 Wade Petrich, President
Hermantown Star
Background
I am the Publisher and co-owner of the Hermantown Star. Wife: Traci. Three children: Allicia, Aidan and Ashton.
What do you enjoy about chamber membership?
I enjoy the chance to network and meet others in the local business community. We have a great membership of proactive thinkers.
What do you hope to accomplish as a board member?
Hermantown continues to grow and the business community has great potential in this area. We need a chamber that helps move business forward. I think we have that, but we need to continue doing it as a chamber and board. |
 Lori Sample, Vice President
Salo Engineering
Background
I am the office manager for Salo Engineering, Inc., Hermantown's City Engineer. I was born in Duluth and raised in Cloquet. I enjoy traveling, fishing and camping with my husband Bill and spending time with our twin grandsons in Atlanta.
What do you enjoy about chamber membership?
I feel that my associations with Chamber business members have helped me both personally and professionally, and I enjoy the socializations. I like working on the events, meeting new people and getting to know others better.
What do you hope to accomplish as a board member?
I hope to be a part of the new chamber attitude to promote business growth and opportunities. |
 Dean Luoma, Secretary/Treasurer
Superior Print, Inc.
Background
I am co-owner Superior Print of Duluth for the last 20 years. This is my fourth year on the board. I am a Hermantown High School graduate and I attended UMD. I am a lifetime Hermantown resident. Wife: RaShell - married 12 years; Children: Nyah, Neela and Nadine.
What do you enjoy about chamber membership?
I enjoy meeting other business people in the Hermantown area.
What do you hope to accomplish as a board member?
I hope to help promote the chamber to increase membership and to promote area businesses through networking opportunities. |
 Cindy Nelson, Ex-Official
COUNTRY Financial
Background
I am a Financial Representative for COUNTRY Financial. I've been in the financial services industry since 1988. I am a graduate of UMD, and have started a Master’s degree at St.Scholastica. I live in Hermantown with my two daughters, Kirsten and Liz.
What do you enjoy about chamber membership?
I enjoy networking with our dynamic group of members!
What do you hope to accomplish as a board member?
As a Board Member, I would like to ensure the continued success of our chamber. We are continually improving our membership benefits and programs. I'm very proud of the work our Executive Director, Mike Lundstrom, has accomplished. I want to support the chamber's philosophy of "Energizing Business." I feel that the work we are doing today will lay the groundwork for the future of our chamber and the Hermantown community. |
 Jamie Sathers-Day, Director
J.S. Realty, Inc.
Background
I graduated from Hermantown High School and the College of St. Scholastica. I have sold real estate since 1989. Family: Husband, Patrick, & two sons. This is my fourth year on the board.
What do you enjoy about chamber membership?
I love meeting people and learning about their businesses. It's a very friendly networking group! |
 Andy Thielen, Director
Andrew Engineering
Background
Principal, Andrew Engineering. Ltd. I graduated from the University of North Dakota. I have lived in Hermantown since 1997 with my wife, Kathy, who is a Hermantown graduate. We have three children.
What do you enjoy about chamber membership?
I enjoy the opportunity to network with other members of the business community and the opportunity to ensure a healthy business climate.
What do you hope to accomplish as a board member?
I would like to promote continued growth of businesses and employment in Hermantown. |
 Tess Dandrea, Director
Lake Superior College
Background
I am employed by Lake Superior College as a Customized Training Representative specializing in Process Improvement, Lean & Six Sigma.
This is my third year on the board. I have a bachelor’s degree in Communications from the University of Minnesota. I have been a Hermantown resident for the past 13 years.
What do you enjoy about chamber membership?
I enjoy meeting and learning about people and their businesses in the Hermantown area.
What do you hope to accomplish as a board member?
To promote the Hermantown Area Chamber, which serves to recruit, sustain and grow area businesses in our community. |
 Shawn Crowser, Director
Republic Bank, Inc.
