Greg Alexander is a highly accomplished media executive with over 20 years of experience in the industry. As the Market President for iHeartMedia, he oversees the leading media outlet in the Minneapolis/St. Paul market with multiple platforms, including its nine iconic broadcast stations; live events; data; and its digital businesses and platforms. Under Greg's leadership, iHeartMedia has continued to expand its reach and influence in the media industry. He has overseen the successful launch of several new initiatives, including the transformation of the Sales Department expanded the market’s growing roster of live events and enhancing the sports partnerships.

Prior to joining iHeartMedia, Greg held executive positions at several other leading media companies, including Interep National Radio Sales, Inc., Spanish Broadcasting System, and Clear Channel Communications. Alexander is a graduate of Syracuse University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Journalism and minor in Marketing.

Alexander plays a key role in the community acting on various boards including M Health Fairview Philanthropic Board, Minnesota Broadcasters Association, Minnesota Brain Injury Alliance, Birdies4Brains and most recently Minnesota Sports and Events Champions Council.

Greg is widely recognized as a dynamic and visionary leader in the media industry. His passion for innovation and his deep understanding of the media landscape have made him a highly respected and sought-after expert in his field.

Alexander is married to his wife, Andrea, for 17 years and has two kids: Julia (15) and Hannah (11). He spends his free time with his family skiing and visiting the many lakes around Minnesota.

Erin Battaglia and her family are the founders of the non-profit TB1Fund. Her daughter Braxton is a two-time cancer survivor and patient at M Health Fairview Masonic Children’s Hospital. TB1F has raised over one million dollars to help patients and families going through similar life changing illnesses. TB1F’s primary goal is to help patients focus on recovery by providing items & experiences that not only distract and engage them, but also encourage recovery, be it mental, physical, or emotional. We are constantly working on new ideas, new projects, and new partnerships to provide the best possible experiences and offerings. TB1Fund is dedicated to making a difference - We Got This!

Teresa has over 25 years of experience and a wide array of skills in sports business including: event management, corporate account management, sponsorship sales, hospitality, sports marketing and advertising, investment strategy and return on investment analysis, merchandise, retail, media and ticket sales, social media and fundraising. Teresa has worked for several leading companies and sports organizations such as: The 3M Open, ptum, Learfield Sports, Minnesota Vikings, Minnesota Timberwolves, University of Minnesota, Genesco Sports, and CBS Radio. Teresa founded T Time Sports Management to use her vast knowledge, experiences and relationships in the sports industry to help businesses, foundations and other organizations maximize their ability to grow revenue, enhance customer engagement, host successful events and meet their objectives for sponsorships, fundraising and sports marketing.

Named Twin Cities Business Magazine 100 people to know, Mich Berthiaume has spent over 25 years becoming the leading local expert of Minnesota-born brands while curating several LOCAL Market experiences for the likes of Mall of America, the Super Bowl, The Dayton’s Project, the Minnesota Twins Gate 34 Experience, the Minnesota Twins and U.S. Bank Partnership for Bipoc brands, The Four Seasons Hotel, Malcolm Yards, Viking Lakes, and several additional local marketplaces throughout the United States. Mich has developed and positioned products in the marketplace for several major retailers and manufacturers, including Faribault Mill, Ecolab, and Brooks Brothers.

Outside of her career, Mich is an avid sports fan who can often be found cheering from the sidelines of many Minnesota games. She also enjoys traveling, walking, spending time with her two daughters, and mentoring local makers.

Erika L. Binger is the Founding Director of V3 Sports, a Center in North Minneapolis to provide health, wellness, equity, and opportunity through fitness, water safety, education, and economic equity. Ms. Binger has an extensive career working with youth and sports, as well as racial equity. She is a former collegiate athlete, served on community and foundation boards as well as in leadership roles at her church. Ms. Binger has a dual masters in Organizational Leadership and Biomechanics of Exercise and Nutrition, as well as USA Triathlon Coaching and USA Swimming Certifications and former chair of Minneapolis Sports and Events. She continues to compete on the International Championship level in Aquathlon.

