I grew up in the newly developed Apple Valley, Minnesota, where my dad was the first dentist. I remember playing in the vast fields out back flying kites and playing capture the flag with the neighborhood kids. I enjoyed camping with my family on the weekends during the summer and skiing in the winter especially …
Paula holds a bachelor’s degree in business management from The College of St. Scholastica and is a Certified Nonprofit Accounting Professional (CNAP) from the Not-for-Profit Services Association (NSA), and worked at an accounting firm and in banking before joining the Foundation staff. She is a member of the Nonprofit Financial Group of the North and …
Peter Birkey brings extensive financial, investing and organizational strategy expertise to the Blandin Foundation board table. He currently provides strategic consulting advice on business strategy, asset allocation, enterprise risk, investments and personnel. He also serves on the board of Pretivm Resources, where he chairs the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, and is a member of …
I grew up in rural Minnesota, went to college in rural Minnesota, then had a 6-year, 7-city whirlwind tour of urban America. Through all those moves, I had many opportunities and a whole lot of ambition, but my heart wasn’t feeling it. The next move to a smaller city seemed to be the answer and …
I grew up in the area, on the eastern side of the Iron Range, as did my husband. Growing up, I enjoyed downhill skiing, camping, anything outdoors, preferably on or at the lake. One of my favorite memories of growing up in a small community neighborhood were nightly games of hide-and-seek with all the neighborhood …
Sholom, of Grand Rapids, brings a deep understanding of the Grand Rapids area’s economic development ecosystem. His expertise in financial operations and health care will help inform Foundation approaches to community wealth-building. Blake is a principal and partner with the accounting firm of Blake & Lind CPAs, PLLC, in Grand Rapids. He previously served as …
I was raised in central Minnesota farm country, where much of my family lived close by. I love the sense of family you find in a small rural town, and my husband and I feel so fortunate that our kids are surrounded by a community where people look out for each other and help each …
I was born and raised in Minneapolis as the youngest of ten. As part of this “farm-sized” family, I learned the value of hard work and sharing and have fond memories of visiting my grandparents’ farm to harvest watermelons. I dream of living in a rural community someday, with mid-winter breaks in Mexico. For now, …
Living rural keeps me close to things that matter to me. Nature, for sure. Growing up, I worked and played in the lakes and woods north of Grand Rapids, and the open, rolling grasslands of central Nebraska. Today, my wife and I live on a country road, and enjoy the peace and quiet, and the …
I didn’t grow up in a rural area, but I always lived on the outskirts of the Twin Cities and considered myself a rural girl at heart. In 2000, I finally aligned my inner rural girl with my lifestyle, moving to a truly rural location. I’ve been part of the Blandin Foundation since March 2000, …