2023-2024 LITV Cohort

Katie is a Stillwater Area High School graduate and received her B.A. from the College of St. Benedict where she studied Business Administration Management and Economics. She is the Vice President of Trust and Estate Services at Lake Elmo Bank. Katie has been with Lake Elmo Bank since 2005. Katie is involved with multiple local civic and charitable organizations. She is a member and past president of the Stillwater Rotary Club, serves on the board of directors for The Partnership Plan, and is Treasurer of Bridge to Books, the non-profit she and her sisters founded in 2021. Katie lives in Stillwater with her husband and two young boys.

Lyz Carlson works at First State Bank and Trust as a Branch Banking Manager and Business Development Officer. She believes that community banking is so important, both to the clients they serve and the community they operate in. Lyz's favorite part of her job are the countless relationships she has built with her clients over the years. She has worked at FSBT since 2016 and is excited to see the bank continue to grow in the Valley. Lyz graduated from the University of Wisconsin - River Falls in December of 2010 with her degree in Communication studies and emphasis in Principles of Banking. She lives in Oakdale with her husband and daughter along with their 4 animals!

Nicki Castro, Procurement Manager, graduated from University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration. Nicki moved to Costa Rica for three years after graduating from UWEC prior to planting roots in Stillwater with her husband, Orlando Castro. Nicki and Orlando moved to Stillwater in 2010 and became owners of Brick Alley Studio of Massage and Bodywork located downtown Stillwater for the next 12 years. In addition, Nicki was hired by Washington County in 2014 and transitioned from Management Analyst to Contract Specialist to her current position as the County’s Procurement Manager. Nicki is a Certified Professional Public Buyer.

I'm a fierce and loyal friend, an ally for good people doing good things, and HUGE supporter of businesses supporting their community. Professionally I'm a graphic designer, creative thinker, and dependable worker/business owner. I own Big Red Dog Studios - a graphic design/print company specializing in vinyl graphics, graphic design, and all things print related. I create top notch designs and know what files look the best throughout all stages of print, social media, signage, etc. I'm also the General Manager/Strategic accounts manager at Big Frog Custom T-Shirts and More where I work on the bigger, long term accounts. I make sure corporate clothing sites are running smoothly, orders are fulfilled in a timely manner, and quality is superb.

I'm also super goofy and am the BEST instigator/lover of shenanigans.

Mike has been the Superintendent of Stillwater Area Public Schools since 2022.

He has been a superintendent since 2005, most recently serving as the Superintendent in Albert Lea from 2009-22. He was a high school social studies teacher, coach, activities director, and principal. Mike is also a Retired Army Colonel from the Minnesota National Guard with 30 years of service. As a career infantry officer, he commanded soldiers at the platoon, company, battalion, and regimental level. He deployed twice to the Balkans in the early 2000s. He has a strong academic background in strategic operations, with a Doctorate in Educational Policy from the University of Minnesota, and a Masters in Strategic Studies from The United States Army War College. Funk was Named the Minnesota Superintendent of the Year in 2022, by the Minnesota Association of School Administrators.

Tim Gladhill is the Community Development Director for the City of Stillwater, focusing on economic development policy but also providing support for long-range planning, building safety inspections and code enforcement/neighborhood health. Prior to Stillwater, Tim spend approximately 20 years with the City of Ramsey, starting as a Public Works Maintenance Worker and moving up to Deputy City Administrator/Community Development Director. Tim also serves on the Board of Directors for the American Planning Association, a 40,000 member professional organization serving local Planning Professionals. Tim served nearly a decade on the Board of Directors for the Minnesota Chapter of the American Planning Association, including two (2) terms as Chapter President.

I have been a trusted advisor in the financial industry since 1998 and have focused on Treasury Mangement for the past 13 years. I have extensive experience serving Business and assisting them to create efficiencies that wave them time and allow them to do what they do best. I am very active in my community; I lead a women's group at my church to help create a feeling of sisterhood and embrace the life changes they go through. I was also the president of the Traveling Basketball Board for 3 years. I love leading and encouraging people to become leaders.

