Enhancing and strengthening regional relationships
The Campus Advisory and Advancement Board (CAAB) was created to enhance and strengthen the relationship between the University of Minnesota Crookston and the region.
The counsel of CAAB members provides insight to help direct decision-making, develop opportunities for collaboration, and build relationships leading to greater understanding.
Working together in an active partnership, CAAB addresses both current and future needs in education as well as the enhancement of scholarship.
2025-2026 CAAB Board Members
Meetings: Fall and Spring
| Board Member Information |
|---|
Mary Holz-Clause UMN Crookston Chancellor Chancellor's Office |
Brandy Chaffee Director of University and Alumni Relations Alumni and Donor Relations |
Tom Anderson Owner of Anderson Funeral Home (Alexandria, MN) Years on CAAB: Thomas Anderson owned and operated the Anderson Funeral Home in Alexandria for 33 years. He has also been involved in other business enterprises and has served in var ous capacities on many organizational boards some of which include the Alexandria Wells Fargo Bank, the Knute Nelson Senior Living campuses in Alexandria, Ethos Home Care and Hospice in Fargo, The Alexandria Community Foundation, the University of Minnesota Foundation, and as a Board member of the University of Minnesota. Term Ends 2027 |
Jason Carlson CEO of Tri-Valley Opportunity Council Years on CAAB: Mr. Carlson has been with Tri-Valley Opportunity Council (Tri Valley) since 2006, serving in various roles until being named Chief Executive Officer in 2014. Prior to coming to Tri-Valley, Mr. Carlson spent six years working in a small, rural school district. Tri-Valley is a Community Action Agency, providing a wide variety of services to individuals and families of all ages. Most services are provided in northwest Minnesota. Tri-Valley’s largest program is the Migrant and Seasonal Head Start program. The service area for this program stretches from northeast North Dakota to southeast Minnesota. In all, Tri-Valley serves 78 rural counties in Minnesota and North Dakota. Mr. Carlson holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Management from the University of Minnesota, Crookston and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of North Dakota. He is active with several professional associations. Additionally, Mr. Carlson serves on several boards in northwest Minnesota that work to bring resources to the area and improve the quality of life for its citizens. Term Ends 2027 |
Tim Dufault Farmer Years on CAAB: Tim Dufault is a fourth-generation grain farmer from the Crookston area who is easing his way into retirement. In addition to farming Tim has served on many agricultural, community and education boards and committees. He is currently serving on the board of Crookston Public Schools and the Northern Crops Council. Tim is pass chair of the Minnesota Association of Wheat Growers, Minnesota Wheat Research and Promotion Council. He is also on the advisory committee of the Northwest Research and Outreach Center on the UMN Crookston campus. Tim is a proud graduate of UMN Crookston, with a degree in Agricultural Business and a degree from NDSU in Agricultural Economics. Tim and his wife have three grown children and hope to enjoy traveling, golf and volunteering in retirement. Term Ends 2028 |
Theresa Gillie Farmer / Entrepreneur / Kittson County Commissioner Years on CAAB: Theresia Gillie, a successful business owner in Hallock, Minn., sets the bar for women in agriculture. A graduate earning her associate degree in accounting from the University of Minnesota Crookston 1983 and Class II graduate of Minnesota Agriculture and Rural Leadership Program (MARL), she serves as and Kittson County commissioner and is the state director of the Minnesota Wheat and Soybean Associations. She has held many positions with the Soybean Growers Association in addition to president, including vice president, state director, secretary, chair of industry affairs, chair of advocacy, chair of membership and co-chair of corporate relations. She also served as treasurer of the Kittson County Fair Board, Kittson County Soybean Growers and Kittson County Farm Bureau. Although Gillie holds seats on multiple boards and committees, perhaps the most important one is the seat of her combine, farming 950 acres in northwest Minnesota on the Gillie Grain farm. She and two neighbors act as a cooperative, sharing labor and equipment to farm their respective acreage. Term Ends 2027 |
