2009-2010 Partnership Council Members

María Alvarez
Nicollet County Social worker

Dr. Rich Beran
Kind Veterinary Clinic, St. Peter

Rich has lived in St. Peter for 17 years and is involved with the St. Peter Ambassadors, St. Peter Lions, and helped arrange for the St. Peter welcome stones!

Alan Bray
Pastor, First Lutheran Church, St. Peter

Alan has lived in St. Peter for 9 years and is involved with the Kiwanis Club, United Way Board, St. Peter Area Ministerial, VINE, Meals on Wheels, and was an election judge, and more. He describes St. Peter as, "a wide variety of people commited to solving problems and sharing resources....St. Peter does this well"!

Amy Jo Bur
Pastor, United Methodist Church, St. Peter

Amy Jo Bur has lived in St. Peter for six years.  She serves on the Chapter and Affiliate Boards of Habitat for Humanity and the Board of the St. Peter Food Shelf.  Amy Jo appreciates the strong sense of community present in St. Peter and the careful attention given to the nurture of children.

Ellen Conover
Community Liaison, St. Peter Schools

Ellen has lived in St. Peter for 28 years and is involved with church, school, and recreational activities. Ellen says that St. Peter has been a changing and caring community since she moved here in the early 1980's. Through natural disasters, changing demographics and 'life', she has experienced the honest caring for St. Peter's citizens and the lovely community in the Minnesota Valley.

Morgen Hagedorn
Gustavus Adolphus College Student

Dr. John M. Lammert
Associate Professor, Gustavus Adolphus College Department of Biology

John has lived in St. Peter for 27 years. He volunteers at the Country Fair, Trinity Lutheran Church, and acts as a judge at the science fair. He thinks that the Rock Bend Festival and the Fourth of July are two unique and special elements of St. Peter.

Rachel Larson
Dean of Students, St. Peter High School

Rachel has lived in St. Peter for two years. Her community involvement includes the Senior Citizen Prom, the Blood Drive, and the National Institute on Media and Family. Rachel thinks that the committed citizens of St. Peter create a rich, warm, and friendly city. Also, she appreciates the number of locally owned businesses in the community.

Ben Leonard
Executive Director, Nicollet County Historical Society

Ben has lived in St. Peter for 5 years and is involved with the Chamber of Commerce, the school board, the Winterfest Committee, the Arts Council, the Heritage Preservation Commission, St. Peter Reads, the Greater Mankato Inter-City Leadership Visit, and the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits. Ben appreciates that St. Peter is a large enough community to have diversity but small enough to be closely knit. He thinks that St. Peter is unique because it has qualified professional and highly educated community members and the progressive mindset to embrace and adopt positive change.

Magdelena Morrow
St. Peter High School Student

Magdalena is involved with the school board, student council, National Honors Society, St. Peter Area Children's Theatre, and other service projects. Maggie likes the history and character unique to St. Peter. She says she likes the close bond of the people of St. Peter young and old and says it is a "friendly and welcoming community."

David Newell
Program Director, Gustavus Adolphus College

Paul Peterson
Principal, St. Peter Middle/High School

Paul and his family have lived in the town of St. Peter for 10 years, and believes this community is a family-friendly environment that is supportive of all levels of learning and life. Paul emphasizes that St. Peter is unique and special because of the value that is placed on partnerships and working together. He is involved in the community as a Board member of the United Way, and is also a member of the St. Peter Rotary Club, where a majority of their community involvement includes having children become active participants in the park and recreation program!!

Jeffrey Rathlef
Director of Community Service and Service Learning

Marilyn Rundell
Acting President, St. Peter Chamber of Commerce

Marilyn has lived in St. Peter for 39 years and is a member of the St. Peter Community Development Corp, VINE Faith in Action, the Nicollet County Advisory Committee, and the Chamber of Commerce. She also volunteers with Meals on Wheels. She appreciates the diversity of people that are present in saint peter. Marilyn thinks that St. Peter is unique because over the years a feeling of concern for residents to have access to more opportunities has evolved.

Kimberly Spriggs
St. Peter City Council

Kimberly is the Regional Marketing Director for Scholarship America and was born and raised in St. Peter. She feels that the St. Peter community offers a feeling of belonging, connecting, and collaborating. In addition to serving on the City Council, Kimberly serves on the Park and Recreation Board, and is involved with the Planning and Zoning Board.

Gretchen Taylor
St. Peter Volunteer Center Coordinator

Gretchen has connections to St. Peter and Gustavus as a recent graduate. Gretchen's community involvement includes working at the St. Peter Recreation Department and helping with fundraising for the United Way.

Jane Timmerman
Director of Saint Peter Recreation & Leisure Services

Dean Wahlund
Director of Communication Services and Special Events, Gustavus Adolphus College

Dean Wahlund has lived in St. Peter for forty-one years.  He works at, as well as attended, Gustavus Adolphus College.  Dean has been a member of the St. Peter Chamber of Commerce for fourteen years, has served on the United Way Board for ten years, and has volunteered for Boy Scouts for 12 years.  Dean has also been a member of School Board Referendum Committees as well as served on a few Mayor Task Forces.

Chenyu Yang
Gustavus Adolphus College Student

Chenyu thinks that St. Peter is a great place to enhance the learning of students and that Gustavus students have a lot of potential to bring into the community. Chenyu describes St. Peter as, "a lovely small town sparkling with opportunities".

Bailey Zallek
St. Peter High School Student

Bailey has lived her entire life in St. Peter and attributes community to a connection between everyone and a feeling of home. She is involved in a variety of school and community activities such as National Honors Society, Student Council, volunteering at the Salvation Army, and a variety of other activities. Bailey appreciates that St. Peter is a very welcoming community.