2022-2023 LITV Cohort Participants

Tom Ballis has been with the Stillwater Fire Department for the past 21 years. Tom has worked in the Fire/EMS industry for over 30 years. Tom has an MPA in Fire Administration and holds numerous certificates in technical rescue and code enforcement. Tom is also the fire marshal for the City of Stillwater which includes code enforcement, plan review for life safety, sprinkler and fire alarms. Tom values working with others to achieve a common goal. Personal interests include fishing, hunting and relaxing at his cabin in Northern Minnesota.

Amy Berge is the Administrator for all of the early childhood and adult basic education programming for the Stillwater Area School District. Amy has been with the school district since 2017. Prior to coming to Stillwater, she was the Assistant Director of Special Education for Hastings Public Schools. Amy's education background is in special education and educational leadership. Her passion is seeing students grow and succeed as they work their way through their education journey, as well as foster a love for lifelong learning. Amy lives in Stillwater and has two children that attend Stillwater Area Public Schools. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends in addition to traveling domestically and internationally.

Derek grew up in the Stillwater area and graduated Stillwater Area High School in 2005 followed by the University of Minnesota-Morris in 2009. He has a degree in Biology and worked on various waterfowl research projects across the country prior to beginning work in a laboratory setting. Derek has been with Diasorin Inc since 2015.

Julie lives in Bayport with her husband and three children. She loves being outdoors, traveling, baking, and being an Uber for three different schools and multiple sports. With two degrees in environmental policy and water resources, Julie has a diverse background with over 26 years of program management in national and local non-profits, museums, state government, and corporations. She enjoys work that reflects the intersection of mission, staff and volunteers, programs, community, and budgets. She finds professional fulfillment as a consultant focused on non-profit organizational development for volunteer programs, staff structures, fundraising, coaching, and strategic planning.

I moved to the St. Croix Valley 26 years ago. I am a Wisconsin native who was drawn to the fresh thinking and energy of the metro area, but when it came to really settling down and raising a family, we picked Stillwater as our home. I was drawn to the Valley’s sense of place and heritage, while still touched with the energy and fresh thinking of a metro community. After graduating from UW-Madison I began my career, as a CPA with Coopers and Lybrand. After C&L I spent several years in the banking industry before taking an 11-year sabbatical to parent our three children. In those 11 years, a team of us developed a vision for St. Croix Prep, a Stillwater Charter School. St. Croix Prep opened in 2004 and I have spent the last 20 years executing on that vision.

James provides business development for Market & Johnson, a leading construction management and general contracting company. James' role is working with clients early on in the construction process to assist them in evaluating and identifying the right construction delivery method for their project. James is also responsible for actively developing and managing quality relationships with past, current and potential clients of Market & Johnson. James' background is in community and economic development, with previous experience providing planning and economic development services for municipalities, counties and Xcel Energy.

I graduated from Stillwater High School in 2004 and went on to attend Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska where I played Division 1 soccer. In 2008 I and graduated with a BSBA and studied abroad in Australia my junior year. After college I lived in Norway for 2 years and started working for a Swedish Dental Manufacture. Currently I am the marketing manager for Directa Dental USA and also the Community & Corporate Partners Coordinator & Content Creator for St.Croix Soccer Club. I am married to my husband who is also from Stillwater, where we live with 2 kids (2 and 4) and our most loved dog Kaprice.

Raised in Minnesota, Andrea and her husband, Jon, are now enjoying life in Wisconsin. They followed the river north from Red Wing to Hudson and continue to love the outdoor beauty and communities of the river valley. They are entertained by the shenanigans of four children, two dogs, and the many adventures they bring. Andrea is passionate about the communities she serves and is driven to ensure their continued growth and prosperity.

