Stay in the Loop

Here Are The Candidates Vying For North Loop Board Positions

We have another outstanding slate of candidates for the North Loop Neighborhood Association board this year! We will be electing seven positions on the board from a slate of 12 candidates.

If you’re a North Loop resident or business representative, you’ll get to vote at the upcoming annual meeting, January 29th, and we want you to have as much advance info as possible. Please watch the video below (each candidate was given 60 seconds) or read their bios below it.

Also, you can meet the candidates in-person an hour before the Annual Meeting Wednesday evening. They’ll be on hand at 5:30 at the Underground Music Venue to answer your questions.

 Audrey Anfang, Resident

I have always dreamed of living in the North Loop, and right after college I took a job at a company solely because it was based in this neighborhood! This past August I made my way over to the North Loop as a permanent resident and have no intent on leaving. I have always been involved in my community and feel best about myself when I can invest in the things that are important to me! I just said to my roommate this morning that I would love to serve on the board and when I saw there was a position open and you were looking for someone specifically to help with communications I knew I had to run! I work in tech and have a degree in business communications and political science.

Being a part of the north loop board would allow me to invest time in my community and satisfy my desire to fulfill my passions separately from my work! I am capable with social media, blogs, and website design and would be so thrilled to put my skills to work here! I used to serve on my home towns school board when I was in high school and I have a pretty good understanding of how these events usually go and understand the commitment that is tied to them. It would be an honor and I would love to bring my experience and excitement about the role to the table and serve on this board!

Areas of Interest: Communications; Community Engagement

 Mary Binkley, Resident/Owner

I’m Mary Binkley. My husband, Mike, and I have lived downtown for 17 years, seven in the North Loop. I volunteer at events and help with trash pickup on Service Saturdays and alongside Avivo Village. I’ve recently retired from a career in public affairs and public relations, so I’m running for the board to help with Civic Engagement and Communication. I love the connected neighborhood feel we have here in a big city, and I know it takes committed volunteers, residents and business owners to keep it that way. I’d be grateful for your vote; thank you for your consideration!

Areas of Interest: Communications; Civic Engagement

 Cristy Blake (incumbent), Resident/Owner

Since moving to the neighborhood 5 years ago, I have volunteered in a wide variety of North Loop activities including managing the tree watering program, implementing organics recycling, serving as a park steward, participating on committees, helping with trash pick-ups and community events.

More recently, as a Board Member, I have focused on business engagement. I believe our unique businesses are key to the vibrancy of the neighborhood and recognized the need to support them more. I established and co-chaired a business engagement committee, brought businesses together through Business Social networking events, helped create a business contact database and a new business welcome package.

It would be my privilege to continue as a Board Member and elevate the business engagement efforts we’ve started. Thank you for this opportunity and for your support!

Areas of Interest: Business Engagement

  David Crary (incumbent), Resident/Owner

I’ve been on the board since 2019 and the vice president since 2020. I have been working on improving the NL Parks since joining the board. I have led the effort to remove the buckthorn along the river. This past year I have worked on getting improvements to the Third Street park. I also worked on making it safer to walk across Washington Ave by getting the flashing lights at 8th Ave installed.

I ask for your vote to continue to work on making the North Loop Neighborhood a great place to live, work and play.

Areas of Interest: Parks+Public Art; Business Engagement

 Clio Cullison, Resident

I am a new resident of the North Loop neighborhood, but have been working in/engaging with the community for years. I am looking for a way to become more involved, and make a positive impact in the neighborhood. I’m passionate about social justice issues, community engagement, and am excited about the opportunity to engage in those interests in the North Loop community. I think my perspective as a renter, a young person, and newer resident in the neighborhood is one that would make a great addition to the Board. I see that the Communications and Civic Engagement committees are the priority, and I am interested in both! As a communications professional, I would bring a wealth of knowledge to that group.

Areas of Interest: Communications; Community Engagement

  Matt Hirschberg, Business Representative

I’ve been living or working in the North Loop for the last 3 years and pride myself in giving back to the community. I spend most of my time in the area and being a part of something bigger than myself drives my passion for helping others.

Serving on the Board of Directors would be an enriching and impactful experience. I first want to make community improvements by influencing decisions that directly affect the quality of life for residents and businesses in North Loop. Gaining valuable experience in governance, strategic planning, and decision-making is something I’m very interested in. It also gives me access to valuable resources and insights into city operations, enabling me to shape policies, allocate resources effectively, and address local challenges with innovative solutions.