Background
I am married to Valerie and we have two children, Logan and Alayna. I attended college at Bemidji State University majoring in Business Administration with concentration in Finance. For Republic Bank, I am the Assistant Vice President and Branch Manager of the branches located in the Hermantown Square and at the Miller Hill Mall.
What do you enjoy about chamber membership?
What I enjoy most about Chamber membership is the wide variety of business personalities I encounter and the opportunities the Chamber has given me to grow my business.
What do you hope to accomplish as a board member?
What I hope to accomplish as a Board Member is to engage Chamber membership businesses with each other resulting in building stronger businesses that will form long-lasting partnerships. |
 Natalie Peterson, Director
RJF Agencies
Background
I am a producer with RJF Agencies, Inc. With a 18-year background in healthcare, my focus is on commercial health benefits. I am originally from International Falls and have lived in Hermantown for the last nine years with my husband Erik, my daughter Emma (11) and my son Elliott (9).
What do you enjoy about chamber membership?
I love what the chamber has brought to me both professionally and personally. It has allowed me to expand my business and build supportive and social relationships that have helped me grow.
What do you hope to accomplish as a board member?
I look forward to helping the chamber grow its membership and encouraging current members to be involved. It is exciting to see members exceed in their business from their chamber relationships. |
 Amy Ugstad, Director
OneUP Creative
Background
I have worked professionally in the field of graphic design and marketing management since 1996, and I launched my own graphic design business, OneUP Creative, in 2008. I am a life-long Hermantown resident, graduating from HHS in 1992 and The College of St. Scholastica in 1996.
What do you enjoy most about chamber membership?
I enjoy networking with other business people in a friendly and supportive environment. I also appreciate the opportunities the chamber has given me to grow both personally and professionally, while building my business.
What do you hope to accomplish as a board member?
I hope to contribute to the continuing success and growth of the chamber by 1. Building and promoting the value of chamber membership to both current and potential members and 2. Working to increase participation in chamber activities. |
 Bill Kimbler, Director
CW Technology
Background:
I grew up in Ironton, MN, and graduated from the University of MN-Duluth in 1994 with a degree in Business Administration. I moved to Duluth five years ago and am currently a Partner focusing in sales at CW Technology. My wife is Teresa (she is a Duluth native) and I have two boys: Noah (9) and Jonah (6). We also have two dogs, a cat and a guinea pig named Winnie.
What do you enjoy most about chamber membership?
As a local business partner, the chamber gives me multiple opportunities to network and stay connected within the community. I enjoy the various professional networking opportunities as well as the advocacy the chamber provides for the business community in Hermantown.
What do you hope to accomplish as a board member?
My goals include learning more about the unique attributes of the Hermantown business community. Not having been a lifelong resident of the area, I believe I will bring an “outsider” perspective with the challenges and opportunities presented to the board. I also plan on working to bring the chamber on its “Buy Local” campaign to educate the local population on the value of buying from our local businesses whenever possible. |
 Nancy Kastelic, Director
National Bank of Commerce
Background
I am the Vice President of Business Development as well as Office Manager of the National Bank of Commerce Hermantown location. I have more than 13 years of banking experience and am currently working toward completing a Masters of Arts in Management and Masters in Business Administration from the College of St. Scholastica.
I’m a member of the City of Duluth Building Appeals Board, a member of the BNI Twin Ports Chapter and co-chair of the Hermantown Chamber of Commerce Ambassador Committee. I am married, have two sons and a daughter, and love to volunteer with organizations and groups that directly affect them.
What do you enjoy about chamber membership?
Membership in the chamber affords me another perfect venue to learn about Hermantown businesses. As a banker, I visit with business owners and learn about their industry as part of my job. I get caught up in the passion the owners feel for their business. I just love to learn about them. So membership increases that opportunity for me.
What do you hope to accomplish as a board member?
I am hoping that my board member position will provide me additional resources, which I can then utilize to help Hermantown businesses grow and succeed. I also hope to strengthen business relationships as a Hermantown Chamber Board Member as well as forge new relationships. |
