Our Boards

We gratefully acknowledge our Trustees, Maada’oookiing Advisory Board, Youth In Philanthropy Advisory Board, and Emeritus Trustee Group for their dedication this past fiscal year. Their guidance helps move the foundation, and region, in a forward-looking, mission-focused direction.

2023-24 Board of Trustees

Our Trustees help lead the foundation’s strategic direction and provide governance and financial oversight.

Peter McDermott, Chair
Retired
Grand Rapids
Mary Harrelson, Vice Chair
Licensed Psychologist (retired)
Mary Rademacher Psychological Services
Grand Portage Reservation
Roy Smith, Treasurer
Director of Education & Talent Development
Iron Range Resources/Minnesota State Colleges & Universities
Hibbing
Cindy Anderson Bina, Secretary
Counselor (retired)
Vermilion Community College
Ely
Angie Miller, Immediate Past Chair
Executive Director (retired)
Community Action Duluth
Duluth
Jamie Adams
Economic Development Planner
Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
Cloquet/Solon Springs
Ben Benoit
Deer River District Ranger
Chippewa National Forest
Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Citizen
Cohasset
Baabiitaw Boyd
(stepped down Nov. 2023)
Sr. Advisor on Ojibwe Language
Revitalization Initiatives
Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe
Garrison
Elena Foshay
Director of Workforce Development
City of Duluth
Duluth
Ashley Hall
Director of Partnerships & Programs,
Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank, and Owner, Evolve U Fitness & Wellness
International Falls
Tia Marie
Owner
Unwined Up North and Smoke on the Water
Grand Rapids
Kenneth A. Reid
(stepped down June 2024)
Associate Vice President of Student Affairs
Lake Superior College
Duluth/Superior
Darren Sheldon
Principal
Lakewood Elementary School
Cloquet
Kristen Vake
Executive Director
Iron Mining Association of Minnesota
Chisholm

Maada’ookiing Advisory Board

A board of Tribal nation representatives and other Native American leaders from this region advises the Maada’ookiing program and approves its grant funding.

Baabiitaw Boyd
Misizaaga’iganiing Anishinaabe
Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe
Shane Drift
District I Representative
Bois Forte Tribal Council
Bois Forte Band of Chippewa
Crystal Greensky, MSHA
Great Lakes Hub Deputy Director
Johns Hopkins Center for Indigenous Health
Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians (citizen) & Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa (1st gen descendent)
Mary Harrelson
Gichionigaming Akiing Gichigami Anishinabeg
Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
Alexandera Houchin
Fellow/Citizen
Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
April McCormick
Secretary/Treasurer
Gichionigaming
Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
Jaylen Strong
Bois Forte Heritage Center and Cultural Museum Director
Bois Forte Band of Chippewa

Youth in Philanthropy Advisory Board

Student members and adult representatives of the Youth In Philanthropy Board help approve grants to children-and-youth led projects throughout our region.

Youth Members

Olivia Allen, Chair
Two Harbors
Seth Parkin, Vice Chair
Aitkin
Rizal Howes, Secretary/Treasurer
Cloquet
Emily Class, Photographer
Barnum
Alaena Happ Furo
Two Harbors
Rosemary Huddleston
Two Harbors
Neela Piri, Photographer
Barnum
Jackson Strand, Photographer
Superior
Lila Sakuray
Superior
Joey Wallace
Hermantown
Adam Weisgerber
Hermantown
Owen Weyer
Aitkin

Adult Representatives

Jamie Adams
Economic Development Planner, Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
Brad Flynn
Programmer Analyst, ALLETE
Lara Parkin
Community Education Coordinator, Aitkin
Tim Stratioti
Branch Director, Superior, Boys & Girls Club of the Northland
Dan Thewis
Teacher, Two Harbors High School

Emeritus Trustee Group

A group of past Trustees as well as our former President stay connected to the foundation and champion its mission. Two Emeritus Trustees and dear friends, Mark Phillips and Steve Downing, died this past year. They are greatly missed, but their lasting contributions to northeast Minnesota will live on.

Lisa Bodine
Dave Clusiau
Jeff Corey
Eddie Crawford
Lynn Goerdt
Bill Hansen
Cindy Hansen
Edwina Hertzberg
Jason Hollinday
Mary Ives
Trent Janezich
Ken Johnson
Lisa Kruse
Nevada Littlewolf
Scott Martin
Antoinette Monster
Shaye Moris
Nancy Aaronson Norr
Allen Rasmussen
Diane Rauschenfels
Tom Renier, President Emeritus
Tom Rider
Joe Sertich
Chuck Walt
Ed Zabinski