*2025-2026 LITV Cohort

2025-2026 Leadership in the Valley participants
Elizabeth Bechel
City of Stillwater, Administrative Services Director
Elizabeth joined the City of Stillwater in June 2025 serving as the Administrative Services Director. In this role, she will focus on the City’s co...
Matthew Born
Bridgewater Bank, Branch Lead
I was born in 1984 in Cambridge, MN, graduated from North Branch high School in 2003 where I played tennis, was all-conference in choir, state part...
Kim Borton
Fred C. and Katherine B. Andersen Foundation , President
Kim leads the Fred C. and Katherine B. Andersen Foundation, a place-based foundation focused on strengthening the St. Croix Valley. She brings over...
Jenny Brelje
St. Paul Lutheran Church, CYF & Outreach Director
My name is Jenny Brelje and I live in Minneapolis with my Spouse and two dogs. I have worked in Stillwater, 2 years in July. I work at St. Paul Lut...
Kris Carlston
Stillwater Area Public Schools, Executive Director of Human Resources
Born and raised in Minnesota, I am a graduate of Osseo High School and earned my Bachelor of Science in Social Work from St. Cloud State University...
Sam Clark
First State Bank and Trust - Bayport
I grew up in Stillwater and went to Stillwater High School. After graduating in 2016 I went to Saint John's University where I majored in Economics...
Alison Egger
City of Oak Park Heights, Finance Director
I currently serve as Finance Director for the City of Oak Park Heights. Prior to this role, I served as Finance Director for the City of Hudson, WI...
Michelle Goff
Washington County Sheriff's Office, ECRC Supervisor
Moved to MN from VA in May of 2004.  Started working at the Washington County Sheriff's Office in June of 2004.  Promoted to supervisor in March of...
Josh Gow
City of Stillwater, Patrol Sergeant
I was born and raised in Duluth, Minnesota and graduated from Duluth East High School. I was a highly recruited pitcher in baseball and quarterback...
Angela Graham
Lakeview Health Foundation, Leadership Annual Giving Officer
Angela serves as Leadership Annual Giving Officer at Lakeview Health Foundation, where she plays a pivotal role in cultivating and stewarding donor...
Cathleen Hess
Community Thread, Director of Communications and Development
Cathleen holds a Bachelor of Arts in English, Writing, and Secondary Education from Hamline University. She offers more than 22 years of fundraisin...
Julie Hultman
City of Oak Park Heights, Building Official
Currently serving as the Oak Park Heights Building Official, where she began her career in 1990, Julie has a passion for local government enjoys wo...
Karen Keenan
Valley Friendship Club, Executive Director
For nearly five years, Karen Keenan has served as Executive Director of Valley Friendship Club (VFC)  leading the organization through a major expa...
Lezlie Kelzenberg
DiaSorin Inc., Clinical Studies Associate
Hi, my name is Lezlie Kelzenberg. I currently am a Clinical Studies Associate at Diasorin Inc. I am responsible for setting up, coordinating, and s...
Monika Kleinschmidt
Game World, Owner
I’m Monika Kleinschmidt, co-owner of Game World — a commercial inflatable rental company that serves schools, churches, businesses, and families th...
Scott Kragness
Metro East Commercial Real Estate, Senior Sales Executive
Senior Sales Executive at Metro East Commercial Real Estate Services. Specializing in Landlord, Seller, Tenant and Buyer representation of commerci...
Cody Kroening
Royal Credit Union, Business Banking Officer
I started my career at Royal in 2017 and served Members in several roles before finding my passion in business banking. I have a bachelor’s degree ...
Heidi Nelson
Heidi Anne Nelson LLC, Owner
Heidi moved to Stillwater in 2023 after getting married and decided to stay after that marriage ended in 2025.  She moved from Faribault where she ...
Jacalyn Norbury
City of Stillwater, Data Specialist
Jacalyn Norbury grew up in Cottage Grove as the oldest of four siblings. As a first generation college graduate, she attended Hamline University wh...
Joe Raleigh
Lake Elmo Bank - Lake Elmo, Vice President - Commercial Lending Officer
My name is Joe Raleigh, I am a Lake Elmo native who went to Stillwater Area HS and continued on to Saint John's University to further my academics ...
Jenna Schmid
City of Stillwater, Deputy City Clerk
I grew up in southern Wisconsin into a cheese loving family, my great grandfather actually has a trophy from President Calvin Coolidge for cheese m...
Mark Schwartz
Market & Johnson, Special Projects Manager
Hi, I’m Mark. I was born and raised in Bayport, where I grew up in a family rooted in service—between law enforcement, Andersen Windows, and our lo...
Matt Shelton
Johnson Boog, LLC, Director - Payroll & Bookkeeping
Matt is a proud Stillwater resident living in the Liberty on the Lake area with his wife and 4 children since 2016. Matt has a diverse and unique e...
Jason Stopa
City of Lake Elmo, Community Development Director
Jason Stopa is an accomplished community development professional with over a decade of leadership experience in urban planning, redevelopment, and...
Wendy Tremblay
Wild Rivers Conservancy of the St. Croix and Namekagon, Community Engagement Manager
Wendy grew up in Stillwater and attended UW-River Falls for her B.S. in Elementary Education. Before joining Wild Rivers Conservancy as the Communi...
Lily Van Allen
Greater Stillwater Chamber of Commerce, Administrative Assistant & Events
Lily Van Allen is the Administrative Assistant & Event Coordinator at the Greater Stillwater Chamber of Commerce, having stepped into the role full...