Meet the 17 Rooms
17 Goals | 17 Rooms
Room Leaders
No Poverty
End poverty, in all its forms everywhere.
Meet Room 1 Leaders
Shelly Staebler
Financial Assistance Supervisor
Traverse County Social Services
Shelly Staebler has worked in the county social services sector since 2004, directly working with programs and clients to achieve the goal of self-sufficiency. She has been an integral part of several community development groups over the years that have had an emphasis on improving communities and resources for all residents.
Nancy Huot
ESL teacher/CoordinatoR, Farm owner
Morris Area School District
Nancy Huot is the ESL coordinator and K-6 ESL instructor for the Morris Area School District. She is also a grant reviewer for federal agencies such as the USDA, the Department of Education, and the Immigration Department. Nancy has lived in Morris for more than 25 years where she and her husband raised three children. They have a small farm in Stevens County that raises cattle. She loves to read and spend time with her family.
Tyler Wirth
Founder/Owner
FamilCare
Tyler Wirth serves on the West Central Initiative Board of Directors. His career has included leadership roles in finance and sales, which serves him well in launching his own company, FamliCare. As a native Alexandrian, Tyler enjoys serving the community and region while raising his three children (Ben – 21, Aurora – 18, Jaxon – 16) and three dogs. When not working on his business or serving the community, Tyler enjoys golf, spending time with family on the lake, and traveling.
Zero Hunger
End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.
Meet Room 2 Leaders
Janice tweet
data insight manager
Great Plains Food Bank
Janice Tweet works for the Great Plains Food Bank and is co-chair of the steering committee for the Cass Clay Food Partners, working to build a strong, healthy and vibrant food system. Janice holds a Master of Public Policy degree from the University of Minnesota.
Katie bull
director of programs
Foundation for Essential Needs
Katie Bull is the Director of Programs at Foundation for Essential Needs (FFEN). In this role, she is responsible for leading the current programming and service development of FFEN’s work with food shelves across the state of Minnesota. FFEN is an entrepreneurial, innovative, and nimble nonprofit focused on increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of local food shelves. FFEN engages skilled, pro-bono volunteers to offer pragmatic, no-cost consultation and equipment improvements to food shelves adapting to meet the changing needs of their community. FFEN is committed to creating a statewide hunger relief sector that ensures equitable access to healthy food through a welcoming and dignified experience for those who receive it.
Prior to joining FFEN, Katie held multiple positions in hunger relief at two food banks in Minnesota, Second Harvest Heartland and Northern Lakes Food Bank in Duluth, building food shelf capacity and managing food rescue relationships. Katie also spent five years at MAVA (a statewide organization for Volunteer Administrators) as the Membership, Communications and Services Manager, supporting the coordination and development of regular statewide training opportunities and conferences.
Philip hintz
loan officer
West Central Initiative
Philip Hintz was born and raised in Fergus Falls where he lives with his wife and children. He is passionate about music and the arts. He brings 13+ years of experience in banking to West Central Initiative, working as Loan Officer.
Good Health and Well-Being
Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.
Meet Room 3 Leaders
Patrick Hollister
Active Living Planner
PartnerSHIP 4 Health
Patrick Hollister is the Active Living Planner with PartnerSHIP 4 Health, a collaborative effort of organizations in Becker, Clay, Otter Tail, and Wilkin Counties, funded in part by a Statewide Health Improvement Partnership grant from the Minnesota Department of Health. Patrick’s job is to help make communities within his four counties more bicycle and pedestrian friendly. Patrick and his wife Akiko live in Fergus Falls, Minnesota.
jackie buboltz
Mission integration director
Essentia Health
Jackie Buboltz currently serves as the WCI Board Chair, At-Large Council member for the City of Detroit Lakes, and recent Past President of the Detroit Lakes Regional Chamber of Commerce. She has served her community in the past as a school board member, Lakes Crisis and Resource Center and Food Pantry board member.
Jackie has consulted with various businesses to assist in strategic planning and as a thought partner. She has been employed by Essentia Health for over 15 years in various roles with her current role being west market Mission Integration Director.
