Board of Directors

 

President

Betsy Anderson, PhD, APR

 

Dr. Betsy Anderson is an associate professor in the Communication Studies department at Bethel University, where she began her academic journey as a Media Communication major. Prior to academia, she worked in agency public relations with FleishmanHillard and Weber Shandwick. Betsy has also taught at the University of Minnesota and the University of St. Thomas.

A PRSA member for more than 25 years, Betsy has served on the Minnesota PRSA Board, co-chaired the Classics and APR Accreditation Committees, and advised PRSSA chapters since 2006. She is an active member of the PRSA Educators Academy. In addition to her Bachelor of Arts from Bethel University, Betsy holds a PhD in Mass Communications and a Master of Arts in Journalism & Mass Communications from the University of Minnesota. She enjoys downhill skiing and spending time at her cabin with her family.

President-Elect

Grete Lavrenz, MA, APR

Grete Lavrenz is an accomplished strategic communications leader and trusted PR counselor to household brands across food, beverage, wellness and retail industries. She brings a blend of creative vision, analytical thinking and operational excellence to every engagement, guiding purpose-driven brand strategies that connect cultural insight with measurable business outcomes. Her agency experience includes Carmichael Lynch Relate, Bozell Kamstra and Karwoski & Courage. She also serves as a volunteer for Take Flight and Art Buddies and a judge for the national PRSA Silver Anvil Awards and PRWeek Awards.

Grete holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Hamline University and a Master of Arts in International Public Relations from Cardiff University in Wales. She is a foodie who enjoys cooking at home and exploring adventurous cuisines in the local restaurant scene and stretches her creative muscles with DIY crafting and home improvement projects.

Emily Tackaberry, APR

 

Emily Tackaberry is a seasoned communications strategist with nearly 15 years of experience in the healthcare industry. As Boston Scientific Director, Global Corporate Communications, she leads overarching global external and internal communications strategies and plans. Her specialties include executive communications, change management and crisis. Emily is known for building award-winning teams and fostering strong cross-functional collaboration to achieve shared business goals. Her career includes roles at Crispin Porter + Bogusky, Prime Therapeutics, AllianceRx Walgreens Pharmacy and Walgreens.

Passionate about service, Emily also serves on the Gold Award Scholarship and Board Development Committees for Girl Scouts River Valleys. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Johnson and Wales University and is a certified Prosci Change Practitioner. As a huge fan of Joanna Gaines, she loves baking and spending time with her family.

Immediate Past President

Marsha Pitts-Phillips, APR

 

Marsha R. Pitts-Phillips, APR, president and founder of MRPP & Associates Communications, is an award-winning, experienced public relations leader. She is also a Distinguished Diversity and Inclusion Fellow at the University of Minnesota Hubbard School of Journalism and Mass Communication. 

Marsha is the 2022 recipient of the chapter’s Donald G. Padilla Community Service Excellence Award and was among the 2022 Minneapolis–St. Paul Business Journal’s Women in Business Honorees. She is the 2020 Public Relations Society of America’s D. Parke Gibson Pioneer Award recipient and serves as co-vice chair of the national PRSA Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee. 

In addition to PRSA, Marsha is a member of the National Black Public Relations Society; the National Association of Black Journalists Media-Related Members Task Force; and its local affiliate, the Twin Cities Black Journalists, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.-Delta Phi Omega Chapter. She serves on the board of directors for Prepare + Prosper; the Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies Leadership Advisory Council; and as an Associate Minister at the Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church in Minneapolis.

Ethics Officer

Joel Swanson, APR

In August of 2025, Joel Swanson, APR, MACT, was named President/CEO of Associated Healthcare Credit Union (AHCU) — serving the unique banking needs of workers across Minnesota's world-renowned health care ecosystem. Joel is an advocate for public relations and marketing as strategic business management functions and paths to C-suite roles. Prior to AHCU, Joel led marketing and corporate communications for Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union where he and his team combined the best of digital, emerging and tried and true PR and Marketing strategies to build sustained industry-leading member engagement and new membership growth — doubling annual revenue in the process. His team also re-energized the independent, grant-making Affinity Plus Foundation, which this year will give out more than 10 times the dollars for scholarships and community grants than it did seven years ago. Joel's career spans more than 30 years of guiding growth and reputation strategies in highly regulated, fast-changing industries, having held strategic leadership roles at UnitedHealth Group, Risdall Marketing Group and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, among others.

A proud member of Minnesota PRSA since 1991, Joel credits PRSA with helping him grab his first internship, earn his first job and step up his career ladder into strategic and leadership roles — he cites Accreditation and many Minnesota PRSA Mentors as having a significant impact on his growth. Joel currently serves as Ethics Officer for Minnesota PRSA. He’s a member of PRSA’s Banking and Finance Section, the Minnesota Credit Union Network and Callahan & Associates Marketing Roundtable. In his personal time, Joel proudly invests in his sons - all four of whom work in either financial services or health care, while fully embracing big dog culture with the family’s 270 combined pounds of canine love (a Saint Bernard and a Newfoundland).

