MINNESOTA PUBLIC RADIO - Key Persons


Addison (Tad) Piper

Job Titles:
  • Active Life Trustee
  • Retired Chairman & CEO, Piper Sandler Companies, Inc

Alexandrea Kouame

Job Titles:
  • Development Officer, Institutional Giving
Alexandrea Kouame joined MPR | APM in 2018 with more than 13 years of fundraising and development experience. Alexandrea has most recently served as a fundraising and development consultant and has held development positions at McNally Smith College of Music, Regions Hospital Foundation and the University of Minnesota Medical Foundation. She is a hobby musician and reinforces her passion for music through her board service for She Rock She Rock. Alexandrea lives in South Minneapolis with her husband, Richard, teenaged daughter, Helena, and beautiful red-headed dog, Layla. She enjoys cooking and spending time with her family.

Amalie Steidley

Job Titles:
  • Research Analyst

Andrea Blain


Avital Rabinowitz

Job Titles:
  • Producer, SymphonyCast

Barry Gisser

Job Titles:
  • Named Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer of American Public Media Group
American Public Media Group (APMG), including Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) and American Public Media (APM), announce that Barry Gisser is the organization's new senior vice president and chief financial officer (CFO). Gisser succeeds Morris Goodwin who after eight years significantly increased the value of APMG's endowment and led its investment strategy.

Bill Morelock


Brad Althoff

Job Titles:
  • Director of Development
  • Development
As Director of Development, Brad works to identify and pursue revenue-generating strategies that deepen APMG's relevancy with current and prospective donors and reinforce its stronghold as a leader in public media. Prior to this role, Brad held leadership roles and positions in National Classical Programs at APMG since joining in 2001. He was instrumental in APMG's efforts to diversify its programming and connecting audiences with experiences that surprise and delight them. His portfolio includes: The live American broadcasts of Last Night of the BBC Proms, The Minnesota Orchestra from Havana, Cuba, and Soweto, South Africa, and winning both a Gabriel Award and NY Radio Festival Award. Throughout his roles, Brad has driven collaboration to operationalize strategies across APMG. He previously served on the board of directors for The Twin Cities American Guild for Organists, a community of musicians who provide knowledge and inspire passion for the organ. He also served on the Board of Directors for the Copper Street Brass Quintet. Brad received his bachelor's degree from the University of Minnesota and a master's degree in Music from Westminster Choir College. He is a classically trained pianist/organist.

Brooke Knoll

Job Titles:
  • Assistant Digital Producer for Classical Music

Bryan Phillips

Job Titles:
  • Trustee
  • SVP, General Counsel & Secretary, Chief Compliance Officer, Inspire Medical Systems, Inc. ( 2021 )

Carmen Rodriguez Johnson

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Leadership Team
  • Senior Vice President Audience Dev & Chief Marketing Officer
  • Senior Vice President, Audience Development & Chief Marketing Officer

Chandra Kavati

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Leadership Team
  • Senior Vice President, Chief Partnerships & Revenue Officer
In 2022, Kavati was named Senior Vice President, Chief Partnerships & Revenue Officer. Prior to that, Kavati served as Vice President, Underwriting and Distribution & Chief Revenue Officer for American Public Media, following her work as the managing director of development strategy and operations for Minnesota Public Radio where she led operations for the philanthropic development division. Kavati has 20 years' of experience in development, marketing, and operations with nonprofits, fostering innovation and building strong relationships, strategies and systems. Kavati has a Bachelor of Arts in literature and creative writing from Harvard University, and a Masters of Liberal Studies degree in innovation and creative writing from the University of Minnesota.

Charlotte Smith

Job Titles:
  • Major and Planned Giving Officer

Chloe Medrano

Job Titles:
  • Individual Giving Manager

Christine Phelps - CHRO, SVP

Job Titles:
  • Chief Human Resources Officer
  • Member of the Leadership Team
  • Senior Vice President

Claire Utecht

Job Titles:
  • Associate Producer, Classical

Daniel Nass

Job Titles:
  • Associate Producer, Classical

Dr Kenneth Holmen

Job Titles:
  • Trustee
  • President & CEO, CentraCare Health ( 2018 )

Drew Murphy

Job Titles:
  • Trustee
  • Senior Vice President, Strategy & Corporate Development, Edison International ( 2020 )