Samantha vanWechel-meyer
community philanthropy officer
West Central Initiative
Samantha VanWechel-Meyer is the Community Philanthropy Officer at West Central Initiative and supports local advisory committees in their fundraising efforts to make great projects happen that have an impact across the SDGs. Samantha’s passion projects outside of work are focused in Good Health and Well-Being including instructing yoga classes, and serving on the boards of Pedal Fergus Falls and Otter Tail Nordic Ski Association. Samantha has a Masters degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and has worked with Fergus Falls YMCA, Essentia Health, and St. John’s Emergency Medical Technician Squad.
Quality Education
Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
Meet The Room 4 Leaders
Janet Schrunk Ericksen
chancellor
University of Minnesota Morris
Janet Schrunk Ericksen is the seventh chancellor of the University of Minnesota Morris. Prior to being named chancellor in 2023, she served as the acting chancellor from July 2021 and the vice chancellor of academic affairs and dean from August 2017. After joining the Morris faculty in 1998 as a professor of English and medieval and ancient studies, Ericksen served as the Honors Program director, the Division of the Humanities chair, and the Division of the Social Sciences interim chair. She holds a BA in English and art history from the University of Kansas, and an MA and PhD from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, with specialization in early medieval English and Old Norse literature.
Marsha Erickson
Early Childhood specialist
West Central Initiative
Marsha Erickson is a regional liaison for the Early Childhood Initiative (ECI), making connections among individuals, communities, agencies, and resources, all for our children.
Gender Equality
Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
Meet The Room 5 Leaders
Elizabeth Pihlaja
associate executive Director
Foundation for a Healthy North Dakota
Elizabeth Pihlaja is a public health professional whose career has allowed her to follow her passion: Healthy, happy children and families. She received both her B.S. in Child Psychology and Master of Public Health degree in Maternal and Child Health from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities.
Nancy jost
Director of Early Childhood
West Central Initiative
As the Director of Early Childhood at West Central Initiative for more than 20 years, Nancy Jost is a champion for advocating the best possible start for children toward a healthy life of learning, achieving, and succeeding. With a sociology degree and licensure in Parent/Child Education, Nancy has been a licensed family child care provider, and a child care center teacher, worked in Early Childhood Special Education, Early Childhood Family Education, School Readiness, and Child Care Aware. For 50 years, this has been her work, her life, and her passion.
Clean Water and Sanitation
Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
Meet The Room 6 Leaders
jill amundson
impact evaluator
West Central Initiative
Jill Amundson has worked in the community development field since 2006, from business development to social assistance and equity programming, to economic development planning. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Human Services, a Masters in Business Administration, and a certificate from the Yale School of Public Health in Climate Change and Health. She’s an avid reader, with a recent fascination by books regarding the evolution of water/wastewater infrastructure. She and her family plan vacations to fishing destinations.
Affordable and Clean Energy
Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.
Meet The Room 7 Leaders
Jacob mcarthur
Associate Director–Veden Center for Rural Development
Director–EDA Center
University of Minnesota Crookston
Jacob McArthur serves in a dual role at the University of Minnesota Crookston: Associate Director of the Veden Center for Rural Development where he promotes economic development in rural and tribal communities in northwest Minnesota, and Director of the EDA University Center working to promoting economic development throughout the state of Minnesota. He is member of White Earth Nation, and has been appointed the Vice-Chair of the White Earth Tribal Utility Commission.
Patricia Lesmeister-Nelson
Commissioner
Stevens County
Commissioner Patricia Lesmeister-Nelson is the Stevens County District 5 County Commissioner. She serves the constituents in the City of Morris, Precinct 1 and Morris Township.
Through her working career, she had extensive administrative experience, having worked with USDA-ARS in Morris as well as their Regional Office in Minneapolis. With her administrative background she eventually entered into the legal field and she worked toward receiving her Paralegal Certification.
Brogan Ludwig
2023-2024 American Connection Corp Member
West Central Initiative
Brogan Ludwig is the ACC AmeriCorps member for West Central Initiative. His year of service includes working on Climate Action outreach. Brogan graduated from Concordia College in May 2023.
Decent Work and Economic Growth
Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth full and productive employment and decent work for all.
