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Delaney joined Parks & Trails Council in May 2025. She graduated from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, where she studied Strategic Communication: Advertising and Public Relations and Communication Studies. During her summers at college, she worked at the summer camp she attended growing up—first as a camp counselor, then as Media Director—combining her love for youth leadership and the outdoors. With previous experience in strategic communication, social media, and community engagement, she hopes to help share stories that support Minnesota’s parks and trails. In her free time, Delaney enjoys watching reality tv, trying new coffee shops, and reading mystery & thriller books.
Before coming to the Parks & Trails Council as communications director in 2005, Brett worked in communications for the Minneapolis Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP). He has worked as a reporter for the Columbia Missourian and internationally in Jamaica and South Africa. Brett holds a bachelor of individualized studies degree from the University of Minnesota and a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Missouri – Columbia. Brett attributes his appreciation for parks to his father, a lifelong parks and recreation administrator who raised Brett in the world-class Minneapolis park system.
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Lisa Filter joined Parks & Trails Council in June 2012. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Anthropology from the University of Minnesota and a master’s degree in Natural Resources Science and Management with a focus on recreation resource management from the University of Minnesota.
She started her career in the Americorps VISTA program where she worked at the White Earth Land Recovery Project in northern Minnesota. Returning to Minneapolis, Lisa worked for the youth-development organization, Camp Fire for five years. She spent one summer as an interpretive-naturalist at Interstate State Park, one of her favorite parks.
She is also an avid park user. In 2019 she completed the Minnesota State Park Passport Club, along with her spouse and child. For the uninitiated, the club sets a goal of visiting all the state parks and recreation areas in Minnesota. Her son grew from a newborn to a teen in the 13 years it took to complete. Now, she has started the second time around and has added the hiking club to the goal.
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Lauren joined the Parks & Trails Council in 2022. She attended the University of St. Thomas and studied Environmental Science with a concentration in biology and a minor in geology. Aside from solidifying her love of wildlife (turtles in particular), she came away with a passion for data. Professionally, she has channeled that energy into working behind the scenes with environmental non-profits for the last several years doing database management, including membership and gift processing. When she doesn’t have her nose buried in spreadsheets, you can find her catching a Chicago Cubs game, spending time with her family, or paddling around in her kayak.
Andrew has worked with Parks & Trails Council since 2013. A graduate of Iowa State University and the University of Minnesota, his past work has spanned several disciplines – including outdoor recreation, tourism, and public health – and has been published in numerous research journals. With Parks & Trails Council his work is focused on better understanding how Minnesotans use and benefit from their parks and trails and informing Parks & Trails Council’s legislative priorities. When not at the office, Andrew enjoys exploring Minnesota’s trails by foot and by bike, relaxing with a cup of coffee, and following his favorite sports teams.
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Anneliese joined Parks & Trails Council in December 2022. She grew up camping, hiking, biking, and skiing in Minnesota’s public lands and gained a love for plants while helping her mom with wetland health surveys in Dakota County. She obtained her B.A. from the University of Minnesota Morris, where she studied Environmental Science and Environmental Studies. Prior to joining Parks & Trails Council, she worked with The Nature Conservancy on the Minnesota Prairie Recovery Project, managed order fulfillment and prairie seed collection for a native plant nursery, and assisted with plant ecology research at the University of Minnesota. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, watercolor painting, reading, and exploring the great outdoors.
A highly-regarded leader in Minnesota politics for more than twenty years, Ann Lenczewski assists Lockridge Grindal Nauen government relations clients on a broad range of issues, including tax policy, local government matters, and political strategy.
Ms. Lenczewski has earned a reputation as a smart, deeply knowledgeable, and effective leader in her many roles in state and local government. Ms. Lenczewski unique expertise in tax policy and its interaction across state, county, and municipal governments—together with her unparalleled political savvy—is an asset to Lockridge Grindal Nauen’s government relations clients.
Ms. Lenczewski has served in the Minnesota House of Representatives since 1999 and became known for her moderate, practical voice as chair of the Tax Committee. Prior to her service in state government, Ms. Lenczewski was twice elected to the Bloomington City Council and also served on the Bloomington Chamber of Commerce Board.
Ms. Lenczewski is a graduate of the College of St. Benedict and completed graduate work at Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota.
