Aaron Crandall
Aaron is a Discussion Leader for the Negotiation
Forum. Aaron feels that negotiations skills are used
in every aspect of business, and that the case
method and role-playing are excellent tools to
reinforce strong negotiations skills. Aaron, a
shareholder in Leonard, Street and Deinard’s St.
Cloud office, is a business attorney focusing on the
representation of privately owned entrepreneurial
companies, with an emphasis on mergers and
acquisitions, advertising, e-commerce, privacy and
information security practices. Aaron is a graduate
of Hamline University (BA) and the University of
Minnesota Law School (JD). |
Art Monaghan
Art serves as a Discussion Leader
for the Finance Forum. As alumni of the Executive
Forum, Art appreciates that case methodology allows
the participants to bring their own background and
experiences into the forum to add to the knowledge
gained from each case. As a partner in Granite
Equity Partners, Art leads Granite’s efforts in
sourcing debt, and is the team’s finance expert. He
serves on numerous corporate boards, and in addition
serves on the Board of the American Center for
Philanthropy. Art graduated from the University of
Notre Dame with a Bachelor of Science degree in
Accounting.
|
|
Barry Kirchoff
Barry is a Discussion Leader in the
Managers’ Forum, specializing in the area of Operations.
He feels that the greatest benefit of being a Discussion
Leader is the opportunity to engage with individuals
from a variety of businesses. Barry brings over thirty
years of operations and management experience to the
classroom, and also teaches a class in Business
Consulting for St. Cloud State University. He is the
Regional Director of the Central Minnesota Small
Business Development Center. Barry earned a Master of
Science Degree in Human Resources Training and
Development from St. Cloud State University, and is a
Certified Economic Development Professional. |
Brian Schoenborn
Brian is the Forum Leader for the
Negotiation Forum and a member of the Anderson Center’s
Roundtable Forum. Having served as an adjunct professor
at St. Cloud State University, Brian feels the case
method is a great technique to learn from the
experiences of other participants, and he enjoys
facilitating case studies. As a Managing Partner at
Leonard, Street and Deinard’s St. Cloud office, he
focuses on family and closely held businesses. Brian is
a graduate of St. Cloud State University (BA – Political
Science and Communications), and the University of
Minnesota Law School (JD).
|
|
Bruce Busta
Bruce is the Forum Leader
for the Finance Forum, and also facilitates a case in
the Managers’ Forum. When asked about his area of
interest, Bruce says “As strange as it sounds, I really
love accounting. It is central to the success of a
business. It can be surprisingly subjective and fun!”
Bruce is a Professor of Accounting at St. Cloud State
University. He holds a PhD in Accountancy from the
University of Nebraska, and is also a visiting professor
for the Insituto de Empresa in Madrid Spain. Bruce has
been awarded several awards for his teaching, and has
published cases in business journals. |
Bryan Burns
Bryan is a Discussion Leader in
the Operations Forum. He is currently the Vice President
of Operations for DeZURIK with responsibility for
manufacturing, quality, customer order management,
engineering and supply chain. Previously, Bryan was
employed by the Brunswick Corporation, where he was
President of the Crestliner Division. Bryan is a
graduate of Pennsylvania State University, and earned
his MBA from Duke University. |
|
Dan Meyer
Dan is a Discussion Leader for the
Strategy Forum, and an alumnus of the Executive Forum,
where Dan enjoyed learning via the case study method.
“My experience with the Executive Forum has
fundamentally changed the way I think about problems and
solutions and how I lead my organization.” As a former
junior high and high school teacher and adjunct
professor, Dan brings a passion for the teaching and
learning process as a discussion leader. Dan is
currently the CEO of Atomic Learning in Little Falls. He
holds an MA in Learning and Technology from the
University of St. Thomas. |
Dean Casad
Dean is the Forum Leader for
the Managers’ Forum. When asked about his feelings on
being a Discussion Leader for the Anderson Center, Dean
stated, “I find meeting the participants, exploring
their ideas and learning about their organizations
fascinating. I also like the challenge of guiding the
participants to look at situations from fresh
perspectives.” Dean is currently the Vice-President of
Marketing for Geotek, Inc. and has a wealth of marketing
management experiences from such companies as Toro,
General Mills and General Electric. He holds an MBA from
Harvard Business School.
|
|
Diana Lawson
Diana is the Forum Leader for the
International Business Forum. She is currently the Dean
of the Herberger Business School at St. Cloud State
University, and a volunteer Board Member for the
Anderson Center. The majority of Diana’s academic career
has had an international focus, including developing an
international business curriculum and teaching business
in foreign countries. Prior to coming to the Herberger
College of Business she held the position of Endowed
Chair in International Business at Saginaw Valley State
University in Michigan. Diana has taught in Turkey and
Moldova and teaches international negotiation in France.
