Our Team
Minnesota Compass and related projects are managed and implemented by the staff at Wilder Research. The following Wilder Research staff are involved in the project.
Project advisors
Stephanie Andrews, Talent, Learning, and Evaluation Director, Bush Foundation
Susan Brower, State Demographer, Minnesota State Demographic Center
Armando Camacho, President, Wilder Foundation
Nancy Fasching, Vice President of Community Impact, Southwest Initiative Foundation
Charlotte Johnson, Co-CEO and Trustee, Otto Bremer Trust
Stephannie Lewis, Associate Vice President, Community Impact, Greater Twin Cities United Way
Joel Luedtke, Jay and Rose Phillips Family Foundation of Minnesota
David Nicholson, Director, Vibrant and Equitable Communities, McKnight Foundation
Alissa Oeltjenbruns, Vice President of Philanthropy, Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation
Patty Pannkuk, Senior Vice President - Social Impact & Sustainability, Wells Fargo & Company
R.T. Rybak, President and CEO, The Minneapolis Foundation
Tony Sertich, President and CEO, Northland Foundation
Michael Stroik, Vice President, 3MGives
Anna Wasescha, President and CEO, West Central Initiative Foundation
Karen White, President and CEO, Northwest Minnesota Foundation
Kassira Absar, Learning and Evaluation Manager, Bush Foundation
Jessica Aleshire, Program Manager, Global Community Engagement, Boston Scientific
Jacqueline Berry, 3Mgives Manager, Education Strategy and Communications; 3Mgives
Susan Brower, State Demographer, Minnesota State Demographic Center
Kate Cimino, Executive Director, Citizens League
Nate Dorr, Vice President for Advocacy, Northwest Minnesota Foundation
Nancy Fasching, Vice President of Community Impact, Southwest Initiative Foundation
Erin Flicker, Director, Impact Strategy and Execution, Greater Twin Cities United Way
Katie Godfrey Demmer, Communications Director, Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation
Sarah Hernandez, Program Officer, Vibrant & Equitable Communities, McKnight Foundation
Don Hickman, Vice President for Community & Workforce Development, Initiative Foundation
Joel Luedtke, Program Director, The Jay & Rose Phillips Family Foundation of Minnesota
Adaobi Okolue, Executive Director, Twin Cities Media Alliance
Stephanie Peterson, Learning and Evaluation Officer, Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation
Dr. Priyank Shah, Executive Director of The Center for Data Access and Analytics, MN State Colleges and Universities
Greg Wagner, Director of Business & Economic Development, West Central Initiative
Our co-conveners helped bring together experts in their field and facilitate some great conversations around specific topics. The list includes the co-conveners' professional role held at the time of each convening.
Aging – Dawn Simonson, Metropolitan Area Agency on Aging
Arts and Culture – Arleta Little, The McKnight Foundation
Children and Youth – Chris Ganzlin, The McKnight Foundation
Civic Engagement – Sean Kershaw, Citizens League
Civic Engagement (2015) – Diane Tran, HealthEast Care System
Disparities – Sandra L. Vargas, The Minneapolis Foundation
Early Childhood – Barbara Yates, Minnesota Early Learning Foundation
Economy and Workforce – Michael Gorman, Split Rock Partners
Economy and Workforce (Statewide) –
Bill Blazar, Minnesota Chamber of Commerce
Kathy Tunheim, Senior Advisor to the Governor for Job Creation
Education – Alice Seagren, Minnesota Department of Education
Education (Statewide) –
Brenda Cassellius, Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Education
Marilee Grant, Boston Scientific
Environment – Steve Morse, Minnesota Environmental Partnership
Environment (2022) - Ben Passer, The McKnight Foundation
Health – Mary Brainerd, HealthPartners
Housing – Tim Marx, Commissioner, Minnesota Housing
Immigration –
Bill Blazar, Minnesota Chamber of Commerce
Sandra L. Vargas, The Minneapolis Foundation
Public Safety – Tom Johnson, Council on Crime and Justice
Public Safety (2023) – Justin Terrell and Dr. Katie Remington Cunningham, Minnesota Justice Research Center
Transportation (2007) – Bob Johns, Center for Transportation Studies, U. of M.
Transportation (2014) – Charles Zelle, Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Transportation