Cynthia Bauerly has extensive experience in law, management, and public policy, serving in key public sector leadership and management roles in Washington D.C. and in Minnesota. She has also worked and volunteered for national, state, and local campaigns and recounts for over thirty years.
Most recently, Cynthia served as Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Revenue from 2015 to 2020. She led over 1,400 employees as they helped Minnesotans access the economic opportunities of the tax code and collected over $23 billion annually to fund state services. Prior to joining Revenue, she served as Deputy Commissioner of Workforce Development at the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) where she led the department’s work of providing economic security for transitioning workers and workforce training and readiness.
From 2008 to 2013, Bauerly served as a Commissioner of the United States Federal Election Commission and as Chair of the agency in 2011. She also served as Legislative Director for Senator Chuck Schumer developing and implementing a broad policy agenda that included working with the Senate Rules, Judiciary, and Finance Committees and the Joint Economic Committee of Congress. She has also worked in private practice in both Minnesota and Washington, D.C.
Bauerly earned a B.A. from Concordia College in Moorhead, a J.D. from Indiana University School of Law-Bloomington, and a M.P.A. from Indiana University’s School of Environmental and Public Affairs. She grew up in central Minnesota and now lives in Minneapolis with her husband and their dog, Kiko.
Kathy Heltzer serves as the Director of BSW/MSW Field Education in the Department of Social Work at the University of Minnesota Duluth where she has been on the faculty since 1998. Prior to this Kathy was a social worker for the Professional Association of Treatment Homes (PATH) working with children and families in the foster care system. Kathy grew up in St. Louis Park, Minnesota and moved to Duluth after spending a year in New Zealand as a Rotary Exchange student. She graduated from UMD with a Bachelor's Degree in Social Development and then worked two years in child protection before attending graduate school at the University of Wisconsin-Madison where where earned a Master's Degree in Social Work (MSW). She is active in the Duluth community and was recognized in 2014 for her community work with the Chancellor's Award for Public Service by UMD. Prior to this she received the College of Education and Human Service Professions Outstanding Service Award. Non-profit board work has included serving as the President of the Duluth Family Area YMCA, a trustee for the Duluth Area YMCA Foundation/Board of Trustees and the Human Development Center. She received the Albert and Louise Ordean "Making a Difference" Award in 1991 for her volunteer work as a long-term mentor with the Mentor Duluth program. She is a graduate of the Blandin Community Leadership Program. More recently, she is working on a collaborative effort, "Dementia Friendly Duluth" and has been involved in launching an initiative for people with dementia and their care partners to participate in the "Victory Chorus". She can often be found emceeing community events and helping raise money through live auctions for a variety of non-profit organizations.
Kathy Murphy is a retired business consultant with Andersen Consulting and Accenture, and a former account representative for a software company based in Silicon Valley. Kathy holds a BS in Economics and Statistics and an MBA from the University of Minnesota.
With a passion for community, Kathy is an engaged leader and volunteer. Kathy has assumed leadership roles with University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, Minneapolis Institute of Art Friends Board, and the Wayzata and Minnetonka Garden Clubs.
Kathy has two adult daughters and lives in Woodland with her husband, Norm Rickeman.
Babette Apland is a senior executive with a proven track record in launching new and innovative health care solutions. Her passion is creating patient-centered health care and developing successful strategies for organizations to grow and succeed in complex and changing marketplaces. Babette began her career building new and innovative health care delivery services. After studying international health care systems in Sweden, she joined HealthPartners, an integrated health care financing and delivery system serving 1.5 million members and 1 million patients with over 1,700 physicians. During her career at HealthPartners, Babette launched and grew several divisions including provider relations and partnerships, population health and behavioral health. Most recently Babette joined American Public Media Group to lead a new national initiative to measurably raise the American public’s and key stakeholder’s awareness and understanding of mental health. Her goals include activating public conversation and creating a platform for change through leveraging APMG’s innovative media and convening capabilities including new on-air programming, on demand programming, digital content, civic engagement and live events.
Emma Faris was born and raised into a political family that taught her that “showing up” was the duty of every woman. She has been attending Women Winning events since she was a little girl and understands the importance of putting her strengths to work. Since 2010 (when she became one of the first members of Women Winning's LAUNCH Committee), she has simply continued to put one foot in front of the other, showing up to support all of the powerful and impactful things Women Winning does to protect our reproductive rights in the state of Minnesota and beyond. She has been a Realtor for 20+ years and is very honored to be in a leadership position with this organization! Emma is currently a Real Estate Agent with Compass and spends her "free" time enjoying her son, Mason.
