Who Will You Vote For? Meet The NLNA Nominees
Whether you’re attending the North Loop Annual Meeting/Happy Hour in person or virtually, you’ll be able to easily cast votes through a web-based system (we’ll explain it all) to let us know where we should focus our volunteer efforts in 2022. And if you’re a North Loop resident/property owner/business representative, you’ll be able to cast votes for the nominees below to fill 6 seats on the board. Thanks to all of them for stepping up and offering to contribute to this hard-working volunteer organization!
Josh Beste Resident/Owner
North Loop holds a very special place in my heart. I’d like to help support initiatives that continue to make it a wonderful place to live and visit.
Interested in: Planning+Zoning and Parks & Placemaking
Pat Dawson Resident/Owner
I am financially and emotionally committed to the success of this neighborhood. We are at a critical juncture with public safety, and I’ve been involved with all the key parties in working on solutions the past several months. I would like to continue that work with Councilperson Rainville, the NLNA, police, and City of Minneapolis with the imprimatur of the NLNA.
Interested in: Safety & Livability and Historic Preservation and Public Art
Teig Hutchison Resident/Renter
I am interested in serving on the NLNA Board of Directors because I have lived in South Minneapolis since 2003 and moved to the North Loop last summer. I also work extensively in the North Loop as a Commercial Real Estate Broker representing multiple building owners to lease their vacant office space. This gives me a unique perspective to engage with the businesses considering a relocation to the North Loop, property owners and also friends & neighbors in the community.
The two most relevant topics to those three groups are Planning+Zoning and Livability & Safety and I believe I would be able to make a tangible impact on either committee.
Interested in: Planning+Zoning and Livability & Safety
Ericka Jones Resident/Renter
I’m interested in being on the board to support with creating a community that’s even more inclusive, attracts diversity of residents and businesses. Additionally, after living in NYC and Chicago in neighborhoods similar to north loop, I’ve seen how they’ve grown and would love to support the north loop to grow in the same way.
Interested in: Planning+Zoning and Livability & Safety
David Kisan Resident/Business Owner
When we first moved to Minneapolis, I was hesitant. Would I connect with new friends? Would I be able to find work? Would I survive the winter temperatures Minnesota’s known for? So many of my hesitations were dismantled in the years that followed. My husband and I landed in the North Loop, living, and subsequently working in Else Warehouse. We would come to meet wonderful individuals, business owners, and community leaders that became fast friends. I started a business, connecting a community of floral enthusiast, who meet in local bars and breweries to design together. Most importantly, we’ve made this beautiful neighborhood our home. Each passing day, we strive to give back and grow thanks to all the overwhelming opportunities North Loop provides. Serving as a NLNA Board Member would allow a space to continue that mission. Hopefully you will see by my professional credentials, the skillsets required to succeed.
I am a floral design educator, business leader, and creative consultant. I am an expert at developing relationships with stakeholders, leveraging shared interests, and building partnerships. I have spent years in the non-profit arts leadership sector as a public programmer and fundraiser. I host an array of events including Sip ‘N Blooms, corporate team building activities, fundraisers, FWMN runway shows, wedding events, and private parties. I provide private floral design services to business leaders and residents of the North Loop and beyond. I aspire to develop creative spaces where more community engagement might take place. I follow all the happenings of the neighborhood and take advantage of participating in as many as possible.
Board leadership seems to be the next step in serving the North Loop. I am particularly interested in Community Engagement, Beautification, Historic Preservation, Public Art, Business Engagement and Safety. I look forward to learning more about how I might get involved. Thank you.
Interested in: Community Engagement and Business Engagement
Ashley Madich Resident/Renter
I am interested in serving on the NLNA Board of Directors because of the many interests and talents I pursue, I think it’s really important to make sure some of that energy goes towards serving my own community. I am an artist, herbalist, essential oil specialist and educator, Arabic Linguist by means of having served in the Navy, a coffee master and barista by trade, a wife, an event planner, and currently a full time student to become certified in Graphic Design. By using my skills across these various fields, I am excited to serve the North Loop. Fun fact: when I was in the military, I was on the executive council for the Monterey Bay B.O.S.S., which was a similar council to this but for service members within a certain community. I oversaw the Creative Director and planned all of the events for our base for nearly 2 years. I’ve been known to say that I don’t love going to parties…but I love planning them!