Barb Simonson works as an independent consultant to Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota and 17 other nonprofit organizations. Barb started an accounting company in 1991, after graduating from Augsburg College with a B.A. in accounting and finance. She works solely with nonprofit organizations because she believes that by providing sound financial management and support she can help strengthen these organizations and help them do good in the world. Barb also trains boards and staff members on various aspects of financial management, as well as financial policies and procedures.
Steve Young worked as a volunteer land project manager for Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota for three years before becoming a land acquisition consultant for the organization in 2009. Steve has 20+ years of experience in the commercial real estate industry and is a licensed real estate broker in Minnesota. He holds a bachelor’s degree in construction administration from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a master’s degree in real estate development from Columbia University in New York, NY.
Kathy Bonnifield is the Judicial Independence Program Officer at the Piper Fund, an initiative of the Proteus Fund. Kathy’s nonprofit experience has primarily focused on civil and human rights, including positions at the Center for Victims of Torture, The McKnight Foundation, and Citizens for Election Integrity Minnesota. She is also a University of Minnesota Humphrey Policy Fellow and has an MBA from the University of St. Thomas.
Kathy grew up in New Ulm, and as a child enjoyed many hours playing and exploring Flandrau State Park as well as trips to parks in the immediate area. Her love of Minnesota’s state parks and trails grew when she volunteered with Judge David Minge for an annual Parks and Trials bike ride, eventually becoming a board member from 2011 to 2014. She is excited to return to the board and to continue to support the great work of Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota.
Tharangi Cumaranatunge has been with ALIGHT (formerly American Refugee Committee) an international non-profit that works with displaced and marginalized communities since 2012.
She has been a leader in strategic and finance systems and transformative change both at the individual and organizational levels. She comes with diverse experience in for-profit and nonprofit in both local and global organizations spanning a multitude of disciplines such as operations, strategy, finance, fundraising and marketing.
She’s passionate about combining her work and personal experiences to serve the global community. More recently she helped with the creation of the first Rotaract Club inside a refugee camp and led efforts to support international communities hit by natural disasters.
Tharangi grew up in Sri Lanka and came to Minnesota on a Fulbright scholarship for her MBA from Carlson School of Management. She also led and continues to participate in Stretch Expeditions with the Prouty Project to serve and learn about diverse societies around the globe. She has a deep connection to nature and is in awe of the national, regional and state park network and the people who work to uphold it for future generations.
When Verónica Jaralambides transferred from her native Buenos Aires with a marketing job, she fell in love with Minnesota for its access to green spaces and recreation opportunities. And she never looked back.
Verónica’s passionate about getting the word out about access, something she’s been involved in for many years in different capacities. She’s previously served on the boards for Parks & Trails Council and the Minnesota Orienteering Club, and was part of the Adventure MN Films team. She’s led old and new friends on adventures, including kayaking, canoeing, biking, camping, rock-climbing, and orienteering — and in the summer of 2024, she’s leading BIPOC-specific trips with Mississippi Park Connection. Her focus has been on traditionally underrepresented communities: Public lands and outdoor recreation are for all, regardless of socio-economic status, ability, race, ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation.
Verónica’s favorite outdoor places in Minnesota include Itasca and Zippel Bay state parks in Northwest Minnesota, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, the St. Croix River, and all of the Driftless Area parks in Southeast Minnesota.
When not out adventuring, Verónica works her best job yet in communications and equity with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services, promoting services for people with disabilities.
Rick Nelson is a retired faculty member in Finance from the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management. Prior to entering academics, he spent 16 years in various roles in corporate treasury, insurance, banking, and institutional investing. He holds finance undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Minnesota. He was a board member of Alliance Housing in Minneapolis for more than 30 years serving as treasurer and board chair. Rick has served on the Parks & Trails Finance Committee since 2020. A lifelong Minnesotan he enjoys biking, camping, canoeing, kayaking, hiking, and duck hunting. Rick and his wife Lisa enjoy visiting their grown sons Sam and Tommy, traveling, cooking, and spending time at their lake home in Grand Rapids with their yellow lab Rosie.
Kirk Rodysill practiced medicine for ten years at St. Paul Ramsey Hospital and 30 years at Mayo Clinic. While at Mayo, he was the vice chair of the General Medicine Division, a member of the institutional marketing and brand management committee and the space and equipment subcommittees that managed resource allocation. His last ten years involved the care of benefactors working with the Mayo Clinic Department of Development.
