NEWS RELEASE
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
MINNEAPOLIS PARKS FOUNDATION WELCOMES NEW DIRECTOR-EXTERNAL RELATIONS
Board of Directors also expands with election of Tene Wells, Shawntera Hardy, Sarah Harris and John D. Herman
Minneapolis, Minn. – The Minneapolis Parks Foundation welcomed Janette Aldrich Law this month as the organization’s first Director – External Relations. The position was created to integrate development and communications functions, an advantage for the growing non-profit uniquely dedicated to creating the Next Generation of Parks™, and known for its work on the Minneapolis Riverfront Design Competition, Water Works park, and RiverFirst.
Law joins the Foundation following 10 years as founder and principal of Tableau Productions, LLC., a Minneapolis-based consulting company specializing in public and stakeholder relations. She first worked with the Minneapolis Parks Foundation as a consultant on the Next Generation of Parks™ lecture series in 2010, and again in 2012, in a communications and development capacity. Under Tableau, she continues to manage communications and stakeholder relations for the RiverFirst Initiative, a partnership between the Foundation, the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board and the City of Minneapolis.
“The Minneapolis Parks Foundation is at the forefront of a burgeoning effort to reinvigorate our public places and sense of community through innovative parks design,” says Mary deLaittre, Executive Director of the Foundation. “We are very pleased that Janette has joined our staff, bringing with her extensive experience in stakeholder engagement and a responsive, strategic approach our to work. Supported by our dedicated and enthusiastic Board of Directors, the Foundation is looking forward to implementing multiple projects that benefit the broader community.”
The Foundation has a 20-member Board of Directors, which elected four new members to three-year terms in January. Tene Wells, Principal of Minneapolis-based Tene Wells Consulting, who also served as President of Women Venture for ten years; Shawntera Hardy, Government Relations Manager for HealthPartners and a former City Planner for the City of St. Paul; Sarah Harris, Managing Director of the Real Estate Advisors, University of Minnesota, and until 2012 Chief Operating Officer of the Minneapolis Downtown Improvement District; and John D. Herman, Esq.,Partner with Faegre Baker Daniels in Minneapolis.
The newly-elected Board Members join 16 other community leaders in serving the Foundation: Stuart Ackerberg, CEO, The Ackerberg Group; Mark Addicks, Chief Marketing Officer, General Mills; Daniel Avchen, Board Chair, CEO, HGA Architects and Engineers; Sue Bennett, Community Leader; Robert Bruininks, Professor and President Emeritus, University of Minnesota; Dean Engelmann, Co-owner, Tangletown Gardens; Andre Fischer, President, BPM Show TV, LLC; Tom Fisher, Dean, University of Minnesota – College of Design, Joseph Gibbons, Vice President Financial Advisor, Merrill Lynch Global Wealth Management; Cecily Hines, Community Leader; Wendy Holmes, Secretary, Vice President, Consulting and Resource Development, Artspace Projects, Inc.; Mitch Kern, Vice Chair, Principal, Graylight Partners, LLC, Allen Krug, Director, Customer and Community Affairs, Xcel Energy; Mary McCarthy, Community Leader; Connie Remele, Community Leader; Paul Reyelts, Treasurer, Retired CFO, Valspar Corp.
Ex Officio Board Members representing the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board are John Erwin, President, Board of Commissioners and Jayne Miller, Superintendent.
About the Minneapolis Parks Foundation
The Minneapolis Parks Foundation is focused on the Next Generation of Parks™, with an emphasis on parks design education, innovation and implementation. Since 2010, the Foundation has co-sponsored the globally renowned Minneapolis Riverfront Design Competition, debuted the Next Generation of Parks™ lecture series, and produced a conceptual development plan for Water Works park. This year, the Foundation will expand its impact through collaboration on the RiverFirst Initiative and lecture series, implementation of Phase II of Water Works park, re-introduction of SiteSeeing Design Curriculum, several implementation projects under development.
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MEDIA CONTACT
Louise Mageli
LMageli@MplsParksFoundation.org
612-822-2656