She earned her Bachelor’s degree at the State University
of New York, and her Masters, MBA and PhD from Kent
State University. |
Earl Edeburn
Earl puts his experience in
negotiations, operations, and technology to use as a
Discussion Leader in the Managers’ Forum. When speaking
of his role as a Discussion Leader, Earl shares, “I
enjoy engaging with the students via the Anderson
Center. Many students come into the class believing that
their circumstances are unique and leave seeing their
connection with others in their community.” He is
currently a Partner with KDV Technology and Consulting.
Earl holds an MBA from the Carlson School of Management
with an MIS concentration. |
|
Eric Nicholson
Eric is a Discussion Leader in the Negotiation Forum
and the Succession
Strategies Forum. He enjoys participating in the
Succession Strategies Forum and feels that "each
succession plan is different, and the case study method
provides an excellent starting point for discussion of
the issues involved in planning and executing successful
successions." In Eric’s role as an investment banker, he
works closely with families and management teams on
ownership succession issues. Eric is currently a member
of the Senior Team at Greene Holcomb and Fisher. Eric is
a graduate of Carleton College and the University of
Minnesota Law School (JD). |
Greg Flint
Greg is the Forum Leader for the
Strategy Forum, having completed the
Discussion Leadership Forum in June of 2008. Greg enjoys
helping organizations align their efforts to a common
objective with a clear strategy, and then to align the
elements necessary to execute on that strategy. He is
currently the Vice-President of Operations and Strategy
at Cold Spring Granite Company. Greg’s background also
includes finance, and he serves as a board member for a
variety of non-profit and for-profit organizations. Greg
recently participated in the Harvard Advanced Management
Program. |
|
Greg Schumacher
Greg is a Discussion Leader for the
Succession Strategies Forum, specializing in the area of
management succession. He enjoys being a DL at the
Anderson Center, as he feels “the participants are
experienced and motivated to learn, making it a rich
experience for all involved”. Greg is the Principal and
founder of Schumacher Executive Search in Minneapolis.
He received an MBA from the University of Minnesota and
a Bachelor of Science degree from St. John’s University.
|
Jeff Murphy
Jeff brings his background in Marketing and Sales to the
classroom as the Forum Leader for the Marketing Forum
and a Discussion Leader for the Managers' Forum. He
enjoys being a Discussion Leader as he is passionate
about helping others realize their full potential.
Jeff's background includes twelve years of sales and
marketing experience, ranging from "road warrior" to
Vice President of Marketing and Sales. Jeff is
currently the Vice President of Sales for Dri-Design.
