Mary Helen Franze, Founder/Executive Director. Mary Helen comes to us with experience working in the nonprofit, corporate, and government sectors. She has both a Business Management degree from the University of Montana and Early Childhood/Youth Development degree from Pacific Oaks College in California. She has spent 25 years working and volunteering with youth and possesses ebullient passion for the YEA Corps mission. She has held management positions with Thomson Reuters and techies.com. As a consultant, she advised small organizations and nonprofits on business development/operations. She is an educator and was a Director of Aquatic Park Child Care Center in Berkeley, CA. She was a member of a Service Learning Steering committee at the MN Department of Education (2000-2005), and has lobbied in both the CA and MN legislatures advocating for youth.
Tammie Follett, J.D., MBA, Co-Chair. Tammie has worked for Thomson Reuters for 20 years and currently a Senior Account Manager for MN Law Firms. She has a B.A. from Lawrence University, J.D. from Hamline University School of Law, and a M.B.A from the University of St. Thomas. For over 16 years, Tammie has served as a volunteer attorney for Chrysalis (now Tubman) and has been on the Board of Directors. She also serves on the Advisory Boards for Polish Your Star and The Eschowe Project (ECAG). In her spare time, she teaches Legal Research at Inver Hills Community College, is a Guardian ad Litem for Ramsey County, and enjoys international travel.
Matt Dubbe, AIA, LEED AP,Co-Chair. Matt is an architect, currently with Mead & Hunt, Inc, with over 25 years of experience reconciling the built world and the resultant environmental impacts. Guided by travel experiences and the humility brought on by raising children, Matt strives to create self sustaining worlds that impart firmness, commodity and delight.
Emma Danskin, Strategic Communications. Emma is in account management with News America Marketing, a full-service marketing and promotions company. Previous experience includes working as an Account Manager at the Indiana Daily Student. She recently received her degree in Advertising and Journalism from Indiana University.
Kris Sibik, Secretary and Technology. Kris has worked as a technical project manager for more than ten years in the healthcare and mortgage industries. She has a BA in English from the University of Minnesota and an MBA from the University of St. Thomas. She has served on the board of the Downtown Network for two years as secretary and membership chair.
Zach Robinson, Finance/Green Guru. Zach is an entrepreneur involved with many pursuits. He is the VP for Green Circuit, a renewable energy contractor, and recently helped complete construction on a large Solar Array for Hennepin County. Additionally he serves as COO of eSolarmarket, and a board member for Earth Solar Technologies - a sustainable development corp. and the parent company of esolarmarket which is based out of Indianapolis, IN. Zach is also the VP for Stophouse music group, and record label based out of South Minneapolis. Zach Graduated with highest honors from Indiana University - Purdue University of Indianapolis in December 2006, and grew up in North St. Paul, MN.