About the Northland Institute The Northland Institute was established in 1996 as a non-profit 501(c)(3) subsidiary corporation of the Northland Foundation. Mission The mission of the Northland Institute is to develop innovative asset-building strategies for community economic development organizations, entrepreneurial non-profits and low-income individuals. How does the Institute pursue its mission? The Institute is pursing its mission primarily through the design and implementation of the new products and services for the economic development finance field, the development of new approaches to support employee business ownership, and the transfer of knowledge to other like-minded organizations. Board Of Directors BILL HANSEN - Board Chair
President
Sawbill Canoe Outfitters, Inc.
4620 Sawbill Trail, Box 2129
Tofte, MN 55615-2129
Phone (218) 663-7150
Fax (218) 663-7980 Bill Hansen is President of Sawbill Canoe Outfitters, a full service canoe outfitting business on the edge of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in the Superior National Forest in northeastern Minnesota. He is a former trustee of the Northland Foundation, a regional philanthropic and economic development organization. Bill is a board member and spokesperson of Northeastern Minnesotans For Wilderness, a regional wilderness advocacy group. He has also been a volunteer producer/host for public radio station KUMD-FM in Duluth for twenty-five years. SCOTT MARTIN
President & CEO
Northland Institute
13911 Ridgedale Drive, Suite 260
Minneapolis, MN 55305-1771
Phone (952) 541-9674
Fax (952) 541-9684
Scott Martin is President & CEO of the Northland Institute. He has overall responsibility for the Institute's day-to-day operations and for the successful execution of its long-range strategies. He also directly manages both the Economic Development and organizational management activities of the Institute. Mr. Martin has more than 25 years of experience in marketing, urban planning, public administration, and economic development in both the public and private sectors. Prior to joining the Institute, he was Vice President of Business Development for a multi-state energy marketing company. He has also served as a board member of several regional and national foundations and non-profit organizations that seek to expand economic opportunities, provide affordable housing, and enhance education and job skills for low-income families. Mr. Martin has a degree in Urban Planning & Public Administration from Minnesota State - Mankato, and is a Certified Economic Development Finance Professional.
TOM RENIER
President
Northland Foundation
610 Sellwood Building
202 West Superior
Duluth, MN 55802
Phone (218) 723-4040
Fax (218) 723-4048 Tom Renier has been the President of the Northland Foundation since its inception in 1986. The Northland Foundation is a regional foundation primarily serving the 7-county area of Northeastern Minnesota. The Foundation engages in business development, providing direct loans, loan guarantees, and early stage seed capital to small and medium sized businesses. It also provides grants to nonprofit organizations to address issues affecting children and youth, the elderly, and disenfranchised members of the community. Northland has approximately $42 million in assets, and has distributed nearly $35 million in business loans and grants to nonprofits. Renier is a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Board of Trustees. He is a former member of the National Community Capital Association, the Minnesota Center for Rural Policy and Development, and the Board of Advisors for the School of Business and Economics of the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
CHRIS PAGE
Philanthropic Advisor
Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors
437 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10022-7001
Phone (212) 812-4323
Fax (212) 812-4335 Chris Page is a Philanthropic Advisor with Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors in New York, where he coordinates charitable giving by a range of individuals and institutions. Prior to joining RPA, he was a program officer at the Ford Foundation and Executive Director of the Economic Development Council of Northern Vermont. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of The Corporation For Enterprise Development (CFED) and the Community Resource Group. Mr. Page holds Bachelor of Science and Masters of Science degrees, with a specialization in community economic development, from the New Hampshire College School of Business Administration. MARK PHILLIPS
Business Development Consultant
Kraus Anderson Construction
772 Heron Avenue North
Oakdale, MN 55128
Phone (612) 805-6333 Mark Phillips is Business Development Consultant for Kraus Anderson Construction of St. Paul, Minnesota. He previously served as President of Iron Range Ventures, a regional community development venture capital firm serving northeastern Minnesota. His experience includes nearly 25 years in executive positions in both the private and public sectors, most recently as the Director of Corporate Relations and Economic Development at Minnesota Power in Duluth, and as Vice President of Business Banking for Wells Fargo in Virginia, Minnesota. Mr. Phillips has a degree in business administration from the University of Minnesota-Duluth, and completed the Minnesota Executive Program at the Carlson School of Management in Minneapolis. He has served in leadership positions on numerous corporate and non-profit boards, and is currently a member of the Northland Foundation's Board of Trustees.
JOE SERTICH
President
Northeast Higher Education District
PO Box 392
Chisholm, MN 55719
Phone (218) 254-7976
Fax (218) 254-7972 Joe Sertich was appointed President of the Northeast Higher Education District in November, 1999. The district consists of five comprehensive community colleges in six towns across Northeast Minnesota with a combined enrollment of over 4,500 full year equivalent learners. He has responsibility and authority as three phases of development are realized at the colleges for a $50 million budget and 600 employees. This position reports to the Minnesota State Colleges & Universities Chancellor and Board of Trustees. Prior to the presidency at the District, Dr. Sertich was the President of Itasca Community College in Grand Rapids, Minnesota;and Range Technical College in Hibbing, Minnesota. In addition to his campus responsibilities he has consistently maintained a strong connection to business and industry. His commitment to economic growth through community development across the region was formalized when he launched an investment strategy for the colleges called True North in November of 2000. He serves on many boards, committees, and task forces. He has received the David A. Martin Entrepreneurial Leadership Labo Award which recognizes an individual who has a history of leadership in the economic development network of northeast Minnesota; is a leader/innovator in the development, delivery and support of programs that assist regional entrepreneurs and is also a mentor for small business owners. Dr. Sertich has a B.S. in Education, a Masters in Educational Administration and his Ed.D. degree is from The Leadership Academy of the University of Minnesota in Educational Policy and Administration.
Staff MARCY PETERSON
Marketing Assistant
Northland Institute
13911 Ridgedale Drive, Suite 260
Minneapolis, MN 55305-1771
Phone (952) 541-9674
Fax (952) 541-9684
Marcy Peterson is Executive Assistant for the Northland Institute at its Minneapolis headquarters office. She is responsible for office administration, database management, marketing, website maintenance and event planning for the Institute. | 
