Staff
 | Jonathan G. Zierdt President & CEO |  | Barb Embacher Vice President
|  | Tom Riley New Business Development Director | ||
 | John F. Considine lll Business Resource Development Manager |  | Shannon Gullickson Talent Programs Director |  | Patrick Baker | ||
 | Liz Sharp Special Events Director |  | Karen Toft Member Relations Director |  | Shelly John Megaw Marketing & Communications Director | ||
 | Amy Linde Marketing & Communications Coordinator |  | Rebecca Rosier Finance Manager |  | Angie Glassel Executive Assistant | ||
 | Joelle Shouts Member Relations Assistant |
Affiliate Staff
 | Anna Thill, CDME |  | Larissa Mrozek Senior Sales Director lmrozek@visitmankatomn.com |  | Josh Anderson Event Sales Director janderson@visitmankatomn.com | ||
 | Christine Nessler Marketing & Leisure Sales Director |  | Paige Schuette Event Support Specialist pschuette@visitmankatomn.com |  | Maureen Waltman Marathon Coordinator mwaltman@visitmankatomn.com | ||
| Joelle Shouts Administrative Assistant |
Eric Harriman
City Center Partnership Coordinator
eharriman@citycentermankato.com
Jonathan Zierdt | |
Barb Embacher | |
Tom Riley | Tom has been GMG’s New Business Development Director since October 2007, helping businesses expand and thrive in Greater Mankato. In addition to representing GMG in regional efforts to promote economic development, Tom encourages the development of strong local supply chains for our area manufacturers and their service provider partners. Tom’s career journey has included working as a CPA in the airline and HMO industries, followed by nine years in management roles at Hickory Tech and nine years serving on the executive management team that built Midwest Wireless. Overall, Tom has 38 years of experience at companies where significant value and profitable growth have been created. Tom graduated from Minnesota State University, Mankato with a B.S. in Business Administration and Accounting. He is a non-practicing CPA and has attended many continued education classes related to industry and management over the years. Outside of work Tom enjoys golfing, watching sports, doing yard work and landscaping (his own form of therapy) and has read every book John Grisham has published. Tom and his wife also like to travel to visit their children and grandchildren in other parts of the U.S.
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John Considine | John joined the GMG team in early 2013 as Business Development Resources Manager. His position entails gathering information and leveraging resources that are useful to existing business in Greater Mankato, as well as those outside the marketplace interested in locating or expanding here. He also helps coordinate visits to area businesses through the Grow Minnesota! program. Previous to John’s employment with GMG, he provided information to cities and businesses for six years as Community and Economic Development Coordinator for Region 9 Development Corp. John also served as the economic development representative on the south central Minnesota Workforce Council. John attended Minnesota State University, Mankato acquiring his B.S. in Urban and Regional Studies/Geography and Masters in Urban Planning. John, who played right tackle on the 1999 Mankato West State champion football team, is a big time NFL fan. He also enjoys playing basketball, racquetball, chess and camping (even in the winter). |
Shannon Gullickson | Shannon has been working with GMG since October 2012 as the Talent Programs Director, primarily responsible for overseeing the Greater Mankato Leadership Institute and the Greater Mankato Young Professionals programs. Shannon has had more than 20 years of leadership experience in non-profit and for-profit organizations. Prior to joining GMG, she served for six years as Director of Business Development for Coldwell Banker Commercial Fisher Group of Mankato. Prior to that, she worked for the Greater Mankato Chamber of Commerce for 13 years, serving in a number of capacities including directing the Greater Mankato Leadership Institute. Shannon graduated from Minnesota State University, Mankato with a B.S. in Mass Communications with a minor in Speech Communication. Outside of the workplace Shannon enjoys skiing, golfing, cooking, banking, entertaining, travelling and volunteering. Something not many people know about Shannon is that she was the manager of the cake decorating department that Scheels used to have. |
Patrick Baker | Patrick began as GMG’s Director of Government and Institutional Affairs in November 2012. In this position, he serves as a relationship manager working with local business and community leaders, legislators and other influential leaders across the state to advance community policy priorities and raise awareness of the importance of our regional center. Patrick spent the previous five years as a Legislative Associate for the Education and Workforce Committee of the National Governors Association in Washington D.C. Patrick grew up in Mankato, but spent summer vacations and school breaks with his truck driving parents traveling to the West Coast and back (more than 300 times). Patrick graduated from Concordia College in Moorehead, MN with a B.A. in Political Science. He is currently finishing a Certificate in Public Administration from George Mason University in Fairfax, VA. Outside of work Patrick enjoys spending time with friends and family, especially if it’s at a winery or around a bonfire. |
