Tim and Terri Traudt: Active Citizenship and the Common Good

Aug 22, 2025

Memory of a political assassination leads to a commitment to the common good, Tim and Terri Traudt's increased giving to MPR

Terri Traudt's first vivid memory is tied to radio. "We had a countertop radio in the kitchen, where my mom would listen to it while she cooked. I was a preschooler at the time. My older sister was at school, and my twin brother and sister, who were babies, were napping. My mom and I were making cookies when the announcement of John F. Kennedy's assassination came on the air."

"My mom began to cry. She moved to the kitchen table, put her head in her hands, and sobbed. I had never seen her cry like that before. I felt sad and confused. In hindsight, this moment marked my first awareness of cruelty in the world. To this day, I can't understand why people resort to violence to resolve issues. Perhaps this theme has been a constant in my life; I simply don’t comprehend cruelty and violence."

Terri's lifelong relationship with radio primarily centered around music. "Growing up, I listened to pop music on local and regional stations throughout the day and tuned in to top 40 radio at night. The amplification towers from Chicago and Oklahoma City brought a broader array of music and featured the iconic disc jockey Wolfman Jack, whose broadcasts could be heard nationwide.” As an adult, Terri became a commuter listener. "Initially, I mostly listened to pop radio and classic rock stations but grew tired of the juvenile antics and increasingly crass content from 'shock jocks.' I eventually found myself tuning into MPR, where I felt more informed. Calmer. Smarter."

Terri began her career as a teacher before transitioning into the business sector. With an undergraduate degree in Elementary Education and later a graduate degree in Business Communications, she gained broad experience in business development, corporate sales, marketing, and advertising, first with Northwest Airlines and later Wings Financial.

Tim started his career as a management trainee at Northwestern National Bank of Minneapolis and recently retired as Executive Vice President and Head of Wealth Management for Wells Fargo.

Terri shared, "Tim had just transitioned from a regional position to a national one when my recently widowed mother began to need more help. I took a leave of absence and ultimately decided I needed a fresh start. I pursued further studies in Bioethics, engaged in various projects and volunteer work, and began considering myself retired when Tim retired, which coincided with the pandemic."

Terri's new path emphasizes “being” over “doing.” She reflects, "It's not just about what I want to do; it's about who I want to be. Being an active citizen committed to the greater good is an important aspect of that intent. I have volunteered in various roles, most recently as an after-school homework helper for children who need a little extra assistance. It has been rewarding to return to my educational roots."

Tim and Terri are both engaged in humanitarian efforts. Tim has served on national and international boards for organizations that support vulnerable populations worldwide, including those in East Africa and Ukraine. He explains, "My career was mostly focused on serving the needs of the fortunate, but as I became aware of the fragility of the most vulnerable, my heart shifted towards wanting to make a difference in those lives." Their travels to beautiful regions often devastated by war have been profoundly eye-opening for the Traudts. "I almost cry just thinking about it," Terri said.

Tim and Terri recently increased their support for MPR by enhancing their sustaining member commitment, to now include a significant three-year pledge to MPR's comprehensive campaign. As Terri noted, "The proliferation of misinformation and disinformation in today's changing media environment has been on our radar for several years and is increasingly concerning. And the federal funding cuts to public media are alarming."

Tim added, "We believe in the common good and recognize just how valuable MPR is for both us and the community. MPR offers high-quality programming and a commitment to truth and accuracy."

Terri concluded, "In the past, we preferred to direct our contributions to specific areas of focus. However, when we met with our MPR gift officer, Courtney Danis, this time we decided to let the funds go where they are needed most. We must save the ship."