Strong Leadership
Dakota County Technical College (DCTC) founded the Institute for Business, Innovation & Entrepreneurship to be a catalyst for small business development in the south metro region.
Our advisory board consists of seasoned entrepreneurs and community leaders with the experience and connections to business and industry to keep the Institute's programming on track with the needs of Dakota County and the south metro.
Les LaMotte
Founder XtraLite Display Systems & Heaven’s Eyes Records.
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Edward Kearney
President of the Apple Valley Chamber of Commerce.
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Ruthe Batulis
President, Northern Dakota County Chamber of Commerce.
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Dan Hanlon
Founder, Union Hill Ventures
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Andy Amoroso
Business Development Specialist, US Small Business Administration
Andy is a Business Development Specialist for the U.S. Small Business Administration. His position involves many facets that bring new challenges each day, from marketing to explaining finance programs to networking with resource partners. Amoroso holds a bachelor's degree in Business Administration and is very involved with his community. He is active in his church, the Burnsville Athletic Club, and with the Burnsville High School Boys Basketball Booster Club. Amoroso resides in Burnsville with his wife and has two college-aged sons.
David M. Anderson
Founder and President - Anderson Law Office
David M. Anderson has been founder and president of Anderson Law Office since he opened the doors in October of 1989. Anderson received his bachelor's degree from St. Olaf College, graduating cum laude, and his law degree from the William Mitchell College of Law. He is very active in civic affairs, is a nationally published author in Entrepreneur magazine ("Seven Deadly Sins of Start-Ups"), and is fluent in Norwegian and German. Anderson was chairman of the legal committee for the Minnesota Multi-Housing Association, serves on the Board of Advisors for the ITT Technical Institute in Eden Prairie, is a Business Advisory Member for Eden Prairie Public Schools, and is a former member of the Board of Governors of the Minnesota Bar Association. Anderson is also a jazz pianist, a husband and father of two children.
Dave Anderson
Founder, Bay and Bay Transfer
Anderson and his wife, Lois, began a truck repair business with one other employee in 1982. After starting their business, they attended Dakota County Technical College to receive formal business training through the Business Management & Supervision program. When they purchased Bay & Bay Transfer in 1988, they had six trucks. Today, they operate three terminals with 250 trucks. In 2004, Anderson was the recipient of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award in the Master Category and in 2005, received the DCTC Distinguished Alumni Award. He has served as the gambling manager for the Apple Valley American Legion Post 1776 for 29 years, through which more than $300,000 has been donated to the local community for veteran's programs, children and youth programs, and scholarships. Anderson has also been a professional walleye fisherman for 16 years, winning a qualifying tournament on Cass Lake in 2004.
Lois Anderson
Founder, Bay and Bay Transfer
Lois Anderson and her husband, Dave, own and operate their trucking business specializing in the transportation of dry bulk & dry freight products. They began with six trucks in 1988. Today, they operate three terminals with 250 trucks running throughout the United States and Canada. Lois Anderson is a graduate of the Business Management & Supervision program at Dakota County Technical College. In 2004, Anderson received the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award in the Master Category. She was also recently the recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award from DCTC.
Ben Coons
President and CEO of Advanced Wireless
Ben Coons has been selling and servicing two-way radio equipment and operating cellular stores in the Twin Cities since 1992. Coons received a two-year college equivalency through the Armed Forces Institute while active with the United States Navy. He serves as director for the Lakeville Chamber of Commerce, was past director for the Council of Independent Communications Suppliers, and past District Commander of the United States Power Squadrons District 10. Coons holds a commercial pilots license with multi-engine and instrument privileges and holds flight and ground instructor ratings. In the Navy, he flew as an anti-submarine air crewman, flying off two aircraft carriers. In November 2005, Coons will join Governor Tim Pawlenty's trade mission to China.
Richard P. Daly
President - Consatech, Inc.