Devry Boughner Vorwerk is the Founder and CEO of DevryBV Sustainable Strategies, a leader in integrated sustainability solutions for businesses of all sizes. She is a well-known global food executive and corporate officer, having served as Chief Communications Officer and Global Head of Corporate Affairs at Cargill and as Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at Grubhub. She is also a sustainability entrepreneur serving on the Advisory Boards of Culinary Sciences, Inc. and Agrology.ag. Early in her career she worked for the World Bank Group, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, and served as an industry analyst and White House appointed chief economist for the Chairman of the U.S. International Trade Commission. Devry is a senior fellow at The Conference Board and a Member of the International Advisory Council of APCO Worldwide. Today, she enjoys life in Minnesota, where she lives with her husband and two children. In her spare time, Devry enjoys attending her children’s ice hockey games, is an elementary school track coach, and is an active member of her local church.

As a Minnesota native, Jessica is passionate about reinvigorating our communities commitment to bringing sports and events to our state. As a General Sales Manager for Audacy - Twins Cities, she is an advocate for building bridges through music and sports to bring people together. Utilizing one of the largest digital audio platforms in the country and locally activating three top radio stations she is dedicated to using the power of promotion to keep our cities filled with excitement, vibrancy and inclusivity!

Paul Buckley is the Director of Airport Operations at Minneapolis for Delta Air Lines. He leads of team of over 1,000 aviation professionals delivering safe, reliable, customer focused hub operations. With 15 years of experience with Delta, Paul has proven himself as a results driven, decisive leader with a successful history across commercial and operational divisions, both in the US and Internationally. Paul began his career with Delta in Network Planning before transitioning to a role in Charter Operations. In 2016, Paul moved to an International Operations leadership position based in London Heathrow with oversight for operations throughout Europe. Upon his return to the US, Paul moved back to a commercial role in Alliances, leading a new team dedicated to improving the customer experience when traveling with Delta and global airline partners. Paul’s passion for people leadership took him back to the operation and a move to Minneapolis to lead the ramp, baggage and tower operations. Paul holds a Masters Degree in Airport Planning and Design from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University where he also played college soccer, and is a member of the Athletics Hall of Fame. Paul and his wife Shannon are blessed with two children (Parker and Jack) and reside in Minneapolis.

CEO and Founder Tyrre Burks was born and raised in the southside of Chicago, where his love of sports began. As a former collegiate and professional athlete, he was motivated to found Players Health because of the impact youth sports had on his life. He experienced firsthand the positive impact sports can have on someone’s life when the experience is filled with love, trust, and safety. Having a positive influence on sports culture has been a dream of his for his entire life. From athlete to coach to entrepreneur, Tyrre is on a mission through Players Health to create safer and more accessible environments for all sports.

Assistant Secretary/Treasurer Constance (Tori) Campbell is serving her first term on the Prairie Island Indian Community Tribal Council. Campbell believes it’s essential for Tribal Members to be involved in their government. She spent the past eight years working as a liaison in the Tribe’s education department, helping native students succeed in the classroom. She ran for Tribal Council because she wanted to take on an expanded role that could help accomplish her goal of continuing to support the growth of the Dakota language and culture within her community.

Education is a passion for Campbell, especially around Dakota culture and language. She completed an immersive Dakota Language internship with the Tribe’s language department and often travels to present to various organizations and groups on Indian Education. Campbell chaired the Red Wing School District’s Native American Parent Committee for more than six years and served on committees for ethics and diversification. Her volunteer work expands beyond the Tribal Community to include the Red Wing Royal Ambassador Committee and Red Cottage Montessori. Campbell also sits on the board of directors for the Minnesota Indian Education Association.

Campbell holds an associate degree from the Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts – Minneapolis and a bachelor’s in business from the University of Phoenix. Campbell was born in Red Wing and lives on Prairie Island. She is a foodie who enjoys traveling, watching her three children dance, attending pow wows, crafting, celebrating Halloween, and cheering on Minnesota sports teams.