He earned his undergraduate degree from St. John’s
University, and his MBA at the Carlson School of
Management. |
|
Joanne Kudrna
Joanne serves as a Discussion Leader
for the Leading Change Forum, and has also facilitated
cases in the Managers’ Forum. Her consulting experience
with Venture Allies has exposed her to organizations
undergoing significant change. She enjoys working with
groups who are leading a change effort, and she is
particularly interested in giving people the tools to
implement change well. Prior to her consulting work,
Joanne spent eight years working in the manufacturing
industry, six of them with Honeywell, a large global
technology and manufacturing leader. Joanne has an MBA
from the Harvard Business. |
John Mattke
As a strong advocate of case study
methodology, John not only serves as a Discussion Leader
in the Strategy Forum, he uses case studies as a
management development tool in his organization. As
President of Cold Spring Granite, John encourages his
people to be active in their development through
participant-centered learning. John feels that “Strong
leadership provides focus through passion, patience and
a commitment to process that creates a leadership
culture that will outlive its individual leaders.” John
is a graduate of Gustavus Adolphus College. |
|
Josh Reitmeier
Josh is a Discussion Leader for the
Operations Forum. He is currently the Director of Sales
for DiamondWright Tools. He is responsible for the
development of new products and markets for this
division of Cold Spring Granite. Josh began his career
at Cold Spring Granite as an intern, and has held
positions in Production Management, Continuous
Improvement, and Corporate Purchasing. He holds a
Bachelors degree from St. Cloud State University in
Operations Management. |
Kathy Spanier
Kathy serves as a Discussion Leader
for the Marketing Forum. She enjoys meeting and
interacting with participants gaining more in-depth
knowledge of marketing. She is currently the Marketing
Director at Cold Spring Granite, a company highly
supportive of case study methodology. Prior to joining
Cold Spring Granite, Kathy was employed by Wolters
Kluwer (aka Bankers Systems) and Webber Advertising. She
resides in Sartell, and holds a Bachelor’s Degree from
St. Cloud State University in Marketing. |
|
Marc Sanderson
Marc is the Forum Leader for
the Executive Forum. Marc brings his experiences as the
owner of Wilkie-Sanderson to the classroom. He backs the mission of the Center by saying,
“As adults, we learn differently. The Anderson Center
understands adult learning and implements education in a
way that works.” Marc holds an MBA from Harvard. Marc’s
passion for case-study methodology has led him to
facilitate over 40 case studies for the Anderson Center,
while also using this skill with his own management
team. |
Mark Krebsbach
Mark brings his background in Family Business and
Succession Planning to the classroom as the Forum Leader
for the Family Business Forum. Mark believes in the
benefits of participant-centered learning for the
business leaders of Central and Greater Minnesota. As
a CPA and advisor to privately owned enterprises and
owners Mark has over twenty years of experience advising
individuals and companies through the planning and
process of succession. He is a Managing Principal for
Larson Allen and serves on their Board of Directors.
Mark is a graduate of St. John's University. |
|
Pat Edeburn
Pat is the Forum Leader for the
Succession Strategies Forum and the Marketing Forum. Pat
believes that the case method is one of the most
powerful learning tools he’s ever experienced. “It
allows me to engage the world with real-world, practical
solutions analogous to those that we face in business
every day,” he says. Pat’s work at Granite Equity
Partners has given him insight in planning and guiding
management succession through his work with various
company leaders. Pat supports the Anderson Center’s
mission and says that “it provides a needed and missing
service to the Greater Minnesota business community.”
Pat earned his MBA at Harvard Business School. |
Pat Mitchell
Pat serves as a Discussion Leader for
the Governance Forum and is an active volunteer Board
Member for the Anderson Center, where he serves as Board Chair. As the former President of Cold
Spring Granite, Pat was instrumental in bringing
Anderson Center Forums and participant-centered learning
to his organization. Pat serves as the Board Chair for
two private Minnesota companies, DeZURIK, Inc. and
Geotek, Inc. and the Non-Profit Board for Africa Jam.
Pat reflected on this role: “As a retired executive, I
hope to share with active executives some of the lessons
that I learned over the years. I enjoy working directly
with the CEO’s of these organizations, so they can gain
from my experiences.” Pat is an
alumni of St. Cloud State University. |
|
Paul Cameron
Paul brings his background in finance
and sales to the classroom as a Discussion Leader for
the Finance Forum. As Chief Financial Officer for Atomic
Learning, Inc., Paul is able to take advantage of his
passion for finance... ”There is real artistry in
numbers. With a solid understanding of a company’s
success drivers, you can see not only where the company
has been but also predict where it is headed. This
information is valuable to all managers, regardless of
their department within the company. The Anderson Center
helps people see the pictures in the numbers. Equipped
with this knowledge, managers can proactively implement
change to maximize their company’s chances of success.”
Paul holds an MBA from the Carlson School of Management.
|
Paul Halverson
Paul is a Discussion Leader for the
Succession Strategies Forum, bringing his expertise in
the area of ownership succession and business valuation.
