Arthur Rolnick
Arthur J. Rolnick is senior vice president and director of research at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, an associate economist with the Federal Open Market Committee, and an adjunct professor of economics, MBA program, Lingnan College, Guangzhou, China and the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management.  As a top official of the Federal Reserve Bank, Rolnick regularly attends meetings of the Federal Open Market Committee—the Federal Reserve’s principal body responsible for establishing national money and credit policies. Rolnick has been a visiting professor of economics at Boston College, the University of Chicago, and the University of Minnesota.  He is also on the Minneapolis Star and Tribune’s Board of Economists, and is a member of Minnesota’s Council of Economic Advisors. 


Christopher A. Brown
Christopher Brown joined SimonDelivers Inc. as CEO in September 2003 from Nash-Finch, Edina, Minnesota, where he was Executive Vice President, Merchandising. His broad and progressive executive experience in the wholesale/retail grocery industry, including expertise in marketing, procurement and operations, is well matched to leading SimonDelivers in its new growth and expansion strategy. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Winona State University in Minnesota. He and his wife, Susan, and their son and daughter reside in Eden Prairie, Minnesota.


David Kristal
David Kristal is the CEO of Augeo Affinity Marketing, Joey’s Only Seafood Restaurants, and Embers America Restaurants.  Augeo creates, implements and manages “value-added”, business to business loyalty programs for companies that work with or sell to business owners and managers.  Joey’s Only is a modern family seafood brand uniquely positioned as the segment defining seafood concept in the under-penetrated family niche.  There are currently 39 units open/committed for development, representing unit sales growth of 225% in 2004.  Embers America combines the benefits of large scale restart franchising with the charm and hometown experience of independent, family-owned restaurants.  Mr. Kristal is a graduate of both the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management, and Stanford University’s School of Law.


Steve Barberio
Steve Barberio is an program associate of the James P. Shannon Leadership Institute, a program of the Amherst H. Wilder Foundation in St. Paul.  He serves as President-elect of the American Alliance for Theatre and Education and will assume the leadership post in July of this year.  Steve served as Artistic Director of Stages Theatre Company in Hopkins for 17 years, expanding it from a small community theatre into a regional provider of theatre and theatre education.  He has served on multiple boards, commissions and is a lifetime trustee of Minnesota Citizens for the Arts.


Sam Richter
Sam Richter, president of the James J. Hill Reference Library in St. Paul, Minnesota, is responsible for leading the 80-year old private, non-profit business research organization. The Library is the nation's premier source of publicly accessible business information and houses a world-class collection of practical business resources.  Prior to joining the Hill Library, Richter spent more than 15 years in the advertising, public relations and e-commerce/e-marketing industry.  He’s led, created and implemented programs for clients including Microsoft, Coca-Cola, Major League Baseball, Northwest Airlines, Kraft/Nabisco, Polaris Industries, National Geographic, 3M, Brunswick and other large and small firms.  He has led product development teams ranging from software programs to Web site and e-commerce initiatives.  Richter actually started his career as an intern in the corporate library of a large advertising agency.  Richter lives in Minnetonka, Minnesota with his wife and two children, serves on the board of a number of organizations and volunteers his time to numerous Twin Cities’ based non-profit organizations.


Harry Brull
Harry Brull is Senior Vice President for Personnel decisions International, an industrial/organizational  consulting organization with 34 offices in North America, Europe, and Asia. During his tenure at PDI he has designed and implemented more than 3,000 selection and promotion processes and trained over ¼ million managers in selection, coaching, leadership and related topics. He has taught at Cornell University, the University of Minnesota, and the Southern Police Institute. He continues to teach I/O psychology at St. Olaf and Macalester Colleges.


Jerry Waldman
Jerry Waldman has been the Executive Director of Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Minneapolis (JFCS) since 1986. Overall, he has 35 years of service at JFCS. He holds a B.S. in Secondary Education from the University of Minnesota and a Master’s Degree in Social Work (MSW) from Wayne State University, Detroit, Mich.


Julie Belle White-Newman
Julie Belle White-Newman began teaching at the College of St. Catherine in 1975. Currently she serves as the director of the Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership (MAOL) a program she helped develop. The first multi-disciplinary leadership program in the country, it now enrolls more than 175 students annually. Julie Belle currently teaches classes in Ethics and Leadership, Professional and Organizational Ethics and research development. In 2002, the College of St. Catherine alumnae/i selected Julie Belle for their Teaching Excellence Award. Currently Julie Belle helps raise money for St. Kate’s by serving on CSC's Board of Trustees Development Committee and Co-Chairing the Faculty-Staff Capital Campaign Committee.


Monica Little
Monica Little is a unique force within the Minneapolis design community, known as much for her commitment to integrity and civic involvement as she is for creative excellence. She is president and creative director of Little & Company, a strategic design firm with 25 years of brand-building expertise. The firm has produced award-winning, highly effective communications for clients such as Target Corporation, the Minnesota Historical Society, and Wells Fargo. A savvy entrepreneur, advocate for women and girls, and acknowledged design industry leader, Monica has helped smaller and Fortune 100 clients alike, as well as community and philanthropic organizations, use the power of design to reach consumers and effect change. Her innovative perspectives and experience make her a sought-after speaker and authority on design and business communication issues. Little & Company's work has been recognized internationally for strategic design excellence by Communication Arts magazine, The New York Art Directors Club, Print magazine, AIGA, and HOW magazine, among others.


Dan Shirk
Dan Shirk most recently held the position of COO/General Manager, Bennett Lumber Co. and Landvest Development Company (parent holding company) as part of his most recent engagement to increase sales, productivity, and operational efficiencies through aligning business systems and staff on target. Dan also brings a successful career of increasing responsibility of leadership (CKO, EVP, VP of Sales & Marketing, Director of Marketing, National Sales Manager) from seven different industries and companies. His skills in sales, marketing, technology, operations and leadership know-how has created outstanding results within the manufacturing, telecommunications, medical, optical, logistics and technology industries that he has lead. Dan’s background of expertise and his ability in leveraging knowledge within companies helps create high performing and profitable organizations. Dan has been an SME member since 1987 and a SME board member and officer. Dan is a past president of SME Minnesota for the 2004 year. Dan is also active on the James J. Hill Advisory Board and participates in the South Metro SCORE chapter.