Liz Sharp | |
Karen Toft | Karen has been working with GMG since December 2010 as the Member Relations Director. In this position, Karen engages with potential, new and existing members to ensure they get the most out of their GMG membership. She also manages two GMG volunteer groups – the Cavaliers and Ambassadors. Prior to her career with GMG, Karen worked at Rasmussen College as a Senior Program Manager for the Admissions Office. She was also a Career Center Assistant at the local high schools working with businesses for career shadowing, career field trips and the Career Expo. Karen has a degree in Business and is also certified as a Global Career Development Facilitator. Karen is an avid traveler and loves to explore new cultures, cities and countries and sample all of their different foods. One of her best memories is spending ten days in Yemen in 2010 while her son worked in Sana’a. |
Shelly Megaw | Shelly has been working with GMG for since 2009 as the Marketing and Communications Director. She is responsible for providing timely information to GMG members, as well as positively positioning the marketplace to businesses (current and potential) and the general public. Prior to joining GMG, Shelly worked as the Public Relations Manager in the Marketing department of Midwest Wireless for ten years. Shelly graduated from Minnesota State University, Mankato with a double major in Business Administration-Marketing and Mass Communications-Public Relations. Shelly grew up in Mankato, but spent her teen years on both coasts (Maine and Los Angeles), before settling back here. Outside of the office, Shelly loves to partake in warm weather outdoor activities such as gardening and swimming, as well as reading (she’s a member of the MoJo Sisters Literary Guild). She also enjoys traveling, which includes visiting her son in the Air Force wherever he is stationed. |
Amy Linde | Amy has been working for GMG since 2009 and is currently the Marketing and Communications/Technology Coordinator. She provides marketing and communications support for the organization, as well as oversight of organizational technology with regards to internet communication, social media, hardware, software and staff support. Amy graduated from St. Cloud State University in 2005 with a B.A. in Travel and Tourism, as well as Anthropology with an emphasis in Archaeology. Prior to joining GMG, she was an Archaeological Technician in the upper Midwest. Outside of work Amy enjoys spending time with her family and friends, especially if it’s out on the lake in the summer and ice fishing in the winter. |
Rebecca Rosier | Rebecca has been working at GMG since April 2011 as Finance Manager. This position entails the management of human resource functions within the organization such as payroll and employee benefits, as well as responsibility for the finances and assets of the company. All of the previous positions Rebecca has held pertain to some aspect of customer service. She was previously employed by the accounting department at the St. Peter Food Co-op for more than three years. In May of 2011, Rebecca graduated from South Central College with an A.A.S. in Accounting. Outside of work, Rebecca enjoys going to the movies with her husband and is very involved as a leader with the Youth Group at her church. |
Angie Glassel | Angie Glassel has been working at GMG since its inception in 2007, after joining its predecessor organization the Greater Mankato Economic Development Corporation since 2006. As the Executive Assistant she provides excellent positive customer service as lead receptionist and coordinates internal information. She was formerly employed by the President’s Office of Scholarship America as the Administrative Assistant. Angie graduated holds an A.A.S. in Accounting/Business Management from Rasmussen College. Outside of work, Angie enjoys walking, sports activities with her siblings and volunteering for military families as the FRG Leader for G CO 134BSB. Angie is also an avid motorcyclist (as a passenger or driver) and brews beer at her home with her husband and father-in-law. |
Joelle Shouts | Joelle has been with GMG since 2010 and currently serves as the Member Relations Assistant. Joelle attended Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato, where she played on the volleyball team, graduating with a degree in Biology in 2008. She then attended Minnesota State University, Mankato and graduated in 2012 with a degree in Foods and Nutrition with a minor in Corporate and Community Fitness. Outside of work Joelle enjoys spending time on her parents’ farm where she spent a lot of time growing up walking beans, bailing hay and doing cattle and sheep chores, as well as spending time with her friends and family. |
