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Board of Directors
Sartell-St. Stephen Education Foundation
Sarah Noble
Board Chair
Sarah Noble is an Associate Advisor at AIS Planning, a wealth management firm in Saint Cloud. She is fueled with a passion for helping women and families create financial security.
Sarah has three children, Alexandra, Katelyn and William. She moved to Sartell specifically in search of a school district with excellent standards in educational programming. She values the mission of the district to develop well-rounded citizens in all aspects. She is excited about the opportunity to impact the district through the work of SSEF.
Sarah also volunteers with the Saint Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce, the Forum of Executive Women, and The Waters Church. She enjoys running, photography and travel.
Lindsey Bosek
Board Member
Lindsey resides in Sartell with her husband Nate and their two daughters Elise & Brooklyn. Together, they lead an active lifestyle, often traveling, golfing, or enjoying time at their cabin. Drawn to Sartell by the positive reputation of its school district, she finds fulfillment in supporting education through involvement in organizations like SSEF. Lindsey is passionate about leveraging both traditional and non-traditional learning methods to positively impact students and educators, aiming to elevate the Sartell-St. Stephen schools to new heights.
Professionally, Lindsey is a business associate at Kensington Bank, where she enjoys the opportunity to foster community connections and build relationships.
Dan Dixon
Board Member
Dan, and his wife Andi, have 2 daughters in the Sartell-St. Stephen School District. They are thankful for the opportunities provided to their children through the school district and are excited to help support the mission of the SSEF. Dan splits his time between being the Pharmacy Manager at Option Care and shuttling his daughters around to various activities
Cindy Fitzthum
Board Member
Cindy is currently the Director of Economic Education and a Social Studies Faculty member at St. Cloud State University. Cindy holds a MA degree in Economic Education and doctorate in Higher Education Administration. She also holds a current Minnesota 5-12 Social Studies teaching license and a K-12 Minnesota Principal/Supt. License.
Cindy and her husband Ryan have three energetic daughters. She enjoys getting lost in a great book, running, spending time with family and friends and traveling. She is excited to support the SSEF family and help create a community of active, engaged students that have the desire to grow and develop into leaders of the future.
Karna Fronden
Board Member
Karna Fronden is currently the Public Relations Manager for CentraCare, helping to elevate the health systems brand and tell important stories through media, social media, marketing and communications.
Karna is looking forward to bringing her skills to further the mission of SSEF. With her father working in education for more than 30 years, Karna is excited for the opportunity to support teachers and advance the district’s ability to help students excel.
She and her husband Joe have two daughters, Liliana and Evelyn, in the Sartell-St. Stephen School District. Karna moved to the area in 2016, seeking a school district for her girls to thrive in. Both girls are involved in a number of activities in Sartell, and love the variety provided to kids of all ages. She loves to golf, wakeboard, snowmobile, boat, travel and is an avid Minnesota sports fan.
Dustin Meier
Board Member
Dustin, and his wife Michelle, have two daughters in the Sartell-St. Stephen School District. Dustin works at Ichor Systems in Sauk Rapids and assists his wife Michelle with their family business, Arbor Hair Studio in Waite Park. Dustin is originally from the small town of St. Peter, MN. He moved to St. Cloud in 2000 to attend St. Cloud State University where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Mass Communication and Graphic Design. Later, he moved to Sartell in 2008 and has been a resident ever since. Since moving to Sartell, he has been eager to help the town grow and do whatever he can to make it the best town in Minnesota.
Dustin loves art, DIY projects, everything outdoors, coaching softball and spending time with his family.
Becca Oelrich
Board Member
Becca is a is a Certified Financial Planner™ at BerganKDV in St. Cloud. In her role, she helps clients reach their goals by continually assessing their risk, insurance, tax, financial planning, investments and estate planning needs.
Becca resides in Sartell with her husband and two children. As her kids have grown, she has loved working with the different teachers and staff in the Sartell-St. Stephen district. She is looking forward to collaborating with the SSEF board in advancing innovative education ideas for all Sartell-St. Stephen students.
Becca also volunteers with the Central Minnesota Estate Planning Council. When she is not working, you can find her spending time with family and friends, reading, playing board and lawn games, watching her kids activities, and spending time at the lake (in the summer!).
Alison Parker
Board Member
Alison Parker and her husband have lived in Sartell for over 12 years, and currently have three children, Anna, Maya, and Samuel in the Sartell-St. Stephen School District. As a family, they have experienced first hand the amazing opportunities available to students in our schools.
She has an undergraduate degree from McGill University in Montreal, Canada, and a masters from the University of St Thomas. After several years working as a social worker, Alison transitioned to staying at home with her children. Excited to join the SSEF Board, Alison looks forward to supporting learners, educators and the wider school community.
When she is not busy with her family, Alison enjoys reading, running, and being outdoors.
Erich Rothstein
Board Member
Erich is the owner of Mr. Twisty ice cream stores in Sartell and St. Cloud. He was born in St. Cloud and moved to Sartell with his wife and three boys 10 years ago for the excellent school system. He is excited to join the SSEF board to continue growing a strong and united educational community.
Erich is also the current Cubmaster for Cub Scout Pack 11 in Sartell and member of the Sartell Area Youth Football board.
