Staff & Board

Leadership

Anna M. Wasescha, Ph.D. President Dent, MN anna@wcif.org

Business & Economic Development

Greg Wagner, AICP Director of Business & Economic Development Fergus Falls, MN greg@wcif.org
Kate Mudge Business Development Officer Ashby, MN kate@wcif.org
Phil Hintz Loan Officer Fergus Falls, MN phil@wcif.org
Mark Kaelke Community Planner Underwood, MN mark@wcif.org
Deb Hegseth Loan Specialist Fergus Falls, MN deb@wcif.org

Communications

Sarah Casey Director of Strategic Communications Fergus Falls, MN sarah@wcif.org
Dana Anderson Communications Officer Wahpeton, ND dana.anderson@wcif.org
Ashley Quam Marketing & Communications Specialist Battle Lake, MN ashley@wcif.org

Development

Rebecca Lynn Petersen Director of Development Fergus Falls, MN rebecca@wcif.org
Samantha VanWechel-Meyer Community Philanthropy Officer Fergus Falls, MN samantha@wcif.org
Camille Pearson Walz Development Officer Maple Plain, MN camille@wcif.org
Amanda Quam Grants Officer Battle Lake, MN amanda.quam@wcif.org
Heather Weber Development Specialist Rothsay, MN heather@wcif.org
Rick Schara Corporate Generosity Liaison Fergus Falls, MN rick.schara@wcif.org

Early Childhood

Nancy Jost Director of Early Childhood Fergus Falls, MN nancy@wcif.org
Marsha Erickson Early Childhood Specialist Dalton, MN marsha.erickson@wcif.org

Finance & Accounting

Curtis Klotz Fractional Chief Financial Officer Minneapolis, MN curt@divergefinance.com
Kathy Nordick Senior Accounting Manager Rothsay, MN kathy@wcif.org
Deb Raasch Accountant Alexandria, MN deb.raasch@wcif.org

Organization and Operations

Jill Amundson Impact Evaluator Ashby, MN jill@wcif.org
Celeste Koppe Rural Initiatives Strategist Detroit Lakes, MN celeste@wcif.org
Lisa Turner Executive Assistant to the President St. Paul, MN lisa@wcif.org
Cedar Walters Climate Officer Fergus Falls, MN cedar@wcif.org
April Rog Climate Officer Minneapolis, MN april@wcif.org

Transportation Planning

Wayne T. Hurley, AICP, LCI Director of Transportation Planning Fergus Falls, MN wayne@wcif.org
Mallory Jarvi Transportation Planner Fergus Falls, MN mallory@wcif.org

West Central Initiative Board of Directors

Jackie Buboltz Mission Integration Director, Essentia Health Becker County
Nicole Fernholz Executive Director, Living Alexandria Area Economic Development Commission Douglas County
Yoke-Sim Gunaratne Executive Director, Cultural Diversity Resources Clay County
Nancy Huot Farm Owner, USDA Grant Reviewer, and Small Business Owner Stevens County
Corey Kratcha Co-founder, c2renew Wilkin County
Kari Kreft Instructional Coach, West Central Area Schools Grant County
Jacob McArthur Associate Director of the Veden Center for Rural Engagement & EDA Center, University of Minnesota Crookston White Earth Nation
Eric Newell Chief Executive Officer, Stoneridge Software Clay County
Elizabeth Pihlaja Associate Executive Director, Foundation for a Healthy North Dakota Otter Tail County
Laura J. Busian Schmidt Attorney, Schmidt Law & Consulting Stevens County
David Schornack Director of Sales, Arvig Enterprises Otter Tail County
Shelly Staebler Coordinator, Traverse County Social Services Traverse County
Trina Starker Program Coordinator, Central Square Arts & Cultural Center Pope County
Janice Tweet Data Insight Manager, Great Plains Food Bank Clay County
Tyler Wirth Founder, FamilCare Douglas County

Economic Development District Board of Directors

Scott Allen  Alexandria City Council Member
Jackie Buboltz Detroit Lakes City Council Member
Rick Busko Wilkin County Commissioner
Tim Kalina  Douglas County Commissioner
Paul Krabbenhoft Clay County Commissioner
Patricia Lesmeister Nelson Stevens County Commissioner
Neil Madison  Browns Valley City Council Member
Jacob McArthur White Earth Nation Member
Chad Metz Traverse County Commissioner
Kurt Mortenson  Otter Tail County Commissioner
Tom Rufer  Fergus Falls City Council Member
Richard Vareberg  Becker County Commissioner
Dwight Walvatne   Grant County Commissioner
Deb White   Moorhead City Council Member
Paul Wildman Pope County Commissioner
Kevin Wohlers Mayor of Morris
Aaliyah Helland 2023 -2024 Minnesota GreenCorps Member aaliyah.helland@wcif.org
Brogan Ludwig 2023-2024 American Connection Corp Member brogan.ludwig@wcif.org
John Runningen 2024 AmeriCorps Fellow john@wcif.org
Ben Velani 2022-2023 Lead for America Climate Fellow - AmeriCorps
Kallan Sandahl 2021-2022 Minnesota GreenCorps Member
Mallory Jarvi 2020 Minnesota GreenCorps Member mallory@wcif.org
Greta Hentges Summer 2023 Communications Intern
Aubrey Wookey Summer 2022 Communications Intern
Yaiza Kinney 2021-2022 Climate Action Project Intern
Julia Dempsey 2021-2022 Climate Action Project Intern
Manzili Kokayi 2021-2022 Climate Action Project Intern
Ashley Quam Summer 2020 & 2021 Marketing Intern
Reid Peterson Summer 2020 Sustainable Development Goals Intern