Presenter Biographies (in alphabetical order)
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Charles Blacklance is the American Indian Project Coordinator for the Office of the Chancellor’s Diversity and Multiculturalism division. He coordinates Minnesota State Colleges and Universities’ American Indian Work Plan. His responsibilities include researching, training and organizing special events as it relates to the American Indian Work Plan.
Melissa Borths, Business & Community Development Specialist for Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union, holds a Master of Arts degree in Communication from Bethel University. She feels privileged to have the opportunity to speak with groups across the state in order to further the mission of the Affinity Plus Foundation, which is to help Minnesotans achieve sound personal financial education, understanding, and management. It is Melissa’s hope that financial education provides empowerment to others in order to help them realize their goals and dreams.
Lisa Carter is a campus support analyst for the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system. She has her degree in computer support. In 1998, she started with the ITS division serving on the original ISRS Help Desk. Later, she worked as a technical writer creating documentation for ISRS. In the summer of 2007, she started as a campus support analyst and primarily supports the student systems and student housing module in ISRS. She is located at the Granite Falls campus of Minnesota West Community & Technical College.
Rita Christianson has degrees in Electronics Technology from Granite Falls Area Vocational Technical Institute and a Bachelor of Engineering Technology (Electronics) from Southwest State University in Marshall, MN. She was one of the first licensed, female electronics instructors in the state of Minnesota. In 1996, she started teaching in the Computer Support program and has taught a large variety of courses in this field. On a leave of absence from Minnesota West she currently serves as one of the original ISRS helpdesk technicians.
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Linda Draze is the Training and Development Manager in Management Analysis & Development at the Department of Administration. She is responsible for the successful design, delivery, and evaluation of statutorily mandated Supervisory and Management Development Core programs, as well as numerous other curricula. As a curriculum designer and instructor, Linda is highly sought after throughout state government for her skills in facilitating sessions on leadership, communication, employee motivation and recognition, creativity and innovation, and various other topics.
Nancy Erickson has worked in the staffing area at the Department of Employee Relations for 14 years.
Dr. Todd Ferguson is a Naturopathic Physician who graduated from Bastyr University, a Naturopathic Medical School. Naturopathic training involves a 4-year doctoral program with 2 years of clinical rotations integrating conventional and natural medicine. Dr. Ferguson currently practices in Moorhead, MN where he specializes in chronic pain conditions, gastrointestinal health, and chronic skin conditions implementing clinical nutrition, botanical medicine, physical medicine, hydrotherapy, frequency specific microcurrent and Laser Therapy.
Kathy Froysland is a Support Analyst with Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, Information Technology Services. She supports customers in their use of the Integrated Statewide Record System (ISRS) focusing on the Finance Systems. She has held many different positions within MnSCU including Financial Reporting, Grant Accounting, Campus Assistance, Facilities Accounting, Financial Systems Trainer and Lead Help Desk.
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Patrick Gallagher is the owner and director of Corporate Adventures and holds a masters degree in management. Patrick has been involved in the human development industry for 15 years and has worked with more than 400 clients nationwide. Patrick works with organizations and individuals from Washington, Oregon, Georgia, California, Ohio, Kentucky, Colorado, Arkansas, South Dakota, Minnesota, and North Dakota. Patrick co-authored a book in 2006 called the A to Z guide to Experiential Training and Development. Originally from Massachusetts, Patrick now resides in West Fargo, North Dakota.
Joan Gilbertson coordinates the Supervisory Management program at Alexandria Technical College. The primary focus of her training sessions with students from business and industry is to activate learning to make the content “practical and applicable” to their real world of work.
Chris Heeter is a speaker, author, and wilderness guide who has been bringing the wisdom of the outdoors “in” for twenty-five years. She is the founding director of The Wild Institute, offering wilderness trips for women, professional speaking, customized trips, and personal coaching. Whether speaking on teamwork with the help of sled dog analogies or inspiring audiences to thrive at work or at home with life lessons learned from nature, Chris is always a breath of fresh air at a conference and a whole lot of fun!
Janet Hovde, OTL, CHTP, is celebrating her 10th year of providing intuitive healing services and classes. She incorporates Healing Touch, Chinese Energetic Medicine, flower essences and intuitive feedback into her healing sessions. Her background includes 20+ years of working as an occupational therapist in traditional medical settings.
