Leadership Staff

Valerie Shangreaux                                         Email Valerie
DIRECTOR OF LEADERSHIP

Valerie was named Director of Leadership for the Blandin Foundation in September 2007. Prior to taking the helm of community leadership programming here she spent 17 years at Oklahoma State University (OSU), most recently as program manager for the Oklahoma Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. Her work at OSU underscored the importance of quality leadership development.

Previously, Valerie taught home economics at OSU in the area of family relations and spent ten years directing Youth in Education programs at the Lincoln Nebraska Indian Center. In addition, Valerie worked as a consultant for the Heartland Center for Leadership Development. She has both a M.A. and Ph. D. in educational psychology, earned from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln and OSU, respectively.
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Becky Adams                                                      Email Becky
LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS RECRUITMENT

Becky has been working with several of the leadership programs and in recruitment since January 2004. Currently she is responsible for the design and implementation of recruitment for the Blandin Foundation Leadership Programs.

Prior to joining the Blandin Foundation, she worked in accounting roles at several area companies, served as director of religious education at St. Joseph’s Church, and co-owned and operated an industrial sales company in Hibbing. She has a degree in business administration and is currently working on her master’s degree in community leadership.
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Malissa Bahr                                                       Email Malissa
TRAINING & CURRICULUM DESIGN MANAGER

Malissa has been on staff with the leadership program since 1999. Currently she is responsible for the development, design, and implementation of the Blandin Foundation leadership programs. Additionally, Malissa manages and coordinates activities of internal and external program consultants, and she has been a trainer with leadership since 2003.

Prior to working with the Blandin Foundation, Malissa spent seven years in the field of law, specializing in class action litigation. She holds a Master’s degree in organizational/industrial psychology where she focused her studies on effective small groups and leadership development. She is currently working on her Ph. D. in educational psychology with emphasis on adult learning and program assessment.
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Angela Jenkins                                                      Email Angela
LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS RECRUITMENT ASSISTANT

Angela provides administrative support to all leadership programs in the areas of recruitment and data entry.  This includes supporting recruitment program development and design as well as assisting the Recruitment Coordinator. 

Prior to moving back to her hometown in 2007 to raise a family and start work at the Blandin Foundation, Angie spent 6 years in the Twin Cities working in various roles in the education sector. She earned her B.S. Degree in elementary education in 2001.
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Michele Smith                                                     Email Michele
LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS BUSINESS ASSISTANT

Michele handles the business side of the leadership programs. She coordinates off-site facilities, writes consultant contracts, manages accounts payable and develops and monitors program budgets. She also provides administrative support to the program director. Michele has been with the Blandin Foundation since April 2008.

After ten years of accounting experience at a large insurance company in Minneapolis, Michele and her family moved back to Grand Rapids. She spent six years in administrative support roles with ISD #318 and the Harris Town Board where she is serving as the township clerk. She earned a B.S. from UMD in psychology, with a minor in communications.
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John Weyer                                                         Email John
LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS ASSESSMENT & ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT ASSISTANT

John has been on staff with the leadership program since 2006. Currently he is responsible for supporting alumni engagement, program assessment and knowledge sharing. This includes the development and design of the Alumni Journal and other on-line engagement strategies.

Prior to working with the Blandin Foundation, John spent nine years in the field of commercial printing and direct mail. He has a B.S. degree in marketing.

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 Sandra Wicklund                                                   Email Sandra
LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS PRODUCTION ASSISTANT

Sandra works closely with the Foundation’s leadership programs (including the Blandin Community Leadership Program, Leaders Partnering to End Poverty, Academy for Advancing Community) by delivering program materials, communicating with participants and consultants, as well as implementing curriculum design.  She works closely with the Senior Training and Curriculum Design Manager to provide high quality materials for the leadership programs. 

Sandra graduated from Bemidji State University with a B.S. degree in elementary education.  Her skills in curriculum development and computer design gained from working in the education and  secretarial field, as well as life as an at-home mom and love for design, make her a key resource when creating leadership program materials and communicating with leadership participants.