Our Board

Principal: tjb research

Consultant, writer, and investment advisor Tom Brakke was raised in Luverne and remains dedicated to the vitality of his hometown and the region. Tom is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and holds a bachelor’s degree in management from the University of Minnesota. He is a member of CFA Institute and CFA Society of Minnesota. In 2003, he launched his own consulting firm — tjb research — where he specializes in helping investment firms and institutional investors with decision making and organizational strategy. Tom writes about the wide range of "research puzzles" that face all participants in the financial markets and published a book, Letters to a Young Analyst. Prior to that, he spent 15 years with American Express Financial Advisors. Tom was also the professional advisor for the Carlson Funds Enterprise, an MBA program at the Carlson School of Management at his alma mater.

Retired: Elementary Principal

Patricia Dols makes her home in Willmar and is a retired elementary school principal. Most recently, Patricia served as principal at Roosevelt Elementary School in Willmar where she was responsible for 900 diverse students and 100 staff. She has also served as Elementary Principal for the communities of Appleton and Milan. Patricia has a longstanding commitment to rural communities and education. She is active with SWIF’s Willmar Early Childhood Initiative and the Willmar area Children's Cabinet. She also worked with Empower “Women United in Philanthropy,” which focuses on early childhood education with a mobile preschool. In 2001, Patricia was named a Business and Professional Women – Woman of the Year. She is a co-founder of the area lakes Studio Hop art event and past coordinator of Wonder Camp, a math and science camp for girls. She has provided leadership in various music, literacy, art and environmental initiatives for the region.

President: Minnesota West Community and Technical College

Terry Gaalswyk, Worthington, serves as president of Minnesota West Community and Technical College, with five campuses and two locations across the Southwest Initiative Foundation service area. Terry has over 30 years of service in higher education including appointments in faculty and administration. He has served two-year colleges and universities in South Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska and now in Minnesota. He believes in the mission of a community college, specifically, "to be our communities’ college” and advance social and economic mobility through education and training. He is equally proud of his vocational background, having worked alongside his parents building custom countertops and cabinets in a family-owned wholesale business in Sibley, Iowa.

Director of Operations, Livestock at Farmer's Business Network, Inc.

Dan Greve grew up in Worthington and has spent much of his career there. He has been a Chief Financial Officer for manufacturing businesses over the past 20 years. He believes in Grow Our Own and as a business executive, sees firsthand the challenges like recruiting talent that our rural communities face. He is currently Director of Operations, Livestock at Farmer's Business Network, Inc. Dan has served on several community boards and committees, including the Worthington Regional Economic Development Corporation and Worthington Area YMCA, where he was vice president and president during fundraising and construction of the new YMCA facility. Dan served on Southwest Initiative Foundation’s loan advisory committee and participated in the career pathways work group connected to the foundation’s grant from Twin Cities United Way. He has also supported the Worthington Area Foundation, one of Southwest Initiative Foundation’s 28 local affiliates.  

Owner: West Central Interpreting Services

An engineer by profession, Zack has a passion for helping families and youth build safe, successful neighborhoods and lives. He is a Bush Foundation Fellow and holds a master’s in public policy and economic development from the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs, as well as a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Wentworth Institute of Technology, Boston.

Zack founded West Central Interpreting Services in Willmar, and he and his wife, Sahra Gure, are leading the transformation of the town’s former Erickson Furniture building into Midtown Plaza — home to retail shops, office space and amenities such as a senior activity center, beauty salon and tea and coffee shop. Mahboub also serves on the Willmar Municipal Utilities Commission.

Consultant for Community and Economic Development in southwest Minnesota and in Minneapolis

Christie provides community and economic development consulting services to small cities and Minneapolis neighborhood organizations. Her previous work experience includes serving as economic development coordinator for the City of Norwood Young America and the St. Cloud Area Economic Development Partnership, economic development association director for the City of Hutchinson and executive director of the Longfellow Community Council, a nonprofit neighborhood organization in Minneapolis. Her board and volunteer service includes past president of the Economic Development Association of Minnesota, Hutchinson Planning Commission, co-head coach of the Hutchinson Girls Track and Field Team, Children’s Grief Connection and Historic Hutchinson. Christie also served three terms on Southwest Initiative Foundation’s Loan Advisory Committee.

Executive Director: Pipestone Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism

Erica is a dedicated business, community and nonprofit advocate and works as the executive director of the Pipestone Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism. Originally from Omaha, Neb., Erica majored in political science and psychology at St. Olaf College and went on to obtain her juris doctorate from the University of Minnesota Law School. She served as a judicial law clerk and public defender earlier in her career and remains a licensed attorney. Erica believes strongly in Southwest Initiative Foundation’s (SWIF) vision of a southwest Minnesota where everyone thrives and in supporting our kids to reach their full potential. She’s inspired by the foundation’s leadership around big picture ideas that are essential to the future growth of southwest Minnesota. In addition to being on the SWIF Board of Directors, Erica is involved in leadership roles with Pipestone Girl Scouts, Pipestone Forward, Pipestone Kiwanis Club, Friends of the Casey Jones State Trail Association, Explore Southwest Minnesota Tourism, Southern Minnesota Tourism Association, Southwest Minnesota Arts Council and Mid-America Chamber Executives. Erica makes her home in Pipestone with her fiancé.

Retired Educator: Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart School District

Kathy and her husband, Rich, own and operate a crop farm in rural Hector and are dedicated to the community where they’ve made their home for nearly 50 years. A retired teacher, Kathy taught elementary students at BLHS for 18 years. She also served as the Early Childhood Family Education Coordinator and a mentor teacher and co-center director at Tri-Valley Migrant Head Start in Bird Island. Wehking holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Gustavus Adolphus College and a master’s in education from St. Mary’s University. Kathy's philosophy as an educator was to strengthen her students’ desire to keep learning and to build their ability to be resourceful and inventive long after they left her classroom. She’s been inspired by SWIF’s Grow Our Own initiative to close the opportunity gap that aligns so closely with her personal commitment to kids’ futures.

Community Relations Manager: Schwan’s Company

Theresa Zaske is the Community Relations Manager at Schwan’s Company, where she’s served in various roles during her 30-year tenure. In her current role, she advises the Schwan’s Corporate Giving Foundation Board of Directors on governance and provides input on ways to maximinze donations, grants and scholarships in its priority areas. Theresa has long been devoted to supporting local nonprofits. She helped found the Marshall Community Foundation and Balaton Area Community Foundation, two of SWIF’s affiliate partners. Theresa currently serves on the Balaton Area Community Foundation advisory board and previously served with the United Way of Southwest Minnesota, Prairie Home Hospice and Healthy56258. She also helped with the start up of the nonprofit PFLAG Buffalo Ridge/Marshall supporting the mission to build diversity and inclusion in rural southwestern Minnesota.

Born and raised in Southern California, Theresa came to Minnesota to earn her bachelor’s degree in history at Carleton College and decided to stay. She has lived in southwest Minnesota for more than 30 years, and Theresa and her wife make their home in rural Balaton. She cares about the region and believes SWIF and other organizations like it that are based in southwest Minnesota are vital to bringing attention and funding to local needs.