Staff

Karin Knudsen, Operations Manager (she/her)

Financial and organizational operations; fundraising; social media, 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.

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.

Jasmyn Hinton, Retail & Administrative Specialist (she/they)

Guild Store, administrative support for programming and operations.

Passionate about crafting, including knitting, spinning, crochet, sewing, dyeing, and weaving (though a beginner!). Social work background, with experience in retail and customer relations.

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.

Interested in joining WGM’s Board?

We are searching for the following roles for next fiscal year (FY25)
  • Co-President, one year term
  • Co-President, two year term
  • Secretary, two year term
  • Member At Large, two to three available slots, two year term
The Co-President(s) role was developed as the WGM new Board leadership model, replacing the prior President-Elect/President/Past President three year term. This change takes effect with the Fiscal Year 2025 Board beginning September 1, 2024.
To create staggered terms, we are searching for a Co-President to serve a one-year cyle, and a Co-President to serve the full two-year term. The Co-Presidents lead Board meetings, lead the Executive Committee (Board officers), and collaborate with and oversee staff.
The Secretary is responsible for the meeting minutes, validating election results, serving meeting notices and maintaing the Board records for the organization.
The Member-At-Large role attends all Board meetings and takes an active role in supporting the organization through committment to Board projects, guild activities, and overall fiscal responsibility.
WGM aims to have Board members with a variety of professional experience, expertise in the arts of the guild, and with passion and engergy to support its annual goals. Having a broad representation of the interests of members is critical to the Guild’s success.

INFO FOR PROSPECTIVE BOARD MEMBERS

Watch a q & a with FY24 board members for more info: https://youtu.be/GBksAr4iR6M

Fill out a short interest form to let us know your qualifications and interests: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScnjWeYPtPmfrWx_w5y8whZZlYLpGRNSX1UIxj9ylXyr_2rRA/viewform

WGM Board of Directors, Fiscal Year 2024 (September 1, 2023 through August 31, 2024)

Officers

Lisa Black, Past President, chair of the Nominating Committee

Retired project manager, pharmaceutical company.

Aimee Gillespie, Treasurer, chair of Finance Committee

Masters, Humphry School of Public Affairs  (University of Minnesota)

Members at Large

Amanda Anderson

Technologist. MBA, Yale University.

Barbara Daiker

University administrator; experience in strategic direction and operation alignment.

Mary M. Mateer

Ramsey County Public Defender (retired), floor loom weaver.

Joe Rubin

Retired medical oncologist, floor loom weaver, passion for fiber arts.

Beata Rydeen

Corporate Consumer Research; Personal Coaching and Consulting

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.