Anna Thill | Anna has been President of Visit Mankato since 2007. Previous to Anna’s role as President with the CVB, she was employed by the Greater Mankato Area United Way as their Director of Community Impact for six years where she worked with volunteers, community leaders and non-profit leaders to look at community issues and make funding decisions for local programs. Anna earned her B.S. in Local and Urban Affairs from St. Cloud State and then went right into graduate school at Minnesota State University, Mankato where she received her Master’s in Urban Planning. Last summer Anna received professional recognition as a Certified Destination Management Executive through Destination Marketing Association International. Anna enjoys spending time with her family, especially more so now that her two sons are older and can partake in more activities with her and her husband. Many who know Anna might be surprised to learn she actually has musical talent, initially going to Augustana College in Sioux Falls, SD as a music major. |
Larissa Mrozek | Larissa has been working with Visit Mankato for the past six years as the Senior Sales Director where she works on bringing conventions to Mankato and provides services to the ones already here. Previous to Larissa’s employment with Visit Mankato, she was a Flight Attendant where excellent customer service and communication were very important skills that she now utilizes in her current career. Outside of work Larissa enjoys traveling and watching sports. Baseball and football are her sports of choice to watch when the Olympics are on, which is her absolute favorite to watch. Attending an Olympic event in person is something that is on her bucket list. Something interesting about Larissa is that she grew up on a farm. She’d give you a run for your money when it comes to baling hay, feeding a calf or even milking a cow! |
Josh Anderson | Josh has been working for Visit Mankato since June of 2011 as the Event Sales Director. Previous to Josh’s employment with Visit Mankato, he worked with the Athletic Department at Bethany Lutheran College where he gained valuable experience in the sports industry. He also worked with MAYBA, which helps him work with local sports groups and associations. Through managing his own amateur baseball team, he has learned how to work with sponsors, as well as managing experience. Josh graduated from Bethany Lutheran College with a B.A. in English and a minor in Business Administration. Outside of work Josh enjoys playing baseball. He manages and plays on the Mankato Mets, as well as helps coach a youth traveling team for MAYBA. In his spare time Josh also likes to cook and spend time with his cat. |
Christine Nessler | |
Paige Schuette | Paige has been working with Visit Mankato for nearly three years as the Event Support Specialist. She helps plan the Mankato Marathon, assists in planning conventions and tournaments for the Mankato area, and also helps with the marketing and public relations for events held in the community. Previous to Paige’s employment with Visit Mankato, she worked at the Verizon Wireless Center where she planned and worked at events to make sure they were successful, as well as assisted with Marketing and Public Relations. Paige graduated from Minnesota State University, Mankato with a degree in Mass Communications and Public Relations, with an emphasis in creative writing. Paige has also graduated from the YWCA Women’s Leadership program and taken several creative design courses at the Science Museum. Outside of work Paige enjoys being outdoors, whether that entails bike riding, kayaking, snow or water skiing or just being out on the trails with her dogs. Something interesting about Paige is that she competed in the International Science Fair. |
Maureen Waltman | Maureen has been working with Visit Mankato since June 2011 as the Mankato Marathon Coordinator. Maureen is the perfect coordinator for the Mankato Marathon, because she has been a long distance runner for many years, and has completed 20 marathons. Her last marathon will take place this November in New York. Maureen has a B.S. from St. Cloud State University and an M.A. from Minnesota State University, Mankato. In Maureen’s spare time she enjoys running, biking, reading, taking care of her garden and spending time out on the lake with her family. A fun fact about Maureen is that she has a twin sister. |
Eric Harriman | Eric has been working as Coordinator for the City Center Partnership since October 2010. Eric helps to maintain organizational operations so volunteers in committees can implement the City Center Renaissance Plan and support investments that drive an increase in customers, employees and residents. Eric’s past work experience includes employee management and organizational leadership. Eric received a B.S. in Urban and Regional Studies from Minnesota State University, Mankato and is currently in the process of receiving his M.A. in Urban and Regional Planning from MSU. Outside of work Eric likes to experience the variety of entertainment and cultural activities the Greater Mankato region has to offer. He enjoys biking around the city and regional trails and training for the many running or duathlon events held in the area. Eric is also quite the traveler and enjoys visiting fun cities. |