnesota Trade Office, which offers services and programs to help companies do business around the world.
Kavon Nikrad (2011-2012) recently published a book, Taking Turns: Political Stalemate or New Direction in the Race for 2012, and also had an op-ed featured in Roll Call.
Allison Barmann (2009-2010) and Lars Leafblad (2008-2009) have both started new positions with the Bush Foundation.
John Berns (2007-2008) has opened his own law firm, Berns Law Firm LLC, based in Wayzata.
Chris Heineman (2009-2010) is now Community Planning and Development Director for the City of Northfield, MN.
Katie Sieben (2003-2004) was elected by her colleagues to serve as Assistant Majority Leader of the Minnesota Senate.
Robert Strand (2007-2008) was awarded a Ph.D. degree at the Copenhagen Business School. His dissertation focused on the role of leadership in promoting corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability in business.
Jeff Goldberg (2009-2010) has taken a position in the Washington, D.C. area as the Virginia Bureau Chief at WJLA-TV News Channel 8.
Antonia Apolinário-Wilcoxon (2010-2011) has recently been promoted to DHS-Community Relations Director at the
Office of the Deputy Commissioner for the
Minnesota Department of Human Services.
Anne O’Connor (2009-2010) is now Director of Communications for the Minnesota Department of Commerce.
Sarah Dirksen (2003-2004) has joined the University of Minnesota as the deputy director at the Office of the Board of Regents.
Congratulations to Emy Sutton Johnson (2011-12) on her election to Shoreview City Council.
Anne Mason (2009-2010) has a new position as the Public Affairs Manager at ClearWay Minnesota.
Congratulation to Rep. Erin Murphy (2005-2006) for her election as Majority Leader of the Minnesota House of Representatives.
Rosa Tock (2009-2010) has joined the Humphrey School in her new role as Associate Coordinator of the International Fellowships Program.
Congratulations to Lt. Col. Mark Weber (2009-2010) on the publication of his book, Tell My Sons, released December 2012.
Congratulations to alumni Cristine Almeida (2002-2003), Senator Amy Klobuchar (1991-1992), and Lars Leafblad (2008-2009) for being listed in the Twin Cities Business Black Book - a list of 100 people to help you thrive in 2013.
Kelly Groehler, Dave Ladd, Greg Swanholm, and Bass Zanjani (all members of the 2010-2011 cohort) used their group project as a starting point to write and publish a book that will be available in paperback and e-book format. Congrats, team, on the publication of LIKE: Seven Rules and 10 Simple Steps for Social Media in Your Campaign (in Politics, Business or Otherwise). More information at www.facebook.com/LIKESEVEN10
Dominick Washington (2004-2005) recently accepted an appointment as Director of Communications at the University of Chicago's Irving B. Harris School of Public Policy Studies. He lives with his wife and two daughters in the Logan Square neighborhood of Chicago.
Megan Leafblad (2010-2011) was named an Outstanding Young Minnesotan by the MN Jaycees. Megan talks about her Humphrey Policy Fellows experience at 2'15" in this video. http://www.minnpost.com/ypn/2011/11/23/33315/2011_toym_honoree_profile_megan_leafblad
Lars Leafblad (2008-2009) was mentioned as one of “200 Minnesotans You Should Know” in Twin Cities Business. Lars is a principal at Keystone Search.
Thad Hellman (2010-2011) has a new role at Target Corporation in Government Affairs.
Anne O’Connor (2009-2010) is now Assistant Communication Director for the Minnesota Department of Commerce.
Denise Mayotte (2007-2008), Executive Director of the Sheltering Arms Foundation, was among 22 people named by Governor Mark Dayton to the state’s new Early Learning Council that will be responsible for advising the governor, the Children’s Cabinet and the Legislature on how to increase access to high-quality state and federal early childhood care and education programs. A first challenge will be to provide direction to Minnesota’s federal Race to the Top Early Childhood grant application.
Amy Fredregill (2008-2009) has a new role as Executive Director of the Midwest Renewable Energy Tracking System, Inc. (MRETS).
Kirstin Sersland Beach (2009-2010) has a new role as Director of Local Government Affairs with CenturyLink.
David Gillette (2009-2010) received an Upper Midwest Emmy Award for “On-Camera Talent – Commentator/Editorialist” for his work at Twin Cities Public Television.
Peter Lindstrom (2002-2003) is now the assistant director of the Center for Science, Technology, and Public Policy at the U of M’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs.
Brian McClung (2004-2005) has been named to the Board of Directors of the Saint Paul Area Chamber of Commerce for 2012. McClung is one of nine new board members joining the 39 person board effective January 1, 2012.
Brian Strub (2000-2001) left the League of Minnesota cities in early 2011 and took a position as Director of Communications and Government Relations for the Minnesota State Arts Board.
Shilpa Alva (2008-2009) has relocated to Chicago and has a new position at Ernst & Young. The nonprofit organization Shilpa co-founded, Surge for Water, recently sent several team members to Cambodia to work on projects around clean drinking water.
Amy Fredregill (2008-2009) was recently appointed by Governor Dayton to the board of directors for the Center for Rural Policy and Development.
Jessie (Ostlund) Sorensen (2006-2007) has a new role as VP, Public Relations for Aging Services of Minnesota.
Hussein Samatar (2003-2004) recently traveled to more than 11 cities throughout Sweden, sharing the successes and challenges of the Somali-American community with top Swedish officials and community members. Read about his experiences: http://www.adcminnesota.org/about/staff-blog/Hussein_Samatar
Kent Thiesse (2000-2001) is currently serving a two-year term as President of the Minnesota School Boards Association. His term began in January 2011.