Meet The Room 8 Leaders
Nicole Fernholz
Executive Director
Alexandria Area Economic Development Commission
As Executive Director of Alexandria Area Economic Development Commission, Nicole Fernholz works to promote prosperity and optimize opportunity for everyone in Douglas County.
David schornack
director of business development and sales
Arvig Enterprises
David Schornack serves as the Director of Business Development and Sales at Arvig Enterprises and chairs the Hometown Community Bank in Alexandria. Additionally, he sits on the boards of Security Bank Trust and the Western Telecom Alliance. Engaged in diverse ventures, David is a housing developer involved in constructing spec houses and apartments. He also leads as the chair of the Otter Tail County Community Development Authority. David brings extensive experience as a former long-time member of the Perham/Dent school board and past chair of the Lakes County Service Coop. David has been married to Denise for 45 years, and has three children and seven grandchildren.
Greg Wagner
Director of Business & Economic Development
West Central Initiative
Greg Wagner leads WCI’s business development programs which include financing and technical assistance, and also oversees the economic development planning program for the region as the economic development district.
Industry Innovations and Infrastructure
Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation.
Meet The Room 9 Leaders
Dan malmstrom
north point professionals
Dan Malmstrom is an accomplished executive, innovator, and entrepreneur with an emphasis in global tech and biotechnology. He currently serves on several corporate boards. Dan specializes in strategy, innovation, business development, and capitalization for high-growth companies. He currently advises area professionals and has authored courses in leadership, sales, negotiations, and vocational virtue.
Dan founded Douglas Scientific, a global leader in laboratory robotics and genetic screening prior to an LGC Group acquisition (2016). He also co-founded BeAtHome, an award-winning home automation company and advised President G.W. Bush on residential energy conservation before an Echelon acquisition (2001). Both BeAtHome and Douglas Scientific were awarded seminal patents for internet home automation and high-throughput array tape screening.
He and his wife Lisa formed North Point Professionals to assist regional start-ups including Appareo System, Intelligent InSites and TC Foods, as well as facilitate transformative outcomes at Alexandria Public Schools, Hillcrest Lutheran Academy, Park Christian School, the community of Battle Lake, and Glendalough State Park.
Corey Kratcha
Co-founder and ceo
c2renew
Corey Kratcha is the co-founder and CEO of c2renew, a Fargo-based company that gets creative with organic waste and waste management. Focused on transforming agricultural and everyday waste into different products, c2renew offers a greener alternative to conventional materials.
Wayne Hurley, AICP, LCI
director of transportation planning
West Central Initiative
As Director of Transportation Planning, Wayne Hurley performs technical and professional regional planning work that includes transportation planning, active transportation planning, Safe Routes to School planning, and transit planning, coordinating with the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) and local governments.
Reduced Inequalities
Reduce inequality within and among countries.
Meet The Room 10 Leaders
Staci Allmaras
Director, Western Lakes Regional Center of Excellence
Lakes Country Service Cooperative
Staci Allmaras founded The Youths_PR, an organization dedicated to creating communal spaces and generating income opportunities for youth. She is one of nine social entrepreneurs chosen for the 2024-2025 Initiators Fellowship, a program supporting entrepreneurs in Greater Minnesota addressing social and environmental challenges.
Yoke-Sim Gunaratne
executive director
Cultural Diversity Resources
Yoke-Sim Gunaratne works with ethnically diverse New Americans and minority communities. She developed programs to serve four cities (Fargo, West Fargo, Moorhead, and Dilworth) across two counties in two states (North Dakota and Minnesota).
celeste koppe
Rural Initiatives Strategist
West Central Initiative
Celeste Koppe has been warmly welcomed to work on civic participation and democracy in Tunisia, Hungary, and Morrocco in the past and is happy to be back in Minnesota helping to strengthen communities through good governance.
Sustainable Cities and Communities
Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.
Meet The Room 11 Leaders
Trina starker
Program coordinator
Central Square Arts & Cultural Center
Trina Starker is the former Executive Director for the Glenwood Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and has been involved in many aspects of her community including health care, education, the arts, the Pope County Humane Society, and politics. She has been employed by Senatorial and Presidential campaigns.