Casey Carlson serves as the SVP/Chief Marketing Officer at Blaze Credit Union where his primary role is building awareness of Blaze and credit unions. Carlson has over 30 years of experience in marketing and leadership roles within credit unions. Along with CEO, Dan Stoltz, Carlson helped develop and grow the SPIRE Credit Union brand before it merged with Hiway Credit Union to form Blaze Credit Union in January of 2024. Over the years, Carlson has built credit union sponsorships with the Minnesota Twins, Minnesota Timberwolves, St Paul Saints, Minnesota United, 3M Open, St Cloud Rox, and Ogilive Racetrack. He has also formed endorsement relationships with athletes such as Harmon Killebrew, Kirk Cousins, Mike Veeck, Lindsay Whalen, Greta Myers, Tony Oliva, and Gable Steveson. Carlson grew up in various parts of western Montana, but Minnesota has been his home for the last 30+ years. He has a wife and two grown children and in his spare time, coaches high school baseball and serves on the board of the Woodbury Youth Athletic League (WYAL).

Mr. Carnival's practice in legislative and administrative law includes representing Carnival Berns, P.A. clients' interests at the Minnesota Legislature and before county and city governments in and around the Twin Cities area. He has served as General Counsel to Minnesota Sports and Events, and also serves on their Executive Board. In his spare time, Mr. Carnival is a public address announcer for various high school and college sporting events and is a member of the National Association of Sports Public Address Announcers. He has been a softball and baseball umpire and a youth hockey referee, certified by the national governing association, USA Hockey.

Ethan Casson leads as the Chief Executive Officer for the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Minnesota Lynx, the Iowa Wolves, and T-Wolves Gaming. Casson also serves on the NBA Board of Governors as the Timberwolves and Lynx Alternate Governor.

As CEO, Casson oversees all business operations, working closely with ownership and the executive team on setting the organization’s strategic vision. In February 2023 he was selected as one of Sports Business Journal’s “ALL IN: Leaders in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.” In the summer of 2022, Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal named Casson a Most Admired CEO. Casson was recognized for his work in advancing social justice and equity in the community and the success the team achieved both on and off the court the previous year.

Since Casson’s arrival, the Timberwolves experienced consistent growth in all key metrics including season tickets, attendance, television viewership, corporate partnerships, merchandise, and social engagement. The Minnesota Lynx remain one of the model franchises in the WNBA, having been named WNBA Franchise of the Year for the 2017 and 2018 seasons including being crowned WNBA Champions in 2017. Further, Casson led the efforts in securing an NBA 2K team, joining 22 other NBA franchises with a 2K eSports team. In its inaugural season, T-Wolves Gaming won the 2019 NBA 2K Championship.

He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Timberwolves and Lynx Fastbreak Foundation, the Board of Directors for YouthLink, the Advisory Board for Positive Coaching Alliance, and is a member of the Minnesota Business Partnership.

Kyle Chank currently serves as the Vice President of Operations for MV Ventures, where his role is primarily focused as General Manager of the 200+ acre campus of Viking Lakes, owned by the Wilf family and most notably home to the world headquarters of the Minnesota Vikings Football Club. As General Manager, he is responsible for building the foundation, culture, programming and all logistical elements to bring the live, work, play campus to life. Chank most recently served as the Vice President of Operations and Logistics for the Minnesota Super Bowl Host Committee, with a hand in all operational elements relating to Super Bowl LII in February 2018. Super Bowl LII was his fourth Super Bowl, previously holding management and operational roles in Houston (LI), San Francisco (50), and Arizona (XLIX). Proof that Minnesota was his favorite Super Bowl, he is originally from Palm Springs, California and has now lived thru six Minnesota winters.

After graduating from Brown University, Kathleen knew working in the sports industry would be a fulfilling way to connect her passion for sports with professional relationship development. Having previous experience with the Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Jets and San Francisco 49ers in their premium sales departments, she moved back to her hometown to join the Minnesota Vikings New Stadium project through Van Wagner Sports and Entertainment. Prior to the opening of U.S. Bank Stadium, she joined the Corporate Partnerships sales team and has now transitioned into a role leading our Premium Sales team. After working and living throughout the country, she is proud to be a member of the Minnesota Vikings franchise.

Scott is the Minnesota Market Lead for Accenture. In this role, Scott is primarily responsible for market development, strategically positioning Accenture in the Minnesota business community, and helping to improve engagement of the 1400+ employees based in Minneapolis. He is currently focused on leading the growth of the MN Apprentice Network with GreaterMSP, the Accenture HealthTech Innovation Challenge, as well as a few pro bono projects. Earlier in his career, he led back-office transformation projects for public sector and higher education clients. He is currently serving on the Board of Directors of the Children’s Theater Company, the Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce, and Achieve Twin Cities. Scott lives with his wife (Tracy) and son (George) in Roseville, MN.