Pastor Clare arrived to the St. Croix Valley in 2021. She supports the people of St. Croix United Church in this pursuit: We envision an ever-expanding safe harbor where we thrive together and work with God toward love and justice. Previously in outdoor/retreat ministry and bilingual public education (in TX and WI), Clare later followed a call to ordained ministry. She studied at United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities, then served for 9 years with the people of St. Paul's UCC in St. Paul. She enjoys time with her children (ages 10 and 7), aerobic exercise, reading, music, decluttering, and visiting family in northern Wisconsin. Pastor Clare describes herself as optimistic, curious, assertive, appreciative, flexible and open-minded. Christian faith compels her to collaboratively honor the inherent dignity of every being.

Brenda became the vice president of ancillary services at Lakeview Hospital in 2023 and has operational oversight of several programs and teams, including pharmacy, lab, rehabilitation services, emergency medical services and oncology. She joined HealthPartners in 2016 and has held various roles across the care system, serving most recently as the director of surgical services for Hudson Hospital & Clinic and the St. Croix Valley. Brenda holds a Doctor of Nursing Practice and Master of Business Administration from St. Catherine University, and has bachelor’s degrees in nursing and theology from the University of St. Thomas and St. Catherine University.

Sara grew up in a northern Minnesota mining town where she learned the value of hard work, the healing powers of the deep woods, and importance of a connected community. She loves a good challenge and is certain to push her physical and mental strength with unique challenges every year. Her family: Nathan, Astoria, & Elianah, fill her life with joy. Sara, along with her husband, have co-owned several Anytime Fitness Centers since 2005. She founded Look Good Naked Training which was later rebranded as Trumi Training. She and her husband launched the Trumi Franchise system. She was a virtual trainer for Wellbeats; a virtual fitness experience. In December of 2019 Sara ventured into the world of hospitality, by opening The Lumberjack, an axe-throwing bar, and in 2021 Mad Capper. Her and Nathan also own three vacation rentals in Stillwater.

I am a Police Captain for the Stillwater Police Department, in charge of the Patrol Division, and oversee all Patrol Officers and Patrol Sergeants, as well as all patrol operations. I have worked for the Stillwater Police Department for the past 12 years, first serving as a Community Service Officer, then Patrol Officer, then Patrol Sergeant, and now most recently Patrol Captain. My wife Gina and I live in Bayport with our two children, Jacob and Isla. I am enjoy fishing with my son, being at our cabin with family, and playing softball with our Police Association softball team. I am big into the outdoors and also do a lot of duck hunting in the fall. I love my job and strive to do good for our community on a daily basis on and off duty.

Brad is a 1988 graduate of Stillwater Senior High who earned his Degree in Radio and Television Broadcasting from Brown Institute. After a three-year blurb he calls "the dark years" at WDOR in Sturgeon Bay, WI he returned home to get married and start a family. Brad spent the next several years in construction as Job Site Supervisor for Krongard Construction before moving on to Anderson Windows in the factory and later as a Customer Service representative. Brad began his career with the Stillwater Police Department as a Community Service Officer. He transitioned into his current role as a Community Resource Officer where he maintains the property and evidence room, social media releases, and much of the department's crime prevention and community engagement objectives. You will find him engaged at St. Mary's Church, mountain biking all of the nearby trails or sailing on the St. Croix River with Liz his wife of 29 years.

Born and raised in Dassel, MN. Once I graduated from high school I started pursuing a nursing degree at Bethel University. After 2 years I decided to make a career change and started pursuing construction management at St. Cloud University. I graduated in the fall of 2015 and soon after started with my first company, Kraus Anderson. For the first 6 years of my career in the construction industry I worked/ managed projects across the country, including states (Ohio, Illinois, South Dakota, North Dakota, Iowa, and Wyoming). I recently relocated to Somerset, WI and began working for Market & Johnson out of their Stillwater office. In my free time I enjoy being outdoors and spending time with my family.

I grew up in Woodbury and went to the University of Minnesota - Duluth for a BA in Social Studies Education and a minor in Russian Language. Following graduation, I eventually landed a teaching position at Takini School on the Cheyenne River Reservation in South Dakota. Moving back home I wound up teaching at the ALC in Stillwater and starting a family with my best friend and wife, Chelsea. In my time in education I have become active in our local union and work toward creating a district that enables all children to succeed. I strive to make the world a just, verdant, and collaborative place where each person is given a truly equal shot at accomplishing their goals and making better life for themselves.

