Women Winning

Mary McKinley is the Executive Director of Heartland Democracy, a nonprofit that works to bring discussion and skills of deep and personal community building, civic engagement, and connection to people in the Midwest. Working with community leaders, educators, parents, young people, and national and international experts, Mary has incorporated current research, community voices, and best practices into Heartland’s evolving set of curricula to find ways to help Minnesotans address complex issues in our community. She worked for the Open Society Institute in Budapest and Washington, spent several years at the Aspen Institute working on foreign policy programs, and was associate director of the Markle Foundation’s Task Force on National Security in the Information Age, among other positions. Raised in the Midwest, Mary left after college and lived in Eastern Europe, Washington, DC, and New York City before returning to Minneapolis with her family in
2010.

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.

Liz Young has worked in politics for over a decade, most recently as the District Director for Congresswoman Angie Craig, following her time as Director of Advancement with Women Winning and five years with former State Senator Jeff Hayden. She has extensive campaign experience at all levels of government: federal, statewide, legislative and municipal. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Syracuse University and holds a dual degree in Political Science and French as well as a Certificat des Études Politiques from the Université de Strasbourg.

Along with serving kpCompanies as SVP of Client Services since its inception, Joelle also serves as Chief Inclusion Officer at Interaction Traction, Inc., a Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Strategy & Engagement firm established in 2004. Interaction Traction, Inc. has produced work for organizations nationwide, including Chicago White Sox, Kansas City Royals, Minnesota Twins, FedEx, and more.

Additionally, she serves as the Chair of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Commission for the City of Golden Valley, is a member of the Forbes Communication Council and National Black MBA Association and sits on several boards, including the Minnesota Opera, Americana Community Bank, and PRN Alumni Foundation.

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.

Lauren Gilchrist brings more than 15 years experience in public policy, communications, strategy, and community relations.  She currently directs community health and public affairs at Children’s Minnesota and previously led a five-state External Affairs team as an executive at Planned Parenthood North Central States. Lauren has held senior leadership roles at the state and federal levels advising on health and human services policy, including in the offices of Governor Mark Dayton, former US Senator Al Franken, and the late US Senator Ted Kennedy.  She attended Wesleyan University in Connecticut and earned her MPH at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health where she also teaches a course on children’s health policy.

Hodan Guled is owner and CEO of Briva Health, an innovative social enterprise with a mission to improve healthcare access for all Minnesotans, particularly those facing barriers. Under her leadership, Briva Health has become the largest healthcare navigation entity in Minnesota serving more than 100 thousand people per year. Briva serves diverse communities and is focused on helping Minnesotans navigate the healthcare system, enroll into health insurance, and implement numerous public health initiatives. Hodan has a B.S. in Biology from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Master in Public Health from Emory University.

Melissa Hettmann embarked on her journey in political activism while working in Higher Education at various Minnesota State Universities. She played a pivotal role in helping students register to vote and developed engaging programs to promote voter awareness and education. Inspired by her experience at the Women’s March in Washington, D.C., alongside a group of women from St. Cloud, Melissa felt compelled to deepen her involvement. In subsequent election cycles, she organized postcard campaigns, served as an election judge, and became actively engaged in her local community. In 2023, she joined the Women’s Winning Events committee, where she found her true calling and organization. Melissa holds a BA in Communications from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, a Master’s in Education from Northern Arizona University, and an MBA from Mankato State University. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, crafting, hunting, and watching reality TV.

Lorrie Janatopoulos served as the CareerForce Director at the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), a job she held for nearly four years. CareerForce focuses on helping people connect to a career path leading to quality jobs and assists employers find the workforce they need.