Dr. Annie Lili Baietto is a board certified doctor of chiropractic. She has been providing holistic health care to families in the twin cities since 2019. Her experiences in women’s health fuels her passion for equal health care rights for all genders. She is an avid supporter of women’s reproductive rights, and believes that as a health provider, it is her duty to provide the best care and support to her patients.
Born and raised in China until the age of 10, she immigrated to the United States with her mother in hopes of finding more opportunities that can be earned by anyone through hard work. Prior to becoming a doctor of chiropractic, Dr. Baietto worked in the art world with auction houses and art dealers in New York, and later museums and galleries in the twin cities. Finding her true calling to serve others in her thirties has given Annie the world view of “it’s never too late”. She will carry this mantra forward into all future endeavors.
As one of the newest board members, she is looking forward to the guidance and mentorship from tenured, passionate women who make up this team. Her eagerness to learn and grow alongside this organization during a pivotal moment in our nation’s history will translate to future opportunities to provide the same mentorship and leadership shown to her through this board of accomplished women.
Annie lives in the Twin Cities area with her husband, Jon and their son, Ethan.
Kim has significant political, policy and advocacy experience. She works with healthcare advocacy organizations to maintain open access to life saving therapies for people living with rare disease. Kim’s career began in youth leadership development. Her passion for working to make a difference led her to a career in public policy. Kim was a candidate for the Minnesota House of Representatives in 1992. Her past positions have included roles in federal and state government, the University of Minnesota, pharmaceutical associations, biopharmaceutical manufacturers and public relations firms.
Ashleigh is a lawyer at Best & Flanagan LLP and focuses on labor and employment law, appellate advocacy, and general civil litigation. She has argued before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit and the Minnesota Supreme Court. She was recently recognized as a “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers. Ashleigh graduated from the University of Minnesota Law School and the College of Saint Benedict. She got her start in politics by interning in the White House during the Obama Administration, for Senator Amy Klobuchar, and for the City of Minneapolis. Ashleigh also serves on the Board of Directors for the Minnesota Justice Foundation.
Karen Hudson is the chief sales officer for Grant Thornton. She leads the firm’s national business development team, which is responsible for building long term client relationships, understanding client business challenges and bringing the breadth of Grant Thornton expertise and services to provide client value. Her role also encompasses sales recruiting, training, enablement, and compensation as well as advising on broader growth strategies and initiatives. Before joining Grant Thornton, Karen held a variety of sales, technical and executive roles at IBM. In addition to Women Winning, Karen also serves on the board of directors of the Center for Economic Inclusion and the Minnesota Technology Alliance. Karen lives in St Paul with her husband, Harley Gee, and has three young adult children. She enjoys door knocking and phone banking for Women Winning candidates.
Jackie joined the Bush Foundation as the Education Portfolio Director in 2018. She manages the strategy, programs, and partnerships for the Foundation’s education initiative, which focuses on making education more relevant for students in terms of who they are, how they learn, and where they want to go.
Prior to the Bush Foundation, Jackie spent over a decade working in public school district administration. Most recently, she led the Office of Strategic Planning, Policy and Grants Development for Saint Paul Public Schools (SPPS). In that role she led several high-impact projects including developing and implementing multiple district strategic plans, developing inclusive policies, and managing informational campaigns for two successful referendum ballot issues. Prior to SPPS, she worked in operations and budget management with Chicago Public Schools. She also has experience working in brand marketing and manufacturing engineering.
Jackie currently serves on the board of Genesys Works - Twin Cities (GWTC). GWTC works with over 350 high school and college students, most of whom are from low-income households and/or are first gen college students. The students receive training and are placed in year-long internships in information technology. She is also on the Executive Committee for Generation Next, which uses a collective impact model to improve outcomes for students at SPPS and Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS.)
Jackie is originally from St. Louis, Missouri. She has a bachelor's degree from Stanford University and a master's degree from Northwestern University – Kellogg School of Management. She lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two young daughters.
Betsy Sitkoff is a consultant with Process for Peace, LLC, a practice she founded in 2013. Process for Peace provides leadership to organizations, community groups, and schools addressing a broad range of needs including support for immigrant and refugee families, and family and community violence.
