The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library Confirms Six New Board Members for 2022
SAINT PAUL, MN, January 19, 2022 —The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library has elected six new trustees to its board of directors, effective January 1, 2022. The new members bring a wide range of experience to the organization, from finance to business management.
“Saint Paul Public Library is essential to a thriving city,” says incoming board chair Bridget Manahan. “The contributions of these board members will be crucial as we strengthen the library to help people in Saint Paul learn, discover, and grow together.”
The new members are Jason Bradshaw, Loren Danielson, Tina Hoye, Ahna Minge, Ron R. Richard, and Toccara Stark.
Jason Bradshaw – Bradshaw is President and CEO of The Bradshaw Group, Inc. and has had many roles in the organization since starting at Bradshaw Funeral and Cremation Services in 1998. He has received international recognition for pioneering an environmentally friendly GreenCremation process and is active in various nonprofit boards and community organizations.
Loren Danielson – Danielson is Vice President of Actuarial & Analytics at Travelers in the Business Insurance segment and a resident of Ward 3. He is a credentialed actuary (FCAS) with more than 25 years of experience, a champion of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and an active member of Immanuel Lutheran Church.
Tina Hoye – Hoye is President of NTH, Inc., with more than 30 years of experience in the Twin Cities commercial real estate market. She has served numerous local nonprofit organizations, including holding board chair positions at the St. Paul Area Chamber and Greater Minneapolis BOMA.
Ahna Minge – Minge is an Assistant Commissioner at the State of Minnesota. She has worked for several agencies across state government since 2013 and previously worked in the local government and nonprofit fields. She is an active alumna of Macalester College, where she volunteers on reunion planning and for the Annual Fund.
Ron R. Richard – Richard is Vice President for Nonprofit & Commercial Banking at Bremer Bank. A longtime entrepreneur, Ron has worked in banking for more than 20 years. He also serves on DeLaSalle High School’s Investment Committee, LISC Twin Cities Advisory Board, and City of Minneapolis Development Finance Committee.
Toccara Stark – Stark is Global Marketing and Communications Strategist for 3M. Previously, she held leadership positions at St. Catherine University and Clark College. She is a past board member for Columbia Springs, an environmental learning center in Vancouver, WA and Theatre Pro Rata in Minneapolis.
“This new class continues the legacy of strength and leadership for which The Friends’ board is known. Each of these new members brings exceptional professional expertise, immense passion for the Saint Paul Public Library, and an important voice that will inform and guide our work in the coming years,” says Friends president Beth Burns.
Outgoing members of the board include Richard Carlbom, Paul Dadlez, Roberta Downing, Candace Gislason, Todd Nicholson, Kevin Olson, and James Pearson.
Members are elected to a three-year term, which is renewable for up to three terms. The six new members complete a board roster that includes leaders from throughout Saint Paul and the greater metro area.
About The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library
The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library acts as a catalyst for libraries to strengthen and inspire their communities. An independent, nonprofit organization established in 1945, The Friends invests in the Saint Paul Public Library through fundraising, advocacy, and programming; as a result, our library is a nationally-recognized leader in serving its community. The Friends also serves libraries across the country and internationally through its consulting services, Library Strategies, and promotes literacy, reading, and libraries statewide as the Library of Congress’s designated Minnesota Center for the Book. For more information, contact The Friends at 651-222-3242 or visit thefriends.org.