Sam Amundson is the Controller at MAHUBE-OTWA which is located in greater Northwest Minnesota primarily covering the five counties of Mahnomen, Hubbard, Becker, Ottertail, and Wadena. As the Controller she uses a generative approach to lead a fiscal team and oversees financials, budgets, reporting, audits, and policies and procedures. She is part of a leadership team that works toward moving the needle on poverty and assisting community members to achieve their highest level of self-sufficiency.

She has her Master’s of Accountancy from North Dakota State University. Has completed the CALI Leadership Cohort and holds her CCAP, Certified Community Action Professional. She also serves on other MN nonprofit boards and assists them fiscally.

Su-Fei is the VP for Organizational Performance and Information Systems at VOA, MN and WI. She has been with the organization since February 2019 and has gladly taken on different roles in her time with VOA. After spending the majority of her career in corporate strategy planning and execution roles, including Boston Consulting Group and Target Corp, she lucked into a role that would combine her desire to contribute to, learn, and grow with a mission-driven non-profit organization while also utilizing her developed skills set. She believes deeply in giving back to the communities that nurture her and has taken on Board leadership positions with Coalition of Asian American Leaders, in her faith community, and for Sheltering Arms Foundation. As an immigrant, she feels called to bring voice and a different perspective to the table. Su-Fei holds a MBA from Stanford University Graduate School of Business, and an AB in International Relations from Stanford University.

Amy Gray is the community philanthropy manager for the Initiative Foundation, helping support generosity, community and economic development across Central Minnesota. Amy joined the MCN board to provide perspective on the needs and opportunities of rural Minnesota communities while working to elevate Minnesota nonprofits as a whole.

A third-generation Brainerd resident, Amy has a passion for rural and Greater Minnesota and has been in nonprofit and community development leadership for nearly 15 years. A natural strategist and connector, Amy is energized by taking a 360-degree view on issues to find creative, inclusive and equitable solutions.

Amy has a master’s degree in advocacy and political leadership from the University of Minnesota – Duluth and is a graduate of the Art of Hosting group facilitation training.

Xavier Vázquez is a nonprofit leader and advocate committed to equity, inclusion, and community empowerment. As Executive Director of Centro Tyrone Guzman, Minnesota’s oldest Latine-serving nonprofit, he honors its legacy while driving innovation in education, health, and family support for underserved communities.

Rooted in his lived experience as a bilingual Latine and LGBTQ+ leader, Xavier brings authenticity, empathy, and a collaborative spirit to his work. His leadership centers on culturally responsive care, trauma-informed practices, and building community-driven partnerships. A storyteller and change-maker, Xavier works to amplify unheard voices and create spaces where everyone can thrive.

In my current position, I serve as the Executive Director of Home and Community Options (HCO), a healthcare agency offering support to individuals with disabilities. I'm passionate about building inclusive communities and serving others. I have assisted numerous nonprofits with developing strategic plans and enjoy creating awareness of public policy issues. My commitment to the nonprofit sector is demonstrated by my active participation in local and state organizations, such as the Southeast Minnesota Provider Network Group, AIM (local business group), Grassroots Advocacy Taskforce, Winona Area Nonprofits, and committees within our state association – ARRM.

I have also served nonprofits in various capacities, including as a Direct Care Professional, HCBS Supervisor, Human Resource Director, and proud Blandin Foundation Community Leadership Program graduate.

As Executive Director, Rebecca leads AmazeWorks in working with schools, communities, and organizations to create equity and belonging for all through the lens of Anti-Bias Education. She provides anti-bias and equity training and consultation and has co-authored the AmazeWorks  Elementary and Secondary Curriculums.  With an MEd from DePaul University and 15 years of middle school teaching experience, she has worked on equity, inclusion, and justice at various educational and organizational levels. She regularly presents at conferences like Overcoming Racism and NAEYC. She holds an Executive Leadership certificate from the University of St. Thomas, has taught equity-based pedagogy at the University of Minnesota, and is a board member of Upstream Arts. Rebecca is also a Qualified Administrator of the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI).

