Board of Directors

The VocalEssence Board of Directors serve as ambassadors for the organization in the larger community. They also guide VocalEssence in all major policy decisions while ensuring the financial stability of VocalEssence.

Board Officers

Carolina Maranon-Cobos, President
Program Manager, Institute for Advanced Study, University of Minnesota

Daniel Fernelius, President-Elect
Senior Development Officer, Let’s Encrypt

Valton Henderson, Vice President
HR and DEI practitioner, Robert Half International

Dan Dressen, Secretary
Retired Associate Provost, St. Olaf College

Kristen Hoeschler O’Brien, Treasurer
Business Management Consultant

Torrie Allen
President and CEO, Arts Midwest

Anna Boyle
Partner, Dorsey & Whitney LLP

Tanya M. Bransford
District Court Judge, Hennepin County District Court

Philip Brunelle (Ex-Officio Non-Voting)
Founder and Artistic Director, VocalEssence

Ben Brunnette (Ex-Officio Non-Voting)
Ensemble Singer Representative, VocalEssence

Martha Driessen
Professional Photographer

Cassandra Garnett
HR Director Global RD&E & CDS, Ecolab

Brianna Hill (Ex-Officio Non-Voting)
Chorus Representative, VocalEssence

Daniel Kantor
Composer and Business Developer

Lisa Merklin Lewis
Retired Vice President and Chief Counsel of the Employment Law Group in the General Counsel’s Office, Ameriprise Financial, Inc.

Rhoda Mhiripiri-Reed
Superintendent, Hopkins Public Schools

Richard Neuner
President, Neuner Consulting

Kristine Oberg
Senior Vice-President, Business Banking Segment Strategy, U.S. Bank

Jim Odland
Vice President and Managing Counsel, Thrivent Financial

Anna Ostroushko
Grants Management Associate, Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies

Doug Parish
Independent Director, Audit Committee Chair, Bridgewater Bancshares, Inc.

Joanne Reeck
Chief Inclusion Officer, Augsburg University

G. Phillip Shoultz, III (Ex-Officio Non-Voting)
Associate Conductor | Director of Learning and Engagement, VocalEssence

Jeff Smith
Vice President–Philanthropy and Advocacy, Vista Prairie Communities

Amanda Storm
Director of Development, Carbon Mapper

Timothy C. Takach
Composer

Bob Thacker
Consultant and Business Advisor

Mary Tjosvold
Owner, Crooners & CEO, Mary T. Inc

Elizabeth Truesdell Smith
Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary, Allina Heath

Amy Jaine Wielunski (Ex-Officio Non-Voting)
Executive Director, VocalEssence

Lifetime Directors

Ann Barkelew
Ann Buran
Art Kaemmer*
Nikki Lewis
Mike McCarthy*
Dave Mona
Fred Moore
Don Shelby
Dorene Wernke

Honorary Directors

Dominick Argento*
William Bolcom
Dave Brubeck*
Stewart Copeland
Aaron Copland*
Håkan Hagegård
Louise Heffelfinger*
Eskil Hemberg*
Betty Hulings*
Sigrid Johnson*
James Earl Jones*
Garrison Keillor
Sir James MacMillan
Donald Mitchell*
Helmuth Rilling
Sir John Rutter
Peter Schickele*
Dr. André J. Thomas
Eric Whitacre
*In remembrance

Board Officers