Roland Hill Public Relations / Entrepreneur Years on CAAB: Roland Hill grew up and resides in Aitkin, Mn. He started working with his father at Simon’s Body Shop painting his first car at age 15. Cars and racing stock cars was a passion shared with family, but his father encouraged him to get out of the auto body business, complete college and go do “something easier”. Roland worked for the USDA Soil Conservation Service for 3 years and in 1992 he joined Grand Casino Mille Lacs as a community liaison and eventually became Vice President of Marketing. In 2002, Roland left Grand Casino and started his entrepreneurship and fun ventures. Roland has a Bachelor Degree in Marketing from Concordia College in St Paul. Over the years, the true passion for building bridges between culture and community became evident resulting in Roland making his career and livelihood in putting people around the table for business, philanthropic, engagement and community reasons. His network stretches over several Tribes, regions and industries, including, real estate, gaming, energy, insurance, automotive, non-profit, education, outdoors and philanthropic Currently Roland is a Tribal Liaison for Avery Technical Resources/Workrise. As a proud member of the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians, he spends ample time within the Red Lake Nation Community and is Board President for Red Lake Incorporated. Roland has been married to his wife Kay, (Edina Realty Realtor) for 30 years and has two grown boys, Kylan, (MnDNR Conservation Officer) and Kinzer, (Aitkin County Forester). Roland and Kay are enjoying being first time grandparents to their grandson Simon Hill. Roland’s passions are the outdoors chasing whitetails on the Rez and fishing Lower Red Lake for the famous Red Lake Walleye. In addition, Roland is a 25 year turkey hunting veteran and guides for free to friends, family, and kids and prides himself in being able to find a tom turkey anywhere in the state of Minnesota. Term Ends 2025 |
Paul Imle President of Pine Lake Wildrice Farm, Inc. Years on CAAB: Paul Imle was born in Costa Rica where his plant pathologist father Ernest was working for the USDA on rubber. The family moved to Beltsville, Maryland, where Paul graduated from high school. That summer Paul relocated to Minnesota and worked as a guide on the Gunflint Trail before attending the University of Minnesota’s St. Paul Campus, graduating in 1971. During college his part time job in the Plant Pathology Department led him to work for a professor who was among a group of agriculturalists interested in domesticating wild rice. Paul caught the bug and, after finding land that was suitable and affordable near Gonvick, Minnesota, began growing wild rice in 1972, the same year he and Kathy were married. She taught school and he continued to farm. (Or as Kathy would put it, she taught school, so Paul could farm.) Over the years Pine Lake Wild Rice Farm, Inc., has grown and become diversified to include potatoes, soybeans, peas, wheat and hay as rotations for the wild rice. In the 1970’s Paul was part of a group of wild rice growers who started Gourmet House, Inc., a wild rice marketing company, which was eventually sold and is now a major processor and distributor of wild rice worldwide located in Clearbrook, Minnesota. He was also a charter member of the board of the Minnesota Cultivated Wild Rice Research and Promotion Council, serving as president for several years. Their son Peter, who holds a master’s degree in plant genetics from the University of Minnesota, and his wife Tracy live in Gonvick with their three daughters, Katie, Lauren, and Sarah. Peter now operates the farm. Their daughter Amy and husband Craig Crosby have three children, Lauren, Luke and Adam, and live in Prior Lake. Amy works for Cargill and is involved in the farm as well. Paul and Kathy spend most of the summer and fall on the farm and split their time in the winter between playing golf in Arizona and downhill skiing in Idaho. Term Ends 2024 |
Lori Marco Partner in the law firm, Deer Hill Legal and Mediation Years on CAAB: Lori served as senior vice president and general counsel for Hormel Foods Corporation for 13 years. Following her retirement, she became a partner in the law firm, Deer Hill Legal and Mediation, serving food and agriculture businesses as counsel, fractional general counsel, and mediator. She is also principal and general counsel of Red Barn Consulting, LLC, providing business consulting services in the areas of strategy, ESG, sustainability, crisis management, communications and program development. Lori was born and raised on her family’s farm in Brewster, Minnesota. She earned her undergraduate degree in biology and chemistry from the University of Minnesota – Morris and attended graduate school on the St. Paul campus of the University of Minnesota. She earned her J.D. magna cum laude from the University of Minnesota Law School. In addition to the Citizen’s Advisory and Advancement Board, Lori serves on the Minnesota State Board of Architecture, Engineering, Land Surveying, Landscape Architecture, Geoscience, and Interior Design; the Austin Public Education Foundation Board and the St. Olaf Lutheran Church Foundation Board. She is also on the Advisory Board for the Nexas-Gerard Family Healing and is a senior advisor for On The M.A.R.C. Term Ends 2028 |
