2022-23 Board of Directors


Board Chairs


Sarah Waite
President
Board term expires in 2023

Sarah Waite is the Chief People Officer for Second Harvest Heartland. Sarah’s 25+-year career as a talent and human resources leader is defined by a singular dedication to trust-building and an understanding that best practices in people management are only “best” when they uplift an organization’s unique culture, mission and strategy.

With deep experience supporting professionals across the Twin Cities and around the globe, Sarah’s work is imbued with her passion for building inclusive teams. During her respective tenures with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, ABRA Auto Body, Target and Medtronic, Sarah drove robust business results and created strong cultures through a steadfast commitment to bringing diverse voices to the table.

Sarah authors the blog the Business of Talent and has a daily blog LeadHRShip.  Sarah is the current HREF President and long time member.




Sherrie Kronforst, M.A., SPHR, SHRM-SCP
Vice President
Board term expires in 2023

As the Leader of HR for Thrivent’s Commercial Division, Sherrie is responsible for a large workforce across the U.S. footprint.  Strategic accountabilities include directing the organizational design, talent, and change management plans to align with an enterprise-wide transformation and growth strategy.  In addition to leading an HRBP Team, Sherrie serves as consultative partner to the Chief Commercial Officer and the Senior Leadership Team.

Sherrie’s portfolio in human resources runs broad and deep including leadership development, organizational health & culture change, talent management, performance consulting, and employee and labor relations in service-related industries.   Sherrie has held HR leadership roles at the University of Minnesota, Comcast/NBC Universal, and SUPERVALU.  No matter what the role, her core passion is for optimizing cultures where leaders and employees are enabled and inspired to do their best work.

When not working, Sherrie enjoys spending time with her family and is a fan of all things water related – including boats, paddle boards and jet skis along with snowmobiling and winter sports.



Patricia M. Jesperson, MBA
Secretary
Board term expires in 2023

Patricia Jesperson is Chief Curiosity Officer, EmployeeEXP, co-Author of, Reversing the Ostrich Approach to Diversity: Pulling your head out of the sand, and international speaker on the value of integrating the tenets of DEI with key organizational functions. 

As the curious type, she has spent the majority of her career exploring how to maximize the talent experience. Her drive for exploring “what if’s” enables her to create innovative new learning solutions related to talent attraction, development, and engagement--she particularly values the opportunity to partner with her clients to imagine and explore the possibilities when organizations embrace inclusive practices.

Her virtual and in-person presentations include integrating DEI with Leadership practices, Total Rewards, Safety, Project Management and more. She pursues her passion for life-long learning through her faculty position in Augsburg University’s MBA program—a point of personal achievement is receiving the 2022 Distinguished Contribution to Teaching Award in this role.




Janis Hardie
Treasurer

Board term expires in 2024 

As the VP of Talent Management for Agiliti, Janis leads the recruiting, training and talent practice areas.  Janis is a strategic and execution-focused leader with a proven track record of designing and implementing integrated talent solutions to ensure an organization has the capabilities needed to achieve results and improve engagement.  She is intrigued by people, their potential and what gets in the way.  With over 25 years of HR experiences, she has led teams and impacted leadership development in a number of different industries including Target, Accenture and Heitman Financial. 




Heidi Grange
Program Committee Chair
Board term expires in 2023


Heidi is currently the SVP/Human Resources Officer for Northmarq, a Pohlad Company, since 2020. In her current role, Heidi is responsible for leading the development and execution of HR strategy, aligned with business priorities. Heidi leads all aspects of the HR function, including talent acquisition and management, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) strategy, HR operations, and the overall employee experience.  

Heidi has over 25 years of human resources experience, including various business partner and senior HR leadership roles in large to midsize organizations. Prior to joining Northmarq, she spent most of her career at Thomson Reuters. While at Thomson Reuters, was a senior HR leader involved in M&A activity, change and transformation initiatives, talent development, and partnership with senior/executive leaders. Prior to Northmarq,  Heidi was the SVP of HR of a global medical device engineering and manufacturing firm located in the Minneapolis area. 

Heidi is an active member of the local MSP HR community, serving on the Board of HR Executive Forum (HREF) and involved in various HR professional groups. She has a BA in Psychology and MS in Human Resources Development and Training.



