Board members work on a variety of committees to oversee the operations, management and planning for the Winona Community Foundation. These committees include: granting, finance and investments, audit, fund development, nominations, personnel, governance, executive, and special purpose funds.
Board of Directors
Chair: Bob Deter
Community Leader
Past Chair: Beau Van Beek
Attorney
Vice Chair: Andrew Guzzo
Merchants Bank
Treasurer: Aaron Young
Great River Shakespeare Festival
Secretary: Kathleen Peterson
Community Leader, retired from WSU
Cheri Eddy Crigler
Keller Williams Realty
Christopher Gervais
Gervais Wealth Management
Ann Gibson
Whetstone Machinery, Community Leader
Genelle Groh Beck
RTP Company
Amanda Hedlund
Habitat for Humanity – Winona and Fillmore Counties
Denise McDowell
Winona State University
Kevin O’Reilly
Peerless Chain Company
Jerry Papenfuss
Community Leader
Staff
Nancy Brown
President/CEO
[email protected]
507-454-6511
Nancy Brown, CFRE, was appointed the leader of the Winona Community Foundation unanimously by the board of directors in May 2019. She has a B.A. degree from UW-Madison and a M.S. degree in Administration from Notre Dame. She is also a CFRE (Certified Fundraising Executive). Nancy will be guiding the overall operations, growth and expansion of the Foundation. Nancy resides in Trempealeau with her husband. Together they have one adult son who attends the University of Wisconsin—Madison.
Sara Brandon
Finance Director
[email protected]
507-454-6511
Sara Brandon is a Winona native. She earned a B.A. degree in Business Administration from St. Catherine University in St. Paul. Sara is a retired Vice President of Merchants Bank Trust with over 35 years of experience in banking. In her part-time role, her primary responsibility will be the accounting and recordkeeping at the Winona Community Foundation, along with working with agency funds and overseeing investment returns. Sara lives in Winona with her husband and together they have three adult children.
Mandi Olson
Administrative & Marketing Coordinator
[email protected]
507-454-6511
Mandi Olson has worked in Winona for over twelve years in administrative roles at non-profits. She has an A.A.S. degree in Marketing from Western Technical College and a B.B.A. degree in Organization Management from Viterbo University. In her part-time role at the Foundation, she will support internal and external customers and be the point person for marketing. She also serves as the Director of Ready Set School in Winona. Mandi resides in Winona with her husband and two young daughters.