By Linda Scherer
Staff Writer

There are 24 men and women who were chosen from the Winsted area to participate in the Blandin Foundation’s “Community Leadership Program.”

Since the program’s inception in 1985, the Blandin Community Leadership Program has served over 4,000 leaders from 244 rural Minnesota communities focusing on individual and community change.

One of the reasons Winsted was chosen to participate in the Blandin Community Leadership Program was because of the rapid growth happening in the community.

“We know that with growth comes change and we wanted to help prepare for that. Also, the entrepreneurial spirit of the community,” Becky Adams, Blandin Foundation said.

When the Design Team visited the City of Winsted in 2004 to help plan for the city’s future, one of the recommendations it made to the city was to have a system in place to produce new leadership. It suggested initiating a leadership training program.

It was because of this recommendation that the city applied to the Blandin Foundation to be part of its leadership program and was excited to be accepted. The training began in October 2007. The second part of the training took place the middle of January and a final workshop will be in April.

The leadership skills learned through the Blandin Foundation were tested when the 24 individuals returned home divided into four “Winsted Going Forward” teams with different issues to solve. The teams are working on improving water quality in Winsted Lake, establishing an arts council, providing new opportunities or business for youth and family, and working with Winsted youth to get them more involved in city government.

The following are the 24 Blandin leadership participant responses to some questions asked of each – telling a little bit about themselves, and why they participated in the leadership program. In the majority of the responses, there is a definite pride each of them takes in their community and the need to give back to the community for the benefits they have received.

Meet the Blandin Foundation Community leaders and learn why they participated

Sarah Bisping - Married/single? Engaged to be married in 2008; Resides? Winsted; Occupation? Herald Journal Publishing marketing representative; Education? k-12 at Holy Trinity, BA from Bemidji State University with a major in Mass Communication and a minor in business; Member of organizations? Secretary of the Winsted Chamber; Winsted Airport Commission, Winsted Lake Watershed Association; Why attend? It has helped me become a better listener and communicator in my personal, work and committee life. I am grateful that I was accepted in this program and will take what I have learned and put it towards the city of Winsted’s future.

Deb Boelter - Married/single? Married to Todd Boelter;
Resides? Waverly; Children? Monica, 25, and Matthew, 22; Occupation? Clerk/Treasurer for the City of Winsted; Education? Some college courses in education and public administration; Member of organizations? Winsted Chamber, Board of Trustees member of the Winsted Volunteer Fire Department’s Relief Association; Why attend? to learn the skills to be an effective leader and/or team member for my position as the city clerk-treasurer, the committees I serve on, and any other organizations I am involved with. The people I met and the friendships established were an added bonus.

JoLynn Cafferty - Married/single? Married to Alan; Resides? Winsted; Children? Erin Bobrowske, Jamie Meuleners, and Paige, plus six grandchildren; Occupation? A real estate agent with Edina Realty; Education? Minneapolis School of Business for electronics engineering and St. Cloud Area Vocational School for architectural drafting; Member of organizations? Member of the Park Commission, Winsted Chamber, coordinator for the American Red Cross when they come to Winsted; Why attend? My daughters have grown up in this community and have matured into very special people. I feel a lot of people in this community had a lot to do with their development. I am grateful for the caring community members that contributed this, and now it is my turn to give back.

Jeff Campbell - Married/Single? Married to Michelle; Resides? Winsted; Children? Madison, 4; Occupation? A past Winsted business owner and now realtor at IBR Realty. Member of what organizations? Vice President of the Winsted Chamber, chair of the Winsted Chapter Ducks Unlimited, Higher Ground Music Festival sponsor chair; Why attend? To increase my knowledge on how to keep Winsted a progressive community.

Tim Dahl - Married/single? Married to Kate and have a baby on the way at the end of February; Resides? Lester Prairie; Occupation? Works for State Farm Insurance as a financial services representative; Education? Holy Trinity graduate and attended Ridgewater College, Hutchinson, Southwest State University Marshall; Member of what organizations? Winsted Area Chamber of Commerce; Why attend? Because the program helps leaders become better. Leadership is very important, and this program is designed to help people and communities work together to become a better place to live, work, and play. If I can help make a difference, then it is worth every minute of my time.

Marvin Ebensperger - Married/single? Married to Marnie; Children? Bradley, 26, Rebecca, 23; Resides? Winsted; Occupation? Instructor at Holy Trinity High School; Education? Bachelor of Science in Education (mathematics and chemistry) University of Wisconsin, River Falls; Member of organizations? Winsted Planning Commission; Why attend? To develop skills all of us possess to better the community. It allows each individual taking part in the program to become aware of the skills they have to better serve the community in which they live and methods to improve on the skills needed to help in the actions and activities of their community. The community of Winsted has been a great community for giving to its residents, and this is a method of allowing me to give back to the community.