Denae Alamano has been the Executive Director of the United Way of Bemidji Area for 7 years. Since starting in 2016, Denae has helped United Way triple its budget and realize drastic growth with its reach and effectiveness. Born and raised in Northern Minnesota, Denae’s passion for the Bemidji area, her competitive nature, and her strong belief that ‘when we all do better, we all do better’, motivates her to increase fundraising goals each year, develop necessary and relevant initiatives, and grow sustainable programs for our rural area. Denae cares greatly about educating the greater Bemidji area about our community’s significant needs, which has led to many successful and needed community initiatives. Prior to her work at United Way, Denae was the American Cancer Society’s Senior Community Manager for Northern Minesota for 4 years. This came after a 6 year career as a collegiate women’s basketball coach. Denae is married to her husband, Orlando Alamano. They have three children, Sam (11), Joey (9) and Libby (5). The Alamanos are also licensed foster parents and volunteer in various youth sport and church activities.

Karina A. Forrest‐Perkins is a national speaker and consultant on systems improvement and whole person care within the human serving fields. Forrest-Perkins currently serves as the President and Chief Executive Officer for Volunteers of America, Minnesota and Wisconsin, a faith-based human services organization established in 1896 in the State of Minnesota. Ms. Forrest Perkins was honored to be selected as a 2017 Bush Fellow and has won multiple awards in business, ethics, innovation, and nonprofit governance. Ms. Forrest-Perkins has served as a champion for whole person care in the treatment, education, prevention, and healthcare fields.  

Forrest-Perkins has served as a staff member or task force appointee in three Oklahoma Governors’ administrations and as an appointee to the Minnesota Governor’s Task Force on Medical Cannabis Research. In addition to her current position at VOA MN/WI, she has served as Chief Executive Officer for NAMI Oklahoma, Prevent Child Abuse Minnesota, Wayside Recovery Center, People’s Center Clinics and Services, and Vail Communities. Forrest-Perkins has served as a subject matter expert and consultant for the Heartland National Tuberculosis Center, The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Opioid Response Network, the SAMHSA Center for Excellence on Opioid Abuse for Pregnant and Postpartum Women, and for SAMHSA’s Center for the Application of Prevention Technologies. Forrest-Perkins is a tribal member of the Cherokee Nation and has authored and co-authored congressional briefs advocating for improved access to care for individuals living with mental health and co-occurring challenges, particularly those in historically marginalized communities.  

Ms. Forrest-Perkins lives in Saint Louis Park with her husband. Their four children live in Oklahoma, Colorado, and Washington DC.

Gene Gelgelu is the Founder and President and CEO of African Economic Development Solutions (AEDS). Originally from Ethiopia, Gene has deep connections to Minnesota’s African immigrant communities and a unique cultural competency to work with people from a variety of backgrounds and languages. He has a bachelor’s degree from Metropolitan State University and an MBA in Finance, and a Doctoral Candidate in Education Leadership from the Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. Gene also served as a planning and human rights commissioner for the city of St. Paul. Gene is a Shannon Institute leadership fellow, The Roy Wilkins Community fellow, and the Bush foundation leadership fellow.

Rebecca Graves is the Executive Director of the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council and currently resides in Duluth, Minnesota. Rebecca is an enrolled tribal citizen of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe. Rebecca has a Master’s degree in Tribal Administration and Governance with an undergraduate degree from Bemidji State University in business with an emphasis in Finance. 

Rebecca has been involved in nonprofit work since 2012 for various organizations as both a board member and Executive Director. Nonprofit work is rewarding work, I want to help in all capacities to help our underserved and underprivileged communities.