I think I would be a perfect fit for Planning + Zoning because of my expertise in real estate and development. I would be able to give great insight into the market and help improve the lifestyle. For the Community Engagement Committee, my genuine interest in connecting people and businesses to foster a sense of belonging in the community is something I’m passionate about. I have experience in event planning, including managing logistics, timelines, and budgets, and I enjoy bringing creativity to designing events that resonate with a diverse audience. I excel at communication, whether it’s engaging neighbors, promoting events, or collaborating with local businesses and organizations. I thrive in team environments, building strong relationships, and I’m adaptable and resourceful when it comes to handling challenges with a positive attitude. I have a deep appreciation for the culture and diversity of the North Loop and am committed to ensuring that events are inclusive and welcoming for everyone. With strong organizational and leadership skills, I’m confident in my ability to coordinate details, inspire volunteers, and execute seamless events. My focus is on creating experiences that not only bring people together but also strengthen the community and celebrate everything that makes the North Loop special.

Serving on a Board of Directors is a powerful way to contribute to the growth and betterment of a city while simultaneously advancing my personal and professional aspirations.

Areas of Interest: Business Engagement; Community Engagement

 Kyle Ingebrigtson, Resident/Business Representative (Profeshie)

As a business owner and resident in the North Loop, I’m deeply connected to our neighborhood and its growth. My background in finance, sales, and running a digital media company has allowed me to partner with local businesses to amplify their voices. The North Loop Neighborhood Association played a pivotal role in launching my business by introducing me to my very first customer, and I’m eager to give back to the community that has supported me.

Given my expertise, I would bring value as the communications lead, leveraging my media experience to enhance outreach and engagement. However, I’m passionate about contributing in any capacity that serves the neighborhood and its goals.

Areas of Interest: Communications; Business Engagement; Finance

. Sarah Lockwood, Resident/Business Representative (MN Opera)

I have lived in the North Loop neighborhood since 2018 and now also work here. I love the city environment and our nearness to nature. I am interested in servicing on the NLNA Board of Directors to be more involved in the neighborhood and five my time to continue the hard work of the NLNA board and the excellence of our neighborhood. I think everyone who lives in, works in, or visits the North Loop can see how special it is. I want to use my skills to build up our community and be a resource for my neighbors. I am especially interested in the neighborhoods sustainable efforts and am a Community Recycling/Composting ambassador through Hennepin County.

Areas of Interest: Communications, Civic Engagement

  Ali Odenthal, Resident

I would like to be a member of the North Loop Neighborhood Association to build on my current community involvement as an election judge and further engage with and support North Loop residents. Additionally, I see the pride and commitment our neighborhood’s residents have for their community, and I want to ensure that this is maintained.

Using my undergraduate degree from the University of St Thomas and my Master of Public Health Degree from Vanderbilt University, I currently work as a Clinical Research Coordinator at the University of Minnesota. My public health training and years of clinical research work have helped me develop program evaluation skills, strong attention to detail, and a high level of organization that would be beneficial in this open role. My training and work experience has provided opportunities to work with diverse individuals and teams on both a local and global scale. This skill would be helpful not only in brain-storming and idea-sharing as a member of a large board, but also in ensuring that proposals or goals of the board are examined from a wide range of perspectives.

Based on my training, work experience, and love for my neighborhood, I feel I would be a valuable assets to the NLNA. I appreciate this committee’s time and thoughtful review.

Areas of Interest: Finance; Secretary

 Louis Raymond (incumbent) Resident

My first year on the Board has been an eye-opening honor, & I’m eager to continue working on current projects in business engagement, parks & public art, database, & street trees—while also working to create then sustain the subcommittee to facilitate expansion of the HourCar.org footprint across the North Loop—including /especially to the west of the viaduct, where there is a substantial transit-challenged population. This demographic is a core one for HourCar’s mission.

Areas of Interest: Parks+Public Art; Business Engagement

. Alex Spehar, Resident/Business Representative (Chase Security)

Hello! My name is Alex and I’m the owner of Chase Security here in Minneapolis. I would like to join the board to provide my insight on community and safety. I have a proactive approach when addressing vulnerabilities and think I could help businesses in our neighborhood stay informed with tips, action plans, and follow through. Thank you!

Areas of Interest: Safety+Livability

. Jeff Vranicar (incumbent), Business Representative (Sunrise Banks)

As a former resident of the North Loop I can truly appreciate all the wonderful things the neighborhood has to offer. Now that I am working for an organization (Sunrise Banks) that is focused on giving back to the communities in which we are located the desire to be involved was a simple one for me. I have seen the neighborhood transform over the last 20 years and I want to continue to be a part of its growth in any way I can. I feel I can lend my skill set and experience and ensuring we are on a stable financial path forward as an association. I’m hoping my track record of being the Treasurer over the last 6 months have shown a glimpse of what I can do and how I can continue to help.

Interests: Finance

 

 



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