Duchesne Drew - President

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Leadership Team
  • President
  • Senior Vice President of American Public Media Group
Duchesne Drew is Senior Vice President of American Public Media Group and President of Minnesota Public Radio. In this role, he leads the teams that produce MPR News, The Current, APM Reports and Marketplace. Additionally, he oversees YourClassical MPR as a part of Minnesota Public Radio. Drew came to American Public Media Group from the Bush Foundation, where he led the foundation's leadership programs, community innovation and communication teams and built networks across the region as its Community Network vice president. Prior to his role at Bush Foundation, Drew was managing editor of operations at the Star Tribune, where he began as a summer intern and rose to one of the most senior roles in the newsroom. In 2019, he was honored with the Widening the Circle Award by ThreeSixty Journalism, recognizing individuals who have contributed to the next generation of journalists, particularly while promoting inclusion and diversity. And in 2021, he was inducted into the Hall of Achievement at Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism.

Eleanor Beaird

Job Titles:
  • Donor Engagement Specialist

Elena See


Elizabeth Warmka

Job Titles:
  • Director of Development Communications and Stewardship

Ellie Pierce

Job Titles:
  • Communications Manager
  • Communications Manager, 651 - 290 - 1233

Emily Kittleson

Job Titles:
  • National Fundraising Manager

Emily Swanson

Job Titles:
  • Development Communications Manager

Enrique Olivarez

Job Titles:
  • Interim Director, Institutional Giving

Erik Jacobson

Job Titles:
  • Major and Planned Giving Officer

Evan Clark

Job Titles:
  • Technical Director, Performance Today

Fred Child

Job Titles:
  • Host, Performance Today

Heather Riddle - SVP

Job Titles:
  • Chief Development Officer
  • Member of the Leadership Team
  • Senior Vice President

Herb Scannell

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Leadership Team
  • President, SCPR

Holly Nixon

Job Titles:
  • Major and Planned Giving Officer

Ian Friendly

Job Titles:
  • Active Life Trustee
  • Retired COO, General Mills

Ivan Fong

Job Titles:
  • Trustee
  • Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary, Medtronic ( 2014 )

Jay Tacke Peterson

Job Titles:
  • Institutional Giving Officer

Jean Taylor - CEO, President

Job Titles:
  • CEO
  • Member of the Board of Trustees
  • Member of the Leadership Team
  • President
  • President of the Board
  • Trustee
  • President & CEO, American Public Media Group
  • President & CEO, American Public Media Group ( 2013 )
Jean Taylor, President and CEO, American Public Media Group, is also a member of the Board of Trustees. jtaylor@americanpublicmedia.org

Jeannine Befidi

Job Titles:
  • Trustee
  • Vice President, Global Employee Communications, Ceridian ( 2021 )

Jeff Esworthy


Jeffrey Yelverton

Job Titles:
  • Digital Producer, Classical

Jennifer Allen

Job Titles:
  • Associate
  • Music Director

Jim Dwyer - Chairman

Job Titles:
  • Chairman of the Board
  • Trustee
  • Chairman of the Board, 8th Ave Food & Provisions ( 2013 )

Jodi Gustafson

Job Titles:
  • Administrative Assistant, Classical

Joe Goetz

Job Titles:
  • Classical Music Director for Classical Minnesota Public Radio and American Public Media

Joel Marshall

Job Titles:
  • Individual Giving Coordinator, Marketplac

John Birge


Jon Gohman

Job Titles:
  • Associate Producer, Performance Today

Jon Sklaroff

Job Titles:
  • National Fundraising Manager

Jon White

Job Titles:
  • Manager, Donor Research

Jonah Van Why

Job Titles:
  • Major and Planned Giving Officer

Jonathan Low

Job Titles:
  • Trustee
  • Predictiv Consulting

Julian Green

Job Titles:
  • Director
Julian Green has been named Content Director for The Current's Urban Alternative Project, a new initiative from Minnesota Public Radio's The Current, KMOJ and The ICE.

Julie Amacher

Job Titles:
  • Program Director, Classical Minnesota Public Radio, and Manager, C24

Julie Causey

Job Titles:
  • Trustee
  • Chairman Emeritus, Western Bank ( 2017 )

Kandace Heck

Job Titles:
  • Trustee
  • Executive Vice President & Chief Audit Executive, U.S. Bank ( 2020 )

Karen Richard

Job Titles:
  • Trustee
  • Member of Its Board of Trustees
  • Senior Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer, Andersen Corporation ( 2022 )
Minnesota Public Radio has elected Karen Richard as the newest member of its Board of Trustees. Richard is the Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer at Andersen Corporation.