Carrie Michalski President & CEO of RiverView Health Years on CAAB: A Minnesota native, Michalski has a degree in Health Administration from Concordia College, Moorhead, MN. She has spent the last 29 years with RiverView Health, beginning her health care leadership career as the Administrator of Hillcrest Nursing Home in 1994. In 2004, she became Vice President of Senior Services, overseeing both the long term care and home care operations. In 2010, she was named Vice President of Operations and since 2013 has served as River View Health’s President & CEO. Quality, accountability and supporting a great work environment are tenants of her leadership principles. Michalski is LEAN certified and embraces its principles applied to health care and improvement work. Outside of healthcare Michalski and her spouse, Jay, own and operate a third generation family farm and are raising three college aged daughters. Snowmobiling, ice fishing, gardening and solitude in MN northwoods top her list of leisure pursuits. Term Ends 2027 |
Judy Neppel Retired Minnesota Rural Health Association Executive Director Years on CAAB: Judy Driscoll Neppel Practiced nursing at Children's Hospital in Denver Co., Mercy Hospital in Devils Lake as OB supervisor and in Grand Forks in the Surgery Department. Judy was employed at East Grand Forks Technical College for 25 years. Initially as the Surgical Technology Program Director and teacher. Followed by Health Division Chairperson, Vice President for Academic Affairs, and lastly as Sr Vice President of the 5 campuses of Northwest Technical College. Collaborated/partnered with UMN Crookston for all general education coursework for the associate degree students at East Grand Forks Technical College for several years. She was employed at UMN Crookston as the Assistant to the Chancellor in 2000-2005. She returned to UMN Crookston in 2006 to complete the Higher Learning Commission self-study and coordinate the onsite visit. From 2007-2014 she was Executive Director of the MN Rural Health Association (MRHA) a partnership with UMN Crookston. Judy is married to Dale Neppel, and has an adult daughter, Melissa Neppel. Judy is the proud recipient of the UMN Crookston Torch and Shield Award. Term Ends 2026 |
Collin Peterson Retired U.S. Representative/Consultant Years on CAAB: Collin Peterson was born in Fargo, North Dakota, grew up on a farm in Baker, Minnesota, and is a long-time resident of Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. A 1962 Glyndon, Minnesota High School graduate, Collin received a B.A. in Business Administration and Accounting, and minored in Political Science at Moorhead State University, Moorhead, Minnesota. Collin served in the North Dakota Army National Guard from 1963 to 1969. He was a Certified Public Accountant and owned an accounting firm in Detroit Lakes. In 1976, Collin was elected to the Minnesota State Senate, where he served until 1986, and from 1991-2021 he was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives representing western Minnesota where he served as Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, and also served on the House Veterans Affairs Committee and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. He's a musician and a pilot, and a strong advocate for agriculture across the country. Term Ends 2025 |
Sarah Reese Polk-Norman-Mahnomen Community Health Services Admin Years on CAAB: Sarah loves pickles and lefse, volunteering and soccer, leadership and health, Minnesota sunsets and lakes, and travelling near and far with their family. She has worked in Local Public Health since 2006 and currently serves as the Polk-Norman-Mahnomen Community Health Services Administrator and Polk County Public Health Director. She is committed to the UMN Crookston, UMN Extension and NWRSDP partnerships that promote experiential learning opportunities for students, engage professionally across topics of shared interest and working together to shape vibrant, healthy rural communities where people can thrive. Sarah was born and raised in Crookston, MN and completed her undergraduate degree in Community Health Education at UMN Duluth. (Go Bulldogs!). She received her Master’s of Science in Health Promotion and Human Resource Management (Nebraska Methodist College) and holds a national certification as a Certified Health Education Specialist. She is the Head Girls Soccer Coach for Crookston High School. Her family, Jerrod (electrical contractor, Reese Electric), Jennika and Jordy are her pride and joy. In 2017, Jerrod and Sarah represented West Polk County, participating in the Emerging Leadership Program (UMN Extension). Term Ends 2026 |