Lisa Dammann is a dynamic marketing leader with 20+ years of experience in high-profile, entrepreneurial marketing and leadership roles—developing and marketing successful brands and agencies.

Lisa has worked for Target Corporation, where she helped to build and market the billion-dollar commodities brand up&up, and managed the first celebrity designer partnerships, including Isaac Mizrahi, Michael Graves, and Rachel Ashwell. Agency side she led the business development and account team for Treat and Company (sister company to Knock, Inc.) for a decade, winning and managing business with toy and stationary giants, Disney Consumer Products, Hasbro, American Greetings, and Hallmark. Lisa led partnerships, media, and community Marketing at local wellness brand, Rae Wellness, and founded a first-of-its-kind style agency--Xanadu, as CMO. Lisa joined Latitude in April of 2023 to lead Sales and Marketing, bringing her insights in retail, her belief in the power of design, and her ability to connect and consult with marketers to guide business growth and marketing strategies.

Joseph grew up in the Highland Park neighborhood of St. Paul, MN and has been a lifelong Minnesota sports fan. He has worked in the hotel industry for 12 years now and has lived in cities like Chicago, Duluth, San Francisco, before returning to the Twin Cities at the end of 2019. He is currently the Director of Sales & Marketing at the Hyatt Regency Minneapolis. He and his wife Megan love exploring new cities and finding new adventures together, but love that their roots are set here in Minnesota.

Philicia began her career with the Miami Dolphins in 2015 after graduating from the University of South Florida with her MBA and Masters in Sport & Entertainment Management. After staying with the Dolphins for (4) seasons she took a chance and began working for a start up football league as the Director of Sales in Atlanta called the Alliance of American Football. Unfortunately, the league folded after (7) months and upon it being terminated she was able to get a chance to go back into pro sports and work for the New Orleans Saints (NFL) and New Orleans Pelicans (NBA) as their Manager of Inside Sales for (2) seasons. During that time, the Pelicans received the #1 Draft Pick and her sales team’s reaction to the prospects of getting Zion Williamson went viral on YouTube, Twitter, and Instagram. This was one of the most memorable experiences of her career. As part of the Pelicans organization, she was able to earn the opportunity to move on to be The Assistant General Manager of the Pelicans G League team in Birmingham, Alabama where she was able to help the team set a record attendance. They also won an award for the 2nd most cash sponsorships in the league and had the #1 and #3 top sellers in the league that year. Now, Philicia currently serves as the Director of Brand Partnerships for the Minnesota Twins where she oversees a sponsorship team and helps build relationships between major brands and the Minnesota Twins Baseball Club. Philicia is big on family values and has a Mini–Australian Shepherd named Dodger.

Steve Dunbar founded Ivy Properties in 2007. A Minneapolis based real estate development company committed to superior results for its partners & clients. Ivy has been fortunate to work in numerous communities throughout Minnesota with a focus on multi-family housing. Working with private partnerships and governmental agencies, Ivy has developed over 1,000 units in Minnesota.

Eddie Eixenberger was born and raised in the small community of Chehalis, WA. He attended Boise State University where he was a double major in Business and Human Resource Management. After graduation, Eddie moved to California to begin his career in the sports industry working in Minor League Baseball for the Sacramento River Cats. Other leadership stops included the Oakland Athletics and Fiesta Bowl Organizaton. Eddie now leads all ticket sales and strategy efforts for the Minnesota Twins. When not a Target Field, Eddie enjoys snowboarding, golfing, and road-tripping with his yellow lab, Buster.

Megan Fraboni is the Director of Marketing at NPARALLEL, an experiential marketing agency that serves Fortune 500 brands and growth-driven companies. With a rich background spanning recognized brands such as Caribou Coffee, Sun Country Airlines, Gander Outdoors, and Camping World, as well as esteemed agencies, Megan excels in implementing paid, owned, and earned strategies that drive businesses forward. Throughout her career, she has forged partnerships between brands and organizations including the MN Twins, Wild, Vikings, Timberwolves, Race for the Cure, Mall of America, Polar Plunge, Special Olympics, Naturally MN, and others. Megan and her husband have four sons, and much of their lives revolve around their kids' sports activities.