In 2023 she created the Pope County Childcare Task Force and working with the team, West Central Initiative, and Senator Amy Klobuchar received $1.875 million for Pope County to develop an Early Childhood Education Hub for Pope County to increase the availability of early childhood education and support existing early childcare specialists.
She is the recipient of the 2009 Montana Healthcare Association Enrichment of Life Award, and the Sheriff’s Commendation Award for Community Achievement in Kalispell, Montana for the winter safety program “Snow Dogs”. She is the creator of SELF- Supervised Exercise with a Life Focus, a program that works with community members who have physical challenges.
Mallory Jarvi
transportation planner
West Central Initiative
Former Minnesota GreenCorps member, Mallory Jarvi is the principal planner of Safe Routes to School plans and Scenic Byway Corridor Management Plans at West Central Initiative. She’s passionate about walkable and bikeable communities.
Responsible Consumption and Production
Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.
Meet The Room 12 Leaders
Anna Johnson
Nutrition Manager, head start
Lakes & Prairies Community Action Partnership
Anna Johnson is a registered dietitian with professional experience in food service management, clinical nutrition, and community-based work with low-resource populations.
Anna is the Nutrition Manager with the Head Start program at Lakes and Prairies Community Action Partnership and enrolled in the Master’s in Nutrition program at the University of North Dakota. She has a passion for serving others through her love of food and nutrition and participates on various coalitions and policy councils in her community.
When not working or doing homework, you can find her outside, at a local brewery or restaurant, or with her 12 nieces and nephews.
kate mudge
business development officer
West Central Initiative
Kate Mudge lives on a hobby farm in rural west central Minnesota. She has 30 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, having worked in hunger relief, recycling, animal welfare, and community organizing. She currently works as the Business Development Officer at West Central Initiative, where she supports rural business startups and expansion and manages special projects focusing on regional food systems and sustainable agriculture. You can also find her behind the scenes of the Care Farming Network, a national organization working to advance the therapeutic use of farming practices.
Climate Action
Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
Meet The Room 13 Leaders
troy goodnough
Sustainability Director
University of Minnesota Morris
As the first Sustainability Director at the University of Minnesota Morris, Troy Goodnough has laid the foundation for a program that works to model Morris as an example of sustainability principles, practices, and excellence. Troy thinks about how our actions affect people around him, ones he doesn’t know, future generations and the ecosystems that give life to all living things.
SYD BAUER
organics program Coordinator
Stevens County
Syd Bauer (she/they) is a young rural resident in Morris. Syd spends their time driving for the Morris Transit, coordinating the West-Central MN Climate Network (westcentralmnclimate.network), hosting dance parties in their yard, and learning from disabled, queer, BIPOC communities about future building. Syd’s priorities are safety, snacks, and friendship (in that order), and they have a soft spot in their heart for maps, thunderstorms, and hanging out in their garage.
Cedar Walters
climate officer
West Central Initiative
Cedar Walters serves as a Climate Officer with West Central Initiative and is an advocate for living lighter on the planet through responsible consumption. Cedar supports rural communities interested in developing small municipal solar projects and works on climate outreach activities. Cedar holds an MS in Biology and Environmental Education from North Dakota State University and has experience in recycling and composting program development and sustainable food production methods.
Life Below Water
Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources for sustainable development.
Meet The Room 14 Leaders
Amy Stoller Stearns
Executive director
Project 412
Amy Stoller Stearns, former Executive Director of the Holmes Theatre at the Detroit Lakes Community and Cultural Center, leads the Project 412 efforts to connect and elevate the cultural and economic vibrancy of the lakes area.
amanda quam
grants officer
West Central Initiative
Amanda Quam leverages West Central Initiative’s discretionary grantmaking to nurture fresh, promising ideas that build resilient, inclusive, and sustainable communities in west central Minnesota.
Life on Land
Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.
Meet The Room 15 Leaders
Anne schwagerl
vice president
Minnesota Farmers Union
Anne Schwagerl was elected as the MFU State Vice President in 2021, after serving as the MFU State Secretary for five years. She and her husband, Peter, own and operate a diversified grain and livestock operation near Browns Valley in Big Stone County. Their family manages nearly 400 acres and grows certified organic corn, soybeans, small grains and Kernza® as well as operating a small, pastured pork operation. Anne serves on the board of governors of Farmers Union Industries. Along with her work for MFU, Anne is working with fellow Kernza® growers to develop the Perennial Promise Growers Cooperative and serves as the secretary of that organization.