Emily is passionate about history and making connections between the past and present. Since 2021, she has served as the Site Manager at the Washington County Heritage Center in Stillwater. A native of Ohio, Emily graduated from Miami University with a B.A. in mass communication. She’s had a diverse career path, starting out as a radio DJ in Ohio to living in Nashville for five years and working for the Grand Ole Opry. Emily earned a Master of Library & Information Science with a focus in archives from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 2020, for which she interned at the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum and other repositories. Emily also serves as the co-chair of HYPE Young Professionals program and is a member of the Chi Omega Archives Committee. Outside of work, she enjoys being out on the lake, listening to country music, and petting every dog.

Amanda Lathrop, owner of Lead Sheep Productions, LLC, received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from UW-River Falls. Film Studies had been her choice for a “fun minor”, but after an internship with the MN Film and Television Board, she decided to pursue a production career. Since then she has worked on independent films, commercials, corporate videos, and many television series for History Channel, Food Network, and Travel Channel. After producing a family history video for her own family, she combined her genealogy hobby with her professional video business. Giving her the opportunity to use her skills to help people capture, share, and preserve their own stories.

Cassie Laurvick is a Portfolio Manager and has been with Bridgewater Bank since 2016. Cassie specializes in commercial real estate financing primarily partnering with real estate investors and entrepreneurs in the Twin Cities. Cassie currently serves on the MNCREW finance committee and often volunteers for the BestPrep organization. She holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from North Dakota State University where she also played D1 golf. Currently, Cassie resides in Lake Elmo with her husband Sidney and two little girls, Evelyn, and Annika.

I was born and raised on a farm in rural Southern Minnesota and attended college at the University of Minnesota. My husband and I have 3 grown children living throughout the US. We opened, 83rd Street Abstract in 1998 and are still open on a small scale today. As our kids grew and became involved in activities and sports, I found that it was important to give back to those organizations as a Volunteer Non-Profit director, team manager, uniform coordinator, Program Director, Tournament Director, Fundraising Coordinator, etc. This provided the opportunity for my current position as Administrative Director for the St Croix Soccer Club.

Building on this history and continuing to provide opportunities for our players and community is a passion for me. It's important for me to work within the community and beyond to share the game of soccer at all levels with our youth and provide them with opportunities to expand beyond the St Croix Valley.

Alexis is a municipal prosecutor at Eckberg Lammers law firm. Alexis has varied history working in the criminal justice system, including work as a pre-trial service agent, a correctional officer, and a probation and parole intern. These broad and comprehensive firsthand experiences have deeply diversified her work, helping to shape her perspective on crime and inspire her approach as an advocate in criminal court proceedings. Alexis grew up in Stillwater and still resides in the east metro area. She is committed to animal welfare and volunteers in local rescue efforts. The outdoors was a large part of her upbringing, and she remains enthusiastic about nature, conservation, and related pursuits. She also likes reading, spending time with family, kayaking, paddle boarding, outdoor adventures with her dog, Kenna and enjoying all that the St. Croix River Valley has to offer.

I am currently Vice President of Development Operations at Datastream Connexion. I work on building large collaboration web platforms, including Laboratory systems for federal clients. I originally went to school for Aerospace Engineering but discovered I had a passion for Computer Science instead. I grew up in Apple Valley, MN, and moved to Stillwater in 2005. I have enjoyed my time living in Stillwater.

I like attending sporting events, musical theater, biking, or hiking in my free time.

I’ve been a long-time Minnesota Vikings and Minnesota Wild season ticket holder.

Kelly works for Discover Stillwater, the convention and visitor bureau for Oak Park Heights and Stillwater, MN. She is a graduate from the University of Minnesota- Morris, and holds a certificate from the University of Minnesota for Growing Tourism Leadership, along with a certificate in Nonprofit Administration. Kelly was part of the award-winning efforts for “Integrated Marketing and Branding” recognized at the 2020 Explore Minnesota Tourism Awards Ceremony. She is an alumnus of the Blandin Community Leadership Program, and serves on numerous volunteer boards. She has a strong passion for travel, historic downtowns, and marketing, and is enjoying becoming part of the Stillwater community.