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Lynn Johnson is an employee of Aset Supply and Paper (ASAP), a distributor of janitorial products headquartered in Brooklyn Park. In 2005, Aveda embarked on a program to "green" their janitorial supplies and selected ASAP to provide environmentally safe janitorial products for their teaching institutes and 5000+ salons. Aveda required certification of all manufacturing processes and environmental impact before and after the products are used. ASET has created several product lines that meet or exceed Aveda's exacting requirements. Lynn Johnson has been in the sales and marketing industry for 30 years representing a variety of products and services. Since 2005, Lynn has been representing Aset Supply and Paper and Green Aset products with a focus on environmentally responsible janitorial products and services. Aset Supply and Paper and GreenAset www.greenaset.com.
Marie Krey is a Campus Support Analyst focusing on the Human Resource module. Prior to starting in ITS, she worked for MnSCU in Human Resources for 7 years assisting users with questions pertaining to SCUPPS entry, leave accrual, vacation donation, military leave, contract implementation, SCUPPS/SEMA4 reports, SCUPPS interface and SCUPPS/SEMA4 training. She has worked closely with Department of Employee Relations and Department of Finance. Marie has served on various task forces with the most challenging being the Administrative Systems Review Project (ASRP).
Linde Linde is an experienced presenter, specializing in empowering others, and in continuous improvement. Her relationships inter-connect the worlds of business, education, and community leadership. Linde is passionate about living in the natural beauty of northern Minnesota.
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Donna Marzolf is a Campus Support Analyst for MnSCU ITS. Donna joined the Customer Relations team as a Campus Support Analyst in March 2005. In her current role, she provides training, technical support and development support for the Student related modules of ISRS. Before working in this capacity, Donna served as the Director of Enrollment Services at South Central College and as an Admissions Officer at Minnesota State University, Mankato. Donna recently completed her Master of Science degree in Educational Leadership from MSU, Mankato.
Todd Noble has been a State of Minnesota employee for 20 years working for the Supreme Court of Minnesota as a Network Administrator. During his employment he has supported Local and Wide area network infrastructures as well as those applications used by the Judicial system. As of January 2, 2008 he began working for the Minnesota State Colleges and University System as a support analyst located at the Granite Falls Minnesota West campus. Other assigned campuses are Itasca Community College, Hibbing Community College, St. Cloud State University, Ridgewater College and North Hennepin Community College.
Terri Olson is a campus support analyst for the ITS Division of Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU). Her role is to support campuses by developing and providing training and documentation on system software applications, as well as working with developers, programmers and campus users on system enhancements and problem resolution, with her primary focus on the student systems including Financial Aid. Terri joined MnSCU in January 2006 after working nearly 13 years as the Payroll Director at Minnesota State University Moorhead (MSUM).
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Gary Rushenberg has been a member of the higher education community in Minnesota for over 35 years. He works at the Office of the Chancellor for the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) as the director of data management. He began working in 1974 for the Minnesota community, transferred to the state university system in 1980, and joined MnSCU in 1995. He has a keen interest in data and management reporting, and is supported by a staff of experts who will be available to answer questions.
Kent Smith joined the Office of the Chancellor ITS department in March of 2006 as a Support Analyst. Kent's primary focus is on supporting and training ISRS Financial application users. He also works on testing changes to ISRS and is helping streamline the Help Desk processes to better serve our customers. Kent spent 24 years in the Information Technology field for private industry, working for local companies such as Holiday Companies and Best Buy.
Carol Ann Small, CLL is a national speaker who has over a decade experience working in higher education. She has appeared on “Good Morning America” and her latest book is "Humor Us, – The Power of Laughter.” Her clients include: Harvard University, Dunkin’ Donuts, UNH and Bank of America. Small’s company, Laughter with a Lesson is based in Boston, MA.
Joan Thompson is an instructor at the Alexandria Technical College where she works part-time in Customized Training; she also is working with the Single Parents under Perkins Program.
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Dr. Trish Turpin M.D. is a graduate from the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine in Toronto Canada. She currently practices at the Dynamic Healing Center, an integrated health care clinic located in Alexandria. Her practice is focused on educating clients on the power of healthy living and offering natural health care solutions to today’s complicated medical conditions.
Matt Weis is the Operations Manager as well as a lead trainer at Corporate Adventures. Holding a bachelors segree in aociology, Matt has worked in the human development industry for more than 10 years. In his previous work, Matt played a lead role in transforming staff development strategies, leading to an organizational culture shift. Matt came to Corporate Adventures as a result of a collaboration with PATH of North Dakota where he has been a foster parent for over 7 years. In addition to delivering a wide variety of customized experiential programs, other special areas of expertise include change management and time mastery. Originally from Wadena, MN, he now resides in Fargo, ND.
