Board Members

Judson Bemis Jr.

Judson Bemis, Jr., is a founder and principal with Clere Consulting. Clere Consulting guides individuals and families towards long-term independence from addictions. His previous experience includes: vice president, eVentures for Hazelden Foundation; interim managing director of the Saint Paul Conservatory of Music; founder and CEO of Solv Technology (1992-2004); and sales and marketing director of Bemis Company, Inc. (1985-92). He was a professional actor in New York City from 1979 to 1985.

He has served on served on numerous boards and commissions, including the boards of Theatre Communications Group, the Minnesota Orchestra, Guthrie Theater Foundation, the Playwrights' Center, MacPhail Center for Music, Theatre de la Jeune Lune, the Minneapolis Arts Commission, and the Minneapolis Club.

Bemis received a BA in English from Colorado College (Colorado Springs, CO), and studied in a professional actor training program at Circle in the Square in New York City.

Ardell Brede

Ardell Brede was elected mayor of Rochester in November 2002. Brede retired from Rochester Methodist Hospital/Mayo Clinic after a 43-year career when elected.

Brede is actively involved in drawing, sketching, and in music. He and his wife Judy are frequent participants in theater, music, and visual arts activities. As mayor, he rejuvenated the Rochester Arts Council, helped establish WinterFest, ARTStoberFest, and an arts exchange with Rochester's partner city Siheung City, South Korea. Following Hurricane Katrina he helped organize the collection of musical instruments in Rochester that were sent to New Orleans. During his presidency of the League of Minnesota Cities, he promoted the arts as a valued asset in every city. As a member of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, he is an active member of the Tourism, Arts, Parks, Entertainment, and Sports Committee.

He holds a degree from Austin Junior College (Austin, MN) and studied management and leadership at the University Minnesota, Brigham Young University, and Rochester Methodist Hospital/Mayo Clinic.

Peggy Burnet

Peggy Burnet is a businesswoman, art collector, and community volunteer. She and her daughter were the owners of the Bookcase independent book store and Watermark Stationery for many years. She is avidly interested in the arts.

She currently serves on the Smithsonian National Board, which supports the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC, where she has served as vice chair, chair of science committee, and currently chair of the nominating committee. She is also a trustee of the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. Burnet has also served on the boards of Minnesota Public Radio, Planned Parenthood, Children’s Theatre, and Sheltering Arms in various leadership and fundraising capacities.

Winona
Congressional district 1, Legislative district 31A, Arts region 10
Term: June 2008–January 2012

Michael J. Charron is the dean of the School of the Arts at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. His previous experience includes: professor of theater arts and chair/artistic director of the theater department at Concordia University (1983-2007); guest artist, University of North Dakota (1985); and high school English and theater instructor at Atwater High School (1979-81).

He served in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 2004 to 2006, and also served on the Woodbury City Council, the South Washington County Telecommunications Commission, the Woodbury Fine Arts Council, and the Hill Murray Community Theatre board of directors.

Charron has an MFA in theater from the University of Minnesota (Twin Cities, MN); a BA in theater, English, and secondary education from Saint Mary’s College, and studied theater at Goldsmith’s College, University of London.

Sean Dowse

Sean Dowse is the executive director at The Sheldon Theatre in Red Wing. He has worked as associate artistic director and general manager at The Cricket Theatre in Minneapolis and in the literary department at The Guthrie Theater.

He serves on the Minnesota Music Coalition, Minnesota Citizens for the Arts, and the Anderson Center for Interdisciplinary Studies. Dowse also directs plays and musicals for Red Wing High School and Red Wing’s community theatre, The Phoenix.

Dowse received a MFA in directing from the University of Utah (Salt Lake City, UT.)

John Gunyou

John Gunyou serves as city manager of Minnetonka. He previously served as the first finance director for the City of Minneapolis, and was Minnesota’s finance commissioner in the Carlson administration.

He has served on numerous national and regional boards, including the Minnesota Health Care Commission and Minnesota Education Telecommunications Council.

Gunyou is a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy (Colorado Springs, CO.) He earned graduate degrees in economics from UCLA (Los Angeles, CA) and public administration from University of Colorado (Boulder, CO.)

Ellen McInnis

Robbinsdale
Congressional district 5, Legislative district 45B, Arts region 11
Term: June 2008–January 2012

Ellen McInnis is director of Twin Cities government relations at Wells Fargo. Previously she held positions with Minnesota Citizens for the Arts and the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners.

She serves on the Bottineau Boulevard Partnership and is a volunteer with the MN Opera and Big Brothers and Big Sisters. She has served on numerous boards, including the Hennepin County Library Board, the Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce Executive Committee, the Hennepin County Board of Equalization, and the Minneapolis Foundation.

McInnis holds a BA in political science from the University of Minnesota (Twin Cities, MN.)

Pam Perri

Anoka
Congressional district 6, Legislative district 48B, Arts region 11
Term: February 2010–January 2014

Pam Perri is executive vice president of the Builders Association of Minnesota, an organization of home builders, remodelers, and related industry professionals. Her previous positions include: public policy manager for the Ventura administration (1999-2001) executive director of the National Association of Fundraising Ticket Manufacturers (1995-99); and executive director of Minnesota Citizens for the Arts (1987-95).

She has served as a volunteer with a number of cultural and education organizations including the Minnesota Film Board, the University of Minnesota Early Childhood and Family Learning Advisory Committee, and the University of Minnesota Mentor Program.

Perri holds a BA in communications from the University of Minnesota (Twin Cities, MN.)

Maggie Rapp

Maggie Rapp has been a teacher of American history, geography, early world history, modern world history, and human sexuality at the Saint Paul Academy and Summit School (1991-2000); production manager of the jewelry company Claret by Shelley Holl (1990-91); national sales manager for Claret by Shelley Holl (1990); and national marketing coordinator and national sales manager for M. E. Design, Inc. (1986-89.)

She received a BA in economics from Carleton College (Northfield, MN) and a MEd from the University of Minnesota (Twin Cities, MN.)

Anton Treuer

Dr. Anton Treuer is professor of Ojibwe at Bemidji State University.

He has served on many organizational boards, ranging from the White Earth Land Recovery Project to Sanford/MeritCare Health System.

Treuer received a BA from Princeton University (Princeton, NJ), and both a MA and PhD from the University of Minnesota (Twin Cities, MN.)