Katelin Richter Davis

Job Titles:
  • Director of Development

Kathleen Bradbury

Job Titles:
  • Associate Producer, Script Writer, Performance Today

Katie Condon

Job Titles:
  • Education Specialist, Classical

Kristen Swanson

Job Titles:
  • Development Officer, Institutional Giving

Kristin Makholm

Job Titles:
  • Major and Planned Giving Officer

Laura Nichols-Endres

Job Titles:
  • Director, Major Individual Giving & Development Operations

Libby Hlavka

Job Titles:
  • Trustee
  • President, Driscoll Foundation ( 2017 )

Liwanag Ojala

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Leadership Team
  • Senior Vice President and Chief Transformation Officer

Liz McGonagle

Job Titles:
  • Associate Development Officer, Institutional Giving

Lynne Warfel


Mai Jakubowski

Job Titles:
  • Donor Engagement Specialist

Mandy Tuong

Job Titles:
  • Trustee
  • President & CEO, Thrivent Charitable Impact & Investing ( 2021 )

Marty Brueggeman

Job Titles:
  • Development Assistant

Mary Brainerd

Job Titles:
  • Trustee
  • Vice Chair of the Board

Meghann Oglesby

Job Titles:
  • Producer, Performance Today

Melissa Ousley


Michael Barone


Michael Lewis

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Leadership Team
  • Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Chief Corporate Development Officer for American Public Media Group

Michael Palmer

Job Titles:
  • Treasurer of the Board
  • Trustee
  • Retired President, Winslow Capital ( 2021 )

Mike Reszler - Chief Strategy Officer, SVP

Job Titles:
  • Chief Strategy Officer
  • Member of the Leadership Team
  • Senior Vice President

Mindy Ratner


Morris Goodwin - CFO, SVP

Job Titles:
  • Chief Financial Officer
  • Member of the Leadership Team
  • Senior Vice President

Nick Kereakos - CTO, SVP

Job Titles:
  • Chief Technology Officer
  • Member of the Leadership Team
  • Senior Vice President
  • Senior Vice President & Chief Technology Officer for American Public Media Group

Nii-Ayite Quaye

Job Titles:
  • Trustee
  • Vice President, Vermilion Group, M.a. Mortensen ( 2016 )

Patricia S Simmons

Job Titles:
  • Trustee
  • Executive, and Trustee Emeritus, Mayo Clinic ( 2014 )

Rachel Everett

Job Titles:
  • Stewardship Manager

Randall J Hogan

Job Titles:
  • Active Life Trustee

Randy Salas

Job Titles:
  • Senior Digital Producer

Rebecca Brown

Job Titles:
  • Donor Relations Manager

Rick King

Job Titles:
  • Officer of the Board
  • Second Vice Chair
  • Trustee
  • Retired Executive, Thomson Reuters ( 2011 )

Scott Blankenship


Sid Gandhi

Job Titles:
  • Trustee
  • SVP, Employee Benefits Solutions, Securian Financial Group ( 2019 )

Sima Griffith

Job Titles:
  • Secretary of the Board
  • Trustee
  • Managing Principal, Aethlon Capital LLC ( 2017 )

Steve Seel


Steve Staruch


Steven M Rothschild

Job Titles:
  • Active Life Trustee
  • Founder & Chair Emeritus, Twin Cites Rise

Susan Boren King

Job Titles:
  • Active Life Trustee
  • Retired Partner, Spencer Stuart

Suzanne Schaffer

Job Titles:
  • Senior Producer, Performance Today

Suzi Kim Scott - CCO

Job Titles:
  • Communications Director
  • Communications Director, 651 - 290 - 1125
  • Media Inquiries Only, Please

Tsering Yangchen

Job Titles:
  • Executive Communications and Public Relations Manager, 651 - 290 - 1340
  • Manager, Executive Communications and Public Relations

Tyler Gardin

Job Titles:
  • Music Logger, Performance Today

Valerie Kahler


Vivek Agrawal

Job Titles:
  • Trustee
  • Senior Partner, McKinsey & Co. ( 2019 )

Ward Jacobson


Wendy Bennett

Job Titles:
  • Trustee
  • Consultant to Foundations in Global Health ( 2015 )

William H Kling

Job Titles:
  • President Emeritus
Minnesota Public Radio Board of Trustee meetings and Advisory Council meetings are open to the public. Find schedules for specific dates, times and locations for advisory council meetings. All board and committee meetings are held at The Kling Public Media Center, 480 Cedar Street in St Paul.