Jim Krile - Facilitator

Jim recently retired as the Director of Leadership Programs at the Blandin Foundation in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. During his twenty one years at the Foundation, he was responsible for the development and implementation of the nationally recognized Blandin Community Leadership Program, the Reservation Community Leadership Program, the Academy for Advancing Community, Partners in Leadership: Inter-cultural Leadership Program and the Community Partners Addressing Poverty Program. Other leadership programs under his supervision included: The Rural Editors and Publishers Leadership Program, the Blandin Educational Leadership Program and the Blandin Health Care Leadership Program. Jim is also the author “The Community Leadership Handbook” (Fieldstone Alliance: 2006). He is currently involved in a variety of projects dealing with issues such as: rural health care, regional economic development, community leadership, community renewal and opportunities and challenges in diverse communities.

Malissa Bahr- Blandin Community Leadership Program & Reservation Community Leadership Program

Malissa has been on staff with the Blandin Foundation’s leadership programs since 1999. Currently she is the Senior Training & Curriculum Design Manager, responsible for the development, design, and implementation of the Blandin Foundation leadership programs. Additionally, Malissa manages and coordinates activities of internal and external program consultants, and she has been a trainer with leadership since 2003. Prior to working with the Blandin Foundation, Malissa spent seven years in the field of law, specializing in class action litigation. She holds a Master’s degree in organizational/industrial psychology where she focused her studies on effective small groups and leadership development. She is currently working on her Ph.D. in educational psychology with an emphasis on adult learning and program assessment.

Cliff Tweedale & Dave Hengel – Center for Community Stewardship

Cliff has been with the HRDC since 1975.  Prior to becoming Executive Director in 2000, Cliff served as planning director for 25 years.  In addition to organizational management and leadership responsibilities, Cliff is an active participant in the Commission’s community development activities. Dave has been with the HRDC since 1988, and focuses on economic development activities and is the Director of the HRDC’s Center for Community Stewardship.

Jody Horntvedt – Red River Valley Emerging Leadership Program

Jody Horntvedt is a Regional Extension Educator, with a program focus in “Leadership and Civic Engagement” with the University of Minnesota, serving the northwest region of Minnesota. Jody has more than 20 years experience in developing customized leadership programs for elected officials and other community leaders. She has an Masters in Education degree in Human Resource Development from the University of Minnesota, is a consultant for both the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and the Colors Matrixx, and is a certified trainer for the Pew Foundation’s Leadershipplenty curriculum.

Jane McKelvy - NMF LeaderImpact

Jane is NMF’s Program Officer for Training. She has been with the foundation for 12 years and has worked to build capacity in nonprofit organizations by identifying and bringing world-class facilitators and workshops to the region. She has managed all training (leadership, youth leadership, nonprofit management, board training and diversity) and nonprofit assessments and grants. She was integral to the development of the LeaderImpact program, working with Dr. Okokon Udo to create this innovative curriculum.