Max Fasching - Married/single? Engaged to be married in 2008; Resides? Winsted; Occupation? A sales representative for Littfin Truss; Education? A Bachelor of Science from St. Cloud State; Member of organizations? A Planning Commission member, the Winsted Lake Association; Why attend? Winsted is really admired by many of our neighboring communities. We are a community that has evolved well beyond our population. The Blandin experience has helped me become a more effective leader, and hopefully I can repay that back to the community.

Nancy Fasching - Married/single? Married to Marc Fasching; Children? Thomas, 2 , and another baby due in March; Resides? Winsted; Occupation? A grants officer at the Southwest Initiative Foundation; Education? A BA from Gustavus Adolphus College; Member of organizations? The Downtown Commission and the Arts Council Task Force; Why attend? This is a great leadership opportunity that allows Winsted to grow and focus its efforts on making the community the best it can be. I have lived in Winsted for seven years and realize that our community has so much to offer. I would like to make all of this and more available to our future generations.

Terry Fasching - Married/single? Married to Julie; Children? Chris, 9, Caroline, 6, Andy, 4, and Ivy, 3; Resides? Waverly; Occupation? Vice President of Security State Bank of Howard Lake; Education? BA in Economics from St. John’s University; Member of Organizations? Higher Ground Music Festival; Why attend? I like the progressive and active community of Winsted. It seems as most small towns are struggling, Winsted continues to bring growth and new opportunities to their residents and those of the surrounding communities.

Julie Guggemos - Married/single? Married to Chip; Children? Lena, 16, Claire, 12, Ellen, 8, Charlie, 3; Reside? Winsted; Occupation? Registered paraplanner for certified financial planner; Education? Attended U of M; Member of organizations? Winsted Chamber, Winsted Library Board, Pioneerland Library Board; Why attend? I feel Winsted is on the verge of something great, and I’d like to be a part of the team helping to determine the direction of Winsted’s future.

Rose Heimerl - Married/single? Single; Children? Roman, 9; Resides? Winsted; Occupation? Account manager at Five Star Direct in Winsted; Education? In the Air Force for a total of 11 years; Member of organizations? Commander of the Lake Mary VFW, Second Vice Commander of the Winsted American Legion, vice president of the Winsted city festival committee, den mother of the Winsted Cub Scouts; Why attend? I believe that Winsted is a wonderful place to live and raise a family. I want to help make a positive impact on the future of Winsted.

Michael Henrich - Married/single? Married to Sue; Children? Samantha and Brandon; Resides? Winsted; Occupation? Police Chief/EMS Director; Member of organizations? Winsted Chamber, Knights of Columbus, McLeod County Chief’s Association, and McLeod County Police and Peace Officer’s Association; Why attend? I went to this training to enhance my leadership skills and to become a better leader and person.

Glenn Hussong - Married/single? Married to Samantha; Children? Isabella, 4, and Gabe, 2; Resides? Glencoe; Education? Two year technical degree in automation. Occupation? Manages Subways in Glencoe, Winsted, Olivia, Hutchinson and also Hussongs Liquor in Winsted; Why attend? I think Winsted has a bright future and I want to be a part of it.

Jim Koch - Married/single? Married to Janet; Children? Jennifer, 24, Jackie, 20, Jason, 17 and a grandson. Resides? Winsted; Occupation? President/CEO of K-Way Express; Education? St. Cloud Technical School for diesel mechanics and classes in small business management.; Member of organizations? Winsted Chamber, Winsted Fire Department; Design Committee for the city center and lake front promenade. Why Attend? With the help of the Blandin Foundation, we can get the tools to make Winsted the best community it can be. Winsted is my home and I want to see it prosper and grow in an organized way.

Erin Kutz - Married/single? Married to Kyle; Resides? Howard Lake; Occupation? Insurance producer at Flagship Insurance and Co-owner of Americas Fitness Center in Winsted and Lester Prairie; Education? Bachelor of Science in Business Management; Member of organizations? Winsted Chamber; Why attend? To learn more about the community and find ways to improve the community and surrounding areas.

Charlotte Laxen - Married/single? Widow of Jim Laxen; Children? Emily and Jeremy, and grandmother; Resides? Winsted; Occupation? professional artist and teacher; Education? Bachelor of Science degree in art education; Member of organizations? A member of the Winsted Chamber and Holy Trinity Parish; Why attend? I believe Winsted is exploring ways it can reach its full potential in meeting the needs of the community, and I believe that I can help with planning this vision for a well rounded community that can keep people wanting to stay here and become involved.