Betsy is community activist and a past board president of the National Council of Jewish Women MN.
Betsy holds a BS in Child Psychology and a Parent Education License from the University of Minnesota, and a MA in Public Administration from Hamline University. In 2016 Betsy completed her 230-hour yoga teacher training certificate.
Betsy has two children and lives in Minneapolis with her husband, Steve.
Makeda Zulu is the University of Minnesota Robert J. Jones Urban Research and Outreach-Engagement Center’s (UROC) chief executive officer. She provides executive oversight of strategic planning, revenue generation, financial stewardship, organizational development, staff management, and operational activities. She has been a part of this University-community place-based innovation since 2006.
Over the last 25+ years Zulu has served her community personally and professionally. She has served on boards of Juxtaposition Arts and Towerside Innovation District. Makeda is a former Senate District 59 party chair, and has been instrumental in a few campaigns for office. She is currently a board member of Parents in Community Action Head Start and Black Storytellers Alliance. Her impact spans work in youth development, childcare and family programming for almost a decade with the Twin Cities YMCA, then added community development, as an organizer for the Northside Residents Redevelopment Council. The University awarded her the Outstanding Community Service Award (2014).
She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in business management from Grambling State University and a Master of Public Affairs degree from the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs.
Makeda believes in Ubuntu – I am because we are; self-determined people who work collaboratively in purpose and creativity to make positive change. She lives in North Minneapolis.
KaYing Yang is a social justice advocate who has built and led community development efforts in the US and in Asia. Over twenty years ago KaYing began her career as a community organizer and nonprofit leader providing social services and advocacy to refugees and immigrants. Nationally and globally, KaYing worked in coalition with civil rights groups and international development agencies to address educational, economic and gender inequities. In 2013, she became the co-founder and President of RedGreen Rivers, a social enterprise working with women and girls in the Mekong Region to build sustainable communities. Today, she is the Director of Programs for the Coalition of Asian American Leaders. She is also a recipient of a 2019 Bush Fellowship from the Bush Foundation.
Mia Z Parisian has spent most of her life in Robbinsdale. Mia’s mom raised her and her siblings in a little blue house with a red door in Ward 3. Mia attended Robbinsdale schools, and her first job was with the Parks and Recreation Department. She graduated from St. Olaf College and moved abroad to teach at a University in Southeast Asia. Upon returning home to Robbinsdale, she now works as an Instructional Designer and lives with her husband in that very same blue house with the red door in Ward 3. She is passionate about inclusion, the environment, and representation. Mia serves as the Chair of Robbinsdale’s Planning Commission. Robbinsdale has never had more than one woman serve on its City Council at one time. Mia is now the only woman on the Robbinsdale City Council ballot and looks forward to serving her community in a new and impactful way.
My name is Kindra Ramaker and I was born in Spring Valley, Minnesota. My family and I have lived in rural High Forest, just outside Stewartville, for the past 10 years. I graduated from public high school in Spring Valley and went to college at Creighton University and got a graduate degree from the University of Minnesota. I’ve spent most of my professional career as an analyst and a project manager. I’ve found these skills very valuable in every aspect of my life. It involves understanding the big picture first, and then breaking it down into actionable steps. It requires leading diverse groups of people and getting them to see the same vision and do their unique part to accomplish it - all within the timeline and on budget. I thrive on tackling some of the most difficult, sometimes even gnarly problems. I love looking at situations and finding the most wins for everyone rather than competing for one group of people to win the most. My best satisfaction comes from seeing teams thrive and problems getting solved. Trophies have never been important to me.
Therese Kiser is running for re-election to Crystal City Council, Ward I. She was first elected in 2018 and wants to continue the work during a second term. Therese is a long time Crystal resident and has been involved in her community in many ways. She has volunteered for many organizations. Currently, she serves on the Community Board of the New Hope YMCA and is Vice-president of the Crystal Historical Society. Therese and her husband, Randy, have been married for 35 years, they have two grown sons and love to travel.