Ariel kagan
Climate and working lands program director
Minnesota Farmers Union
Ariel Kagan joined the MFU team as the Climate and Working Lands Program Director in February 2023. Her background is in agricultural economics and policy, and she’s spent her career working at the intersection of ag, sustainability, and community resilience.
She has worked across sectors to support farmers, climate resilience, and policy development. At the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, she supported the commissioner’s office in the establishment of the Emerging Farmers office and working group, as well as agency work on new market development and regional food systems.
Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.
Meet The Room 16 Leaders
Ben Schierer
Mayor
City of Fergus Falls
Ben Schierer is the two-term and current mayor of Fergus Falls, Minnesota. Alongside his wife, Tessa, he built and operated two successful restaurants in downtown Fergus Falls between 2015 and 2023. He was selected as a 2020 Bush Fellow, a 2021 NewDEAL Leader, and a 2023 Presidential Leadership Scholar. He received his MPA from the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs. He and his wife live in Fergus Falls with their five children, where they lead Bull Moose Strategy and Design.
Laura J. Busian Schmidt
Attorney and Founder
Schmidt Law & Consulting
Laura is the founder of Schmidt Law + Consulting, a firm located in Morris, which provides legal and consulting services to people, families, businesses, nonprofits, and communities in West Central Minnesota.
Laura grew up in Morris, obtained her undergraduate degree from the College of Saint Benedict in St. Joseph, and obtained her law degree from William Mitchell College of Law (now Mitchell Hamline School of Law) in St. Paul.
Following law school, she served as a judicial law clerk to Judge David C. Higgs in Ramsey County, then worked for a Minneapolis-based law firm thereafter. Before returning to the Morris area, she worked as staff counsel for a nonprofit in Minneapolis and had her own law practice in St. Paul. She also has a Master’s Degree in Public Affairs, with a concentration in community and economic development, from Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities.
She lives in Donnelly with her husband (Joe) and their three dogs (Rune, Jeb, and Sal). Beyond her legal and consulting practice, she is an active member of her local and regional community, an entrepreneur, a yoga instructor, and an embracer of life.
Ashley quam
marketing and Communicatons specialist
West Central Initiative
Ashley Quam is the Marketing and Communications Specialist for West Central Initiative and works on Rural Belonging. She is part of the Welcoming America Local-to-Local Cohort and CFLeads & Welcoming America’s Community of Practice. Ashley was able to examine the connections between racial equity and the SDGs as part of the 2023 SDG Racial Equity for Community Foundations Staff Cohort.
Partnerships for the Goals
Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development.
Meet The Room 17 Leaders
Griffin Peck
Sustainability Project Coordinator, Morris Model Coordinator
City of Morris
Griffin Peck is a young sustainability professional based in Morris. They graduated from the University of Minnesota Morris with a BA in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Leadership. After graduating from UMN Morris, Peck was hired to work for the City of Morris as the sustainability project coordinator and Morris Model coordinator. Their work in Morris spans building and vehicle electrification, renewable energy projects, community resilience building, green jobs, investing in green infrastructure, and sustainability education. They also completed a new sustainability strategic plan that uses the UN Sustainable Development Goals as a framework for the community’s sustainable development.
Rebecca Lynn Petersen
director of development
West Central Initiative
Rebecca Lynn Petersen works to build a robust community foundation model for philanthropy through a deep and broad base of community support. She serves on the Minnesota Humanities Center Board of Directors and was former Executive Director of the Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra and the Fergus Falls Center for the Arts.
Camille Pearson Walz
Development Officer
West Central Initiative
An experienced philanthropic and business professional, Camille raises awareness and funding for West Central Initiative’s strategic priorities as they relate to philanthropy and its programs throughout the region. Camille has a Graduate Certificate in Philanthropic Studies from the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis and serves on the strategy committee of the WCA Foundation, Minnesota’s first benevolent nonprofit organization, now a Signature Fund of the Minneapolis Foundation.