Meet Your 2026 NLNA Board of Directors Candidates
This year, there are 7 open board seats on the North Loop Neighborhood Association Board of Directors. Five incumbents are running for re-election, and two board members are leaving as their terms expire, creating 7 openings. Voting will take place at the NLNA Annual Meeting + After Party on January 28 at The Rabbit Hole.
If you are a North Loop resident, or own a North Loop business, you are eligible to vote. You must be present at the Annual Meeting to vote. Winners will be announced on January 29 via our website and Facebook page.
Many thanks to all the candidates for running!
Caroline Blackford, Resident
Area of Interest: Communications
I’m excited to apply for the North Loop Board of Directors because I’ve been looking for the right volunteer opportunity to become more involved in my community, and this role feels like an ideal fit. I grew up in Minnesota and visited the North Loop many times over the years, which made living here feel like a natural transition when I moved to Minneapolis three years ago, including the past two years in the North Loop. I truly consider the North Loop my home and value the neighborhood’s strong sense of connection and vibrant local culture. I work as a Graphic Designer within the marketing team at a nearby medical device company, where I’m well versed in social media and strategic communications, including website content, newsletters, and email campaigns. I’m also an active follower of the North Loop Instagram account and regularly use it to stay up to date on neighborhood events and activities! With my background in visual design and marketing, I’m passionate about helping ensure residents, businesses, and visitors receive timely, clear, and engaging information about what’s happening in the North Loop, and I’d be proud to contribute my skills to support the community.
Matthew Bruns, Resident/Owner
Areas of Interest: Planning + Zoning, Civic Engagement
Over the past twelve years living in the North Loop, I have had the pleasure of seeing the impact that the NLNA has had on our community. Most recently as a member of the NLNA Planning and Zoning committee, I’ve gained understanding of the detailed work and responsibilities of the NLNA board. With this new understanding and my experience working with city and county officials, I finally feel prepared for the work that being on the NLNA board entails. The North Loop is thriving and I hope to ensure that this continues.
Gwedolene Hollins, Resident
Areas of Interest: Safety + Livability, Community Engagement
I am interested in serving on the NLNA Board of Directors primarily to aid and assist in communications with the residents, business owners and community agencies at large. I would like to assist in the unification of NorthLoop environment for positive changes and development. I believe being able to have a seat at the table to discuss issues and topics that are shared from the perspective of said parties would contribute to the greater good of the community(ies) surrounding us as well as the people we live, work and interact with in this sector of Minneapolis. Thank you for this opportunity to share.
Diane Merrifield, Resident/Owner
Area of Interest: Board President
I’m the current NLNA president and have been on the board for 12 years, president for four.
A lifelong Minnesotan, I moved to the North Loop from the suburbs 20 years ago and have never looked back. In that time, the neighborhood has evolved from a funky old warehouse district with a few longtime bars and restaurants, to the incredibly vibrant neighborhood it has become.
Having been part of corporate America for 30 or so years, there has been nothing more rewarding than being part of our great neighborhood.
It’s really all about the people… our board members, our volunteers, our neighbors, our businesses, our visitors… This is what makes it such an amazing neighborhood.
We’re also so fortunate to be part of a city that supports us… We are grateful.
Andrew Morse, Resident/Owner
Areas of Interest: Parks + Public Art, North Loop Database Management
As I look back on my first two-year term on the NLNA Board of Directors, I am proud of the many accomplishments of the North Loop board, and I reflect on the many ways individual volunteers can make an impact in a community like ours. It would be a privilege to serve a second term.
The focus of my work has been twofold: Parks & Public Art leadership, and Volunteer engagement. Since 2019 I have helped lead North Loop Parks improvement efforts. Our volunteers have transformed James Rice Park by greatly reducing invasive species like Buckthorn and replacing them with hundreds of new trees. The Parks team had a strong hand in designing the Third Street Park, which breaks ground in the spring. I also raised more than $10,000 for a much-needed Dog Park improvement to keep our pups happy.
As a volunteer organizer, I lead most Service Saturday efforts in the parks, including large-scale planting operations, clean-ups, and supporting Park Board initiatives like Pickleball in the Park. Behind the scenes, I cleaned up our Volunteer Email database and helped improve the quality and frequency of Volunteer communications. As a result, the North Loop no doubt has the largest and most engaged group of volunteers of any neighborhood in the Twin Cities. Most importantly, we all have a lot of fun along the way.
Thank you for your support and I hope to earn your vote on January 28.
Ali Odenthal, Resident
Areas of Interest: Board Secretary, Community Engagement
I’ve been a resident of the North Loop for over three years. After looking for ways to become more involved in my community, I was elected to the North Loop Neighborhood Association last year. My time on the board has exposed me to lively community engagement events, committed and caring neighbors, and new, growing businesses. As a board member, I will remain committed to thinking critically and compassionately about local issues, promoting the inclusion of diverse perspectives, and maintaining the unique, vibrant spirit of our neighborhood. I hope to continue to support the North Loop Neighborhood Association Board and the great community it serves!
