Our Board
Meet the McLeod For Tomorrow Board of Directors! We are proud to have board members from several different cities and industries in McLeod County. Joining the board of McLeod For Tomorrow is a meaningful way to serve your community and McLeod County. We currently have board openings, and would love to have new local leaders join our team! The time commitment for a McLeod For Tomorrow Board Member is about 5-8 hours per month (monthly full board meetings, periodic committee meetings, individual tasks)
with a term of 3 years, and the option to serve up to 3 consecutive terms. Learn more about joining the McLeod For Tomorrow Board of Directors.
Matt Troska (Chair), Glencoe
Matt Troska is a lifelong resident of Glencoe. Matt attended the McLeod For Tomorrow Leadership Program in 2011-2012. He joined our board of directors in 2017 and was elected chair in 2019. Matt has been employed with McLeod County for nearly 20 years and currently holds the role of IT Manager.
Justin Beck (Vice chair), Hutchinson
Justin Beck is a lifelong McLeod County resident from Hutchinson. He took part in the McLeod For Tomorrow leadership program in 2017. It motivated him to start serving his community and “being the change”. Since going through the program he has begun serving on the Board of Directors for the Hutchinson Center for the Arts as well as the Public Arts Commission for the City of Hutchinson. He is passionate about art, specifically music and photography.
Kari Johnson (Treasurer), Glencoe
Kari Johnson is an alum of the McLeod for Tomorrow Program and currently serves as our McLeod For Tomorrow Board Treasurer. Kari is enthusiastic for the cause and believes the different ways the learned leadership skills are being dispersed and applied are extraordinary. “The leadership training we offer is extremely valuable. The learned skills are not only brought back to the participants’ employers to better their work each day, but they are also being diffused into the communities and organizations the participants feel passionate about. We’ve seen some really cool things come from our program graduates, and I’d like to think we’ve played a role in that. I couldn’t be more proud!” Kari lives in Glencoe with her young family and enjoys the work she does for Security Bank & Trust Co. Summer is by far Kari’s favorite season – she spends much of her time at the pool and lake! Life is good.
Marie Zimmerman (Secretary), Glencoe
Marie grew up near Winsted and has lived most of her life in small towns, except for a year of AmeriCorps service in the Twin Cities after college. Connecting people is an important part of her work at Southwest Initiative Foundation, and Marie believes those connections are what makes our communities into what we want them to be. She’s an alum of the McLeod For Tomorrow Leadership Program. In addition to serving as secretary of the McLeod for Tomorrow Board of Directors, Marie serves on the Board of Education at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Brownton, volunteers with the Glencoe Area Community Foundation and is an alum of the Blandin Community Leadership Program.
Chris Sonju, Glencoe
Chris Sonju has been involved with McLeod For Tomorrow since the start of the program. He has witnessed the many positive changes the organization has made throughout the years. “It is great to see that our county continues to invest in leadership development through the support of this program.” Chris is currently the superintendent of schools at Glencoe-Silver Lake Public Schools. He lives in Glencoe with his wife Kristen, three kids, Ellie, Ethan, and Ava, and family dog, Emmi.
Tim Gratke, Hutchinson
Tim Gratke lived most of his life in the St. Cloud, MN area. He became involved with McLeod For Tomorrow in 2015 when he was hired on as manager of the Wastewater Treatment Facility for the City of Hutchinson. The City of Hutchinson routinely places employees new to supervisory roles into the MFT Leadership Program. “Being new to the Hutchinson/McLeod County area, my experiences in the MFT leadership program were invaluable to making network connections and gaining an increased awareness of the offerings of neighboring communities.” Tim uses his position on the Board of Directors to remain a contributor to the expansion of MFT’s reach within these communities. Tim and his fiancé Carrie have since moved to a home in Hutchinson with their two dogs, Brutus and Kyra. They also have a combined four grown children, eight grandchildren, and a new great-grandchild.
Kristin Roepke, Silver Lake
Kristin Roepke is an independent consultant who has been partnering with C-Suite leaders for almost 30 years helping to achieve organization effectiveness by developing business strategy, organization structure to achieve the strategy, and the appropriate culture and operating model to grow business. She is a leadership and life coach helping to identify personal growth and development strategies. Kristin also teaches an executive leadership course at the University of Minnesota. She holds a masters degree in organization effectiveness and change management. She has lived in McLeod County most of her life and joined the McLeod For Tomorrow Board of Directors in 2020 to offer her time in an area of passion, and because of her belief in the power of how leadership development and community engagement can fuel a better tomorrow for our county. Kristin, her husband, and three children reside in Silver Lake.
Sue Kieser, Hutchinson
Sue Kieser has lived in McLeod County her entire life. Sue has had an impressive career at Starkey in Glencoe, working 33 years for them as a trainer and inspector. She raised her two adult children with her husband in Silver Lake, moving to Hutchinson four years ago. They now have 4 grandchildren.
In her personal life, Sue has spent a lot of time volunteering. She spent 21 years as a certified EMT with the Silver Lake volunteer ambulance. Additionally, she used her knowledge of EMS as a part-time instructor at Mankato Tech college. She also spent 9 years volunteering with her therapy dog Ella. Now, Ella is enjoying retirement. Sue is a graduate of our 2019-2020 leadership program cohort and found being a board member a rewarding opportunity while helping us plan for the 2021 leadership program as a day chair.
Our Staff
Meg Schlueter, Program Coordinator
Meg Schlueter is a transplant to McLeod County from our neighbors in Sibley County. She has called Stewart home for the last 7 years, where she lives with her husband and 4 children. After completing her Masters in Business Administration, Meg found McLeod For Tomorrow as an opportunity to increase her community engagement, create positive change, and fulfill her desire of investing in rural communities. Meg will continue to work for the Meeker McLeod Sibley CHS WIC program. She is excited to continue to shape the future of McLeod County through her role with McLeod For Tomorrow!
