Staff

Betsy Konop, Education Manager (she/they)

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 is an avid weaver and new spinner with nearly two decades of arts programming experience. She enjoys collaborating with colleagues, artists, and community partners to build dynamic and creative projects and programs.

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

Guild shop operations; fostering a welcoming environment and experience for visitors, members, and students; equipment rental facilitation; administrative support for programming and operations.

Jasmyn is passionate about crafting! She has experience knitting, spinning, crocheting, sewing, dyeing, and weaving. Before joining the Guild, Jasmyn spent nearly a decade in social work. She also has previous experience in retail and customer relations.

Alicia Wold, Administrative Specialist

Accounts receivable; retail and administrative support; communications support

Alicia brings advanced proficiency with QuickBooks and strong customer service, retail, and operations experience?. She directed of the Guthrie Theater’s costume rental program for fourteen years. State Fair fans will be excited to know that Alicia coordinated volunteers for ReUse Minnesota’s Fair programming. Outside of her work with the Guild, Alicia is a member of Mill City and Saint City Running’s retail team and a coach for their Running Start program.

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.

INFO FOR PROSPECTIVE BOARD MEMBERS

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.

WGM holds our Board election in conjuction with the Guild’s Annual Meeting. Board terms start at the beginning of the fiscal year on September 1 and the appointment is for two years.

For more info about serving on the board, watch a q & a fr0m June 2024: https://youtu.be/GBksAr4iR6M

Interested parties should reach out to Guild staff or any member of the Executive Committee.

WGM Board of Directors, Fiscal Year 2026

The fiscal year runs September 1, 2025 through August 31, 2026.

Officers of the Board

The officers of the Board make up the Executive Committee. In collaboration with senior staff, they form the leadership team of the guild, and guide efforts to fulfill the Mission, Vision, and Strategic Plan.

Cheryl Gunness, Co-chair

Education Administrator with strong background in program, staff, and volunteer management. 1st term, serving through 8/2026.

Erin Vrieze Daniels, Co-Chair

Natalie Reece Shekey, Secretary

U of M Microbiologist-turned-fiber artist

Roberta Zeug Shell, Treasurer

Members at Large

Alla Hale

Andrea Jauli

Barbara Daiker

University administrator; experience in strategic direction and operation alignment.

Brit Kubes

Joseph Rubin

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

Beata Rydeen

Corporate Consumer Research; Personal Coaching and Consulting.

Barb Lehman

Barbara Yarusso

Amy Haben

Paige Tighe