Brainerd, Minn. – The Brainerd Lakes Area Community Foundation (BLACF) recently announced that Kevin Thesing, Laura O’Brien and Jim Haakonson have joined the Board of Directors. The current Board governs BLACF, conducts development activities, approves grant recommendations, and works to engage people, connect resources, and build community. Board members are volunteers and may serve up to three, three-year terms.
Kevin Thesing was born on a very typical family farm in Brainerd Minnesota. He and his 9 siblings learned hard work, honesty and integrity from loving, hard working parents. Kevin had the opportunity to start a Lakes Printing with his significant other, Dorothy Pohlkamp, and three other working partners. They knew that if this community was going to support their business, they would need to support the community. Lakes Printing owners have been quoted many times saying “it seems that God put us in the right place, at the right time, in the right community, for this we will always be thankful”. Lakes Printing is now owned by just Kevin and Dorothy (Dode) and they continue to support the Brainerd Lakes Area. Together they raised 5 incredible children and have 9 amazing Grandchildren.
Laura O’Brien is a dedicated community leader and Human Resources professional, currently working with her family company, Pequot Manufacturing. In her role, she focuses on engagement, development, and strategic growth, striving to cultivate an environment where employees can thrive and contribute their best. As a passionate advocate for community engagement, Laura serves on the Board of the BLACF and holds a role on the board of the Lakes Area United Way, where she works to address the diverse needs of the BLA. Laura holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Organizational Behavior from the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, where she developed a deep understanding of how to connect individuals’ talents with the right growth opportunities. Her passion for empowering others drives her work both professionally and within her community, making her an asset to any initiative she undertakes.
Jim Haakonson is a principal with CliftonLarsonAllen (CLA) with over 25 years of experience, providing assurance, risk management, tax and other advisory services to a variety of privately held businesses and their owners. Jim has a history of community involvement with past board participation with Brainerd Lakes Chamber of Commerce, Kinship Partners, and is currently active with the Brainerd Lakes Area Economic Development Corporation, Brainerd Chamber Government Affairs, Sunrise Sertoma and the Brainerd Lakes Community Foundation. Jim is married to Katie Haakonson, and they have two kids, Drew and Elsie, a junior and a freshman at Brainerd High School and stay very active with both participating in hockey and golf.
Terri Foster, BLACF Executive Director stated, “we are very grateful to all the new, existing and past board members for volunteering and giving of their time, treasure, and talent to support the community foundation and communities within the Lakes Area! They all share a passion and sense of obligation to give back, help others, and help ensure their Lakes Area communities continue to thrive for generations.” Foster noted, “Rene has been instrumental in helping us elevate the Community Foundation and the important impact it can have on the communities we serve as well as co-hosting estate planning workshops to educate residents on the necessity of end-of-life financial and estate planning, all while providing exceptional leadership for the Board during her tenure.”
Outgoing Member and Past Board Chair
After over 6 years of dedicated service on the BLACF Board of Directors, Rene Milner will be leaving our board. Rene A. Millner is an attorney with Breen & Person, Ltd. who moved to the Brainerd Lakes area in 2000. She is a graduate of the William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul, MN who completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Minnesota, Morris. She is passionate about helping people through the maze of the law especially in the areas of estate planning/probate/guardian and conservatorship law/business law. When not working, Rene enjoys spending time with her husband Steve, 27 years and their three children. Grateful for the gifts she has been given, she enjoys being active and giving back to school, community and church.
Addition to Community Foundation Team
Foster is elated to welcome Emma to the team and shares, “Emma brings a big passion for serving others and her values align well with the Foundation’s mission. Her past non-profit experience and spirit, along with a very engaged Board of Directors, will complement and serve BLACF well and continue to positively impact the community –just as we have done for over 26 years.” Emma Ferrie grew up in the Brainerd Lakes Area and learned early on that supporting your community is essential. Following that belief, she went on to study at Minnesota State University Moorhead learning to work with nonprofits in order to support and uplift communities. She has spent the last three years in Bozeman, MT working with nonprofits both professionally and on a volunteer basis, where she learned database management, event coordination, administrative support, and donor stewardship. She is excited to be able to bring these skills back to the Lakes Area as the BLACF’s Donor Relations Coordinator, and to reconnect with the community that began her journey.
The Brainerd Lakes Area Community Foundation (BLACF) attracts and administers charitable funds for the benefit of the Lakes Area. Since 1998, BLACF has grown to over $22.5 million in assets and awarded over $10.6 million in grants to nonprofits. The BLACF is governed by a local board of directors and is a partner of CommunityGiving, which is a collaborative of community foundations united under a single framework to create efficiencies that maximize the impact of our donors. Collectively, CommunityGiving administers over 1,400 funds totaling nearly $250 million in assets. Learn more at CommunityGiving.org/Brainerd.