Dale Maus - Married/single? Married to Yvonne; Resides? Winsted; Occupation? Semi-retired; Education? Alexandria Junior College for computer science; Member of organizations: President of the Winsted Summer Festival; Vice President of Winsted Lake Watershed Association, Secretary of St. John’s Lutheran Church Council; Why attend? To improve my ability to function on community organizations and activities, thereby helping Winsted continue to grow and being a healthy community.

Yvonne Maus - Married/single? Married to Dale; Resides? Winsted; Occupation? Coder at Ridgeview Winsted Clinic; Education? Associate degree - Registered Health Information Technician; Member of organizations? Member of the Winsted Lake and Watershed Association and member of the Winsted Chamber. Why attend? I feel this program will help me further develop the skills, knowledge, and relationships needed to build and sustain a healthy Winsted community.

Brett Monson - Married/single? Married to Amy; Children? Eric, 11, and Emily, 8; Resides? Hutchinson, Occupation? Office Manager at Winsted Gentle Dental in Winsted; Member of organizations? Attend Winsted Chamber meetings; Why Attend? Because my boss thought it would benefit me and the community, and that it would be something I would enjoy.

Mary Neff - Married/single? Married to Jim; Resides? Winsted; Children? Carla, Patricia, Brian, Sid and four grandchildren; Occupation? Business manager for Winsted Gentle Dental Care, Director of Linden Wood apartments, financial secretary and deaconess of Harvest Community Church; Member of organizations? Past president of the Winsted Chamber and current member; Why attend? To know more of the emerging leaders of Winsted and also learn more about mentoring.

Cyndi Stifter - Married/single? Single; Children? Eric, 24, Mandi, 21, and Rick, 20; Resides? Winsted; Occupation? Own and manage Curves of Winsted Fitness Center; Education? BA in Psychology; Member of organizations? Winsted Chamber, Wright County 4-H Dairy Advisory Committee: Wright County Dairy Princess Committee; Holy Trinity Alpha group leader; Winstock chairperson of camper parking, Higher Ground chairperson of the prayer tent; Why attend? I have been a member of the Winsted Community for 25 years and believe everyone should give back to the community they live in. All three of my children graduated from HLWW or Holy Trinity, and I am grateful for the education they received. Winsted is a wonderful community with lots of wonderful aspects, but as with any community there is always room for growth. As a resident and new business owner, I feel it is my responsibility to help make this the best community possible in whatever small way I can.

Steve Stotko - Married/single? Married to Nancy; Children? Jamie, Joe, Jeff, and grandchildren; Resides? Winsted; Occupation? A receiving warehouse distribution supervisor for Medallion Cabinetry Waconia and Glencoe; Member of organizations? Mayor of the Winsted City Council; Why attend? This is a great opportunity to build on previously learned skills. It also provides me another avenue in which I can give back to the community.

Michael Thonvold - Married/single? Married to Vicki; Children? Kayla 17 and Taylor 14; Resides? Winsted: Education? Bachelor of Science degree in engineering from St. Cloud State University; Occupation? Maintenance for a medical silicone molding company in Delano; Member of organizations? First Captain of the Winsted Fire Department; President of the Winsted Fire Department Relief Assoc., Lindenwood Apartments board of directors member, Winsted Summer Festival committee member, President of the Winsted Horseshoe League; Why attend? I consider it an honor to be able to serve the Winsted community in a voluntary manner. The Blandin Foundation teaches skills that help our community produce patient and competent community leaders. Winsted as a whole benefits from community leaders who respond to community needs in a way that uses a wide range of diversity. Bringing the different issues that face our community to the fore front is not only healthy, but strengthens us as a community. The resources gained at the Blandin Foundation build upon this.

Lyn Zeppelin - Married/single? Married to Jason; Children? William, Josh, Jason and Jessica; Education? Working on her BA in Business Finance; Member of organization? Women’s Expo Committee, Vice president of the Chamber in 2006, current member of the Winsted Chamber; Why attend? I think it is important to be involved in your community at a young age. Youth need to know what the local government does and how it affects each citizen. I grew up in Winsted and I left thinking Winsted didn’t have anything to offer; but I needed to get involved to see what Winsted is all about. It has been so much fun getting to know everyone again on the Blandin Leaderhip Team. I have been truly blessed by this experience. sign Committee for the city center and lake front promenade. Why Attend? With the help of the Blandin Foundation, we can get the tools to make Winsted the best community it can be. Winsted is my home and I want to see it prosper and grow in an organized way.