Staff

Lori supports the general operational and accounting functions at Southwest Initiative Foundation. Over the course of her career, she has done bookkeeping for just about every kind of organization — an automotive repair shop, construction, landscape, real estate and a church. She has had the most experience with smaller companies and enjoyed helping them grow and guiding them through the ins and outs of doing their books. Lori holds an accounting clerk diploma.

Lori's favorite thing about southwest Minnesota is the scenery. Outside of work, she enjoys crafting with her two daughters and volunteering at the local elementary school. Lori also likes to go on walks with her dog, explore new parks with the girls and go swimming with them.

Tiff believes in serving the communities that raised her and is enjoys being part of a team that celebrates “rural”. She appreciates southwest Minnesota for the strong roots of its communities and the humble work ethic. Her work connects generosity to community needs to strengthen the rural experience through creative gift planning and inviting donors to help transform private assets into community investments.

Tiff holds a degree in psychology from the College of Saint Benedict. She learned even more outside the classroom during her experiences studying and working abroad, including spending two years in Guatemala after college. She is a former small business owner and has experience in sales.

Tiff served on the Hutchinson School Board, the Mid Minnesota Development Commission, and the City of Hutchinson’s Charter Commission. She is an alum of the Blandin Community Leadership Program and has been part of the Downtown Hutchinson Vision Team and the Hutchinson Farmer's Market, as well as anything related to her kids' activities (including coaching!).

An enthusiast of many things, Tiff likes to travel, read, cook and eat, take walks and hikes and spend time outdoors with her husband, three kids and rescue dog.

Learn more about our development work.

Laura provides day-to-day administrative support and coordination for Southwest Initiative Foundation’s grant program – the behind-the-scenes work to distribute grant dollars to communities.

Since joining our staff in 2020, Laura has learned how important it is to keep everything on track to help community projects succeed. She has had the pleasure of working on a variety of projects, which has given her valuable experience to share with our team. Laura is passionate about doing her best and always eager to learn more, so she can assist whenever possible!

What inspires Laura about her work with the foundation is witnessing the substantial impact that every donation makes in the communities we serve. Building a powerful chain of support where we all come together to strengthen our communities.

When it comes to Southwest Minnesota, Laura loves the beautiful landscapes that each season brings. But above all, she appreciates the people in the community. She’s been fortunate to meet many kind and generous individuals who have have not only helped her in times of need but have also guided her to become a better version of herself, enabling her to serve others as well.

Nancy Fasching is the vice president for community impact at the Southwest Initiative Foundation, serving rural, southwest Minnesota. For 23 years, Nancy has worked with the grantmaking program, currently leading the foundation’s community impact and grant programs, along with research and learning for strategic initiatives, and providing leadership for funding procurement for programmatic opportunities. She serves on SWIF's leadership team, managing strategic direction of the organization's mission and developing partnerships that strengthen rural community development.

Nancy has a passion for communities and people coming together, especially to create systems and opportunities where all residents thrive, to meet their full potential for current and future generations. She is of and for rural places.

Nancy earned a degree in organizational management and geography from Gustavus Adolphus College in Saint Peter, Minn. She currently serves as the Past President of United Community Action Agency board of directors and Winsted Economic Development Commission, helped found the Winsted Arts Council and is an alumna of the Blandin Community Leadership Program.

From chaos, Nancy creates order. Her talent for organizing and implementing most anything has guided her through a career of 30+ years in various administrative positions, more than half of that time at SWIF. She’s proud to be part of the foundation making great things happen in southwest Minnesota. She graduated from Hutchinson Area Vocational Institute (now Ridgewater College) and is an alum of the Hutchinson Leadership Institute.

Farm born and raised, Nancy appreciates the beauty and calm of rural. Some of her favorite memories from childhood were Sunday afternoons "road farming" with her Dad. Nancy finds mowing lawn therapeutic and loves reading a good “who done it” while vacationing, since putting the book down is hard to do. She loves to bake and cook, sometimes sharing her “experiments” with staff. Nancy resides in the rural Hutchinson/Litchfield area with her husband.

Meghan is responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive communication and marketing strategy to enhance the foundation’s visibility, reputation, and fundraising efforts.

Working for a placed-based community foundation is inspiring to Meghan because she sees the impact that Southwest Initiative Foundation has on the people, places, and organizations located in the place she’s proud to call home – Southwest Minnesota. She loves that the people in our region value their families, friends, neighbors, and community members.

