Our Team

Minnesota Compass and related projects are managed and implemented by the staff at Wilder Research. The following Wilder Research staff are involved in the project.

Thousands of people have shared their expertise in the development of Compass.

Project advisors

Kassira Absar, Learning and Evaluation Manager, Bush Foundation

Heather Britt, Executive Director, Wilder Research

Susan Brower, State Demographer, Minnesota State Demographic Center

Armando Camacho, President and CEO, Wilder

Connie Carlson, Assistant Statewide Director, Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships, University of Minnesota Extension

Annie Coyle, Strategic Initiatives Manager, League of Minnesota Cities

Veronica Deenanath, Senior Director of Evaluation and Learning, Greater Twin Cities United Way

Carly Eckstrom, Deputy Director, Minnesota Budget Project

Nancy Fasching, VP of Community Impact, Southwest Initiative Foundation

Katie Godfrey Demmer, Communications Director, Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation

Briellen Griffin, Community Engagement & Partnership Manager, Wilder Research

Stephen Jeanetta, Associate Dean, Department of Community Development, University of Minnesota Extension

Shonni Krengel, Research Manager, Minnesota Council of Nonprofits

Jake Loesch, Executive Director, Citizens League

Jama Mohamed, Social Equity Program Officer, Morgan Family Foundation

Alissa Oeltjenbruns, Vice President of Philanthropy, Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation

Erica Orton, Principal Evaluation Program Manager, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Foundation

Stephanie Peterson, Learning and Evaluation Officer, Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation

Julie Ring, Executive Director, Association of Minnesota Counties

Amy Trombley, Vice President for Community, Initiative Foundation

Patrick Troska, Executive Director, Rooted Philanthropic

Michelle Ufford, Vice President—Grantmaking

Brian Voerding, President, Initiative Foundation

Katie Wehr, Senior Program Officer, McKnight Foundation

 

 

 

Our co-conveners helped bring together experts in their field and facilitate some great conversations around specific topics. The list includes the co-conveners' professional role held at the time of each convening.

 

Aging – Dawn Simonson, Metropolitan Area Agency on Aging

Arts and Culture – Arleta Little, The McKnight Foundation

Children and Youth – Chris Ganzlin, The McKnight Foundation

Civic Engagement – Sean Kershaw, Citizens League

Civic Engagement (2015) – Diane Tran, HealthEast Care System

Disparities – Sandra L. Vargas, The Minneapolis Foundation

Early Childhood – Barbara Yates, Minnesota Early Learning Foundation

Economy and Workforce – Michael Gorman, Split Rock Partners

Economy and Workforce (Statewide) –
   Bill Blazar, Minnesota Chamber of Commerce
   Kathy Tunheim, Senior Advisor to the Governor for Job Creation

Education – Alice Seagren, Minnesota Department of Education

Education (Statewide) –
   Brenda Cassellius, Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Education
   Marilee Grant, Boston Scientific

Environment – Steve Morse, Minnesota Environmental Partnership

Environment (2022) - Ben Passer, The McKnight Foundation

Health – Mary Brainerd, HealthPartners

Housing – Tim Marx, Commissioner, Minnesota Housing

Immigration –
   Bill Blazar, Minnesota Chamber of Commerce
   Sandra L. Vargas, The Minneapolis Foundation

Public Safety – Tom Johnson, Council on Crime and Justice

Public Safety (2023) – Justin Terrell and Dr. Katie Remington Cunningham, Minnesota Justice Research Center

Transportation (2007) – Bob Johns, Center for Transportation Studies, U. of M.

Transportation (2014) – Charles Zelle, Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Transportation