2008 Republican National Convention Minneapolis/Saint Paul 2008 Host Committee  180 East 5th Street, Suite 1200  Saint Paul, MN 55101  updated July 21, 2008
	www.msp2008.com

EXECUTIVE BOARD

Chairman

Doug Leatherdale

(announced Aug. 16, 2007) Retired chairman and CEO of The St. Paul Cos., an insurance company.  Earned a bachelor's degree from United College, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Stan Hubbard - Chairman and CEO of Hubbard Broadcasting, Inc. (HBI) since 1983; president since 1967; joined the company in 1951 (his father started the company in the 1920s).  HBI owns television and radio stations in Minnesota and several other states and is managing general partner of CONUS Communications.  Formed the United States Satellite Broadcasting Co., Inc. (USSB) in 1981; that merged with DIRECTV in 1999.  B.A. in sociology from the University of Minnesota.

Vance Opperman - Major Democratic fundraiser.  President and CEO of Minneapolis-based Key Investment, Inc. (his father Dwight is chairman), which has interests in publishing (Mpls.St.Paul Magazine and Twin Cities Business), real estate, technology, and venture capital.  Formerly president of Eagan-based West Publishing Inc. starting in Aug. 1993; company sold in 1996.  Co-founded the law firm of McGovern, Opperman & Paquin.  Worked for a St. Paul law firm.  Elected chair of the Hennepin County DFL in summer 1968.  J.D. from University of Minnesota Law School, 1969.    [See also: Britt Robinson.  "The Player." City Pages.  March 4, 1998].

Jac Sperling - (initial chairman) Founder of Grit Rock Ventures LLC, an investment company focused on sports, media and entertainment businesses, and vice chairman of the Minnesota Wild Hockey Club and its parent company, Minnesota Sports & Entertainment (MSE).  Prior to joining MSE, Sperling was a partner in the Denver office of the Washington D.C. law firm of Hogan & Hartson ("dealt extensively with the legal and marketing aspects of the acquisition, relocation and expansion of professional sports franchises, and the construction and financing of sports and entertainment venues).  B.A. from the University of Virginia, 1971 and J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law, 1975.

Doug Steenland - President and chief executive officer of Northwest Airlines.  He was named CEO on October 1, 2004 and has served as the airline's president since April 2001.  Joined Northwest in 1991 as vice president and deputy general counsel.  Worked as a senior partner at the Washington, D.C. law firm of Verner, Liipfert, Bernhard, McPherson, and Hand.  B.A. in history from Calvin College in Michigan; J.D. from the National Law Center at The George Washington University .

Jay Fishman - Executive and Artistic Directors of the Minnesota Sinfonia.  Music Director for the Minneapolis Chamber Symphony (which he founded), 1978-89.  Studied for two years with Sir Neville Marriner, conductor of the Academy of Saint Martins in the Fields Orchestra.  Conducted the Louisville Chamber Orchestra for two years.  Masters of Music in orchestral conducting from the  Indiana University School of Music.  B.S. and B.A. degrees from the University of Minnesota.

Marilyn Carlson Nelson - Chairman and chief excutive officer of Carlson Companies, a leader in the marketing, travel, and hospitality industries (includes Radisson Hotels & Resorts and TGIFriday restaurants); took the reins of the company from her father Curt Carlson in 1998 after working in the business for years.  Worked at Paine Webber for several years.  Degree in international economics from Smith College.

Dick Kelly - Chairman of the board, president and chief executive officer of Xcel Energy, after serving in other executive positions.  Served as New Century Energies' (NCE) chief financial officer before it merged with Northern States Power Company to form Xcel Energy in 2000.  Held a variety of finance-related positions at Public Service Company of Colorado before it merged with Southwestern Public Service Company to form NCE.  M.B.A. and a bachelor's degree in accounting from Regis University.
 

LEADERSHIP

CEO	Jeff Larson

(served as interim chairman after Jac Sperling)  Partner at FLS Connect.
 
 

President

Cynthia Lesher

President and CEO of Northern States Power Company-Minnesota, an Xcel Energy company.  Served as Xcel Energy's vice president, chief administrative officer and chief human resources officer.  President of NSP Gas, having earlier served as vice president, human resources; director of human resources for power generation; general manager of electric utility operations; manager of metro credit and collections; and manager of occupational safety and health.  Bachelor's degree in sociology from Drake University; a master's degree in rehabilitation counseling and psychology from St. Cloud State University; and completed the Master of Excellence Program at the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management.
 
 

Chief of Staff

Mike Vallante

A regional political director on the Rudy Giuliani presidential campaign.  COO of the California Republican Party; directed the day-to-day operations of the state Republican Party for three years.  Previously president of his own public relations firm.  He has served as chairman of the Rhode Island Republican Party and as a regional political director for the RNC.
 
 

Communications Director

Teresa McFarland

(started Feb. 11, 2008; announced Feb. 12)  Owner/partner in McFarland Cahill Communications, formed in March 2007.  Consultant for the financial services division at Weber Shandwick, 1998-2001.  Director of public relations for Mall of America, 1995-98.  Press secretary to Congressman Tim Penny, 1990-94.  Communications assistant to Gov. Rudy Perpich, 1988-90.  Graduate of the University of Saint Thomas.
 
 

Community Liaison

Michele “Mich” Berthiaume

(announced March 7, 2008 "charged with garnering interest, support and participation among business and community groups")  A loaned executive from Ecolab. She has worked for Ecolab since 2000 and is an executive consultant, responsible for building industry relationships, new business development and working with Fortune 500 companies at the senior level. 

Former

Executive Director

Kara Ahern

Briefly national finance director on Gov. George Pataki's 21st Century Freedom PAC in late 2006.  Deputy Campaign Manager and Finance Director for Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey’s 2006 gubernatorial campaign in Massachusetts.  Political Director for Vice President Dick Cheney.  In 2004, Ahern was Northeast Finance Director for Bush Cheney ’04 and a top aide to National Finance Co-Chairman Jack Oliver.  She also served as the campaign’s Deputy Director of Vice Presidential Operations.
 

Copyright © 2007, 2008  Eric M. Appleman/Democracy in Action