Meghan’s professional experience includes more than 10 years of fundraising and communications expertise. She is a proud graduate of the University of Minnesota (go Gophers!), where she worked for more than 6 years in alumni relations and development before moving to Hutchinson with her family.

While Karen didn’t know much about SWIF before she started working here, she liked the idea of working at a nonprofit, and the friendly atmosphere. More than 10 years later, she’s still here. During that time, Karen has been a part of the accounting team. She also works with the Microenterprise Loan Program. Karen has a bachelor’s degree in accounting and worked in the insurance and manufacturing industries before starting at the foundation.

As a kid and as a grown-up, Karen has always liked to be outside. When she was young, she loved time on the lake water skiing, swimming, and fishing; snowmobiling; and weekend bonfires. Now it’s time on the lake, gardening, shopping at flea markets and antique shops, small projects around the house, trips to Montana and time with her kids. Karen has volunteered with Sunday School, Youth Committee, school events and the Red Rooster Days festival in Dassel.

Khou enjoys the relationships and the people of Southwest Minnesota and is determined to do what it takes to invite, share and create space for voices in the region. As a first-generation immigrant, many of Khou’s younger years were spent navigating systems and being the voice for her immigrant parents. Through these lived experiences, she realized her love for creating space for people to speak on behalf themselves, in their truest form.

Khou appreciates how Southwest Initiative Foundation values community. In her role, Khou is a resource for communities across the region, while helping build and strengthen local Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) leaders and organizations in southwest Minnesota. She has a background in community engagement work and a passion for sharing resources and knowledge.

A photographer in her free time, Khou appreciates visual art. She also likes spending time with family. Khou is involved with the Hmong community in southwest Minnesota as a leader and organizer and is part of various community groups in the Tracy community. She makes her home in North Branch with her husband and daughter.

Learn more about our community impact work.

Missy leads the foundation’s talent management, human resources, operations, facilities, communications, and technology functions. She's inspired by Southwest Initiative Foundation’s mission to support child care solutions, business development, economic growth, community leadership, career pathways, and workforce development advocacy. She believes in the power of growing resources to help communities respond to immediate needs and seize emerging opportunities—ultimately helping them reach their greatest potential.

What Missy loves most about southwest Minnesota is its beauty and the numerous opportunities it offers. She sees southwest Minnesota as a region full of potential, where communities and organizations can build on local strengths and take a thoughtful, long-term approach to growth and development.

Missy brings a diverse and well-rounded background to her role. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Metropolitan State University and is certified in Korn Ferry Leadership Architect Competencies as well as the Wellness Councils of America’s “Seven Benchmarks.” Her career spans leadership in HR, technology, operations, and internal communications—roles that allow her to connect key areas of the Foundation’s work in meaningful and effective ways.

Outside of her professional role, Missy is deeply involved in her community. She serves as the lead preschool teacher at her church, coaches middle school basketball, and is an alum of the Hutchinson Leadership Institute. She co-chairs the Business, Management & Administration Cluster of Ignite Your Future at Ridgewater College and is a past chair of business development for the Hutchinson PULSE steering committee. Missy also leads the “HR Department of One” special interest group for the Twin Cities Society for Human Resource Management (TCSHRM) and is a member of its “High Potential” special interest group.

Johanna is proud to be part of a team whose mission is to improve the lives of people and their communities in rural Minnesota. In her role, Johanna fuels that mission by supporting resource development and regional fundraising initiatives. This includes managing donor data, ensuring a seamless giving experience and collaborating with teams for administrative excellence.

Southwest Minnesota’s small-town communities and the relationships that are built through generations are part of what Johanna loves about our region, and how welcoming these communities can be to new people moving into them.

In Johanna’s eyes, there's always something new to learn, understand, explore, people to meet and help, and she loves being a continuous learner. She has 15 years of experience in finance, working with all levels of people from those first opening a checking account to investing their 40+ years of retirement savings. Johanna previously held her series 7 and 66 securities licenses and is a notary public.

Johanna makes her home in Buffalo Lake. As a mom of three girls and a bonus mom to two boys, she is on-the-go with sports, school activities and church activities. In her free time, Johanna enjoys reading almost anything she can get her hands on!

Scott’s professional career has been focused on rural community vitality and economic mobility.  Since joining Southwest Initiative Foundation in 2007, he has managed the business finance, entrepreneurship, child care, career pathways and other economic development programs and initiatives, in addition to having roles with farmland management and as staff liaison to the Investment Committee. Scott stepped into the role of president at the foundation in February 2023. 