As a lifelong resident of Greater Minnesota, Lorrie has been active in public work her entire career with over three decades of experience in workforce and community development.  Most of her career was spent as the Planning Director at Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency (AEOA), a community action agency headquartered in Virginia, Minnesota.  At AEOA, Janatopoulos was responsible for developing programs that met the needs of people experiencing poverty.  As Lorrie describes, “I’ve created housing for youth and adults facing homelessness. I developed an employment training program for women in non-traditional fields. I led the northeastern region of Minnesota in “It’s Time Minnesota,” a grassroots advocacy campaign to include sexual orientation in the Minnesota human rights act. I have run for public office twice.  My life’s work and passion has revolved around equity and inclusion. As a white woman, I strive to recognize and undo my racism. As a Lesbian living in a socially conservative place, I know the challenge of being seen, the persistence required for recognition, and the fear of dancing publicly with my wife”.

Janatopoulos holds a master’s degree in public affairs from the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota. In 2016, Janatopoulos was named a Bush Foundation Fellow.  She is also a recipient of AARP’s 50 over 50 award in the disrupter category, a moniker she wears proudly.  Life accomplishments that Lorrie is most proud of include her 1992 “marriage” to her wife, Sharon Chadwick that caused a bit of stir in the City of Virginia; development of the Virginia Youth Foyer, permanent housing for youth facing homelessness in the City of Virginia; running for office and helping other women run; obtaining her Bachelor’s Degree at age 40 and her Master’s Degree at age 60, and changing delivery of DEED CareerForce services to meet job seekers where they are, reaching out to those who too frequently have been left out and left behind.

As Deputy Mayor for Saint Paul, Jaime Tincher is responsible for the daily operations of city government.  She brings state government, private sector, operations, emergency and crisis management, political campaign and organizing experience, to this role that requires public sector expertise, relentless grit, a persistent equity lens, and an optimistic can-do attitude to achieving big goals and tackling complex challenges.  

Deputy Mayor Tincher is a strong proponent of an enterprise-approach to municipal governing, bringing together city workers from across departments to serve the needs of more than 300,000 residents. Tincher prioritized developing a city culture of care and compassion in response to the housing and opioid crisis and established Saint Paul’s Homeless Assistance Response Team (HART).  She has been instrumental in advancing Mayor Carter’s bold, progressive agenda including the People’s Prosperity Guaranteed Income Pilot, CollegeBound, reimagining public safety and launching the Office of Neighborhood Safety. 

Prior to being appointed Saint Paul Deputy Mayor in 2017, Tincher served as Chief of Staff to Governor Mark Dayton and Lt. Governor Tina Smith.  Throughout her decades of public policy and political experience, she has led on major issues, managed budget negotiations, led through emergencies, directed the operations of the Minnesota state government, and served in a number of campaign manager and legislative roles. 

Deputy Mayor Tincher holds a bachelor’s degree from Denison University.  She studied conflict resolution in Chiapas, Mexico and at the School for International Training in Vermont.  Tincher is a Certified Professional Coach (CPC) and an Energy Leadership Index™ Master Practitioner.  She lives on the East Side in Saint Paul with her two children. 

Kristin Trapp is an employment lawyer and litigator at Best & Flanagan. In her pro bono practice, she represents asylum seekers. Kristin received her J.D. from the University of Minnesota Law School, where she was awarded the Mansfield-Meron Fellowship for Social Activism and the University of Minnesota Human Rights award for her leadership as Student Director of the Immigration and Human Rights Clinic and researcher for the Human Rights Center.

Prior to her law career, Kristin earned her MSc at the London School of Economic’s Gender Institute. Her research focused on the portrayals of gender in media, feminist legal theory, sexual violence in conflict, and abortion law. Kristin spreads awareness about these topics, and other related topics, on her growing TikTok account, @thefeministlawyer. Her passion for human rights and gender equity inspired her Juris Doctorate.

In her free time, Kristin enjoys exploring the outdoors with her one-year old Labrador, Lillie. Her husband is a general surgery resident at HCMC and the two spend their limited free together dining through the Twin Cities’ impressive food scene.

Sherry Sanchez Tibbetts is a results-driven leader with over 15 years of experience in innovation and strategic growth across the nonprofit, higher education, and community sectors. She has a proven record of building cross-sector partnerships with Fortune 500 companies, tribal governments, and community organizations. Sherry has led enterprise-wide transformations, secured over $18 million in social impact programming in Northeastern Minnesota, and developed strategies for long-term organizational success. Currently, as Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) at Greater Twin Cities United Way, she integrates DEI into broader organizational strategies,
advances donor diversification efforts, and fosters collaborative leadership to ensure all communities thrive.

