Joseph Maternowski, Chair
Attorney at Law - Moss & Barnett, P.A.

Sara Merz, Secretary
Commissioner Assistant - Ramsey County Board

Jason D. Besler, Treasurer
Senior Audit Manager - Schechter Dokken Kanter

Terri Banaszewski, Board Member
Vice President - Park Midway Bank

As Vice President of Business Development at Park Midway Bank, Terri is responsible for growing Park Midway Bank’s business and retail portfolio through business development activities, involvement in community events, and marketing. She also manages a commercial loan portfolio of small to mid-size business clients. Terri joined Park Midway Bank in 2000 to focus on building relationships and assist with growing the community bank. Prior to 2000, she spent twenty years with Norwest Banks/Wells Fargo in various departments. In addition to being an Eco Education board member as well as chair of board recruitment, Terri is an active member of St. Paul Area Chamber of Commerce and the Midway Chamber of Commerce and a board member for WomenVenture and chair of their Business Finance Advisory Committee. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from St. Cloud State University. In her free time, Terri enjoys golf, traveling and pretty much anything outdoors.

Terri appreciates the mission of Eco Education to make the next generation aware of their impact and to encourage stewardship of our environment.

Metric Giles, Board Member

Bill Grau, Board Member
Associate Product Market Manager - Dell Compellent

Bill Grau currently works as a Product Marketing Manager at Dell in Eden Prairie and recently received his MBA from the University of St. Thomas. Previously, Bill has worked in the classroom having taught Government and Economics at an alternative school in Minneapolis. While teaching he received a Fulbright grant and traveled to Namibia with Augsburg College's Center for Global Education in order to study and develop curriculum to be used in Minnesota classrooms.

Bill enjoys serving on Eco Education's board and being able to help impact how students perceive and interact with the environment surrounding them. "Eco Education is a wonderful resource for teachers and students and I am proud to be involved in their mission!"

Allen W. Hill, Board Member
Technology Specialist - The Blake School

Allen Hill  has worked at The Blake School since 2000. As Technology Specialist, Allen works to removes technology barriers from faculty curriculum and student projects. Among his many duties, he teaches TechnoPoP, a course that combines Technology and Perspectives on Pluralism. He volunteers for Cornerstone: A Student of Color Alliance at The Blake School. Prior to his work at The Blake School, Allen was a Lead Technician & Journeyman Foreman for Impulse Group an Audio-Visual Integration Company and also served in the US military, retiring from the Minnesota Air National Guard in 2007 after twenty-one years of service. Allen spent his first two years in the US Air Force overseas, attending The University of Maryland (European Campus) studying Electrical Engineering, and continued his electronics studies at Brown Technical Institute when he returned stateside. His passions for music and electronics have been obvious since he was in grade school. Allen also owns a small sound reinforcement company: In The Mixx!, where he provides sound equipment for bands, local disc jockeys and many summer musical events. He will often be invited to engineer a CD project for an up-and-coming artist. Allen is a product of Hospitality House, a faith-based youth organization.

Allen appreciates that Eco Education provides a vehicle for young people to understand their envrionmental impact on their community, helping students of all different cultural backgrounds to apply lessons in the ways that help their communities.

Megan Kuhl-Stennes, Board Member
Zero Waste Education Manager - Eureka Recycling

Megan Kuhl-Stennes is the Zero-Waste Education Manager at Eureka Recycling. She originally hails from Dubuque, IA and came to Minnesota to study Environmental Studies and Theology at the College of St. Benedict/St. John’s University. After college, Megan did a year of volunteer service with St. Joseph Worker program in Saint Paul. Megan cares deeply about educating people about recycling, composting, reusing and getting those manufacturers to take back or redesign their stuff so we can get to zero waste! Megan and her partner, Seth, are working to start an urban farm at their home in South Minneapolis.

Megan is excited to be joining the Eco Education board because of Eco Education’s great work to engage youth and teachers to learn deeply about the urban ecology in which we live. She cherishes the service learning aspect of all the programs, but especially Urban Stewards because she learned great things through her own service learning—cleaning up the Mississippi River retention pond in Dubuque when she was in high school.

Michael Kyle, Board Member
Vice President and Dean of Enrollment - St. Olaf College

Amanda Sames, Board Member
Graduate Research Assistant (Department of Forest Resources) - University of Minnesota

Amanda is a graduate student studying the capacity of communities to manage their natural resources sustainably. She's interested in community-based management of resources and environmental justice, especially around sustainable international development, agriculture and civic engagement. Amanda recently returned from a research project looking at ways to include women in a more meaningful way in an agricultural soil and water conservation project in Morocco. Before returning to school for graduate work, Amanda worked for the Minnesota Senate at the state capitol. During the summer, she also helps run a small CSA farm along with Eco Ed's Sara Bischoff.

Amanda likes that Eco Education's work empowers both teachers and students to understand and begin to address issues related to the environment and the health of their communities.

Maria Surma Manka, Board Member
Account Manager - Tunheim Partners

Luke Soiseth, Board Member
Principal - Mod & Co

Luke Soiseth is the owner of Mod & Company, an advertising and graphic design company based in the Twin Cities. A former graduate student and instructor at University of Minnesota Duluth. He lives with his wife, Jana (also partner in Mod & Company), and their two kids, Olivia and Benjamin.

Luke has a passion for teaching and education and so was drawn to the board of Eco Education and its mission. “With schools struggling to make ends meet, it’s thrilling to be a part of an organization that enhances young people’s education in such a profound way!”

Jeffrey Theisen, Board Member
Financial Planning & Analysis Manager - American Refugee Committee International

Jeffrey Theisen has a very rewarding and challenging career in international humanitarian aid.  Outside of the office, he occupies his time with his passions: the outdoors, running, canoeing, camping, and being with my wonderful friends and family. Jeff believes life is an incredible journey.

Jeff was initially introduced to Eco Education through his now wife, who was is a former staff member who ran Eco Education’s Eco Outreach program. When a spot on the Board opened up, Jeff was drawn to serve the organization through the belief that young people have the ability to dramatically alter their surroundings, be it environmental, social, or economic. Eco Education is a known leader in impacting the lives of urban youths and is honored to be a part of such an organization.

Kristin Wiersma, Board Member
President - Seraphim Communications, Inc.

Kristin Wiersma is principal of Seraphim Communications, Inc., and a communications and leadership strategist, a consultant for business and non-profit clients. With more than 16 years of experience in marketing communications, messaging, and branding in variety of media (print, web, email, social media, video/audio, events), Kristin’s focus is on bringing the right message to the right audience in the right way. As a resource for commercial and social profits, Kristin provides assessment, strategy planning, implementation, optimization and learning opportunities to align organizations for health and advancement. Kristin and her husband Hans and their 4 children live in St. Paul, MN.

Eco Education's mission is a driver for Kristin as she seeks to support and advance the work to empower kids in learning, leadership and stewardship.