Bob has spent much of his 33-year career in construction with a focus on delivering the best and highest quality product for his clients. His tenured career has ranged from laborer to carpenter to project manager to a business owner of Gardner Builders. He enjoys a lot about the construction industry, especially uncovering, understanding, and eliminating any source of concern for a client by addressing it with the team and putting a plan in place that will lead to success. There's nothing he values more than connection and relationships, striving to make the construction industry a thriving and energizing place for all.

John Harrington, the former Commissioner for the Department of Public Safety for Minnesota, was appointed by Governor Tim Walz and served until January 2023. Before becoming the Commissioner of Public Safety, Harrington served as the Chief of the Metro Transit Police from 2012-2019, helping to create the Homeless Action team and increasing diversity from 5-50%. Commissioner Harrington is a former member of the Minnesota Senate representing District 67, which includes the East area of Saint Paul. Harrington was the 39th Police Chief for St. Paul Police Department, serving from 2004-2010, where he began his police career in 1977. As St. Paul Police Chief, Harrington tackled some of the city's most challenging problems, developing programs that significantly reduced domestic violence and gang involvement. John grew up in Chicago, graduated from Dartmouth College, and earned a master's degree at the University of St. Thomas. In addition, he graduated from the FBI National Academy and Harvard Senior Management Institute. He is a founder of Ujamaa Place, a nonprofit organization in St Paul that serves African American men who are economically disadvantaged and have experienced repeated cycles of failure. He is working on his doctorate in Administration of Justice, a long-time goal of his.

Joshua Hasko is a shareholder with Messerli Kramer and serves as the firm’s President. Hasko has been an active member of the firm’s board of directors and served as chair of the Business Litigation Department. Josh is consistently included on the Minnesota Super Lawyers® list, which recognizes the top 2.5% of lawyers in the State and has been named to Super Lawyer’s® Top 100 List since 2016. He is also regularly recognized for his work in commercial litigation as one of The Best Lawyers in America©. He concentrates his practice on commercial business disputes, with an emphasis on complex contract and business tort litigation; creditor remedies and Uniform Commercial Code disputes including equipment leasing and secured transactions; fiduciary duty and shareholder claims; and real estate litigation. He practices in state and federal courts, bankruptcy courts, appellate courts, and in arbitration proceedings.

BJ Hellyer has been a student of the game at Northwestern Mutual since 1996, starting as an intern before working his way from a full-time Financial Representative to Managing Director. After 10 years as the Chief Development Officer, BJ was appointed Managing Partner of Northwestern Mutual – Twin Cities. BJ believes in the value of partnering with others to purposefully pursue their potential & is grateful for the opportunity to impact his community. BJ also enjoys the flexibility his career offers because it enables him to spend time with the people he cares about most. BJ and his wife, Kirsten, have two daughters, Josie and Laney, and son, Miles. BJ enjoys reading, exercising, golf & is an avid supporter of the Vikings and Twins.

Caitlin Herubin is a seasoned event professional with over 12 years of experience in live events and experiential activations. In her current role as a Vice President at Framework Events she oversees planning and execution of mid-to- large scale events such as the CrossFit Games. Previous and current clients span sports, fitness, tech and consumer brand industries, executing events scaling from intimate executive dinners to multi-day gatherings of 20,000+ attendees. Caitlin is a Certified Meeting Professional with a commitment to continued education and expertise in the event industry.

Henry Lake has been a prominent member on the sports scene in Minnesota for the last twenty years as talk show radio host for KFAN Radio and now with WCCO Radio. Aside from his nightly show, "The Lakeshow" on the station, he also has Minnesota Timberwolves and Minnesota Twins postgame responsibilities as well. When not working, he enjoys down time with friends, checking out live music, relaxing with a workout at a gym near you, and doing community work that positively supports our community.

Phillip Lee started his career in retail and fashion at the department store division of Dayton Hudson Corporation (which became Target Corp, then acquired by May Company and then Macy’s) . After a very unique career path that had him excel as a Buyer, Corporate Events Manager, Marketing Leader, Strategic Negotiator and Partner Business executive, Phillip transitioned into a health care marketing role at HealthPartners. He was able to bring a consumer centric perspective in how health care is marketed. Currently he leads marketing for TRIA Orthopedics and Sports Marketing across the HealthPartners organization which has allowed him to work with amazing teams from community non-profit sports organizations to high schools and college athletic programs to professional teams like the Wild and the Twins. Phillip has also served on many boards including Korean Quarterly, Minneapolis Regional Chamber, Final Four Marketing Host Committee and the Executive Board for Sanctuary Covenant Church.