Scott is a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) through the International Economic Development Council and a certified Economic Development Finance Professional (EDFP) through Grow America.  He currently serves as board chair for Propel Nonprofits (a Community Development Financial Institution) and is president of the Greater Minnesota Partnership. He is a board member for the International Economic Development Council, Child Care Aware of Minnesota, Upper Minnesota Valley Regional Development Commission, Southwest Minnesota Workforce Development and the Minnesota Economic Development Foundation. Scott is a past president of the Economic Development Association of Minnesota (EDAM) and currently serves as chair of its Government Relations Committee.   

Scott and his wife, Amber, are residents of Montevideo and are proud parents of two adult daughters. 

A shared love for rural Minnesota and the spirit of entrepreneurship drew Claire to working at Southwest Initiative Foundation. Starting and co-owning a small business for 14 years has given her firsthand knowledge of how hard and rewarding owning a small business is.

As Entrepreneurship Program Manager, Claire works directly with prospective and current loan clients and other entrepreneurs and business leaders, in addition to project partners, economic development organizations, program funders, and technical assistance partners. She provides leadership in technical assistance and business coaching, relationship management, coordination of resource providers and partners, professional communication and outreach and marketing.

One of Claire’s favorite things about southwest Minnesota is that it's full of unexpected surprises. The region and its residents have so much to offer and are a welcoming and inspiring home for a growing and diverse population.

A wife and mom of four, Claire makes her home on a farm near Sleepy Eye with her family. Together, they enjoy riding dirt bikes and 4-wheelers and camping. Claire loves to travel internationally, hunt pheasants and garden.

Kim has a passion for helping others and enjoys connecting with our SWIF family and friends through her daily work. She graduated from St. Cloud Area Vocational-Technical Institute and first heard about us from her dear neighbor, Diana Anderson.

As a kid, Kim spent a lot of time with her nose in a book; she considered Nancy Drew her best friend. She fondly recalls hours of cane pole fishing at her grandparents’, playing 500 rummy and canning and baking enough to feed the county. A mother of two, Kim continues to support her adult daughters in their adventures, wherever life takes them. She enjoys reading, looking for new healthy ways to cook and bake, supporting her brother in his Special Olympic events and going for walks and bike rides. Outside work, Kim is involved with the Aveyron Homes, Inc. Board and Special Olympics. She is a graduate of the Hutchinson Area Chamber of Commerce Leadership Institute.

The foundation’s unwavering belief in the future where all people thrive inspires Briana. Our values, like inclusion, integrity, and collaboration, deeply align with her own, making the work feel not just meaningful, but personally authentic. We don’t just offer resources; we build relationships and possibilities.

Briana’s love and passion for rural southwest Minnesota runs deep, even though she grew up in a large suburban community. She draws inspiration from the incredible people in our region whose dedication, resilience and hard work fuel the growth and vitality of the region.
Briana’s journey into economic development began in 2017, driven by her commitment to community service. The field offers a meaningful path to connect with diverse people, build lasting relationships, and contribute to initiatives that strengthen communities.

In her role, Briana is leading the certification, launch and implementation of SWIF’s subsidiary, Southwest Minnesota Community Capital (SMCC), an emerging Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI). In alignment with SWIF’s mission-driven small business lending practices, SMCC will provide affordable lending, financial services and development support to underserved communities across the region that lack access to traditional banking. This work is a natural extension of Briana’s experience in economic development and her passion for supporting entrepreneurs and community growth. While certification is still in progress, she is energized by the opportunity to help deliver financial tools and opportunities where they are needed most.

Briana currently serves on several state and regional boards focused on economic and community development, including the Governor’s Task Force on Broadband, the Minnesota Agriculture and Economic Development Board, the Center for Rural Policy and Development Board, and the Southwest Minnesota Housing Partnership Board. She is a past president of the Minnesota Association of Professional County Economic Developers and currently serves as vice president of LINC Redwood County, a local nonprofit leadership program.

Briana makes her home in Franklin, where she and her husband are raising their two children. In her free time, she enjoys staying active attending bungee fitness classes, exploring new places and spending time with her family and friends.