Jon Ruis
Board Member
Jon is the owner and principal at Ruis Consulting Group. Through partnering with organizations, he helps clients identify and build a successful plan for growth from their strengths. Jon is a 1996 graduate of Saint John’s University, a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer and has 25 plus years of executive leadership, fundraising, and development experience.
Jon lives in Sartell with his wife, Joy. They have a 12-year-old son Oliver, and a 9-year-old daughter, Olivia. If he is not working with a client, and you really need to find Jon and his family, try the golf course or a campground.
Josh Sugar
Board Member
Josh joined Preferred Credit, Inc. in 2002 and works as a Risk Management Analyst. In that role he provides business analysis and risk-related support/training to minimize credit and operating losses and other risk exposures. Before that, Josh worked in a variety of other positions including as a supervisor and manager.
A lifelong Central Minnesota resident, Josh graduated from Elk River High School in 2001 and moved to St. Cloud in 2002 to attend SCSU. He is a 2014 graduate of the University of Minnesota Crookston with a Bachelor’s in Management and has lived in Sartell since 2016. Since 2021 Josh has volunteered for the United Way of Central Minnesota Days of Caring and in 2022 became involved with UWCM Partner for Student Success. When it's not Formula 1 season —he's been an avid fan since 2010 —Josh enjoys traveling, baking, and photography in his spare time.
Nikki Sweeter
Board Member
Nikki Sweeter is the Engagement Director for the City of Sartell. She provides marketing, communications, business retention, public relations, and events for the City of Sartell, and is also the Director of the Sartell Chamber and co-manager of the Sartell Community Center. The greatest part about her job is seeing families spend quality time together at the community events she helps organize.
Nikki is a 2006 graduate of Sartell-St. Stephen High School, received her Bachelor's degree from the University of St. Thomas, and her MBA from Metropolitan State University. After growing up in Sartell and moving away for a bit, she and her husband moved back in 2012 to be closer to family. Nikki and her husband Jake, also a Sartell-St. Stephen graduate, have three daughters: Julia, Ruthie, and Mae. In their free time you can find the Sweeter clan at a baseball field—Jake is the assistant coach of the varsity baseball team, at the cabin, on the golf course, or in the pool. Nikki feels fortunate to be able to immerse herself in the community that she grew up in and for her children to be able to attend the wonderful school district that she and her husband did.
Amy Trombley
Board Member
Amy is a mother of two daughters and has been involved with the Sartell-St. Stephen Education Foundation since 2004. Amy, a former staff member in ISD 748, is currently the Vice President of Education Partnerships with United Way of Central Minnesota and also is a consultant with a focus on education and communications. Amy is involved in several non-profit and philanthropic opportunities throughout the greater St. Cloud Area and can frequently be seen driving her children to and from a variety of school and community activities.
Jesse Westrup
Board Member
Jesse has lived in the Sartell School District for over 16 years. His wife, Rachel, is a second grade teacher at Pine Meadow Primary. Their twins graduated from Sartell High School in 2023, after spending their entire school aged lives in Sartell. Jesse is the COO of Automotive Parts Headquarters, Inc. in St. Cloud, and he is also involved in the United Way of Central Minnesota. He has been on the SSEF board for almost 10 years and is committed to supporting the mission by providing resources to innovative teaching ideas.
Shannon Wiger
Board Member
Shannon is committed to helping the next generation of businesses develop and thrive, collaborating with colleagues, clients, and referral sources across all industries to achieve shared success. She is passionate about facilitating connections that add value, allow clients to capitalize on opportunities, and further grow their businesses.
Shannon joined Moss & Barnett in 2018 after significant previous experience in the legal industry. She also has an extensive history in nonprofit development and governance, and has led several historic real estate redevelopment projects in Central Minnesota.
Dr. Michael Rivard
Superintendent of District 748 Schools
Dr. Rivard has worked in education for over 25 years and currently serves as the superintendent of Sartell-St. Stephen Schools. Before joining the district, Dr. Rivard was the assistant superintendent for St. Cloud Area Schools. A dedicated community member, he and his wife have lived in the Sartell-St. Stephen community for more than 20 years, where they have raised their two children. His children experienced the full spectrum of K-12 education within the Sartell-St. Stephen schools, allowing him to witness firsthand the district's growth and achievements.
Dr. Rivard enjoys attending all events for Sartell-St. Stephen schools and continues to referee youth hockey games in the area. His involvement in these activities reflects his commitment to supporting local youth and fostering community engagement.
Rebecca Monahan
Staff Representative
Rebecca Monahan works at Pine Meadow Primary School as a First Grade Teacher. She has taught in the district since 2004 in both kindergarten and first grade. She and her husband moved to Sartell in 2010 and have three children in the Sartell-St. Stephen School District. She has received SSEF grant funds in the past and is excited to work alongside the foundation to provide the best educational opportunities for our students' success.
Berta Hartig
Executive Consultant
Berta joined the SSEF team in 2024. The foundation’s mission of supporting leading-edge programming aligns with her personal passion for supporting youth. She has volunteered for Girl Scouts since 2019. She was also an active volunteer for the PreK-5 PTO from 2020-2024. Berta lives in Sartell with her daughter.
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