Dale Fruehauf, M.S., SPHR
Membership/Nomination Committee Chair
Board term expires in 2023

Dale is Vice President of Human Resources for Presbyterian Homes & Services, a 7200 employee senior living organization, where he leads the areas of total rewards, HRIS, people analytics and payroll. Prior to joining PHS, Dale was Chief People Officer for Avamere Health Services, based in the greater Portland, Oregon area. Here Dale led all aspects of Human Resources for this senior living organization, driving transformational change in areas such as talent acquisition and retention strategies, DEI, total rewards and key engagement initiatives. Prior to Avamere Dale was the Site Head of Human Resources for Genentech/Roche, a Fortune 75 pharmaceutical company where he led HR for a rapidly growing bio-tech manufacturing campus, where Dale and his team quadrupled the headcount with key talent, enabling licensure and further expansion. Dale and his family are glad to be back in the Twin Cities after 12 years on the west coast. Prior to leaving Minnesota Dale held senior HR leadership roles at Ceridian (VPHR) and at United Health Group via Salo, where he led talent acquisition for Ingenix, now part of Optum.

Dale is passionate about translating business needs into people solutions, through strategic and operational excellence. He regularly helps others via career coaching (pro bono) and enjoys volunteering in the senior living community.



At Large Board Members



Dr. Kevin Anderson
Nomination/Membership Committee Member
Board term expires in 2024


Dr. Anderson is a consultant in organizational design and performance, leadership, change management, and cultural initiatives. Kevin has over twenty-five years of experience in designing and delivering high impact, global organizational solutions. He is currently a senior organizational development consultant at Cargill. Organizations he has worked with include Thomson Reuters, City of Minneapolis and Accelare Consulting where he worked in health care, retail and education. Kevin has a Doctorate in Organizational Leadership, Policy and Development from the University of Minnesota.

Kevin brings a practical point of view to his work where academic meets action.  In the organizational design sessions he designs and hosts each year, he is always seeking to transfer practical, impactful approaches.  In his books, including The New Workplace: Performance Through Virtual and Hybrid Teams and Organization Design Made Easy he similarly writes about how all leaders and teams can adopt these powerful mind sets and tools.   


Angela Christman 
Sponsorship Committee Chair
Board term expires in 2024

Throughout a career spanning nearly two decades, Angela Christman has been driven by a bigger purpose – taking care of people and providing more fulfilling experiences for the team members she supports. A self-described “non-traditional” HR leader, Angela prioritizes people over policy, constantly imagining new ideas that help people enjoy happier, healthier living. In her most recent role as Senior Director, HR Strategy at Marvin, Angela led teams focused on talent and the team member experience. Prior to joining Marvin, Angela held multiple leadership roles in Human Resources with Walmart, where she helped impact talent and engagement for associates across the business. Angela holds a B.A. in Psychology from Coe College and an M.A. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from Minnesota State University, Mankato. When not working, Angela enjoys reading, traveling with her husband and spoiling her two springer spaniels.



Claire Edmondson
Sponsorship Committee Member
Board term expires in 2024


Claire Edmondson is the Vice President of Talent Management Solutions for CPI Twin Cities, responsible for growing CPI’s Practice Areas of Executive Coaching, Leadership Development, Career Transition and HR Advisory Services.  In addition to consulting on leadership projects and coaching candidates in career transition, Claire builds and maintains the talent pool of consultants and facilitators who deliver work to CPI’s clients.  She brings progressive, talented and timely educators to our candidates and clients through the EMPOWER! HOUR, Vantage Executive Forum and CPI@TheForefront workshops and special corporate learning events. She was most recently Principal Consultant for Key Leader Resources (KLR) where she delivered coaching and training programs around the country to leaders at all levels.  

For the past 23 years, Claire has coached, trained and consulted with clients in countries all over the world to deliver hundreds of assessments, coaching and customized training programs. She has built her reputation on delivering business insights combined with outstanding service and a heavy dose of humor. She brings her knowledge of people, processes and tools to help solve client challenges quickly. Claire’s background lends her a broad range of corporate industry exposure to draw upon, along with her personal experience as an entrepreneur and executive leader. 