Doug Sandstrom Program Instructor for Safari Club International Years on CAAB: Doug is semi-retired, and currently working as an instructor/ shooting sports coordinator for the Safari Club International Foundation at the American Wilderness Leadership school in Jackson Wyoming. A position he has held since 2008. From 1972-1977 he worked for the Natural Resource Department and Experiment Station at the University of Minnesota, Crookston. A graduate of the University of Minnesota-Crookston with a degree in natural resources, he has received the Outstanding Alumni and Torch and Shield Awards. From 1977-2007 he worked as a Conservation Officer and Regional Training Officer for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Other community and public service activities he has been involved with are Leech Lake Area Watershed Foundation board member; 4H judge and instructor; Cass County Extension board member and chair; University of MN. Extension Citizens' Advisory Committee; ISD 118 School Forest Committee; Church council and numerous others. He is married with 3 grown children and 6 grandchildren. His interests are hunting, fishing, trapping, metal detecting and teaching. Term Ends 2026 |
Judy Streifel-Reller Retired/Consultant Years on CAAB: Judy attended UMN Crookston and graduated in the 80s with an AAS Degree in Business. She returned in the early 90s to teach in the Business Division. In between graduating from UMN Crookston to her return she attended UND and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing Education and a Master of Science degree in Career & Technical Education with a minor in organizational development. Her career spans 25 years in business & industry, 10 years of higher education teaching/training and, three years in K-12 education administration. Judy worked for Xcel Energy as a Human Resource Business Consultant, at UND as an Employee Development Coordinator/Corporate Trainer and recently established a comprehensive learning & development function in the director role for Brady Martz & Associates a regional public accounting firm. She was the first coordinator for the newly formed Red River Valley Education Cooperative, a K-12 education entity serving the collaborative needs of 27 school districts in northeast North Dakota. In addition to her teaching role at UMN Crookston, she developed a post-secondary marketing education program in Watertown, SD at Lake Area Vocational Institute and was an adjunct faculty member for the UND College of Business & Public Administration. Term Ends 2026 |
Dan Svedarsky Retired Faculty/Consultant/Volunteer Years on CAAB: Dan Svedarsky came to the Crookston campus of the UMN in the fall of 1969. He was tasked to develop a natural resources program in what was then the Agriculture Division. The 2-year college was known as the University of Minnesota Technical Institute before it transitioned into the 4-year, UMN Technical College and later, University of Minnesota Crookston. Dan has always championed the applied and practical aspects of agriculture and natural resources programs and played a key role in the natural resources program becoming one of the most attractive programs on the Crookston campus. The technical program roots were carried forth during the development of 4-year programs, particularly in the Wildlife Management and Natural Resources Management majors. This provided a recruiting edge compared to other programs of the region. Dan is a farmboy from the Missouri Ozarks receiving Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University of Missouri, Columbia. He largely supported his education as a construction worker in Illinois, Alaska, and Missouri. In 1979, he received a Ph.D in Wildlife Biology from the University of North Dakota, while teaching at UMN Crookston. In 1971, he commenced a part-time research appointment with the Northwest Research and Outreach Station where he developed the Red River Valley Natural History Area. He and his graduate students studied management of the Greater Prairie Chicken, waterfowl in wild rice paddies, the use of fire as a prairie management technique, and the use of cattails for biofuel. He was the founding Director of the UMN Crookston Center for Sustainability. Dan is Past-President and Fellow of The Wildlife Society (TWS), Past Chair of the College and University Wildlife Education Working Group of TWS, and was a delegate to the U.N. Conference on Climate Change in Copenhagen, Denmark in 2009. He is a past chair of the North American Prairie Grouse Technical Council. In retirement, he is an active volunteer natural area manager with The Nature Conservancy and consults with natural resource organizations. Term ends 2025 |
