Community Advisory Councils

Minnesota Public Radio invites the public to its Twin Cities Community Advisory Council and its various Regional Development Advisory Council meetings.

These councils advise the Board of Trustees on the needs of the diverse communities MPR serves and meet in the spring and fall.

Twin Cities Community Advisory Council

The public is invited to Twin Cities Community Advisory Council meetings about MPR stations KNOW, KSJN and KCMP. The advisory council’s spring 2021 meeting will be held virtually because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The meeting is scheduled for April 20, 2021 at 5:30 PM. For more information or if you would like attend the virtual meeting, please contact Ka Vang, Director of Community Engagement and Impact, at 651-290-1395 or kvang@mpr.org.

Current Members include:

  • Marina Balleria

  • Ashley Brennan

  • Elizabeth Bushard

  • George Deliduka

  • Suzanne Donovan

  • Jess Durrant

  • Jack Flynn

  • Anne Gold

  • Nan Hackett

  • Barry Hamill

  • Kristina Hennessy

  • Emily Holtz

  • Anthony Johnson

  • Kari Koehler

  • Matthew Koncar

  • Justin Kwong

  • Alexandra Meyer

  • Kristen McHenry

  • Lynne Moratzka

  • Jo Ann Musumeci

  • Rand Park

  • Molly Pruess

  • Amintha Ratnayake

  • Ellen Roos

  • Paul Wilson

Regional Development Advisory Councils

Minnesota Public Radio has five regional advisory councils to advise the Board of Trustees on various programming issues and concerns in greater Minnesota.

These councils advise the Board of Trustees on the needs of the diverse communities MPR serves. Meetings are held in the spring and fall. The public is invited to these annual meetings.

The Rochester Regional Development Council is comprised of members from the southeastern Minnesota and northeast Iowa listening area and includes the stations KLSE, KZSE, KMSE, KLNI, KLCD, KGAC, KNGA, and KNSE. For more information, please contact Kay Hocker at 507-292-8636 or by e-mail to khocker@mpr.org.

Members include:

  • Sharon VanDeNorth

  • Patricia Barrier, Chair

  • Lynne Kirklin

  • Lou Wagner, Secretary

  • Chuck Lantz

  • Al Lun

  • Allie Good

  • Jolene Hansen

  • Marilyn Harstad

  • Jeff Stevenson

  • Ken Prichett, Vice Chair

  • Natalie Siderius

  • Mitch Stevenson

  • William (Bill) Wimsett

The St. Cloud Regional Development Council is comprised of members from the central and southwestern Minnesota and northeastern South Dakota listening area and includes the stations KSJR, KNSR, KRSU, KNCM, KRSW, and KRSD. For more information, please contact Kay Hocker at 507-292-8636 or by e-mail to khocker@mpr.org.

Members include:

  • Barb Strandemo, Chair

  • Mag Patridge, Vice Chair

  • Joanne Dorsher

  • Patricia Schiffler

  • Jenelle Peters

  • Maryrose Capko

  • Susie Osaki Holm

  • Phil Terry

  • Jen Davis Windsperger, Secretary

  • Daid DeBlieck

  • Michael Hemmesch

  • Dr. Christopher P. Lehman

The Moorhead Regional Development Advisory Council is comprised of members from the northwestern Minnesota listening area and includes the stations KCCM, KCCD, KQMN, KNTN, KRXW, KCMF, and KNWF. For more information, please contact Kristi Booth at 218-752-7001 or by e-mail to kbooth@mpr.org.

Members include:

  • Sara Watson-Curry, Chair

  • Earnest Lamb, Vice Chair

  • Chad Johnson, Secretary

  • Jill Abbott, ex officio

  • Sharon Budge

  • Lisa Cook

  • Bruce Gerhardson

  • Laetitia Hellerud

  • Bill Law, ex officio

  • Jay Richardson

  • Peter Schott

  • Dan Svedarsky

  • Cristen Voeltz

  • Marc Zielinski

The Duluth Regional Development Council is comprised of members from the northeastern Minnesota and Houghton, MI listening area and includes the stations WSCD, WSCN, WIRC, WIRR, WIRN, WGRH, WINH, WMLS, WLSN, KZIO, and WGGL. For more information, please contact Maria Isley at 218-673-5005 or by e-mail to misley@mpr.org.

Members include:

  • Mickey Pearson, Chair

  • Peter Jeronimus, Vice Chair

  • Lori Huska, Secretary

  • Barbara McDonald, Ex-Officio (College of St. Scholastica Educational Sponsor Representative)

  • Gia Bellamy

  • Don Davison

  • Betsy Ingram Diver

  • Alan Sparhawk

  • Karen McManus

  • Carl Crawford

  • Karin Kraemer

The Bemidji Regional Development Advisory Council is comprised of members from the north central Minnesota listening area and includes the stations KBPR, KBPN, KCRB, KNBJ, KGRP, and KITF. For more information, please contact Kristi Booth at 218-752-7001 or by e-mail to kbooth@mpr.org.

Members include:

  • Sharon Fruetel, Chair

  • Sue Beck, Vice Chair

  • Leonore Potter, Secretary

  • Kirsten Addison

  • Karen Ford

  • Dale Hadland

  • Megan Hill

  • Michael Hopps

  • Annette Johnson

  • Kari Knudson

  • Scott Merschman

  • Joe Phelps

  • Lisa Wigand

  • Mary Jo Wimmer

The KWRV Regional Development Advisory Council is comprised of members from the Sun Valley, ID listening area. For more information, please contact Maria Isley at 218-673-5005 or by e-mail to misley@mpr.org.

Members include:

  • Tom Heinrich, Chair

  • Pete Smith, Vice Chair

  • Jessica Blake

  • Rae DaVito

  • Carter Hedberg

  • Jim Tallackson

  • Sabina Dana Plasse