Carita Hibben
At-Large
Board term expires in 2024

Carita is the Vice President, Human Resources at C.H. Robinson leading the areas of Talent Management, Total Rewards, HR Operations, HR Technology, Payroll, and Global Mobility. Additionally, I serve as the Executive Sponsor on our HR Digital transformation journey.  I am considered a highly accomplished, strategic Human Resources professional with over 20 years of experience. Formally recognized for leadership, integrity, collaboration and an ability to establish and execute strategies while meeting company business objectives.  Sharp business acumen in managing a broad scope of Human Resources functions, including operations, talent management, talent acquisition, performance management, succession planning, total rewards, implementing information/data systems, leadership, and coaching.  Passion in designing rewards and recognition programs that align with organizational strategies.  Strong ability to partner and collaborate with Executive Team Members, Board Members, and Senior Leaders to reach company goals and targets.  Lastly, I serve as a member of the board of directors for Make-A-Wish Minnesota. 



Christina Spriggle
At-Large

Board term expires in 2024

Christina Spriggle joined Constellation and its growing portfolio of medical professional liability (MPL) insurance companies in 2015. Prior to joining Constellation, Christina worked in leadership positions at UnitedHealth Group and Express Scripts.

With over 25 years of experience working in human resources, Christina brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her role as Senior Director, People Team. As the leader of Constellation's people operations, Christina champions the company's talent strategy and philosophy. She and her team partner with leaders across the organization to address and provide solutions to talent and resourcing needs. Christina also guides the company's suite of benefits, manages incentive and compensation plans, coordinates leadership coaching and training opportunities, and more. She enjoys working for Constellation and is inspired by the organization's purpose and vision.

In her free time, Christina enjoys reading—particularly non-fiction and historical fiction—and learning about people and events from a variety of different perspectives. 


Julie Thiel
Marketing/Social Media Committee Chair
Board term expires in 2023


Julie Thiel was named the Vice President of Human Resources leading recruiting, engagement, development and leadership at WSB in 2021. Julie has more than 25 years of multi-industry experience, which includes human resources leadership roles with companies such as Schwan’s Company, Target Corporation, McGladrey and Analysts International.

No matter what her role, you will find Julie helping organizations amplify their current talent and develop the next generation of authentic leaders. She brings her enthusiasm and personal stories to the podium and is a frequent speaker on the topics of authentic leadership and change management. Julie received her bachelor’s degree in psychology and master’s degree in human resources from University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign.  As an active member of the Ramsey County Workforce Innovation Board, Julie is fully engaged in local workforce development and providing an employer perspective on how to better connect candidates with great opportunities. She was recognized as one of the 2020 Top Women in Business by Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal.

When not at work, you will find Julie cheering on her daughter, Grace, at a fastpitch softball game or enjoying a long walk with her two labradoodles, Sam & Toby.




Lori Wall
Nominating/Membership CommitteeMember
Board term expires in 2023

Lori Wall is the SVP and Chief Human Resources Officer of Foremost Farms USA dairy cooperative.  She is responsible for developing and executing the company’s human resources and communications strategy to drive and achieve the overall Foremost Farms business objectives and results through investing in people and culture. 

Prior to Foremost Farms, Wall was Chief Human Resources Officer of Restaurant Technologies, a leading provider of cooking-oil management and cooking oil distribution to more than 24,000 food service operators to make their kitchens safer and more sustainable. In that role, she redesigned and transformed the organizational structure to support 10-15% top- and bottom-line growth and aligned HR strategies to drive operations and sales objectives.

Additionally, Wall served as the Business Human Resource Leader and member of the senior leadership team at Cargill for the Starches and Sweeteners business unit, where she was responsible for providing talent management strategy, workforce planning, employee and labor relations and change leadership to enable business-level transformation, coaching and development, and building culture to facilitate achievement of strategic business objectives.   

Wall’s experience also includes Taylor Corporation, where she held roles of increasing responsibility including Vice President of Human Resources; Chubb Insurance Group as an international property and casualty underwriting leader; and Minnesota State University – Mankato as an adjunct professor of business.

Wall earned her MBA focused on leadership, organizational development and finance from the University of St. Thomas – Opus College of Business and her undergraduate – with a double major in marketing and management – from Minnesota State University – Mankato. She holds USC Organizational Design, HCI Workforce Planning and SPHR (senior professional human resources) certifications, a Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter designation and has served as a director on the boards of Lutheran Social Services of Minnesota and Simpson Housing Services.


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