When asked about his thoughts on learning using the case
study methodology, he has this to offer: “I have found
the case method to be an excellent way to discuss and
present information that is both complex and personal in
nature….while it may be uncomfortable to share very
personal information in a group setting, this is largely
diminished in the case study method where you are
discussing someone else’s situation, which most likely
will have direct relevance to your own situation.” Paul
has extensive experience assisting business owners in
the transfer of ownership to family members, management
teams and third parties. Paul is currently the CEO of
Chartwell Capital Solutions. He attended the University
of St. Thomas, where he majored in Finance and
Entrepreneurship.
|
|
Rich Sebastian
Rich is a Discussion Leader in the Negotiations Forum.
When asked about his involvement with the Anderson
Center, Rich says, “I thoroughly enjoy working with,
learning from, and being stimulated by business
professionals in our community.” Rich has extensive
experience in conflict resolution and mediation in
business and university settings. Rich earned his Ph.D.
in social psychology from the University of
Wisconsin – Madison. He has taught Organizational behavior
and Organization theory at SCSU for 26 years and served
as the Chair of the Department of Management for nine
years.
|
Rick Bauerly
Rick serves as the Forum Leader for the
Governance Forum. Rick’s
direct experience with governance succession includes
planning for and developing advisory and full boards
from scratch to reorganization. He brings valuable board
experience to the Forums, having served on multiple
for-profit and non-profit Boards in the Central
Minnesota area, including CentraCare and DeZURIK. Rick
is the Managing Partner for Granite Equity Partners, and
earned is MBA from Harvard Business School. As a
volunteer Board Member of the Anderson Center, and as
Executive Director, Rick supports the Anderson Centers’ Mission
to provide Management and Development Services in
Greater Minnesota. He says of the Anderson Center: “The
Anderson Center provides Executive-level Forums that
give leaders the tools to take their organizations to
the next level." |
|
Ron Kirscht
Ron is a Discussion Leader for the Operations Forum. As
president of Donnelly Manufacturing, he has a lot of
experience and insight to offer when it comes to
managing complexity and change. Prior to joining
Donnelly, he was a corporate controller for Plastech
Corporation, and began his career as an auditor for the
former Coopers & Lybrand accounting firm, now Price-WaterhouseCoopers.
He holds a bachelor's degree in accounting from St.
Cloud State University and is a Certified Public
Accountant and Certified Management Accountant.
|
Shelly Bauerly Kopel
Shelly brings her consulting
experience in Human Resources and Organizational
Development to the classroom as a Forum Leader in the Leading Change
Forum. When asked about the role of the Anderson Center,
Shelly said, “I believe in human capital and that people
can make all the difference. Consequently, I am
particularly interested in the role of leadership
development and management education in shaping and
growing organizations.” Prior to becoming the Managing
Partner for Venture Allies, LLC, Shelly was the Program
Director in a leadership development program at the
University of Minnesota. Shelly holds a Masters in
Education degree from Harvard, and a PhD in Educational
Administration from the University of Minnesota. |
|
Steve Konop
Steve is a Discussion Leader for the
Operations Forum. He is currently the Quarry Materials
Director at Cold Spring Granite, responsible for the
advancement and expansion of the Quarry Products
Division. Steve has held prior positions with the
organization in the areas of Continuous Improvement and
Purchasing and Logistics. Prior to joining Cold Spring
Granite, he was a Quality and Productivity Consultant
for Brian P. Little and Associates. Steve holds degrees
in Business Management from Mankato State University,
and Industrial Engineering from the University of
Minnesota.
|
Steve Windfeldt
Steve is a Discussion Leader for the Family Business
Forum, bringing his years of experience in his own
family business to the Forum. Steve supports the
mission of the Center in striving to improve the
economic strength of Greater Minnesota through
Management Development Forums. As the Director of Risk
Management for Preferred Credit, Inc., he sees firsthand
the challenges and opportunities faced by family
businesses. Steve is a graduate of Colgate
University, and earned his MBA at the Kellogg School of
Management at Northwestern University. |
|
Tracy Schulte
Tracy is a Discussion Leader for the
Managers’ Forum. She enjoys working with participants,
and helping them to reach their full potential. Tracy is
currently a consultant with Venture Allies, and works
with their clients on business system improvement, with
a focus on sales force automation, marketing, and
channel management. She holds her MBA from St. Cloud
State University. |
|
We host the
Discussion Leadership Forum annually to train and certify
Discussion Leaders who serve as facilitators of our forums.
Learn
more about the Discussion Leadership Forum.