Kriystauhl Fitchett is no stranger when it comes to making strong inroads in political affairs. Having grown up with parents who sparked her interest in becoming active in community action, she knew her purpose in life and the direction of her personal and professional career. After earning a BA in political science and an MA in public administration, the Ohio native stepped away from her hometown to establish new beginnings in Minnesota. In 2006, she immediately began volunteering with the city of Burnsville to learn, first-hand, what the strongest needs of the community were. While working in numerous government positions with the Minnesota Legislature, the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office, and the Minnesota District Courts, Kriystauhl has seamlessly worked with Mayor’s, elected and appointed Officials, Judicial Officers, Law Enforcement, business owners, private citizens to members holding local office. She firmly believes building relationships and a coalition to work together to achieve common goal will help Burnsville become a model city. While actively serving as the Chair for the Burnsville Economic Development Commission, Chair for Minnesota MAPE employees, and previously serving with the Dayton Administration as Co-Chair of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee, her sights are focused on becoming the first African American female to sit on the Burnsville City Council where she hopes to apply more than 25 years of knowledge and experience working with economic development, government budgets, block grants and public programs to help the city achieve its goal to provide more affordable housing, accessibility and expansion of broadband, and to revitalize its under-developed commercial real estate. Kriystauhl believes these efforts will help to make Burnsville a more vibrant and inclusive community for all its ever-increasing diverse residents.
Karen MacLaughlin is a candidate for Olmsted County Attorney (Rochester, Minnesota). Ms. MacLaughlin received her law degree with honors from William Mitchell College of Law and has been a successful trial attorney in Rochester for 19 years and counting. She served as an Assistant Olmsted County Attorney from 1999-2016, and now practices family law for a local legal aid agency representing low-income clients. She was elected to the Rochester School Board in 2020, and currently serves as Treasurer. She previously served on the boards of the local Women’s Shelter, the League of Women Voters, and the Olmsted County Human Rights Commission. Ms. MacLaughlin is an active and visible member of the community, and is a passionate advocate for human rights, safe communities, crime victims, and reducing systemic barriers to justice. She is fiercely pro-choice and a strong advocate for reproductive justice. She believes every person has a right to a safe, legal and accessible abortion. She believes in every person’s right to bodily autonomy and the individual right to make healthcare decisions. If elected Olmsted County Attorney and if abortion becomes illegal in Minnesota, Ms. MacLaughlin is committed to using her prosecutorial discretion to deny prosecution of anyone who has an abortion, provides an abortion, or assists with an abortion in Olmsted County.
Emily currently works as the Data Privacy Manager for a publicly-traded corporation. She believes all of us have a right to privacy and to have our personal information protected. Emily analyzes state and federal privacy laws and develops policies to protect our clients’ personal data. She also values government openness. Previously, Emily was the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board’s Data Practices Compliance Officer, responsible for ensuring its employees faithfully complied with the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act. Emily’s MBA is from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota.
Susan Pha is the SD38 DFL candidate for State Senate. She currently serves as the Mayor Pro Tem of the City of Brooklyn Park. She was elected to the City Council in 2016 and re-elected in 2020. She is a Commissioner of the Economic and Development Authority and a Board Member of the Brooklyn Bridge Alliance for Youth. For almost 20 years Susan has organized and built community power to uplift women and girls through mentorship, addressing gender inequities, and creating economic opportunities. Susan is known as a leader and champion for youth programs, education and economic opportunities, livable wages, and affordable housing. She is a passionate advocate for access to mental health services, and affordable healthcare. Susan is ready to work and fight hard for policies that improve the lives of the people in her district and across Minnesota.
Michelle Boyechko is a small farmer in Northern Minnesota raising Dexter Cattle, KuneKune Pigs and two teenagers. She felt obliged to rub after the Roe decision was leaked, followed by the Buffalo, NY and Uvalde, TX shootings. The thought that she may never see her kids after hugging them good-bye the morning after Uvalde was too much. Michelle is a strong proponent for abortion rights, common sense gun legislation and rebuilding rural areas by supporting small to medium farms.
Richfield At-Large Council Member Mary Supple is running for Mayor of Richfield. Supple is an active local leader and was a teacher in Richfield Public Schools for 33 years. She currently serves on the City Council and is chair of the Richfield Housing and Redevelopment Authority. Council Member Supple was active as a local union leader in Education Richfield serving as local president as well as lead contract negotiator. She was also a member of the Education Minnesota Governing Board, a member of the National Education Association Board of Directors, and a trustee of the Minnesota Teacher Retirement Association. Supple is excited about the future of Richfield and wants to work together with residents to dream about and build the future of our thriving community.
