The Brainerd Lakes Area Community Foundation recently announced Susan Beaulieu and Mark Ronnei joined the board of directors.
The board governs the community foundation, conducts development activities, approves grant decisions and works to engage people, connect resources and build community. All members are volunteers and serve up to three, three-year terms, the news release said.
Beaulieu is Anishinaabe from the Red Lake Nation and has worked with tribal communities for the past 14 years in a variety of capacities including project development, program education, development coaching and facilitation. She served as the director of tribal projects at Minnesota Communities Caring for Children for three years where she developed and implemented the Tribal Neurobiology, Epigenetics, ACEs and Resiliency Sciences and Community Wisdom Project. Beaulieu is currently working for the University of Minnesota Extension as a tribal community facilitator.
Beaulieu is pursuing her doctorate in social and administrative pharmacy at the University of Minnesota-College of Pharmacy and received her master’s in public policy degree with a focus on nonprofit management and leadership from the University of Minnesota’s Hubert H. Humphrey Institute in 2007. She was a 2016 Bush Leadership Fellow focused on generating healing and well-being at the individual and collective levels. She is a mother of four and resides with her family in Baxter.
Ronnei served as general manager of Grand View Lodge resort, where he was responsible for the management of resort operations. He represents the company in the areas of planning and permitting for new developments and projects. Ronnei has been with Grand View Lodge for 30 years and previously held management positions in sales, development, real estate and resort operations. In 2006, he was named Minnesota Resorter of the Year in recognition for his contributions to the industry.
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Ronnei has been actively involved in city and county steering committees, specifically those related to the resort industry and land development. A strong advocate for encouraging children to read, Ronnei founded the Enhanced Reading Foundation to provide funds for books in every classroom at the local elementary school. He previously served on the foundation board of directors including a term as chair.
“Both Susan and Mark bring an immense amount of expertise and offer a unique perspective around community needs while having demonstrated experience in championing community projects,” stated Karl Samp, foundation executive director, in a news release. “We are excited to welcome them both to the board to aid us in continuing the good work that we do in the Brainerd lakes area.”
