Staff
Karin Knudsen, she/her Operations Manager
Financial and organizational operations; fundraising; social media strategy, communications & the members’ newsletter; membership; Board and donor relations; grant-writing.
M.A. Anthropology (Linguistics) (Northern Arizona University). With WGM since 2016. Karin has worked with members and volunteers at numerous non-profits in the Twin Cities. Her experience is in exploring communication within organizations.
Betsy Konop, Education Manager
Program strategy, vision, execution, and evaluation; policy development; classroom and equipment management; instructor, visiting artist, and program partner development; audience development; digital marketing and communications; grant writing.
Betsy has over a decade of experience working in the arts, collaborating with colleagues, artists, and community partners on dynamic and creative projects and programs. Her most recent post was with the Portland Art Museum as Education and Public Programs Assistant where she engaged a broad range of visitors on topics that were locally, nationally, and globally relevant. She managed the Museum’s ongoing monthly programs and worked closely with the Associate Director of Education and Public Programs to develop programming and partnerships. Together, they oversaw 120-150 programs serving 18,000 people annually. In her role, she also managed the annual budgeting process and monitored spending for the Education and Public Programs Department.
Paige Tighe, Engagement & Administrative Specialist
Fiber Source Store & in-kind donations, sales marketing and strategy; outreach and education administration.
Paige is an artist and educator with a decade’s worth of administrative experience. She loves to travel and learn about local craft histories. Paige had the opportunity to experience SAORI weaving in Japan a few years ago and can’t wait to go back. She loves weaving on a floor loom and is excited to sell you all the yarn you need (and want) for your next weaving project.
Board of Directors
WGM is a 501c3 nonprofit member organization and is governed by a member-elected board of directors in compliance with charity guidelines set forth by the State of Minnesota Attorney General’s Office. The Board of Directors is elected at the Annual Meeting (May/June). Board terms are two years. The role of President-elect/President/Past President is a three year term with the elected person spending one year in each role.
WGM follows its most recently adopted WGM ByLaws.
WGM Board of Directors, Fiscal Year 2023 (September 1, 2022 through August 31, 2023)
Officers
Lisa Black, President
Retired project manager, pharmaceutical company.
Orton Tofte, President-elect
Production management. Retired. Experienced craftsperson.
Amanda Anderson, Past President, chair of the Nominating Committee
Technologist. MBA, Yale University.
Matthew Schutz, Treasurer, chair of Finance Committee
CPA specializing in not-for-profit accounting, regulation interpretation, and financial reporting.
Deb Jensen, Secretary
Grant reviewer for grants awarded through the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund for the Minnesota State Legislature.
Members at Large
Barbara Daiker, chair of the Development Committee
University administrator; experience in strategic direction and operation alignment.
Dawn Gillette-Kircher
Small business owner and product developer, former vocational college instructor.
Barbara Heath
Fiber artist and educator, retired human resources manager.
Cass Markovich
Former educator, rigid-heddle weaver.
Mary M. Mateer
Ramsey County Public Defender (retired), floor loom weaver.
Joe Rubin
Retired medical oncologist, floor loom weaver, passion for fiber arts.
Dawn Severson
Retired corporate controller and financial analyst.
Linda Soranno
Vice President, Deputy General Counsel at General Mills; Interest in developing ethical organizations.
Beth Varro
Programming & audience relations, membership & data expertise, hand spinner.
Committee Chairs
Heather MacKenzie, Education Committee
MFA in Fiber & Material Studies.