Our 2024-2025
Boards

We acknowledge with gratitude our Trustees, Maada’oookiing Advisory Board, Technical Advisory Committee, Youth In Philanthropy Advisory Board, and Emeritus Trustees for generously volunteering their time, expertise, and wise guidance.

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)
    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
  • Jamie Adams
    Economic Development Planner
    Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
    Cloquet/Solon Springs
  • Ben Benoit
    Project Administrator
    Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe
    Cohasset
  • Elena Foshay
    Director of Workforce Development
    City of Duluth
    Duluth
  • Ashley Hall
    Development Coordinator, Rainy Lake Medical Center and Owner, Evolve U Fitness & Wellness
    International Falls
  • Tia Marie
    Owner
    Smoke on the Water
    Grand Rapids
  • Sumair Sheikh
    Executive Director
    Duluth LISC
    Duluth
  • 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

Loan Program Technical Advisory Committee

Regional financing professionals help analyze proposed loans before moving on to final approval by our Board of Trustees.


  • Chad Curren
    National Bank of Commerce
  • Brian Forcier
    Titanium Partners
  • Greg Hoag
    Security State Bank of Hibbing
  • Carter Karpinnen
    First National Bank of Moose Lake
  • Jaron Larson
    North Shore Bank
  • Connor Randall
    Bell Bank
  • Lisa Wigand
    Bremer Bank (retired)

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
  • Jackson Strand, Vice Chair
    Superior
  • Rizal Howes, Secretary/Treasurer
    Cloquet
  • Alaena Happ Furo
    Two Harbors
  • Rosemary Huddleston
    Two Harbors
  • Annika Lahti
    Cherry
  • Arwen Levar
    Cherry
  • Seth Parkin
    Aitkin
  • Neela Piri
    Barnum
  • Lila Sakuray
    Superior
  • Joey Wallace
    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.


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

From traditional, ancestral & contemporary lands of Ojibwe, Dakota, Northern Cheyenne & other Native people. See a more detailed acknowledgement of this land and its history.

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