He has a special interest in the scientific basis for the health benefits derived from nature.
Kirk has been a member of Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota since 1997 and has visited all of the Minnesota State Parks with his 3 sons and wife, Lisa, and cycled many of the Minnesota State Trails.
He and his family were strong advocates in SE Minnesota for the passage of the Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Amendment, assisting with publicity.
Kirk has been a long-time member of the Superior Hiking Trail Association, hiked/backpacked the entirety of the SHT twice, helped build the trail section between Two Harbors and Duluth, and continues to maintain a trail section and campsite near Two Harbors.
Kirk builds furniture, putters in his excessive garden, hikes, bikes, snowshoes, and savors the diverse forests, prairies, wetlands, rivers, and lakes of the great State of Minnesota.
Wayne worked for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for most of his career on a variety of programs including Wild and Scenic Rivers, water trails, state forest resource planning, and 23 years as manager of the Local Grants program for parks, natural and scenic areas, and related programs and projects. He has also served on numerous boards and advisory committees related to outdoor recreation, natural resources, and the arts, including the state Parks and Trails Legacy Advisory Committee. Hobbies include hiking, reading, watercolor painting and travel. He has three adult children – two daughters in Minnesota and a son residing in Japan.
Tom Stoa is a physician with the Mayo Clinic Health System and Winona Health. Tom served in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 1977 to 1981. He has been a volunteer with the Minnesota Land Trust, Great River Bluffs State Park, the Upper Mississippi National Wildlife Refuge, Winona’s bike trails committee, and as a nordic ski trail groomer at St. Mary’s University.
Tom previously served on Parks & Trails Council’s Board of Directors from 2011-2020. In addition, he previously served on Minnesota’s Parks and Trails Legacy Advisory Committee, which advised on Legacy Amendment spending. Tom and his wife, Christine enjoy hiking, cycling, kayaking, scuba diving, and Nordic skiing.
Colleen’s career at Explore Minnesota included coordinating community tourism development and grants, maintaining government relations, serving on interagency committees, including Parks and Trails Legacy, and forging multi-agency partnerships – Pedal MN, Scenic Byways, sports marketing, wildlife and cultural tourism. She also worked at the Minnesota Restaurant, Hotel and Resort Associations, Minnesota State Parks and helped establish End-O-Line Railroad Park.
Colleen currently operates Jobs & Journeys LLC. Volunteering has always been a part of Colleen’s life, including service at Loaves and Fishes, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondolet, American Red Cross, and campaign work. She has a B.S. from the University of Minnesota in Parks and Recreation. Colleen is a mom to three great adult children and the perfect dog.
David Detert is a retired family physician. He was raised on the family farm near Fairmont, MN, graduated from Augustana University, Sioux Falls, SD, and the U of MN Medical School, then had a 40-year medical career practicing the full range of family medicine. He served in the US Navy in San Diego, the outback of Exmouth, Western Australia, and Kittery, ME, then returned to the Midwest to small agricultural communities. After a residency in Fargo, ND, practices included Redwood Falls/Wabasso, Litchfield, Cannon Falls, and Wanamingo, MN. He was a major in the medical corps of the MN National Guard. He helped establish hospice programs in Redwood Falls and Litchfield. He was a member of the Litchfield school board, including serving as board chair.
Dave and his wife, Sharon, are 40-year members of the Nature Conservancy, as well as members of the Conservancy Legacy program. He currently serves as the president of the Friends of Nerstrand Big Woods State Park and ex officio with the Mill Towns State Bike Trail group, both affiliates of Parks and Trails Council of Minnesota.
Dave enjoys walking, bicycling, gardening, fishing, and hunting. In 2019, 60 acres of the family farm were converted to a permanent environmental easement, reestablishing a wetland and prairie while providing a mechanism to cleanse water drainage from the residual agricultural land. Maintenance of this southern MN land is now a prime focus.
Scott is from Connecticut originally. He graduated from Brandeis University in 1977 with a B.A. in History, graduated from medical school at the University of Rochester in 1981, spent his Internship at Rhode Island Hospital in Providence, Rhode Island, and then completed his training in Internal Medicine and in Rheumatology at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., in 1987.