Sarah Lee, currently serving as the Senior Manager of Corporate Partnerships, has been with Special Olympics Minnesota for over 5-years. She began her journey with the organization on the sports programming team before making a transition to corporate sponsorship. Her work extends to the playing field as she participates as a Unified Partner on a Special Olympics Unified flag football team. Today, she's a pivotal part of the team gearing up for the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games in Minnesota, showcasing her unwavering dedication to making Minnesota a more inclusive place.

Lisa Lissimore is a retired Minnesota State High School League Associate Director. In that role, she managed the organization’s sponsorship sales and marketing and the sports of basketball, softball, swimming and diving, cross country running, synchronized swimming and badminton. Prior to working for the Minnesota State High School League, Lisa worked for the Minnesota House of Representatives as a writer. She also coached women’s basketball at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul for five seasons, and one season at her alma mater Central High School, St. Paul. As an active member in her community, she is a member of the Minneapolis-St. Paul Chapter of Links. She also co-founded the Shooting Stars Inner City Girls Basketball Clinic and is a member of the David Winfield Scholarship Award Committee; the Twin Cities Par Seekers Golf Tournament Planning Committee; Twin Cities Dunkers; and she has served on several University of Minnesota Athletic Department task forces and advisory committees.

Steve Madson is the President/Owner of SRO Productions, Inc., a Minneapolis-based event production and transportation company. Each year, SRO provides production support of multiple events in Minnesota such as the Stone Arch Bridge Festival, Live at the Hilde concerts, the Beer Dabbler events, WeFest, Holidazzle for the mpls downtown council, and many others. SRO also provides transportation management services for many large public events including the Super Bowl, NFL Draft, College Football Playoff, and the Minnesota State Fair.

Matt Majka is currently the President & Alternate Governor for Minnesota Sports and Entertainment (MSE). He previously held the positions of COO, Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President of Business Operations and Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Sponsorships. MSE is a regional sports and entertainment leader that has grown into several different business operations including the Minnesota Wild, its minor league affiliate, the Iowa Wild, 317 on Rice Park and the facility management of Xcel Energy Center and Saint Paul RiverCentre. During his tenure with the Wild, Majka has been instrumental in fostering the unique relationship between the hockey club and its fan base. The team's continued dedication to the fans of the "State of Hockey" is reflected in ESPN The Magazine's Ultimate Standings which named the Wild as the "Best Stadium Experience" in the National Hockey League from 2007 - 2010. Majka joined the Minnesota Wild in October 1997 after leaving Rollerblade, Inc. Majka currently serves on the Saint Paul Downtown Alliance, The Ordway Center for Performing Arts, the United States Hockey Hall of Fame and the BEL13VE in Miracles Foundation boards.

Karen is an award-winning tourism strategist with a diverse background in partnership development, meeting planning, and public relations in both the nonprofit and private sectors. Currently, Karen is the Business Development Director for Discover St. Louis Park, promoting two great cities with one sweet destination. She is passionate about bringing new events, tournaments and conventions into Minnesota's sweet spot that will have a positive economic impact on the two communities.

Andrea Mokros has spent a career in public affairs and communications at the local, state and national level. Previously, Andrea served as senior vice president of corporate and public affairs in Weber Shandwick’s Minneapolis office; as vice president of communications and events for the Minnesota Super Bowl Host Committee; in the White House as special assistant to the President and director of strategic planning for the First Lady; and as deputy chief of staff for both Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton and to U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar. Andrea is a native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and is a graduate of the University of Minnesota, where she was proudly able to return to be the College of Liberal Arts Commencement Speaker in 2014. She currently serves on the Boards of Hennepin Theater Trust, College Possible, and Meet Minneapolis.

