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Jennifer Pogatchnik

Vice President, Advancement

A passion for education and non-profit fund development brought Jennifer Pogatchnik to the Minnesota Historical Society in 2019. As Vice President of Advancement, Jennifer is responsible for the strategic direction for the membership, volunteer, and development functions of MNHS. She served as a senior program manager of major gifts and the director of development at MNHS prior to taking on her current role in 2020.

Jennifer’s vast experience includes leading teams, strategy development and execution, moves management, relationship building, solicitation, and stewardship. She is highly trained in building and cultivating lasting relationships with significant experience in transformational giving, principal gifts and planned giving.

Jennifer is a member of the MN Planned Giving Council. Prior to joining MNHS, Jennifer was the Senior Development Officer of Major Gifts at the University of Minnesota and Director of the Annual Fund at Wake Education Partnership. She holds an A.A. from Peace College and a B.A. in Communication Sciences and Disorders from North Carolina State University.

Jennifer Pogatchnik

Divisional leadership team

  • Marais Bjornberg, Senior Director, Capital Planning & Archaeology
  • Mackenson Cange, Senior Director, Technology Services
  • Christine Jones, Senior Director, Experience Development
  • Ben Leonard, Senior Director, Historic Sites & Operations
  • Laura Reller, Senior Director, Integrated Marketing Communications
  • Kimmy Tanaka, Senior Director, Inclusion, Outreach, & Community Engagement

Executive Council

The Executive Council is the Minnesota Historical Society’s governing body.

Officers

  • Thomas M. Forsythe - Minneapolis
    President
  • Krista E. O’Malley - St. Paul
    Vice President and Treasurer
  • Kent Whitworth - White Bear Lake
    Secretary
  • Peter M. Reyes, Jr. - Roseville
    Immediate Past President

Elected members

  • Lisa P. Bayley - Red Wing
  • Ford W. Bell - Wayzata
  • Alicia M. Belton - Minneapolis
  • Sharon Sayles Belton - Minneapolis
  • M. Mitchell Davis - St. Peter
  • Joanell M. Dyrstad - Red Wing
  • Carolyn M. Essig - Sartell
  • Stephanie L. Fehr - Edina
  • Jesse Bethke Gomez - St. Paul
  • Stephanie J.S. Harbott - Crookston
  • Dustin B. Heckman - Two Harbors
  • Elizabeth Driscoll Hlavka - Minneapolis
  • Bridget A. Larson-Lindner - Warroad
  • Linda Brekke Mona - Edina
  • Jennifer J. Murray - Mahtomedi
  • Richard C. Nash - New Prague
  • John Pacheco Jr. - Minneapolis
  • Diana L. Schutter - Mendota Heights
  • Daniel W. Shogren - North Oaks
  • Roger J. Sit - Wayzata
  • Anton S. Treuer - Bemidji
  • John R. Tunheim - Stillwater
  • Noelle P. Turner - Minneapolis
  • Kyle R. Ward - Mankato
  • Gwen N. Westerman - Good Thunder

Ex Officio members

According to state law, Minnesota’s constitutional officers also serve as members of the Executive Council:

  • Julie Blaha, State Auditor
  • Keith Ellison, Attorney General
  • Peggy Flanagan, Lieutenant Governor
  • Steve Simon, Secretary of State
  • Tim Walz, Governor

Emeritus and Honorary Councils

Emeritus Council

The Minnesota Historical Society’s Emeritus Council is an honorific group recognizing and maintaining connection with distinguished former members of the Executive Council. Emeritus Council members are elected to lifelong terms by the Executive Council.

  • Nina M. Archabal+
  • Charles W. Arnason+
  • Annette Atkins+
  • Sharon Avent+
  • Bruce W. Bean+
  • Gretchen U. Beito+
  • Diane Berthel
  • Kathleen Blatz
  • Suzanne Blue
  • Robert Bruininks
  • Barbara E. Burwell
  • Judith S. Corson
  • Grant W. Davis
  • Mark Davis+
  • Michael J. Davis
  • D. Stephen Elliott
  • Richard E. Engebretson
  • Michael B. Farnell
  • Ram Gada+
  • Phyllis Rawls Goff+
  • Dr. William Green+
  • David R. Hakensen
  • James T. Hale
  • MayKao Y. Hang
  • Stanley S. Hubbard
  • Karen A. Humphrey+
  • Ruth S. Huss
  • Lucy R. Jones+
  • Sylvia Kaplan+
  • Dennis L. Lamkin
  • Jean M. Larson
  • Monica Little
  • Elizabeth S. MacMillan+
  • Charles Mahar
  • Susan B. McCarthy
  • William C. Melton+
  • Joseph S. Micallef+
  • Dean M. Nelson
  • Richard H. Nicholson
  • Elizabeth M. Nordlie
  • Peter R. Reis
  • Mark Ritchie
  • Susan Kenny Stevens
  • William R. Stoeri+
  • Edward C. Stringer
  • Bo Thao-Urabe
  • Karen Wilson Thissen
  • Daniel J. Schmechel
  • Missy Staples Thompson
  • Kathy H. Tunheim
  • Benjamin Vander Kooi
  • Eleanor C. Winston
  • Warren J. Zaccaro

Honorary Council

The Minnesota Historical Society’s Honorary Council recognizes individuals who through their good works have given extraordinary service related to the mission of MNHS. Honorary Council nominees are developed by the Executive Council and elected by the membership of MNHS to lifelong terms.

  • Lowell C. Anderson
  • Marvin R. Anderson
  • Nina M. Archabal+
  • Charles W. Arnason+
  • Annette Atkins+
  • Sharon Avent+
  • Bruce W. Bean+
  • Gretchen U. Beito+
  • Ford W. Bell
  • S. K. Dash
  • Mark Davis+
  • Elizabeth S. Driscoll
  • Dennis Dvorak
  • Richard L. Ferrell
  • Michael J. Fox
  • Ram Gada+
  • Phyllis Rawls Goff+
  • Dr. William Green+
  • Karen A. Humphrey+
  • John Huss
  • Ruth Huss+
  • Josie R. Johnson
  • Dr. Maureen Kelly Jonason
  • Lucy R. Jones+
  • Sylvia Kaplan+
  • Colles Larkin
  • Lynn Lohr
  • Robert C. Mack
  • Elizabeth S. MacMillan+
  • Terry McGibbon
  • Peg Meier
  • William C. Melton+
  • Joseph S. Micallef+
  • Richard Moe
  • Stephen Nelson
  • Larry G. Osnes
  • Donald G. Patton
  • Fred Perez
  • Mark Peterson
  • Ramedo J. Saucedo
  • Jeff Savage
  • Barbara W. Sommer
  • William R. Stoeri+
  • Gerald Vizenor
  • Vernell Wabasha
  • Jeanette E. Warner
  • Annette M. Whaley
  • Mary Lethert Wingerd

    + Emeritus and Honorary
    Council Member