He came to Minnesota to begin Rheumatology practice at Park Nicollet Clinic in St. Louis Park. There, he also served as Chair of the Rheumatology Department for approximately 12 years, participated in numerous clinical studies relating to the treatment and management of Rheumatoid arthritis, and was part of the teaching and organizing faculty for many CME offerings. He served as chairman and a member of the Medical Ethics Committee at Methodist Hospital for many years. After a nearly 34-year career at Park Nicollet, he spent approximately 2 years working part-time at the New Ulm Medical Center in New Ulm, Minnesota.
Within a short time of moving to Minnesota, Scott and his wife Sydney realized the State was unique in its protection of undeveloped lands and in fostering the use of these areas. These sites enrich the lives of many Minnesotans and allow for easy access to natural areas and widespread use and appreciation of our natural resources.
In addition to experiencing the natural beauty of Minnesota, Scott and his wife love to travel across the United States and internationally. Scott enjoys cooking, photography, reading, and sampling many of the cultural amenities of the area, and staying close to and connected with their children and grandchildren
who were born and raised here.
Chuck Sekora is an attorney with Barna, Guzy & Steffen, Ltd., and a certified Real Property Law Specialist through the Minnesota State Bar Association. He earned his law degree from William Mitchell College of Law and holds a bachelor’s degree from St. John’s University. A long-time resident of Minnesota, he is deeply committed to public service, having served on the board of directors for Alexandra House, Inc. for six years and for Judicare of Anoka County, Inc. for 24 years. He has also contributed pro bono legal services to the Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota and currently serves on its Land Committee. An avid outdoors enthusiast, he enjoys time at his cabin in Schroeder and exploring Minnesota’s Great Outdoors. His passion for protecting natural spaces drives his continued dedication to the Parks & Trails Council. He is a member of the Minnesota State Bar Association and St. Stephen’s Catholic Church.
ten-Wa Theba is the General Manager of Venture Bikes Midtown and a 2023 graduate of St. Paul Academy & Summit School. A passionate advocate for equitable access to outdoor spaces, Aten-Wa has been immersed in Minnesota’s parks and trails since childhood. As Head Coach for snowboarding and cycling with Melanin in Motion, he has helped lead efforts to provide inclusive outdoor experiences for youth, women, and families of color. Through programs in snow sports, hiking, and cycling, Aten-Wa supports community wellness and fosters multigenerational connections to nature. He is committed to ensuring all communities have access to Minnesota’s green spaces, recognizing their importance in physical, emotional, and spiritual development. Aten-Wa brings a fresh, youth-driven perspective to the Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota, along with a deep personal investment in the future of outdoor equity and stewardship across the state.
Kimberley Washington is the executive director of The Neighborhood Hub, an organization committed to assisting Northside residents with attaining various resources, as well as building healthy families. Previously she was in creative services and brand management at RBC Wealth Management. She was the co-founder of RBC’s Multi-Cultural Employee Association, has volunteered for Habitat for Humanity, TC RISE!, and co-founded a women’s travel club, Women’s Rest and Renewal Retreat.
She is a bowling enthusiast, enjoys traveling both in the U.S. and abroad. She is currently introducing her grandchildren to the joys of camping, the fun of hiking and the beauty of Minnesota’s 10,000 lakes.
Chia Lee Xiong is the Data, Evaluation, and Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) Coordinator at the Brooklyn Bridge Alliance for Youth (BBAY). There, she supports work advancing youth-centered and youth-led research and projects alongside partnership building within the Brooklyn Park and Brooklyn Center area. Prior to the BBAY, Chia spent several years as a Community Engagement Coordinator at Three Rivers Park District focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and engaging marginalized communities in the outdoors. Outside of work, Chia is a leader in her community where she coordinates the Hmong Women + Queer Outdoors group, is an active member of the Hmong Public Health Association, and has been part of the Hennepin County Hmong Community Leadership Team for the past 4 years. Chia holds a Master of Public Health in health behavior and health education from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. She also has a Bachelor of Arts in geography from the University of St. Thomas, and while there, she was an intern at the Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota. She grew up in Brooklyn Park and attended Champlin Park High School. In her free time, she enjoys picking up new hobbies, working on DIY projects, and exploring the world through traveling and watching documentaries.