Kirsten is a deeply skilled communications strategist and executive coach with more than twenty years of professional services consulting and advisory experience. From the break room to the boardroom, across nearly every industry, she built her career helping C-level execs of Fortune 500 companies communicate effectively with employees, clients and shareholders. As a professional executive communications coach and adviser, Kirsten works with senior executives and their leadership teams to help them become more impactful and influential speakers and leaders. She lectures, mentors, and advises future CIOs and start-up founders as an adjunct faculty member at the University of Minnesota Technological Leadership Institute. Kirsten Parker is a board member and past board chair of The Partnership Plan for Stillwater Schools, a board member for Curio Dance Company, and a Gallup-certified Strengths Coach and LUMA-certified Design Thinking Practitioner. 

Jenny is a Stillwater native now residing in Lake Elmo after living in the Bay Area with her family. Jenny is the Community Manager at Lift Bridge Cowork and loves supporting Cowork Members and the Stillwater Community. Jenny has experience working in the fast paced world of startups and Venture Capital with the players that brought Twitter to IPO. She is most excited to be back working on Main Street. Her first job was at The Supreme Bean in the Staples building at the North end of town.

Aimee grew up in No. St. Paul and graduated from UW Madison with a degree in Interior Design. She worked in the corporate world designing spaces and selling office furniture for 15 years before she decided to open a yarn store in 2009. Darn Knit Anyway is located on Main Street in Stillwater. The business has grown over the years and has expanded to include a robust online store as well as a Maker's Lounge. Throughout her 14 years on Main Street she was the chair of the Stillwater Parking Commission and was on the board of the now dissolved Mainstreet Stillwater Independent Business Alliance. She and her husband are enjoying a recent empty nest now that their two kids are college bound. She lives in Somerset, WI.

I am married with two grown daughters. I lived in Wisconsin most of my life, having moved to Minnesota in 2021. I am a Vikings and Wild fan and enjoy going to a game when I get the chance. I also love to go on cruises. I am currently working for the City of Stillwater and have spent over 30 years working in the area of municipal accounting. I enjoy what I do and try and keep the taxpayers and my coworker in mind whenever faced with a decision that has an impact on them. I like to look for ways to improve and streamline current processes.

Matthew Stepaniak is a dedicated nonprofit leader, connector, and advocate committed to creating inclusive opportunities that transform lives. As the driving force behind Limitless Cycling, he combines strategic expertise with heartfelt collaboration to bring mobility and joy to underserved communities. Balancing his professional work with his role as a caregiver for his vibrant 91-year-old mother, Matthew exemplifies compassion and resilience. As a longtime community leader and St. Croix County Advocate Chair for the Wisconsin Bike Fed, he champions positive change through partnerships and shared purpose. Grounded in humility and driven by connection, Matthew is passionate about fostering a sense of belonging and empowerment in every endeavor.

Anne is a personal injury attorney and founder of Stoudt Law in Stillwater, MN. Anne grew up in Plymouth, Minnesota, graduating from Maple Grove Senior High in 2000. Anne then went to St. Olaf College where she majored in math and political science. Anne was captain of the St. Olaf Women's Swim Team during the 2003-2004 season, which was also the season she qualified for NCAA Division III Nationals and earned All-American Honorable Mention honors. Anne no longer swims competitively, but she has completed 6 marathons with Grandmas 2022 being the most recent. Anne is married to Dan Stoudt, owner of Dan Stoudt State Farm Insurance with offices in Stillwater, Lake Elmo, and Woodbury. They have four children in the Stillwater District: a 4th grader, 2nd grader, kindergartener, and almost preschooler. Anne is an active member of the Stillwater Chamber and Women's Business Bridge.

My name is Kayla and I currently live in Woodbury with my husband and 2 children. I've worked for the Washington County sheriff's office in the jail for over 9 years and am currently the jail operations sergeant. I have worked in Stillwater for almost 20 years and live this community and I am eager to learn more about each unique and vital component of this community.

Darrell is the Founder and General Partner at Mount Haley and started the firm in early 2021. Darrell is a visionary leader who builds and scales businesses. He is actively interested in the growth of the companies in his portfolio and the leaders of those companies. Darrell currently serves as the COO of School of Traditional Skills, a company he co-founded. Additionally, Darrel co-founded Homestead Living, a publishing house focused on books and magazines for those interested in Homesteading. He also founded Good People Digital in 2015, an agency specializing in equipping creator-led businesses and brands. He consults and provides executive coaching to a select group of other business leaders each year. Darrell lives in a quiet neighborhood in Stillwater with Claire and his daughter Collins. He enjoys spending time with his family, working on lowering his golf handicap and traveling to see friends and colleagues throughout the country.