Our staff and board represent the communities we serve. We are always striving for equity, inclusion, and diversity in every way, at all levels at EMERGE.
Vice Chair, Fundraising & Brand Development and Board Secretary – Senior Quality Engineer, 3M Company
Tesha Alston Dampier
Senior Quality Engineer, 3M Company
Private Wealth Manager, Creative Planning
Patrick Brault
Private Wealth Manager, Creative Planning
Co Vice Chair, Finance – Treasury Management Team Leader, American National Bank
Sheila Dowling
Treasury Management Team Leader, American National Bank
Sheila is a visionary Treasury Solutions leader and fintech partner with 15+ years of experience building new teams, opportunities, and revenue in the banking space. Melding valuable corporate exposure and client-focused sensibilities she brings continuous innovation – in both establishing company culture and seizing and scaling the processes and ideas that keep a business competitive. Sheila and her wife have two children.
“As a Board member of EMERGE it has provided me the opportunity to participate in helping thousands of people access jobs and have a deeper engagement with our community.”
Team Lead Manager, Fraud Detection, Target Corporation
Elaine Eiland
Team Lead Manager, Fraud Detection, Target Corporation
Co Vice Chair, Finance – Senior Vice President Commercial Banking, Bank of America
Paul Fitzpatrick
Co Vice Chair, Finance – Senior Vice President Commercial Banking, Bank of America
President, Perrill
Jay Gast
Jay was born and raised in Iowa and earned his business degree from the University of Iowa, and his MBA from George Mason University in Fairfax, VA. He and his wife Marcy, a professional educator, have lived in multiple major cities across the United States as Jay pursued a diverse executive leadership career with Thomson Reuters. They relocated to Minneapolis-St. Paul from Boston in 2003 with their three children, all of whom now are working professionals in the Twin Cities. In his spare time, Jay enjoys golf, yoga, and biking for exercise. Jay also enjoys time with family, traveling, reading, and music for leisure. When it gets cold in MN, Jay and Marcy enjoy time at their home in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL. Jay is also engaged with the American Heart Association Twin Cities and supports its fund-raising efforts to battle heart disease and address health care equity.
“As an Emerge board member, I have come to better appreciate the range of cultural diversity represented in the Twin Cities and the truly good work Emerge does to help members of the Northeast and Cedar-Riverside communities thrive.”
Board Chair – Managing Director, Houlihan Lokey
Xander Hector
Xander is a Managing Director at Houlihan Lokey, a leading international investment bank. He is the Global Co-Head of the Power & Utilities Practice and has been an investment banker for 19 years providing clients with various M&A, capital markets, and liability management solutions. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in finance from the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota. Xander enjoys traveling internationally and spending time with his wife and son.
“Serving on the EMERGE Board is a tremendous honor and has provided me with an opportunity to support the critically important work that the team at EMERGE focuses on each and every day.”
Owner/Appraiser, JPL Appraisal Services
Jason Lundrigan
Owner/Appraiser, JPL Appraisal Services
Jason attended Minnesota State University Mankato and graduated with a Business Administration Degree. He enjoys spending time outdoors with family and friends, and at his family’s cabin up north. He has served on his children’s youth sports boards and on high school booster clubs. Jason also volunteers at his church serving meals to the community.
“Emerge has given me the opportunity to give back and see firsthand how the work they do can affect people in a positive way and really change their lives for the better.”
Senior Vice President & Marketing Director, US Bank
Connie McCuskey
Senior Vice President & Marketing Director, US Bank
Immediate Past Chair – Shareholder, Fredrikson & Byron PA
Mercedes McFarland Jackson
Shareholder, Fredrikson & Byron PA
Vice Chair, Social Enterprise – Principal, Northstar Healthcare Advisory
Steven Thompson
Steve is a healthcare advisor, consultant, and executive with extensive experience in academic and international healthcare systems leadership and management. Prior to his role with NorthStar Healthcare Advisors, he has held numerous executive leadership roles in leading academic health systems (Johns Hopkins, University of Pennsylvania, and Brigham & Women’s Health / Harvard). He has experience and expertise as an international business leader as the founder and CEO of Johns Hopkins Medicine International, a global healthcare consulting, management, and services organization. Steve is a community leader, serving on the boards of healthcare, arts, and community organizations. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences from the University of Minnesota and earned a master’s degree in business administration from Loyola University.
“I am passionate about identifying opportunities to improve our community. EMERGE is an organization that plays a vital and unique role in the community by providing services that positively change the lives of people.”
President & CEO, Emerge Community Development
Mike Wynne
Mike Wynne is the President and CEO of EMERGE Community Development. He has led the organization since its launch in 2006. Before that, he served in a succession of positions with Pillsbury United Communities, EMERGE’s heritage organization. He was first hired as a direct service staff person in 1988, and then served as center director, program director, and vice president before launching EMERGE in its current form.
As President and CEO, Mike has led the development of a portfolio of highly acclaimed public/private partnerships, community development initiatives and entrepreneurial initiatives. Mike earned his BA in Sociology and Urban Studies from Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota. He has completed graduate certifications in non-profit management and finance at the University of St. Thomas, The James Shannon Institute for Renewing Community Leadership, The Executive Leadership Institute at the University of Michigan School of Social Work & Business; and the Stanford Graduate School of Business Executive Program in Social Entrepreneurship.
Mike is a life-long Minneapolis resident and grew up in North Minneapolis and the Cedar Riverside neighborhood. He has been a featured presenter at national and regional conferences and seminars including the Alternative Staffing Alliance, Minnesota Council on Nonprofits, United Neighborhood Centers of America and Corporation for Supportive Housing.
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