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.

More than 1,000 people have shared their expertise in the development of Compass.

Project advisors

Stephanie Andrews, Talent, Learning, and Evaluation Director, Bush Foundation
Susan Brower, State Demographer, Minnesota State Demographic Center
Armando Camacho, President, Wilder Foundation
Acooa Ellis, Senior Vice President of Community Impact, Greater Twin Cities United Way
Nancy Fasching, Vice President of Community Impact, Southwest Initiative Foundation
Rae Jean Hansen, Vice President of Early Childhood, Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation
Charlotte Johnson, Co-CEO and Trustee, Otto Bremer Trust
Joel Luedtke, Jay and Rose Phillips Family Foundation of Minnesota
David Nicholson, Director, Vibrant and Equitable Communities, McKnight Foundation
Patty Pannkuk, Senior Vice President - Social Impact & Sustainability,  Wells Fargo & Company
R.T. Rybak, President and CEO, The Minneapolis Foundation
Tony Sertich, President and CEO, Northland Foundation
Nadege Souvenir, Chief Operating Officer, Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation
Michael Stroik, Vice President, 3MGives
Matt Varilek, President, Initiative Foundation
Anna Wasescha, President and CEO, West Central Initiative Foundation
Karen White, President and CEO, Northwest Minnesota Foundation

Kassira Absar, Learning and Evaluation Manager, Bush Foundation
Jessica Aleshire, Program Manager, Global Community Engagement, Boston Scientific
Jacqueline Berry, 3Mgives Manager, Education Strategy and Communications; 3Mgives
Susan Brower, State Demographer, Minnesota State Demographic Center
Claire Chang, Senior Program Officer, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota Foundation
Kate Cimino, Executive Director, Citizens League
Nate Dorr, Vice President for Advocacy, Northwest Minnesota Foundation
Nancy Fasching, Vice President of Community Impact, Southwest Initiative Foundation
Katie Godfrey Demmer, Communications Director, Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation
Sarah Hernandez, Program Officer, Vibrant & Equitable Communities, McKnight Foundation
Don Hickman, Vice President for Community & Workforce Development, Initiative Foundation
Stephannie Lewis, Associate Vice President, Community Impact, Greater Twin Cities United Way
Joel Luedtke, Program Director, The Jay & Rose Phillips Family Foundation of Minnesota
Adaobi Okolue, Executive Director, Twin Cities Media Alliance
Dominic Papatola, Regional Director, Otto Bremer Trust
Stephanie Peterson, Learning and Evaluation Officer, Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation
Mary Rothchild, Senior System Director for Workplace Development, Minnesota State
Erik Torch, Director of Grantmaking, Northland Foundation
Greg Wagner, Director of Business & Economic Development, West Central Initiative

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

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

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

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