Rich Daly's company, Consatech, is a management consulting and investment firm founded in 1986, specializing in emerging companies, particularly in the computer software and services industry. Daly received bachelor's degrees in Engineering and Business, as well as an MBA from the University of Minnesota. Over the past 18 years, he has served as a business advisor to more than 200 computer software and service companies, has been the founder of 10, and serves for many on the boards of directors. Beginning in 1988, Daly played a very active role in building the Minnesota Software Association, and in 1993, he incorporated the Software Technology Center. In 1998, these were merged with the Minnesota High Tech Council to form the Minnesota High Tech Association. Daly is also a lifetime member of the University of Minnesota Alumni Association, former officer and director of the Institute of Technology Alumni Society, and is involved with mentoring activities at the Carlson School of Management.
Kathy Funston
Administrator - ISD 196 (Rosemount - Apple Valley - Eagan)
Kathy Funston is an administrator for ISD 196. She holds a bachelor's degree in French and Education, a master's of Education in Educational Leadership and Secondary Principalship, is an Education Specialist in School Leadership, and has a Doctor of Education Instructional Leadership. Funston has served on the School-to-Work Board and the In-School Task Force and has been part of the Dakota County Business Education Partnership. She has also been a keynote speaker for state education associations' educational initiatives in career development and curriculum implementation. At home, Funston has a husband, James, and a daughter, Keeley.
Sue Gonyea
Real Estate Investor and Owner - Gonyea Properties
Sue Gonyea is a real estate investor. She started her company, Gonyea Properties, Inc., six years ago and refurbishes about 10 homes yearly. Gonyea holds a bachelor's degree in elementary education and a master's in experiential education. Gonyea is very involved with the community, mainly doing volunteer work with the homeless. Additionally, she is involved with the Brain Injury Association of Minnesota. Having previously been a teacher in the Minneapolis school district, Gonyea and her husband, Jason, find it very important to be involved with inner city children by providing them with educational and work-related opportunities.
Mary Hamann-Roland
Mayor - Apple Valley
Mary Hamann-Roland was elected to a four-year term in 1998, and re-elected in 2002. She has served six years on the Apple Valley school board and is involved in numerous national and state municipal organizations, multiple regional policy organizations, a variety of school-related committees, and many other civic committees. Hamann-Roland is dedicated to the Building Quality Communities initiative and has spent her civic career fostering partnerships among individuals, communities, and organizations. Among other successful collaborations, she was instrumental in the creation of the nationally renowned School of Environmental Studies. She is also active in the city's efforts to create an urban village environment that will better serve the entire region into the future and supported the incorporation of green architecture into the city's municipal center.
Chris Holtan
Vice President, Lancet Software
In 1997, Chris Holtan founded Lancet Software Development, Inc., an Internet development and business intelligence consulting firm. With their partners, they have successfully deployed dozens of web-based business development projects. The business offers a unique culture made up of enthusiastic and dedicated people, a methodology for repeatable success, value beyond mere contract programming, a proven track record of web development, and consultants with an average of 15 years experience. Lancet Software Development Inc. was the recipient of the Principal Financial Group's 10 Best Companies for Employee Financial Security, which recognizes growing companies of between five and 1,000 employees that excel at contributing to their employees' financial benefits programs. Holtan has served on the board for the Executive Women's Golf Association Charlotte, NC, chapter for a few years as membership and communications chairs.Holtan holds bachelor's degrees in theatre and computer science from Augsburg College.
Gary L. Huusko
Patent Attorney - Severson, Sheldon, Dougherty & Molenda, PA
Gary Huusko specializes in intellectual property law, copyrights and intellectual property licensing, and all areas of corporate transactional work. He received his J.D. from the William Mitchell College of Law, and a bachelor's degree in Political Science from the University of Minnesota, Duluth. Huusko has been involved with a number civic affairs and professional organizations, including serving on the Boards of Directors of the Apple Valley and Northern Dakota County Chambers of Commerce and as chair for the Apple Valley Chamber of Commerce 2005 Grand Cabaret committee, raising a record amount for the Chamber. He is currently a member of the Eagan Rotary Club and has also served as the president of the Apple Valley Rotary Club, receiving a district Overall Club Excellence Award, New Growth Award for membership, and the Rotary International Distinguished Service Citation for Polio Plus efforts.
