Staff List | Contact
Meet the Meet Minneapolis Team
Executive Team
Melvin Tennant, CAE
President & CEO Meet Minneapolis
melvint@minneapolis.org
Melvin oversees the day-to-day operations of Meet Minneapolis, including the professional and support staff. Melvin serves as the voice of Meet Minneapolis through speaking engagements, civic activities and political council meetings. He has served as president and CEO of Meet Minneapolis since November 2007.
Christy Loy
Senior Vice President of Destination Sales
christyl@minneapolis.org
612-767-8001
Christy is the senior vice president of Destination Sales. Joining Meet Minneapolis in February 2024, her focus is on sales and collaborating to drive more convention business to Minneapolis while strengthening relationships with the local hotel community. She oversees the Destination Sales teams at Meet Minneapolis and the Minneapolis Convention Center.
Madonna Carr, CMP
Vice President of Destination Services
madonnac@minneapolis.org
612-767-8180
Madonna is the vice president of Destination Services where she oversees the department including facilitating booking conventions by assisting meeting planners with logistical needs, building attendance and delivering quality experiences to attendees. Madonna has been with Meet Minneapolis since 1991. She also oversees Housing Services and Meeting Services Plus.
Bill Deef
Senior Vice President of Public Affairs
billd@minneapolis.org
612-767-8110
Bill and his department oversee the Minneapolis Sister Cities programs and work on other public affairs initiatives. Since 1987, Bill has made significant contributions to the Minnesota tourism industry—such as serving as a chair of the Washburn Academy of Hospitality and Tourism.
Courtney Ries
Senior Vice President Branding & Strategy
courtneyr@minneapolis.org
612-767-8036
As the Senior Vice President of Destination Branding & Strategy, Courtney oversees the marketing, public relations, partnership and visitor information departments. With her team, she is responsible for telling the story of Minneapolis and its offerings to potential visitors, meeting planners, media, locals and other stakeholders.
Sandy Christensen
Senior Vice President Finance & Administration
sandyc@minneapolis.org
Sandy joined Meet Minneapolis in May of 2016 as the Vice President of Finance & Administration. In this role, she is responsible for organization support functions including financial planning and accounting, human resources and employee benefits administration, information technology, as well as statutory compliance and reporting. The focus of Finance & Administration is to ensure that the organization has the financial, technological and staffing resources to be successful.
Ka Vang
Vice President, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
kav@minneapolis.org
Ka joined Meet Minneapolis in 2022 as the Vice President of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. She is responsible for developing a strategic vision and implementing a plan that systemically advances a culture of equity, diversity, and inclusion as part of the organization’s core mission and values by developing data-driven strategic roadmaps and demonstrating outcomes to our stakeholders. She also determines the most impactful policies/strategies/programs our organization, in collaboration with partners, can develop/implement to begin reducing racial, ethnic, and cultural disparities in the communities we serve.
General Information
801 Marquette Avenue South, Suite 100
Minneapolis, MN 55402
612-767-8000
Fax: 612-767-8001
info@minneapolis.org
Finance & Administration
Sandy Christensen – Senior Vice President, Finance & Administration
Peter Luttrell – Senior Accountant
Scott Rahja – Controller
Karel Havle – Senior Director, Human Resources and Office Operations
Sarah Reno – Executive Assistant to Melvin Tennant
Ian Gacek – Database Analyst
Chris Fritzinger – Senior IT Manager
Ibsitue Kadir – Office Manager
Destination Sales
Tom Ruzsa – Director of Meeting and Sports Sales, Midwest Accounts
Stephanie Grimaldi – Director of Convention Sales, East Coast Accounts
Sue Murray – Senior National Account Executive, Minnesota Accounts
Jill Buckley – National Account Executive, East Coast Accounts
Kay Russell – Business Development Manager, Union Specialist, East Coast Accounts
Emily Heggernes – National Account Executive, West Coast Accounts
Madison Rohde – National Account Executive, East Coast Accounts
Betty Williams, CMP – Senior National Account Executive
Rosalind Dixon – National Account Executive
Jessica Derrick-Elavsky – Sales Account Executive, West Coast & Minnesota Accounts
Alyssa Ripley – Sales Account Executive
Anne Kloepper – Senior Administrative Assistant, Sales
Tamera Oats – Administrative Assistant, Sales
Minneapolis Convention Center Sales
Katie Smith, CMP – Director of Sales and Marketing – MCC
Savannah Fargen – National Account Executive - MCC
Sheila Tapia – National Account Executive - MCC
Deb Taylor – Associate Director of Sales – MCC
Alex Hall – Sales Account Executive - MCC
Rachel Taylor – Sales Administrative Assistant - MCC
Jessica Klimisch – Marketing Manager - MCC
Sports Minneapolis
Tom Ruzsa – Director of Meeting and Sports Sales, Midwest Accounts
Kate Robey – Manager of National Sports Sales
Tyler Boike – Senior Sports Operation Manager
Megan Wahman – Manager, Marketing
Anne Kloepper – Senior Administrative Assistant, Sales
Destination Services
Tamara Spude, CMP – Director, Destination Services & Events
Cindi Green – Administrative Assistant, Services
Erica Bergum – Senior Destination Services and Events Manager
Ashley Williams – Destination Services and Sports Associate
Abby Mikel – Destination Services Associate
Tyler Boike – Sports Operation Manager
Susan Gosz, CMP – Senior Manager, Housing Services
VISITOR CENTER SERVICES
Damon Riddle – Manager of Visitor Services
Kat Baynes – Visitor Services Supervisor
Steve Druley – Visitor Services Supervisor
Jan Flagel – Visitor Services Supervisor
Jeanne Smith – Visitor Services Supervisor
Public Affairs
Lisa M. France, CCXP – Director of Market Research
Charlie Carlson – Public Affairs Program Manager
Destination Branding and Strategy
PR & COMMUNICATIONS
Kathy McCarthy – Senior Director, Public Relations & Communications
Kristen Montag – Senior Manager, Public Relations & Communications
Kevin Kurtt – Manager, Public Relations & Communications
Ellen Bedecarre – Social Media Manager
MARKETING
Jill Anderson – Senior Director, Marketing
Katie McMahon – Senior Marketing Manager
Megan Wahman – Marketing Manager
Jessica Klimisch – Minneapolis Convention Center, Marketing Manager
Nick Leiferman – Senior Graphic Designer
Melissa Lage – Graphic Designer
Hana Ansari – Senior Digital Content Marketing Strategist
Julia Cournoyer – Digital Content Marketing Associate
PARTNERSHIP MARKETING
Jeff Baidoo – Director of Partnership
Denzell Castro-Oats – Partnership Business Development Manager
Clare Koppel – Partnership Associate
GLOBAL TOURISM
Casey Kluver – Manager, Global Tourism Sales