John Soshnik (2009-2010) has left Dorsey and Whitney and is now a partner at Lindquist & Vennum PLLP.
Patrick Troska (2008-2009) is now serving as the Executive Director at the Jay and Rose Phillips Family Foundation of Minnesota. Previously, Patrick was a program officer at the foundation.
Karen Louise Boothe (1996-1997) returned to Minneapolis June 3, after completing one year with the European Commission-funded project in outreach and communications in Kosovo, as well as similar advisory projects on communications and outreach in Kosovo and Liberia for USAID-funded programs. She also engaged in a consulting assignment in Istanbul, Turkey and now turns her job-seeking sights a little closer to home in Minnesota. www.preponeconsulting.com
Patrick Ness (2008-2009) is heading to the Boston area to attend graduate school. Previously, Patrick worked with the Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless.
Todd Kruse (2008-2009) is now Senior Counselor at Ainsley Shea Communications in St. Paul. http://ainsleyshea.com
Jenna Rasmusson (2009-2010) has relocated to Denver and is working as a marketing manager for Spectranetics, a small Colorado medical device company.
Neng Lee (2007-2008) completed his mid-career Master of Public Affairs degree at the Humphrey School.
John Doan and Jon Commers (both 2005-2006) were appointed by Governor Dayton to the Metropolitan Council.
Chris Heineman, Matt Hunt, Kris Johnson, Anne O'Connor and Dan Pfarr (all 2009-2010), recently had an article published in MinnPost on the topic of next generation energy that grew out of their project work last spring.
Lars Leafblad (2008-2009) had a commentary in MinnPost on Minnesota’s search for a new identity.
Jill Rowlison (2005-2006), has a new position with the Dow Chemical Company as Director of Political Affairs.
Mark Giga (2007-2008) is now the Communications Director at the Minnesota Business Partnership.
Deborah Locke (1998-1999) is now serving as program manager for projects relating to 1862 U.S./Dakota War commemorations at the Minnesota Historical Society.
Jeff Heegaard (2007-2008) left his position with 1,000 Friends of Minnesota and co-founded Coco, a coworking and collaborative space in Lowertown St. Paul.
Mona Peterson Rosow (2008-2009) has left United Health Group and is now with Target Corporation’s healthcare compliance team.
Jeannette Cleland (2004-2005) is serving as deputy director of scheduling and events for First Lady Michelle Obama. Jeannette was previously working for Congresswoman Betsy Markey.
Christy Hovanetz (2009-2010) has been awarded a Marshall Memorial Fellowship for 2011. She is traveling to Washington, DC; Brussels, Belgium; Lübeck, Germany; Athens, Greece; Zagreb, Croatia; and Bucharest, Romania. During the 24-day traveling program, fellows will develop extensive knowledge of political, economic, and social institutions and issues facing the United States and Europe.
John Rock (2008-2009) resigned from Dorsey and Whitney and opened his own firm, Rock Law LLC, where he will continue his business litigation practice.
Lars Leafblad (2008-2009) was recently named to the advisory group of the Public and Nonprofit Leadership Center at the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs.
Susie Brown (2005-2006), formerly the Executive Director of Child Care WORKS, has taken a position as Public Policy Director for the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits.
Charissa Bryant Jones (2006-2007) has a new supervisory assignment at Hennepin County, Human Services and Public Health Department in the newly named area - Protection, Assessment and Regional Site Development, Initial Contact and Assessment. She supervises Children's Service Planning.
Beth Cieslik (2007-2008) has a new position at Target. Beth has moved from Government Affairs and is now working as the Editorial Manager in Communications.
Amy Fredregill (2008-2009) recently volunteered for a week in Niger with Farmer to Farmer, a program funded by U.S. AID. Amy’s group helped about 100 farmers to start a co-op for purchase of farm supplies and production of goods to sell at local markets.
Nate Garvis (1994-1995) recently left Target’s government affairs area and founded Naked Civics, promoting new designs for civic engagement. More at http://nakedcivics.ning.com
Jennifer Grudnowski (2008-2009), now living in the New York City area, has a new position as Senior Employment Counsel at Berger Legal.
Dan Pfarr (2009-2010) has been selected as Executive Director of The Bridge for Youth, a non-profit organization serving homeless and runaway youth and their families in the Twin Cities metropolitan area.
Zach Burnett (2008-2009) has a new position as InfoSphere Sales Specialist at IBM.
Patrick Ness (2008-2009) recently departed his position as public policy manager in Catholic Charities’ Office of Social Justice. Patrick has “dusted off the backpack” and will be traveling both in the U.S. and abroad for at least several months.
Eric Peterson (2007-2008) has taken a position as the Senior Associate General Counsel at Ingenix, Inc.
Rick Roque (2000-2001) lives in Washington, D.C. and runs a consulting firm called MenloCompany.com, focusing on higher education and economic development in emerging markets. In both Nigeria and Afghanistan, Rick works actively with the banking community, local businesses, government officials and members of the World Bank to identify, coordinate and facilitate education and job creation goals in those respective markets. The blend between public and private sector cooperatives that is at the heart of his business began with his research while at the Policy Forum in 2000-2001. Rick is presently getting his Doctorate in Education at American International College, based in Springfield, Massachusetts.
Rosa Tock (2009-2010) has a new position with the Minnesota Department of Education, in the Division of Special Education Policy as planner and data analyst. She will work on its State Personnel Development Grant (SPDG) which has two main objectives: 1) Improve the educational opportunities and outcomes of children and youth with disabilities (this also entails ELL learners and minority students), and 2) Ensure the availability of a qualified special education workforce across all geographic regions in the state (including teachers from diverse groups).
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