New Board Directors and Officers for United Way of Southwest Minnesota

United Way of Southwest Minnesota is excited to announce it has four new directors beginning three year terms on our board.  New directors include: Doug DeSmet, Minneota, State Bank of Taunton; Kim Holm, Slayton, Kim Holm Insurance Agency Inc., Casey Pohlen, Minneota, U.S. Bank; and Matt Suby, Marshall, Southwest Minnesota State University.

The UWSWMN Board of Directors is responsible for the overall philosophy, vision, mission, direction and policies of our organization and they delegate responsibility of the day-today operations to the CEO.  Members of the board serve on various committees to assist with their responsibilities, including:  Personnel/Nominating/Governance; Resource Development; Community Impact; Finance; and Executive.

We are also excited to announce the officers that will serve on our Executive Committee for the current fiscal year which began July 1, 2022.  Those officers are: Chair Rachel Nuese, Hendricks, Schwan’s Shared Services, LLC, Past Chair, Terry Kriz, Marshall, Runnings Supply Inc.; Vice Chair, Al Castor, Marshall, Lockwood Motors; Treasurer, Michelle Warme, Marshall, retired community member; Resource Development Chair, Hans Zahrbock, Marshall, Western Equipment Finance; Community Impact Chair, Brian Jeremiason, Minneota, Lyon-Lincoln Electric Cooperative., Inc.

To round out our full board, we have returning directors:  Shawna Christianson, Lake Benton, Vivayic; Hayley Fruin, Cottonwood, Bremer Bank; Joseph Karanja, Marshall, City of Marshall; See Moua-Leske, Marshall, Southwest Adult Basic Education; Melanie Pedersen, Marshall, U.S. Bank; Molly Peterson, Garvin, Farm wife and part time web designer; and Curt Schake, Cottonwood, North Star Mutual Insurance Company.

We are grateful to all of our board members for their willingness to share their time and talents to enhance our organization and work towards our mission of uniting people and resources to improve lives and strengthen communities in southwest Minnesota.

Photo collage: Top row left to right: Rachel Nuese, Terry Kriz, Al Castor.  Bottom row left to right: Michelle Warme, Hans Zahrbock and Brian Jeremiason

Photo left to right: Matt Suby, Casey Pohlen, Kim Holm and Doug DeSmet.

For more information about the work of your local United Way, please visit UnitedWaySWMN.org.

United Way of Southwest Minnesota is an autonomous, local organization working to create lasting change in people’s lives and the communities we serve in Lincoln, Lyon, Murray, Yellow Medicine, and portions of Cottonwood, Lac qui Parle, Nobles and Redwood counties of Minnesota.