A Hutchinson native, Margie received a bachelor’s degree from Mankato State University and is completing a master’s in accounting and financial management at Keller Graduate School of Management. She is also a farmer. Though they no longer have dairy cows, Margie and her husband still raise crops, which ties her in a unique way to the land of southwest Minnesota. She’s also drawn to its people, and has seen how communities band together to help themselves and people in need.

During her 20 years with SWIF, Margie has had the amazing opportunity to grow and contribute through many roles. She’s witnessed staff numbers nearly double, assets more than double and has helped moved office locations twice.

There’s not much to say about Margie as a kid; she was really low key. In the Hutchinson High School senior yearbook awards, she came in second for being the quietest. These days, she’s very active in the community. She likes spending time with family, is active in her church, has completed the Dale Carnegie Course in leadership training and is an alum of the Hutchinson Leadership Institute.

Ivan makes his home in Worthington. He loves southwest Minnesota for its ability to be a home to anyone. He feels the people, the food and its potential for growth are all great reasons to love the region.

Ivan is passionate about digging deep into what makes our region special. As a development specialist, he identifies strengths and challenges, builds capacity and strives to be a trusted partner to our various community foundations and relationships throughout southwest Minnesota.

Previously, Ivan worked in corporate community engagement. He’s also been involved in local and electoral politics as well as various nonprofits and projects including Be the Change and Voices for Racial Justice.

Outside work, Ivan enjoys listening to and practicing music, meeting up with friends and trying new foods.

The strong sense of community in southwest Minnesota is what Jenelle loves most about the region. People look out for one another, and there’s a genuine spirit of connection and support that makes this feel like home.

Jenelle is inspired by the foundation’s commitment to strengthening communities and creating opportunities for people across southwest Minnesota. The focus on collaboration and building long-term success makes the work feel meaningful and impactful.

Jenelle has experience in data management, systems, and process improvement, with a focus on making tools and information more accessible for teams. Her work supports efficiency and ensures that staff have what they need to serve our partners and communities effectively.

Jenelle is a graduate of North Hennepin Community College and an alumna of the Hutchinson Leadership Institute and the Blandin Community Leadership Program.

Jeff leads and implements the foundation’s development work focused on local community foundation partners and donor-driven generosity within a community foundation setting.

Jeff loves how brings people together to make their communities stronger. Organizations like ours can help shape a vision for the region, but it’s the local community coming together through volunteerism and philanthropy that make the magic happen. When everyone is pulling in the same direction, you can get a lot done in even the smallest communities.

Growing up in a small town that grew into a suburb, Jeff appreciates the sense of community evident in his work with local volunteers. They bring a passion for place that you don’t find everywhere.

Jeff has an associate degree in architectural drafting and construction estimating from Dunwoody College, a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies from St. Cloud State University and a master’s in community development from Iowa State University. He is an alum of the Minnesota Agricultural and Rural Leadership (MARL) program.

Even after nearly a decade in his job, Jeff still loves seeing new projects come to fruition. Standing with volunteers at a ribbon cutting or taking a “giant check” picture, he’s reminded of all we do to help keep Southwest Minnesota communities vibrant.

Learn more about Jeff's work with community foundations.

Amy enjoys helping entrepreneurs realize their dream, make a difference in their communities and build wealth. Working for a nonprofit provides flexibility to meet and accommodate the needs of the business throughout the life of the loan. She appreciates how the foundation strives to provide access to capital at a fair cost while building strong relationships with our borrowers.

Southwest Minnesota is home for Amy. She loves the smell of the autumn air, sunsets, wide open spaces where you can see the horizon miles away, the lakes and certainly the people that make it home. Amy grew up in Fulda and now lives in Worthington.

Amy holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a finance concentration from Southwest Minnesota State University, Marshall. She has more than 25 years of experience financing small businesses, which has offered unique insights into the challenges and impact of economic events on small businesses. Amy sees how customization, flexibility and streamlined processes for faster access to capital are important in today’s economy.

Marie is an award-winning writer who can find a story anywhere. Connecting people is an important part of her work at Southwest Initiative Foundation, and Marie believes those connections are the key to building a sense of belonging for all our neighbors in every southwest Minnesota community.

Marie has experience as a community journalist as well as a degree in communications from the College of Saint Benedict. She completed the Blandin Community Leadership Program with fellow community members from Glencoe. She volunteers with Together we are Glencoe, a community group focused on building belonging, and is a club leader for her kids' 4-H club. Marie is a former board member of McLeod For Tomorrow and an alum of its leadership program.