A 20 + year Sales, Strategy and Marketing Communication executive with expertise at leading global advertising agencies and destination marketing association. Dan is recognized for developing “win-win” strategies, partnerships, and promotions, with major corporations, media, entertainment, hotel, and sports properties to create private and public economic impact. Passionate about our tourism community, Dan spear-headed a six-city partnership with Explore Minnesota Tourism and American Society of Association Executives Association (ASAE) to increase the visibility of events and meetings to our state. Dan has served on committees for 2016 Ryder Cup, 2018 Super Bowl, 2019 NCAA Final Four, Minnesota Sports and Events (MNSE) and is the former president of Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) Minnesota Chapter. Dan enjoys his family with his wife Ginnie and three kids: Shea, Molly and Henry

As Director of Experiential for Mall of America®, Danielle Platek curates + designs all common area events + activations throughout the property, ensuring a positive guest experience for the millions of annual visitors.

From celebrity appearances and professional wrestling events, to building half court 3x3 basketball tournaments and everything in between—Danielle and the Experiential team host over 300 events a year.

Danielle has been with Mall of America for over a decade and thrives on providing positive and memorable entertainment experiences for Mall guests.

Danielle grew up in the La Crosse, WI area and went on to attend the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire where she received a Bachelors in Business Administration with an emphasis in Marketing. When not collaborating on world class activations, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends + golfing.

Jessica Poole has been an industry leader in athletics for over 20 years. She believes that sports can change the world and has enjoyed seeing the opportunities created and lives changed when people have the opportunity to participate in sports. While the bulk of her career has been spent in a college setting, Poole has spent time working in professional tennis and the opportunity with Minnesota Aurora FC provides her an opportunity to return to her first sport of soccer.

“The mission and vision of Minnesota Aurora FC is unique and rare in today’s athletic landscape and culture. The idea that we are able to center all that we do around values steeped in community, equality and boldness is a game changer for our organization. I am grateful to have a front row seat for all that we will accomplish now and in the future.”

Courtney S. Ries is the Vice President of Destination Branding and Strategy at Meet Minneapolis, the city’s tourism board. In her role, Courtney oversees the marketing, communications and public relations and partnership departments. Prior to her return to the region, Courtney oversaw the $10 million annual marketing budget for Travel Portland, the tourism board in Portland, Oregon. During her tenure, she also led the city’s Downtown Marketing Initiative, focusing on improving the economy and vitality of the city’s core through strategic development, advocacy, programming, activation and events. Courtney holds a B.S. in Journalism from Northwestern University in Chicago.

Clint Roberts is the founder and president of One Simple Plan. With almost 25 years of agency experience in marketing and PR, Clint has seen what makes a brand click, and after nearly 10 years working for Minneapolis-based agencies including Weber Shandwick, Olson and Carmichael Lynch, he launched One Simple Plan in 2007 in his home’s attic, with the goal of building an agency that values high - touch, catered client service above all else. In 2012, Clint was recognized in the Minneapolis - St. Paul Business Journal’s “40 Under 40” on the heels of his campaign development and execution work for what created the revolution ary Minnesota beer legislation, the Surly Bill. Having built the bulk of the business on client referrals, Clint has developed a deep network of connections and partners hips across industries ranging from food and beverage to retail. In addition to a wide collection of agency clients, Clint used his music industry experience to help develop the St. Paul live utdoor music series Music in Mears, fully adopting the program and transforming it into what is now Lowertown Sounds, which kicked off in 2019.

Eric Satre is a 19-year veteran of the hospitality industry, serving in various markets throughout the Twin Cities. Currently, Eric is the Director of Business Development in the convention sales department at Visit Saint Paul. He enjoys working with sports event organizers—contributing to a one-of-a-kind destination experience while driving economic impact to the city. He leads with passion, authenticity, and a growth mindset.

Al Stauffacher holds a sports marketing degree from Metropolitan State University and has been a leader in the sports tourism market for decades achieving notable awards and recognition along the way. He took over as the CEO for the Twin Cities Gateway Visitors Bureau in 2021. Prior to that he was hired on as the Sports Marketing Director in 2016 and was the chairman of the board from the inception year of 2010. His accomplishments have garnered him the SDM Sports Economic Impact Tourism Awards in 2019 and 2020 along with the SportsETA Rise Up award in 2021. Al is currently the President of the Minnesota Sports Alliance and serves on the Board of Directors for the Minnesota Association of Convention and Visitors Bureau as chair of the Public Policy Committee..