As an Indigenous (Comanche) Latina with a background in strategic communications, Sherry designed a multi-media partnership with Telemundo at the Alzheimer’s Association, significantly expanding the organization’s reach in Hispanic/Latine communities. She also initiated and co-led a national workgroup on Indian Country, resulting in a 425% increase in tribal engagement and the development of culturally relevant materials.

In her role as Executive Director of the American Indian Community Housing Organization, Sherry led an $8.5 million capital campaign and testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, deepening her commitment to dismantling systemic barriers for women and communities of color.

Sherry holds a BA from the University of Texas at Austin, a JD from St. Mary’s University School of Law, and is certified in nonprofit accounting. She serves as Board Secretary, Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee, and member of the Finance Committee for the Minnesota Humanities Center; is a Board Member of Minnesota HACER; and is an advisory board member for the International Association on Indigenous Aging. Sherry is also a member of CHIEF and the Forbes Nonprofit Council.

Sherry thrives on challenges, embraces change, and continuously seeks to push past preconceived notions of what is possible.

Katy Sen is Lobbyist Principal and immediate past Chair of Messerli Kramer’s Government Relations group.  Katy lobbies for reproductive rights and access to contraception at the Minnesota Capitol.  She led the successful legislative push to double Sexual and Reproductive Health Services grants in Minnesota in 2023. During the 2024 session, Katy worked as part of the coalition to require Minnesota to establish scientifically-accurate health education standards.  Prior to joining Messerli Kramer, Katy served as Deputy Chief of Staff for Governor Mark Dayton, where she oversaw development of the Governor’s biennial and capital budgets. Katy also served as the Director of Research in the Minnesota House of Representatives DFL Caucus for seven years.  Katy holds a Master’s degree in Public Policy from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Northwestern University.

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.

Laura has over 15 years of nonprofit experience across a variety of sectors including hunger relief, housing, workforce development, education, and more.  She is currently the Fundraising Director for OneVillage Partners, an international NGO that does community-led development and gender equity work in Sierra Leone.  She has a BS from the University of Minnesota in Family Social Science and an MBA certificate in Nonprofit Management from the University of St Thomas.  Laura was born and raised in northern Minnesota but has called Saint Paul home for the last 18 years.  In her free time she enjoys reading, hiking, and hosting dinner parties and game nights with friends and family.

Marquita Stephens was named president and CEO of the Urban League Twin Cities in July of 2023. She is the first woman to lead the 98-year-old organization, which is based in Minneapolis. She has served as interim president and CEO since January. Stephens has spent 20-plus years in public service, focusing on “helping to build strong families and potential within communities, particularly communities of color”. Before joining the nonprofit, Stephens served as CEO of the African American Adoption Agency. While there, Stephens worked “to preserve the family unit by recruiting family members and engaging culturally competent homes in the placement of African American children and children of color who are overly represented in Minnesota’s foster care system”. Stephens also worked in community engagement with the Roseville Area Schools. In that post, she held the first “Intentional Social Intervention” with district staff, students, parents and those in the community to focus on multicultural issues. For the city of Roseville, she developed Community Conversations after the 2016 shooting death of Philando Castile by a St. Anthony police officer.

In 2017, Stephens started at the Urban League Twin Cities, where she led the education division. She instituted the Center for the Advancement of Black Families and the Community Caring for Its Children program as well as a parent academy and summer STEM program. Additionally, she worked with Minneapolis Public Schools to develop an equity framework. In 2021, she was promoted to vice president of strategic engagement and chief strategy officer. Marquita Stephens (Democratic Party) ran for election to the Minnesota State Senate to represent District 53. She ran a competitive race in the Democratic primary against incumbent Susan Kent. Marquita remains committed to women’s leadership.