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    Explore Minnesota Tourism Council Members

    Council members are appointed by the Governor.
    Lauren Bennett McGinty
    Council Chair
    Explore Minnesota
    (651) 757-1844
    Robert Farnsworth
    Senator (2026)
    MN State Senate
    (651) 296-8436
    Grant Hauschild
    Senator (2026)
    MN State Senate
    (651) 296-1789
    Dave Baker
    House Representative (2025)
    MN House of Representatives
    (651) 296-6206
    Josiah Hill
    House Representative (2025)
    MN House of Representatives
    (651) 296-4124
    Xinyi Qian
    UMN Tourism Center Representative, ex-officio (2028)
    University of Minnesota Tourism Center
    (612) 625-5668
    Rachel Thompson
    Central Region (2027)
    Visit Greater St. Cloud
    (320) 202-6728
    Courtney Ries
    Metro Region (2027)
    Meet Minneapolis
    (971) 221-2686
    Beth Pierce
    Northeast Region (2027)
    Iron Range Tourism Bureau
    (218) 749-8161
    VACANT POSITION
    Northwest Region (2027)
    Ed Hoffman
    Southern Region (2028)
    Lake City Chamber of Commerce
    (651) 345-4123
    Daniel Hartman
    At Large Representative (2027)
    Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center
    (218) 623-1201
    Heidi Swank
    Arts and Culture Representative (2027)
    Rethos
    (702) 371-6217
    Chuck Dougherty
    Bed & Breakfast Representative (2024)
    Water Street Inn
    (651) 439-6000
    Shannon McKeeth
    Bed & Breakfast Representative (2028)
    Bingham Hall Bed and Breakfast
    (507) 276-5070
    David McArthur
    Campground Representative (2027)
    In The Woods Campground
    (218) 204-0647
    Laurie Staiger
    Chamber of Commerce Representative (2028)
    Woodbury Chamber of Commerce
    (651) 578-0722
    Kate Setley
    Convention Facility Representative (2027)
    River Centre
    (651) 755-5164
    Nort Johnson
    Convention & Visitors Bureau Representative (2027)
    Faribault Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism
    (507) 334-4381
    Nicholas Leonard Ph.D.
    County Representative (2028)
    Otter Tail County
    (218) 998-8057
    Laura Mullen
    Craft Beverage Representative (2028)
    Bent Paddle Brewing
    (218) 279-2722
    Danyl Vavreck
    Festivals & Events Representative (2027)
    Minnesota State Fair
    (651) 288-4328
    Ashlee Ciora
    Golf Representative (2028)
    Women on Fairways
    (602) 750-7070
    Marianna Khauv
    Lodging Representative (2028)
    Best Western Plus Chelsea Hotel
    (612) 770-3748
    Erika Rivers
    Outdoor Recreation Representative (2028)
    Wilderness Inquiry
    (651) 342-3373
    Frank Soukup III
    Resorts Representative (2027)
    Whitebox Marketing
    (320) 200-7443
    Mike Schwieters
    Resorts Representative (2028)
    Boyd Lodge
    (612) 269-1105
    Stephanie Shimp
    Restaurant Representative (2027)
    Blue Plate Restaurant Company
    (612) 916-0166
    Molly Luther
    Retail Sales Representative (2027)
    Molly Poppin's Gourmet Snacks
    (978) 979-3871
    Sara Soli
    Sports Representative (2028)
    NSC Sports
    (612) 817-1909
    Paul Larsen
    Tour Operator Representative (2028)
    Ed-Ventures
    (507) 289-3332
    Colleen Smith
    Tourism Business Representative (2028)
    Vista Fleet
    (763) 742-3714
    Bob Bierscheid
    Trails Representative (2028)
    Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota
    (651) 403-3680
    Jana Webster
    Transportation Representative (2027)
    Minneapolis/Saint Paul International Airport/Foundation
    (612) 726-5235
    Justin Graddy
    Travel Media Representative (2028)
    Buffalo Media Group
    (952) 649-0529
    Cheyanne St. John
    Tribal Nations Representative (2028)
    Lower Sioux Indian Community
    (507) 697-6321
    Beth Helle
    Staff
    Explore Minnesota
    (651) 757-1872
    Marya Barsanti
    Staff
    Explore Minnesota
    (651) 757-1885
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