Tod Jelinski
Vice President/Business Banking Manager, Wells Fargo Bank
Tod Jelinski has been with Wells Fargo for 18 years. In his position, he provides financing, as well as banking products and services, to privately held companies and non-profit organizations in the Twin Cities area. Jelinski has a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the University of St. Thomas and is active in his church in Burnsville. Jelinski lives in Apple Valley with his wife of 19 years, Allyson, and their two children.
Steve Johnson
Founder, Zumbrota Ford, Inc.
Steve Johnson opened the doors to Zumbrota Ford in April 1999. He has more than 33 years of auto sales experience, 17 years working as an auto dealer, and a year of sales and management study at Granite Falls AVTI. Johnson is past director of the Minnesota Auto Dealers Association and the past director and president of the Northland Ford Dealers Association. Johnson has been involved with Rotary Club for 16 years, helping to found the Zumbrota Club, of which he is currently president. He also serves on the board of the Zumbrota Care Center. At home, Johnson has a wife, Colleen, and two college-aged daughters, Kristin & Kelly.
Francois Paradeise
General Manager, Tejas Restaurant
Francois Paradeise is general manager of Tejas Restaurant in Edina, and has opened up many other restaurants across the country. A native of France, Paradeise holds a French Baccalaureate and was a student for three years at a French medical school. Paradeise serves on the board of the Apple Valley Chamber of Commerce and of the Apple Valley Rotary Club. He is a member of the Minnesota Restaurant Association and the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.
Bill Raker
President and CEO - US Federal Credit Union, Burnsville
Bill Raker's credit union experience spans 36 years, beginning with his involvement in the country's first student credit union, for which he was named "Credit Union Man of the Year" by the Kentucky Credit Union League. He earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in Mathematics from Eastern Kentucky University, has done additional graduate work at several other universities, and is a graduate of CUNA School at University of Wisconsin, Madison. Raker holds the distinction of being a 'Kentucky Colonel', the highest honor bestowed by the state, is chairman of the Minnesota Credit Union Network, has served as a credit union representative for the People to People Ambassador delegation to Australia and New Zealand, and serves in various capacities for a number of other organizations.
Carin Thomas
Wealth Managment Advisor, Merril Lynch
Carin Thomas has been helping people in the Twin Cities build their wealth and meet their financial goals for more than 10 years. She began her career with US Bank and Wells Fargo in 1985. Thomas moved to Merrill Lynch, where since 1995, she has been a Certified Financial Manager, Certified Investment Manager Consultant, Wealth Management Advisor, and Vice President. Thomas received her bachelor's degree in Economics from Gustavus Adolphus College, received her Certified Financial manager level in 2000, and her Certified Investment Management Consultant designation in 2003. She is extremely active in her community, serving for a number of organizations,including the Lakeville Rotary Foundation and the City of Lakeville Task Force for an Athletic Complex. Thomas lives in Lakeville with her husband, Russ, and their two boys.
Robert Price
Executive Director- National Center for Social Entrepreneurs
Bob Price is the retired CEO and Chairman of Control Data. Mr. Price led Control Data's strategic move from hardware into information and systems integration services, principally through the start-up and growth of small subsidiary companies. He retired in May 1990 after 29 years with Control Data.
In 1985 Price led a consortium of corporations and individuals in the founding of the National Center for Social Entrepreneurs (NCSE). The Center's mission is to encourage entrepreneurship throughout the non-profit sector, and to help individual not profits create or expand social purpose business ventures.
Price has had a long-standing involvement in education as an educator himself, as a businessman and as a consultant to education at the elementary, secondary, under-graduate and graduate levels. He has taught in the Fuqua School of Business, Duke University for 15 years, and currently is an Adjunct Professor in the Pratt School of Engineering at Duke.