Ex-Officio
John Gibbs, Hennepin County Library Board President
Library Foundation Staff
Jane L. Johnson, Executive Director
Lynn DeVore, Development Associate
Board of Directors Biographies
Rick Bliss
Rick Bliss is retired CEO Anchor Bank, N.A. He currently serves on the boards of both the Minnesota Center for the Arts and Minnesota Planetarium Society. Bliss earned his bachelor's degree in economics and political science from Minnesota State University Mankato and graduated from the University of Wisconsin's Graduate School of Banking in 1983.
Arlys Edson
Arlys Edson of Plymouth, whose professional experience includes many years in the public school system in positions such as classroom instructor, librarian, and principal. She has volunteer experience with West Lutheran High School and Glory of Christ Lutheran Church in Plymouth.
Pam Gagnon
Pam graduated from Drake University and the University of Minnesota Law School. She practiced with a law firm in Minneapolis and with Control Data Corporation. She has been an active volunteer in the Edina community and is a past president and current board member of the Friends of the Edina Library.
Courtney Grimsrud
Courtney Grimsrud is an Associate Attorney with George Johnson and Associates and has significant expertise in estate planning and taxation. She graduated from Purdue University in 1999 magna cum laude with a BA degree in political science. In 2002 Courtney graduated cum laude from the U of M Law school. After law school, she attended Northwestern University School of Law's Masters of Taxation program, where she graduated in 2003. She focused her studies on estate planning and the taxation of exempt organizations. During her time in Chicago, Courtney became involved with the Cabrini Green Tutoring Program where she tutored a young girl in a variety of subjects for two years. She enjoys reading books on European histories and biographies of persons of historical significance and participates in a monthly book club. Courtney is a Minneapolis resident.
Holly Guncheon
Holly Guncheon of Plymouth has worked in health career administration
and non-profit management. Most recently, she founded the Minnesota
Foundation for Children, a free camp for grieving children. Holly
also serves on the Library Board. Holly is active in her childrens'
school, serving as volunteer coordinator and treasurer of the PTO.
Holly and her family are regulars at the Plymouth library.
John Heitkamp
No biographical information available at present.
Laura Langer
Laura Langer is Director of Marketing and Communications for Barrett Moving & Storage in Eden Prairie. She has served as President of the Friends of Eden Prairie Library and is an avid library supporter. Laura is a graduate of St. Olaf College and the University of Minnesota, and received her MBA from the University of St. Thomas. She previously served on the WCAL Radio Board of Directors, the Board of Directors of the Alliance Francaise of Minneapolis-St. Paul, the Board of Directors of the University Of Minnesota Alumni Association, and the Board of Directors of the College of Education.
Russ Lemker
Russ Lemker is the training development manager for QlikTech, a data analytics software company founded in Lund, Sweden. He received a BA in Philosophy and History from Regis University in Denver, Colorado. Russ is an active volunteer at church, his children's schools and sports associations in Edina. In addition to a compulsion for books, reading and personal writing, he also volunteers for Librivox.org, recording public domain books for free.
Bruce J. McNeil
Bruce J. McNeil of North Oaks, a partner with the law firm of Leonard, Street & Deinard in Minneapolis. He is adjunct professor of law at the U of M, editor in chief of the Journal of Pension Planning & Compliance and the Journal of Deferred Compensation, and author of several books and more than 50 articles on employee benefits.
Mary M. McVay
Mary M. McVay of Minnetonka, vice president of Minnwest Corporation and treasurer of the McVay Foundation. She has held positions with Jostens in the Library Division and with the Minneapolis public schools as a librarian.
Velia Melrose
Velia Melrose is a community volunteer, avid reader and member of several book clubs. Her volunteer activities over the years have included Junior League of Minneapolis, WAMSO, PEO, and Minneapolis Children's Hospital. Velia is an Edina resident.
Sue Busch Nehring
Sue is a resident of Maple Plain. She has served as Director of Corporate Public Relations, at Best Buy since 2003. In this role, she helps Best Buy create, direct and execute public relations programs designed to strengthen, protect and promote the reputation of the nation's leading retailer of consumer electronics. She also
serves as a company spokesperson with national and local news media. Prior to joining Best Buy, Sue was President of Busch Nehring & Associates, a company focused on working with clients on communications and marketing programs. From 1999-2002, she was VP of Corporate and Marketing Communications at eBenX, a technology based service company specializing in benefits administration. She has also worked at United Health Group in several high level positions in PR, Marketing and Communications. She is a customer of the Ridgedale Library and Maple Plain Library. From 1972-77 Sue worked as a clerk and page at the Edina Library and Southdale Library.
Cindy Page
Cindy graduated from the University of North Dakota with a BSBA degree. A Wayzata resident and mother of three, Cindy has been an active volunteer for many years in her children's schools. Cindy is an avid reader and her hobbies include bridge, golf and walking.
David Pratt
David is a retired Vice President-Investments, Piper Jaffray Inc. An active community leader, David has served the following organizations -- Greater Minneapolis Area Food Bank (1985-91, Chairman 1988-89); Library Foundation of Hennepin County (1988-94, President 1990-92); Minneapolis Athenaeum (1989-94, Vice President-Special Collections 1992-93); Presidents Commission of Libraries and Public Information (1990); Minnesota Library Planning Task Force (1994-2000); Hennepin County Library Board (2000-present, President 2002-03). David is currently Chair of the Pen Pals Committee.
Bill Rohlf
Bill grew up in the Lake Harriet area of south Minneapolis, graduating from St. Thomas Academy and the University of Minnesota, where he is active in the alumni association. His background includes marketing and advertising experience in the areas of technology and educational publishing. He is active in local politics, and is on the Board of Directors of two hedge funds. Bill is a Sunday school teacher at Mt Olivet Lutheran church in south Minneapolis and is involved in mentoring Minneapolis high school graduates moving on to college. Bill and his wife Kris are very involved in Edina schools and are raising 3 young boys.
Donna R. Scudder
Donna R. Scudder of Edina is an independent consultant in the area of organization effectiveness. Specializing in leadership development, team interaction and change management, Donna has worked with many Twin Cities-based corporations. Prior to starting her own business, Donna was the Director of Organization Development at Pillsbury. Previously Donna worked in similar positions for Cray Research, First Bank System (now USBank) and CHART (now WomenVenture). Her work has included international projects with management teams in Australia, South Africa, Europe, China, the Philippines and Brazil. A life-long user of libraries to support her passion for reading both fiction and current events, Donna is currently a member of two book clubs.
Jenny Skinner
Jenny is an independent consultant in the field of Business Development. A food scientist by education, she was a Managing Partner for American Grain Products, an early stage technology commercialization company in the food industry. Prior to AGP, Jenny worked for over five years in other facets of business development, applying her strategic, marketing and development background particularly in the areas of merger and acquisitions, finance and strategic planning. Some of her activities include working as prospect manager for a focused venture capital fund, and developing a strategic plan for a billion dollar cooperative. She has served in a variety of marketing, sales, product and technology development for large and small companies including Williams Foods, Sara Lee and General Mills. Jenny is a resident of Maple Grove.
Margaret Telfer
Margaret Telfer is president of PhotoBook Press in Minneapolis.
Brad Wallin
Brad is a member and trader of the Minneapolis Grain Exchange and vice president of Montana Specialty Mills. He received his BA from Carleton College, and an MBA from the University of Michigan. Brad volunteers for several community organizations. He is also a Minnesota history buff.
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