Beyond his professional successes, Al loves to spend time with his family and travel. Al is an enthusiastic sports fanatic playing broomball, softball and golf. He is the Governor of the American Broomball Alliance and a member of their Hall of Fame.

Brick x Mortar co-founder and marketing professional with experience leading successful growth in a variety of industries. Sussman recently exited as Partner and CMO of promotions and marketing firm Imprint Engine, leading them from $3.5M in revenue to $20M+ in revenue from 2018-2022. Prior to Imprint Engine, Zach was the Vice President of Marketing for Kaskaid Hospitality, one of the largest hospitality companies in Minnesota, centered around the successful CRAVE Restaurant brand. As one of the company's top executives from 2009-2018, Zach led Kaskaid from two restaurant locations and $7M in annual revenue to a hospitality juggernaut boasting 20+ restaurant locations in 8 states, 3 event centers, and a catering division with a combined $40M+ in annual revenue.

Eric Thieling is the general manager of Hilton Minneapolis. In his role, Eric oversees the 836-room hotel encompassing the entire city block adjacent to the Minneapolis Convention Center.

Eric’s extensive career spans more than 20 years in the hospitality industry. He has held key positions at various Hilton properties across prestigious locations including Boston, New York City, Baltimore, Columbus, Detroit, and Chicago. Notably, his most recent role was as the general manager at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Chicago - Magnificent Mile/Hilton Grand Vacations Club Chicago Magnificent Mile, a dual-branded 456-room hotel featuring 20,000 square feet of meeting space.

Eric received his Bachelor of Liberal Arts & Science in Political Science from the University of Connecticut, and a certificate of culinary arts from the Connecticut Culinary Institute.

Alex Tittle is the Senior Director for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Medica. In this role, he is responsible for the strategy, execution and administration, program performance, and communication related to Medica’s diversity, equity and inclusion activities. He has held senior roles with The NFL’s MN Super Bowl Host Committee, MN Sports Facilities Authority/Vikings, the MN Department of Transportation and honorably served ten years in the active U. S. Army. Alex earned his Bachelor degree from The Citadel and a dual master’s degree in Human Resources & Management. Alex currently serves on the board of directors for the Page Education Foundation, the University of St. Thomas Law School and is the board chairman for Turning Point, a chemical treatment organization in North Minneapolis.

Peter is a Managing Director at Accenture where he leads accounts at industry and world leading organizations. With a focus on his client’s success, Peter builds high performing and engaged teams to deliver innovative solutions that further advance the organization’s mission. He takes great pride in developing long-standing relationships and celebrating their success. Having grown up in Hutchinson, MN and attending Notre Dame, Peter now lives in Orono with his wife and two Notre Dame student sons who are both studying Mechanical Engineering. As active sports and outdoor fans, the family spends their time outside of work and school at various sporting events and along the North Shore of Minnesota.

For the last 18 years, Patricia has worked in Commercial and Residential Real Estate. Previously spent several years operating an off- premise catering business and worked as an Events Coordinator for a Minneapolis cooking school. Currently developing a 20 acre neighborhood in Prospect Park named Malcolm Yards. I am the Developer, Owner and Operator of the Market at Malcolm Yards.

Sarah Wilmes is the Director of Destination Sales at Mall of America and oversees all private events and group tickets/experiences at MOA. She has been with the Mall for 12 years and loves the exciting atmosphere and creating unique experiences for all types of groups. She is also active within Meeting Professionals International and sits on the board of directors as the Director of Education for the Minnesota chapter. Sarah is an alumni of the University of Minnesota and in her free time enjoys cheering on the Gophers and traveling the world.

Andrea Yoch, President of Andrea Yoch & Co and Minnesota Aurora FC, is an experienced marketing professional specializing in small business, media, sports and entertainment. With a diverse range of skills including events, media relations, social media and digital marketing, Andrea knows what it takes to make any project successful. She has been lucky enough to work on a wide range of projects including opening U.S. Bank Stadium with the International Champions Cup, two Minnesota Super Bowls, Ryder Cup, Gray Duck Spirits, the Women’s ICC, Rocket Club and Chris Hawkey bands. Proud mother of Ryan and Ben, Andrea loves concerts and events and the State Fair. She and her husband Steve currently live in St. Paul.