Dr. Krista Koehler is from the small town community of Marshfield in central Wisconsin. She attended the University of Minnesota for both her undergraduate and Doctor of Dental Surgery degree. She is a current member of the Minnesota Dental Association and American Dental Association. Dr. Koehler enjoys volunteering at the Hope Dental Clinic. She is set to open Stillwater Modern Dentistry coming soon to the community. She has a passion for educating her patients on the Mouth Body connection and how oral health contributes to overall body health. Dr. Koehler is excited to be putting down roots in Stillwater and investing in being a part of the community.

Joe Kohlmann grew up in South St. Paul and attended South St. Paul High School. He attended Hamline University and majored in Political Science. Afterward he attended Minnesota State University and obtained a M.A. in Urban and Regional Studies with a management concentration. He has worked in City Administration for 13 years for the the cities of Tonka Bay, St. Francis and now Stillwater.

I am currently in the construction field as a Project Manager. I enjoy seeing the design projects come to life after being a Designer for nearly 20 years and not always having the chance to see them built. The best part about the being a Project Manager is that I get to reach out to several vendors / trades at once and bring them together within the challenge of budget and schedule. At the end of the project there is a lot of pride and (normally) a very happy client. If I can also get tradespeople together and try to inject as much fun and teamwork along the way, it is going to naturally be a fantastic project. That should always be a goal as well.

As the owner of Valley Vision, Adriane works with executive leadership to build strong teams and develop effective, implementable strategic plans that do more than just sit on a shelf. She brings over 15 years' experience with private companies, nonprofits, and public agencies, helping them better understand where they are and where they want to go. Her previous work has been in support of volunteer programs, youth development, agriculture and food access, community health and social services, and natural resources. Her professional experience spans from private sector tech to nonprofit senior leadership, from Google to Girl Scouts, and includes extensive work on diversity, equity, inclusion, access, and racial justice.

Kelli Matzek graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College and then went on to earn a Master of Urban and Regional Planning degree from the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. She was a City Planner for the City of Lake Elmo for over five years. She then moved into an emergency management position at Washington County. Currently she works in the Washington County Sheriff's Office Emergency Management Division as the Deputy Director of Emergency Management. Kelli has over ten years of emergency management experience in Washington County and is the President of the Association of Minnesota Emergency Managers. Kelli has children who are in 9th, 7th and 5th grade and enjoys watching all three of them in their sports and musical endeavors.

I grew up in So. St. Paul and went to college at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, MN. I have lived in the Stillwater area for 20 years with my husband and 3 children. Working part-time while raising my kids allowed me the opportunity to pursue my passion to volunteer and plan fundraising events for a variety of groups including Rutherford Elementary, Youth Advantage and Ponies Football. I began working with Discover Stillwater almost 5 years ago and have absolutely loved promoting our beautiful town. My primary responsibilities in this role are Events Calendar management, information distribution, social media content and creation, customer service and project assistance. I look forward to collaboration with the Chamber of Commerce in an effort to provide the best experience possible for our tourists and our community.

Brian Mueller was appointed as the Chief of Police for the City of Stillwater in January 2021. He began his law enforcement career in 1998 with the White Bear Lake Police Department. Shortly after he accepted a position with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office. Brian has spent the majority of his 24 year career working in narcotics, investigations and SWAT. Brian has served as Patrol Sergeant, Patrol Commander, Commander of the Washington County Drug Task Force, Commander of the Washington County Investigative Unit and Overall Commander of the Washington County SWAT Team. In 2017 Brian was appointed by Sheriff Dan Starry to be the Chief Deputy, overseeing all Sheriff’s Office Operations. Chief Deputy Mueller graduated from the University of St. Thomas with a BA in Criminal Justice, minor in Business Administration and an MA in Police Leadership and Education Brian lives in Baytown Township with his wife Lori and 5 children.

