Meet our Board of Directors.
The BLAEDC Board of Directors is comprised of business and community leaders who volunteer their time and expertise to improve the economic conditions of the area and create jobs for area residents. Their collective experiences and knowledge guide the organization.
Mike Larson
Board President
Senior Vice President of Operations, Essentia Health
Mike Dillon
Board Vice President
President, Lexington Mfg.
Jim Haakonson
CPA, Board Secretary/Treasurer
Principal, CliftonLarsonAllen
Tom Haglin
Past Board President
Owner and President, LINDAR Corp.
Owner and CEO, Avantech
Janelle Riley
Past Board President
Co-Owner and President of Syvantis Technologies, Inc.
Terry McFarlin
President and CEO, Anderson Brothers Construction
Julie Anderholm
Anderholm Consulting
Karlo Goerges
Past Board President
CEO of Pequot Tool and Mfg., Inc.
John Ohlin
President and CEO of Deerwood Bank
Directors Emeritus
Several individuals in the Brainerd Lakes Area have dedicated time and resources to BLAEDC. Some of these individuals have gone above and beyond and have been recognized as director emeritus members.
Kevin Close
Owner/ Broker of Close Converse Commercial & Preferred Properties
Member of Upper-Midwest CCIM organization (Certified Commercial Investment Member)
Served on the Brainerd Lakes Area Community Foundation and Kinship Partners
Charles (Chuck) D. Albrecht
President/CEO at Mid-Minnesota Federal Credit Union
Secretary/Treasurer for the Minnesota Credit Union Network
Board Chair for Minnesota Christian Broadcasters, Inc.
Board Chair for St. Joseph’s Medical Center and Board Member of Brainerd Lakes Health
Tom Anderson
CEO of Integrated Retirement Initiatives
Former COO at Hunt Technologies, President/COO for Universal Pensions and Executive VP for Bisys
Certified Public Accountant
Served on YMCA, Brainerd Lakes Chamber, and St. Joseph’s Medical Center boards
Arnie Johnson
Owner of Johnson Enterprises LLC
Partner in Lake Country Synergic LLC
Founder and former CEO and chair of Universal Pensions
Founder of BLAEDC and served as President for two years and on its board for two years
Served on the Bremer Bank, College of St. Scholastica, and Central Lakes College Foundation
Paul Lindbloom
Retired President and CEO of Acrometal Companies
Served on St Joseph’s Medical Center, Brainerd Lakes Area Chamber, City of Brainerd EDA. BLAEDC, Kids Voting of Minnesota, Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, Benedictine Health System, Brainerd AVTI Foundation and Bremer Bank Brainerd and the Brainerd Rotary Club.
Kevin Larson
CEO/GM of Consolidated Telecommunications Co.
Board member, St. Joseph’s Medical Center Foundation
Served on Brainerd Lakes Chamber Board of Directors
Former Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Minnesota Telecom Alliance
Angella D. Roby
Controller for Oakridge Homes of Brainerd
Certified Public Accountant
Served on Sunrise Sertoma Club
Served on the Brainerd Lakes Chamber Board of Directors
Conrad Bye
President of Communications Investments, Inc.
Served on Brainerd YMCA, North Central Economic Development, the American Cable Association and Rotary International, and the Nisswa Planning and Zoning Commission
Terry McCollough
Former Publisher of the Brainerd Dispatch
Served on St. Joseph’s Medical Center
Former chairman of Northwest Daily Press Association
Reggie Clow
President and part owner of Clow Stamping Company
Served on Brainerd Lakes Area Chamber
Program chair at Central Lakes College
Jim Kraft
President of Frandsen Bank & Trust
Past president of BLAEDC and the co-founder of the Pequot Lakes Area Development Organization
Timothy Bergin
Principal at Larson Allen, Weishair and Co.
Served on Brainerd Lakes Sunrise Rotary Club, the Junior Rotarian Program, Round Lake Association, and Junior Achievement
Clint Nelson
Real Estate Broker and co-owner of Positive GMAC Real Estate
Past President of BLAEDC
John Newhouse
President of Lakeland Mold Company
Served on Brainerd/Baxter Business Council and Boy Scouts Pine Tree District
Paul Means
Chairman and Director of RiverWood Bank
Served on the Brainerd Family YMCA
Bruce Buxton
Board Past President
Chairman of the Board for Widseth Smith Nolting
Board of Director for the Brainerd Lakes Chambers, Lakes Area Senior Center
Active with East Gull Lake Planning Commission and Susan B Komen for the Cure activities
Served on Boy Scouts of America Pine Tree District and Troop 43, the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, City of Brainerd’s zoning ordinance task force and Northland Arboretum