Dr. Kari Torkelson Optometrist Years on CAAB: Dr. Kari Torkelson is an Optometrist at Lifetime Vision Center in Grand Forks, ND. She grew up in Thief River Falls, MN. She attended UMN Crookston from 1989-91 and played volleyball and basketball, was an RA, sang in the choir and was a member of campus ministry. After UMN Crookston, she attended NDSU from 1991-93. She received her Bachelors of Science degree in Optometry from Indiana University School of Optometry in 1995 and her Doctor of Optometry degree in 1997. Kari is a past President of the UMN Crookston Alumni Association, past president and current board member of UMN Crookston Teambackers, and current member of the UMN Crookston Athletic Hall of Fame Committee. She has been a member of CAAB since 2006. Term Ends 2024 |
Carl Wittenburg Owner and Operator of Protein Alliance Years on CAAB: Carl graduated from the University of Minnesota Crookston with an associate degree in agricultural business finance in 1985. He went on to earn his bachelor’s degree at North Dakota State University. He owns and operates Protein Alliance in Brooten, Minnesota with fellow alumnus Jeff Stauffenecker who were both named UMN Crookston Alumni of the Year in 2017. Prior to Protein Alliance, Wittenburg was employed by Northern Pride and as a U.S. sales manager with Hybrid Turkeys, an inte national genetics company. Wittenburg was the 2017/2018 National Turkey Federation (NTF) chairman and remains on the NTF executive committee as the past chairman for 2018/2019. Carl and his wife, Sharlene, have 3 adult sons and have made their home in Alexandria, MN for the past 24 years where Carl has served on a number of community foundations and boards. Carl and Sharlene own and operate a turkey farm in Wyndmere, ND Term Ends 2026 |
Gail Yutrzenka Loan Assistant at United Valley Bank (Argyle, MN) Years on CAAB: Gail grew up on a farm in Minneota, MN and ventured to Northwestern Minnesota where she majored in Accounting at UMN Crookston. After graduating, she worked at Ecolab for 12 years working as the Accounts Payable Manager and Office Procedure Trainer. She met her husband, Don (also a UMN Crookston grad), and moved back to a farm, but in Argyle, MN, where they farm and have raised 3 sons. All are involved in the farming operation at different levels. Gail currently works at United Valley Bank in Argyle as a Loan Assistant. She have been active in her church, community and school. She was on the Stephen Argyle Central Board of Education for 23 years, serving as Vice-Chair the last few years. She and her husband were involved in the Emerging Leadership Program and enjoy attending UMN Crookston functions. Term Ends 2027 |
Responsibilities of Members
- Develop an understanding of UMN Crookston’s unique mission and vision.
- Provide insight and counsel on specific campus matters through their unique external perspectives.
- Advance and connect this mission and vision to others by serving as ambassadors, advocates and supporters.
- Support UMN Crookston by virtue of personal expertise, time, influence, and philanthropy, and identify and encourage others to become supporters.
- Provide linkages to other organizations in order to create mutually beneficial partnerships.
- Identify and help engage potential donors and supporters of UMN Crookston in collaboration with the campus.
- As opportunities arise, engage with students to better understand their UMN Crookston experience and their aspirations for the future (e.g. attending meetings and events, mentoring, providing internships, etc.)
- Respond to Chancellor inquiries and requests for assistance and commit to attending biannual meetings, typically on campus, at their own expense.
Criteria
- Familiarity with the campus (e.g. alumni, donor, employer, policy maker, community and/or regional supporter).
- Nomination of members solicited from current and former members, campus faculty and staff, alumni associations and Teambackers members, and supporters. Chancellor makes appointment and serves as Chair.
- Members commit to a term of one to four years. If invited, members can elect to serve additional terms.