Amanda has worked in the financial industry for over 15 years, and knows what it takes to build Member relationships for long-term success! She comes to Royal Credit Union as a former Branch Manager with a dedicated focus on making a positive difference for members! During her time as a Branch Manager, she came to realize her passion for the local business community, as she comes from a long line of entrepreneurs! Amanda’s purpose each day is to invest in Members, taking time to educate about products, services, and a full overview of all financial solutions. Outside of work, Amanda focuses on her community through volunteering and outreach. She is an active leader in church, school board, coaching sports, local chambers, fundraising and the Humane Society. While working full-time she completed her Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Northwestern in St. Paul. Her free time consists of finding new adventures with her husband, and two children on the weekends.

Melena is the Director of Development & Communications with local non-profit, FamilyMeans. With a Bachelor's Degree in Business Management from the University of St. Thomas, and over 10 years of marketing and development experience, she thrives in a hands-on, face-paced environment. New to the Valley, Melena likes to try new experiences and spend time outdoors with her husband and their dog, Delilah!

Jenni Pinski has worked for the City of Oak Park Heights since 2007 and has worked her way up to Assistant City Administrator. In her role, she works closely with the City Council, organizes City functions and events, and administers the municipal elections. Throughout her years with the City, she has met many community members and representatives from various organizations. With her recent promotion to Assistant City Administrator, it is important to expand her involvement in the community and create opportunities for partnerships. Jenni holds a Master's Degree in Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls and is a Certified Municipal Clerk through the Minnesota Municipal Clerks and Finance Officers Association. In her free time, she organizes a running club in her hometown and is a member of a local cycling club. She is married to her high school sweetheart and they have one four-legged baby.

Rachel Presslein is the Program Director of Thrive at Community Thread. In this role, she is responsible for a membership-based network offering social activities, direct support services, volunteer opportunities and more for older adults in Washington County. Before moving to Minnesota in 2019, Rachel worked with the Foundation for Health Leadership & Innovation in North Carolina where she developed several programs focused on improving rural and community health and managed the organization's communications and fundraising efforts. Rachel also previously worked as a Volunteer Program Manager. Rachel holds degrees in Public Administration and Nonprofit Organization Management. Rachel lives in Oakdale with her husband and two young sons, and she is proud to additionally serve her community as a board member of the 622 Education Foundation.

I spent the majority of my career in corporate retail. I was the proud Director for Target Stores. I got to spend my days guiding over 500 employees to serve our community, allowing me to flex my drive, execution, collaboration and leadership muscles to build a store that profited over 100 million a year. I opened Agent M insurance in 2020.  I have immersed myself in cultivating an environment of lifting people up.

Agent M is a community-focused agency servicing the  community.  We are a full-service  Insurance Agency licensed in 25 states.  We provide over 50 years of experience in customer service and the insurance field so you can rest assured that all of your Auto, Home, Life, Specialty, Umbrella, and Business policies are in good hands. -Life can be a free fall.  For a safe landing, let us be your guide.

Jennifer is a diligent leader with years of experience in service and guest experience. Jennifer values relationships and enjoys lending support to others. Working for the Greater Stillwater Chamber of Commerce, she is passionate about serving the community and sharing all the wonderful opportunities we have to offer local residents, businesses and our visitors.

I was adopted and grew up in Stillwater and Lake St. Croix Beach. I went to Stonebridge Elementary, Oakland Middle School and graduated from Stillwater High School in 1994. I am married and have two children, my oldest who is 20 graduated from Stillwater Area High School in 2000 and my youngest is 14. My parents are both retired educators in the district and my dad was the Varsity boys soccer coach for over 20 years. I love my hometown, from lazy Sunday walks downtown to a fun night out supporting many of our local restaurants and shops there is no where else I would want to live. I have been the Finance Director at Inver Grove Toyota for 10 years, being in the automotive business has been the most rewarding and challenging job I have ever had. When I am not working you will find me at a Hockey rink in the winter and the river in the summer.

Michael Wilhelmi is the Community Relations Manager for Xcel Energy in 50 northeast metro communities. Michael's experience is working with local government leaders in the St. Croix Valley. He has guided several projects through public processes and built a network of friends and business associates throughout the valley communities.