2024 - 2025 Board Volunteers
President
Sandra (Sandy) Feehan sk.feehan@smmpa.org
Sandy is the Human Resources Manager at Southern Minnesota Municipal Power Agency (SMMPA), a wholesale electic utility serving 17 Minnesota municipal utilities. She is responsible for the management, development, implementation, and overall administration of the human resources policies, programs, and functions of the Agency. She also manages and oversees the safety policies and programs.
Sandy started her professional career in 1982 in the accounting department at SMMPA. She attended WInona State University while working and obtained her Bachelor's degree in Accounting from Winona State University and passed the CPA exam in 1988. In 2000, Sandy transitioned to human resources and went on to get a MBA from Cardinal Stritch and her Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) and SHRM-SCP certifications.
She is a current member of the National SHRM Association and the Rochester Human Resources Association.
President-Elect
Jing Han jhan@winona.edu
Jing is currently working as associate professor in College of Business at Winona State University. She teaches, conducts research, and consults in the area of strategic human resource management. She actively works with researchers and managers to identify the best HR practices and policies that help organizations to align their strategies and investment in talents. Her research has been published in a few top journals such as Journal of Organizational Behavior, International Journal of Human Resource management, and Tourism Management Perspectives. Prior to joining the WSU faculty, she was professor at Tilburg University, California State University Fullerton, and she received her Ph.D. in business from Peking University.
Secretary
Elsa Maas elsa_maas@yahoo.com
Elsa obtained her BA in Psychology from Augsburg and completed her Master in Industrial/Organizational Psychology at MN State University Mankato. She is an experienced human resources professional with over 15 years as a HR manager in a generalist capacity, mainly as a one person HR for publicly held corporations in manufacturing organizations like Rochester Medical & HALCON. She has worked with companies with 100-500 people, which she feels is small enough to be nimble and close-knit, yet large enough to offer great benefits to its employees. Elsa is a current member of the National SHRM Association, the Rochester Human Resources Association and has earned both the SPHR and SHRM-SCP certifications. Her outlook is very positive and truly believes people are a company’s best asset and investment.
Treasurer
Paul Peterson ppeterson@thinkbank.com
Paul is a Human Resources Generalist with Think Mutual Bank. In his current role, he is responsible for the administration of benefits and payroll, recruitment, and coordinating Think’s employee wellness program. Prior to Think Bank, Paul worked at Voca Staffing for 3 years as a Senior Recruiter and Account Manager. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Winona State University, he is a current member of the National SHRM Association, and has earned his SHRM-CP certification.
Vice President of Membership
Deb Donahue ddonahue@rpu.org
Deb has been with the City of Rochester for 19 years, originally starting in Human Resources before transitioning to her current role as Manager of Business Services with Rochester Public Utilities in 2008. She oversees the administrative services team, payroll liaison, risk management, staff development and records management activities for the organization. RPU is the largest municipal electric utility and third largest water utility in Minnesota, with approximately 220 employees. Her previous experience included HR Generalist roles with Atlas Van Lines, Wells Fargo and HR Director with Farmland Foods. Deb has a BA in Human Resources Management from Concordia University and is a current member of the National SHRM Association, the Rochester Human Resources Association and has earned her SHRM-SCP certification.
Membership-At-Large Job Description
Diversity and Inclusion Chair
Ryan Paulsen paulsen.ryan@CO.OLMSTED.MN.US
Ryan Paulsen joined the Olmsted County Human Resources team in August 2020 where she performs a variety of human resources duties as an HR Representative supporting several key departments throughout the County. Prior to her time there, she spent five years in Human Resources at the Post Bulletin, two as the Human Resources Manager working alongside leadership to ensure business success. Ryan’s roles have afforded her a wide array of HR experience, while she takes special interest in performance management and diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
Ryan graduated Magna Cum Laude from Iowa State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. She is an HRCI certified professional (PHR) and an active member of several Olmsted County organizational committees.
Diversity and Inclusion Chair Job Description
Program Chair
Cassandra (Cassie) Ray Cassie.Ray@rctc.edu
Cassie obtained her BA in Psychology from Viterbo University in La Crosse, WI. She has experience in various HR roles, Training and Development, and Human Services. In her current position, Cassie focuses on providing training solutions for area businesses. She has over 10 years of experience in building customer relationships across industry sectors as well as working with people of varying abilities. Cassie is passionate about employing people with disabilities and actively participates in SE MN Maxability Task Force.
Certification Chair
Valerie Folk valerie.folk@smart-hr.com
Valerie obtained her BS in Business Administration – Human Resources with a minor Psychology from the University of Wisconsin- River Falls. She has 20 years of HR experience in various HR disciplines as an HR Generalist/Manager including employee relations, benefits, compensation, recruitment and retention, union and labor relations/contract compliance, HR compliance and employment laws. Valerie has been in her current role for 10+ years at Smart-HR, where she focuses on small business HR consulting/guidance and benefits administration including HRIS implementation of benefits. Previously she spent 7 years as an HR Representative at a metal service center with over 300 union and non-union employees at her location. She is PHR certified through the HRCI and a member of the National SHRM Association and the Rochester Human
Resources Association.
She is always eager to learn and broaden her HR knowledge and grow with the industry whether through formal education, hands on experience or learning from those around her.
Certification Chair Job Description
Legislative Chair
Greg Griffiths, Esq. gjg@dunlaplaw.com
Greg is a Shareholder with Dunlap Seeger. Greg is a graduate of Hamline University School of Law, Juris Doctor and a graduate of St. Norbert College, cum laude, with a Bachelor of Arts degree. Greg has served on the Boards of numerous community organizations including Zumbro Valley Health Center, the United Way of Olmsted County, the Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce, Rochester Catholic Schools, Lourdes Foundation, Families First of Southern Minnesota and Channel One Regional Food Bank.
Newsletter Chair
Jen Strand jen@jobshq.com
Jen Strand is a seasoned Recruitment Marketing Consultant at JobsHQ, Forum Communications,
with a career spanning over a decade in the realms of Economic Development, Recruitment, and
Human Resources. As a pivotal figure in the talent acquisition landscape, Jen spearheads
comprehensive employment advertising and branding strategies that link companies with their
ideal candidates across the nation. She currently has clients in 25 states. Recognized as a digital
maven within Forum Communications, she brings a wealth of expertise to the table, shaping
innovative approaches to recruitment in the modern digital age.
Since delving into Economic Development and Recruitment in 2009, Jen's multifaceted role has
extended beyond the corporate sphere. Alongside her recruitment responsibilities, she takes on
the role of managing a business with 40 employees, donning the HR hat for the establishment as
well.
Newsletter Chair Job Description
Website Chair
Chris Robson cdrrules23@gmail.com
Chris started his career in the insurance industry in 2003 and has been strictly in the employee benefits portion of the market. Within the employee benefits portion of the industry, Chris has daily contact with HR professionals and helps to answer questions relating to benefits, labor laws, compensation, and all other aspects of human resources.
Currently, Chris is currently an insurance agent at Spectrum Insurance Group, a property management company that manages the daily operations, finances, HR, and many other aspects of the Valhalla Condominiums complex.