Matt Ritterspach, Resident/Owner
Area of Interest: Business Engagement
I want to serve on the NLNA Board because I care about the North Loop and how it continues to evolve. It is a neighborhood with a lot of momentum, but also one where it is important that residents and businesses stay aligned as growth continues. I am particularly interested in Business Engagement because I think local businesses do best when there is an open, consistent way for them to share concerns, compare notes, and work through issues with the broader community.
My background is in business and marketing leadership. I spent more than a decade at Amazon in roles focused on growth, customer experience, and decision making grounded in data, and I now work as a Director at Ovative Group, a Minneapolis based marketing and analytics firm. In my work today, I partner closely with companies of all sizes, helping them navigate growth while staying focused on the people they serve. That experience has given me a strong sense of how important communication and trust are between businesses and the communities they serve.
From a Business Engagement perspective, I would focus on listening first and helping create clearer feedback loops between businesses, residents, and the association. That could mean making it easier for businesses to raise issues early, helping identify themes that affect multiple owners, or creating more informal opportunities for connection so collaboration feels natural rather than forced. I am less interested in one off solutions and more interested in building habits and processes that work over time.
I am prepared to commit the time required to serve on the board and to be present at meetings and neighborhood events. I see this as a practical way to contribute my skills and experience to a neighborhood I am invested in, and to help the North Loop continue to be a place where businesses and residents both want to be.
Dustin Steuck, Resident
Areas of Interest: Parks + Public Art, Community Engagement
It is with great pleasure that I submit my application for a NLNA board position. Originally from central WI, I moved to Minneapolis in 2017 in South Uptown, relocated to the Whittier neighborhood in 2021, and joined the North Loop area this past July. I am energized and inspired by the innovation displayed by local restaurants, businesses, and residents that progress our city and cultural vibrancy.
With 16+ years combined experience in event design & coordination, arts administration, retail and food industry service, I would bring a high level of industry knowledge and hospitality to our beaming neighborhood. My expertise in event planning, lively personality, and art background makes me an ideal candidate to ensure exceptional experiences from planning to implementation.
I am passionate about building meaningful experiences through innovative activations to strengthen community and excellence. I am interested in our relationships with technology, how we explore identity through a filtered world and questioning how art and immersive experiences can enable us to better recognize, respect, and cultivate connection in public and digital spaces. Thank you for your time and consideration, and I look forward to your response.
Jeff Vranicar, Business Representative
Area of Interest: Treasurer
As a candidate for re-election as Treasurer of the North Loop Neighborhood Association, I believe my skills and experience align well with the responsibilities of this role. I bring a strong attention to detail and a solid financial background, ensuring the Association’s funds are managed responsibly, effectively, and transparently.
I have over 20 years of experience in commercial banking and joined Sunrise Banks e North Loop in June 2024. My professional background has equipped me with the expertise needed to oversee budgets, manage accounts, and deliver clear, accurate financial reporting.
I was also fortunate to call the North Loop home from 2009 to 2017, giving me firsthand knowledge of the neighborhood and its importance to the City of Minneapolis. The North Loop continues to be one of the most desirable places to live and work, and I have a genuine appreciation for the community and its ongoing growth and success. I would welcome the opportunity to continue contributing to that success through service as Treasurer.
Outside of work, I enjoy playing and watching sports—especially baseball, hockey, and football—and reading when time allows. I live in Southwest Minneapolis with my wife, Becky, and our children: daughters Charlotte and Georgia, and our son Jack.
Scott Woller, Business Owner
Area of Interest: Community Engagement
It has been an honor to serve the North Loop for 20 years on the North Loop Neighborhood Board. My passion is helping neighbors connect with neighbors. A great neighborhood enjoys wonderful restaurants, coffeehouses, bars, boutiques, and architecture, but the foundation of a healthy community is its people. While our population density makes the North Loop walkable and vibrant, it doesn’t guarantee connection. I have focused, and will continue to focus, on bringing people together and building meaningful relationships. This is most visible at our neighborhood events, but it also happens through every volunteer opportunity.
A little about me: I am the pastor of Corner Church, which now has locations in five Minneapolis communities, all starting right here in the North Loop in 2006. I am also over Corner Coffee, where my role often feels more like handyman than CEO, but between maintenance needs, it is a joy to support our incredible team and love our customers.
My wife, Amber, and I are downtown residents through and through. We raised our daughters here, and now as empty nesters, you’ll likely see us walking along the river or riding from place to place on my cargo bike.
It is truly an honor to serve!