Interested in: Community Engagement, Parks & Beautification
Diane Merrifield Resident/Owner
As a life-long Twin Cities resident, I have lived and worked in the North Loop for the last 17-years, watching the neighborhood grow from a small, quiet DT Mpls outpost to the vibrant neighborhood it is today. Being able to be a part of this evolution has been a great adventure.
Eight years ago, wanting to become more involved, I was thrilled to become a part of the North Loop Neighborhood Association board… and I continue to find it an important and rewarding way to give back to our great community.
I have had the honor of serving as board president for the past year, and am very fortunate to have had a strong, resourceful and committed board to work together to make the North Loop Neighborhood the best it can be. I would greatly appreciate your support for another term.
Interested in: Communications, Community Engagement
Sina Pleggenkuhle (Business Representative)
I am the Market Manager & Programs Director for the Central Minnesota Vegetable Growers Association. I would like to serve as a member of the NLNA board of directors to represent the over 100 local farmers and small businesses that are a part of the Mpls Farmers Market on Lyndale. From our corner of the North Loop which is named the Roots District, we have a long history of bringing goodness to our community and would like to offer more initiatives that support the overall wellness of the residents, businesses, and visitors.
Interested in: Community Engagement and Communications
Chris Ruska Resident/Renter
Simply put, I want to start giving back to a community and area that has given me so much. I’ve been a resident of the North Loop for almost four years, and now that I have gotten my feet under me with my career, I want to start making time to become more involved with the community–something I did quite often while I was growing up but unfortunately had difficulty doing finding time for while I moved around and attend various schooling. My roots are now in this community, and I believe my prior experience running public-facing volunteer organizations, collaborative approach to working with individuals, and commitment to excellence will help me contribute to the board.
Judith Sampson Resident/Owner
I moved to the North Loop with my husband and 3 sons from Minnetonka 3 years ago. We love the walkability and energy of the North Loop. I recently started to feel unsafe and want to bring change so that all residents feel safe day or night. I reached out to the mayor’s office to discuss the increase in crime and Michael Rainville, who has been incredibly responsive to my concerns. I am excited to have the opportunity to make change and improvements.
Interested in: Planning+Zoning and Safety and Livability
Sarah Traczyk Resident/Business Representative
As a proud resident and business representative at the Element Hotel in the North Loop, my passion for the sense of community that can be found and built as the neighborhood continues to grow. I would like to continue my time on the board to carry on projects and strides we are making to ensure whether you are visiting or call this home, that everyone feels welcome. Over the last couple years, I have found so much joy in volunteering for Service Saturdays – trash and river clean ups. I also look forward to continuing helping with donation drives and neighborhood hosted events now and into this next term.
Working at a hotel, I see and meet people coming from all over that are so often blown away by everything this neighborhood has to offer. It is important to me to continue to be a community representative in all aspects, especially to connect hotel guests with the right places while they are in town to help support all of our local businesses.
A continued term on the board will give me the chance to further work on projects such as the efforts along the river, keeping the neighborhood clean with trash clean ups, and helping execute North Loop events such as the food truck fair, national night out, and hopefully more to come!
Interested in: Community Engagement and Civic Engagement
Taylyr Winestorfer Resident/Renter
As a resident of the North Loop it would be an honor to be involved in creating events and relationships that bring our community together. My life’s passion is to create meaningful relationships that elevate one another lives and the world around us. I believe my skills and connections as a real estate advisor would be a perfect match for joining the board and adding value to our fellow residents.
Interested in: Community Engagement and Business Engagement
Scott Woller Business Owner
15 years ago I was looking for a place to serve in our neighborhood and found the NLNA. It has been an honor to serve in many areas over the past 15 years, but for the past while I have been focused on community engagement. My passion is to see neighbors connected with neighbors. I have tried to help foster connections through Neighborhood Candy Grabs, National Night Out Parties, Food Truck Fairs, and many other community focused events. I would be honored to be able to continue to serve in this capacity.
Interested in: Community Engagement and Communications