Dr. Carla Manzoni, PhD, MA, is an equity-centered strategist and community-based researcher and educator. A Latina immigrant who calls Minnesota home, Carla’s goal is to create the infrastructure to expand success, influence, and power for all communities. Carla has recently founded her consulting business Vibrant Majority where she focuses on systems change through inclusive community engagement, a natural step in her three decade long career working with diverse cultures in contact. From 2021-2024 Carla built LatinoLEAD’s programming from the ground up, in her role of Director of Leadership Development. In her 13 years in Higher Education Carla impacted the lives of over 800 students, led high-impact projects, published 5 peer reviewed articles, presented at numerous conferences both academic and non-academic.

Carla is an active leader in her community. She currently serves as a Board Member of HACER, advises the Center for Inclusive Excellence at the Carlson School of Management, and the Latino Scholarship Fund (Latino Economic Development Center), and helped develop the Center for Economic Inclusion’s Indicators for an Inclusive Regional Economy.

Carla loves being in community. She enjoys celebrations, food, mate, exploring art with her family and friends, traveling, and dancing to very loud music.

Theresa “Tee” McClenty is the Executive Director of MN350 and MN350 Action, a statewide climate change and climate justice organization whose mission is to unite Minnesotans as part of a global movement to end the pollution damaging our climate, speed the transition to clean energy, and create a just and healthy future for all.

Tee joined MN350 in 2022 in a continuation of her career. She has worked more than 18 years in emergency medicine, seeing first-hand the impact of climate change on people’s health. She attended college to obtain a nursing degree and sign language interpreter. She received a mini-MBA at St. Thomas University and have certifications in project management and organizational development from University of Minnesota. She worked as an Executive Vice President with SEIU Healthcare Minnesota & Iowa and Executive Director with Minnesota School Employees Association She was the Outreach and Health Initiatives Manager at NorthPoint Health and Wellness Center, Inc. in which she worked closely with Minnesota Council of Nonprofits.

For her fun time, she serves as a volunteer as an Outreach and Inclusion officer with CD2 & SD52 and serves on the Nellie Stone Johnson Scholarship Board.

Sara Niemi has been the Executive Director at PAVSA (Program for Aid to Victims of Sexual Assault) in Duluth, MN for the last five years. Working at a crisis agency has made me very interested in sharing my views, continuing to learn and work with others on issues related to employee wellness, burnout and staff retention in the nonprofit sector. I am a wife and mother to three beautiful daughters and enjoy living in Northern Minnesota. You can usually find me hiking throughout the North Shore with my family, doing yoga or drinking way too much coffee. I have a Masters in Counseling and Psychological services, and graduate certificate in Addiction Studies. I have served in senior leadership positions within nonprofit agencies for over ten years. I am passionate about giving back to the community and advocating for all to be treated with dignity and respect.

Pablo is the Director for Community Growth (Equity & Inclusion) for the City of Willmar. a micropolitan city located 100 miles west of the Twin Cities. He is leading citywide coordination of programs, education, and outreach in the areas of equity and inclusion. He brings with him extended experience addressing diversity, equity and inclusion work and great knowledge about rural Minnesota. Most recently Pablo was the Diversity Equity and Inclusion Director for the Minnesota Council on Foundations and Community Engagement Officer for Southwest Initiative Foundation. He received his Master of Divinity from Luther Seminary in 1995 and spent several years in ministry. Pablo’s networking and leadership with many state-wide BIPOC organizations including TRUE Tuesday Partnership is an example of his passion and commitment to DEI work.

I’m a passionate advocate for housing services with a strong background in nonprofit leadership. I hold a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership and Nonprofit Management from Capella University. My work focuses on developing and implementing programs that address housing instability, particularly through services to families and fostering community collaboration. I am committed to advancing statewide initiatives that improve housing and service offerings in both rural and urban areas. My dedication extends beyond housing, as I strive to empower families and drive system change across multiple sectors. My leadership roles reflect my deep commitment to social justice, community empowerment, and fostering sustainable solutions.