Leadership News and Notes

‘Leadership News and Notes’ is a regular feature of Community Leader celebrating the accomplishments and endeavors of Blandin Foundation Leadership Program alumni as well as the communities which have been served by its programs.  This issue features Colleen Landkamer and Greg Raymo.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Colleen Landkamer, 1998 BCLP alumnus and 2008 Academy for Advancing Community participant, Mankato, was recently named Minnesota state director of United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development.

Colleen has been a county commissioner for Blue Earth County since 1988. Her community involvement includes: chairing the Minnesota Counties Research Foundation and serving on the Rural Policy Center Board of Directors, Greater Minnesota Housing Fund Board, Minnesota Transportation Alliance Board, Minnesota Rural Partners Board and State Community Health Advisory Committee. Colleen also co-chaired the Minnesota Health Improvement Program and served on the Children, Families, and Learning Planning Committee and the Delivery of Correctional Services State Committee.

In 2000, Landkamer was named “County Leader of the Year” by American City & County magazine for her leadership.

Colleen and her husband, Jack, have three children.

Sources:  WCCO and the National Association of Counties

Greg Raymo, 1999 BCLP alumnus, Worthington, was named the 2009 recipient of the Southwest Initiative Foundation Award.

The SWIF Award is presented each year to individuals, businesses or organizations that exemplify the foundation’s mission – “to be a catalyst for economic and social growth by developing and challenging leaders to build on the region’s assets.” SWIF is headquartered in Hutchinson and focuses on leadership, relationship building program development and philanthropy in southwest Minnesota.

Greg, executive vice president of First State Bank Southwest, is active in community in a number of ways. He is a charter member of the Worthington Early Childhood Initiative, an SWIF ambassador and works with SWIF’s economic advancement and loan programs. He also is involved with: Community Advantage Leadership Program, Minnesota Bankers Association, Junior Achievement, Worthington High School business department, Worthington Regional Economic Development Corporation, Worthington Area Chamber of Commerce, Nobles County HRA/EDA, the Center of Rural Economics and Sanford Regional Hospital Worthington Advisory Board.

Greg and his wife, Barb, have three children and one grandchild.

Source:  Worthington Daily Globe