Friends of the Hennepin County Library is governed by the Board of Directors. The Board is responsible for the management, overall strategic direction, and financial stewardship of the organization. Board members actively serve on at least one standing committee, which currently include the executive, advocacy, development, finance, and public awareness committees. Board members serve three year terms, and may serve a maximum of three terms. Up to three Directors are selected to the Board, who hold current positions representing local Friends organizations.
“In a library we are surrounded by many hundreds of dear friends.”
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
Lynn Carlson Schell, President
President and Managing Principal, Shelter Corp.
Greg Weyandt, Vice President
Attorney, Of Counsel, Briol & Associates
Margaret Wunderlich, Treasurer
CFO and Vice President of Operations at Lerner Publishing Group
Jonathan Gaw, Secretary
Business Analyst for IDC
Lois Langer Thompson, Ex officio
Director, Hennepin County Library
Jill Joseph, Ex officio
President, Hennepin County Library Board
Brian Herstig, Ex officio
Executive Director, Friends of the Hennepin County Library
Charlotte Abrahamson
Senior Executive, Accenture
Marilyn Cathcart
Former State Legislative Reference Librarian and Retired University of St. Catherine Faculty
Biz Colburn
Retired Director of Transportation Planning
Eileen Day
Attorney at Leonard, Street & Deinard
Chris Fischbach
Publisher, Coffee House Press
G. Bryan Fleming
Director of Admissions at the Blake School
Tom Gabriel
CEO and Creative Director of Gabriel deGrood Bendt (GdB)
John Gibbs
Vice President of State Government and Regulatory Affairs, Comcast
Kathy Graves
Principal, Parenteau Graves
Courtney Grimsrud
Associate Attorney, Dorsey & Whitney, LLP
Ned Hancock
Marketing Manager, 3M
Irene Kilpatrick
(Local Friends designated member)
Retired Principal, Minneapolis Public Schools
Mary Pat Ladner
Managing Director of Marketing and Communications, Minnesota Public Radio
Laura Langer
Director of Marketing and Communications, Barrett Moving & Storage
Russ Lemker
Training Development Manager, QlikTech
William Levin
Major Gifts Officer, Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare Foundation
Hilary Marden-Resnik
Senior Vice President of Administration, UCare
Beth McGuire
Group Manager, Target
Velia Melrose
Community Volunteer
Steen Moller
Partner, Accenture
Kristi Pearson
Director of Development, AchieveMpls
Marcia Rinek
Community Volunteer
Carol Shaw
(Local Friends designated member)
Independent Insurance Consultant and Former Actuary, Allianz Life
Daniel H. Spiller
Senior Vice President of Corporate Treasury, U.S. Bancorp
Ardis Wexler
Retired Program Manager, Jewish Family and Children’s Services
Lisa Whitehill
Former Minnesota History Center Librarian