Sarah Bhimani

Sarah Bhimani serves as Director of Communications at Animal Humane Society, where she leads internal communications and public relations for staff and volunteers, creating strategic communications plans to support organization initiatives and projects and helping lead crisis communications. With 15 years of experience across nonprofit, corporate and government sectors, she brings a strong commitment to inclusion and community engagement. Sarah began her career as an AmeriCorps VISTA and has been a Minnesota PRSA member since 2019. She co-chaired the DEI Committee in 2024 and volunteers with We Can Ride, a therapeutic horseback riding organization.

Sarah earned her Bachelor of Arts in Writing from Northland College and her Master of Science in Sustainable Food Systems from Green Mountain College.

Director

Ryan Baird

 

As lead of Weber Shandwick’s Minneapolis Healthcare practice, Ryan brings extensive knowledge and experience in regulated medical industries. 

His work encompasses product and issues-related communications support for publicly traded biotechnology and medical device clients, as well as hospitals and health systems. This includes strategic support for FDA approvals and product launches in U.S. and international markets, as well as disease awareness education and community stakeholder engagement. Ryan has led comprehensive earned, owned and social communications for pivotal clinical trial readouts as well as coordinated data presentations and publications around major medical congresses. His work has spanned disease areas including hematology oncology, Alzheimer’s and rare disorders.

Ryan previously served as the Director of Communications for The Medical Alley Association, the nation’s largest state-based industry association for medical device, biopharmaceutical, diagnostic and digital health organizations. For 10 years he led communications, media relations and marketing for the association. 

Ryan’s areas of expertise range from traditional public relations to federal and state public affairs. His work has covered research publicity, issues management, campaign marketing, disease awareness, crisis communications and more. 

He holds dual bachelor’s degrees from the University of Notre Dame.

Director

Adrienne Foley, APR

Adrienne Foley is an accomplished communications and marketing professional with more than 25 years of experience in healthcare marketing and public relations. She has served in agency and corporate settings, including her current role at Allina Health as Senior Consultant, Business Partner Marketing & Communications. Adrienne’s expertise spans internal and external communications, reputation management and brand strategy. Her career includes roles at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, Prime Therapeutics, AllianceRx Walgreens Pharmacy and Walgreens.

An accredited member of PRSA since 2018, she serves as the board liaison to the APR Committee. She holds a journalism degree from the University of South Carolina.


Director

Laura Hennen, MBA, APR

 

Laura Hennen is a communications leader with deep experience in healthcare and corporate reputation management. As Communications Director at Medtronic, she leads the communications teams for the Global Technology & Innovation and IT functions and partner with Chief Technology Officer and Chief Information Officer on internal and external executive communications and thought leadership opportunities. Laura’s background includes positions at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, where she focused on brand journalism, content marketing and reputation management.

An active Minnesota PRSA member since 2004, Laura holds an MBA from the University of St. Thomas and a bachelor’s degree in Public Relations from Drake University.


Director

Amie Hoffner

Amie Hoffner is Vice President of Corporate Communications at International Dairy Queen Corporation, leading global communications and events for more than 7,500 restaurants in 20 countries. She has extensive experience in corporate and brand communications, previously serving in senior roles at TCF Bank, Target Corporation, Nexstar Broadcasting and Weber Shandwick. A passionate educator, Amie teaches in the Professional MA in Strategic Communication program at the University of Minnesota and serves as a national PRSA Silver Anvil Awards judge. Her work has earned multiple national PRSA and SABRE Awards for excellence in integrated communications.

Amie holds a Master of Science in Communications Management from Syracuse University and Bachelor of Art in Communications and Women’s Studies from Hamline University.


Director

Dan Jasper

Dan Jasper serves as Strategic Advisor at Mall of America. Over the past 30 years, he’s helped organizations large and small find their voice during moments of celebration and crisis. He’s written speeches that comfort, coached leaders through chaos and shaped brand stories that connected deeply with Mall of America guests, customers and internal teams.

He earned both his Bachelor of Science in Business, Management and Marketing as well as his MBA from Cardinal Stritch University.


Director

Kerstin March, APR

 

Kerstin March, APR, is the vice president of Communications at Northmarq, where she leads corporate communications and public relations. Throughout her career, she has had the privilege of working in diverse public relations roles, ranging from agency to in-house positions at both public and privately held companies, as well as building her own consulting business. After joining PRSA at the start of her career, Kerstin went on to earn accreditation and then receive recognition as a Minnesota Classics and national Silver Anvil Award recipient.
 
Kerstin studied literature at Oxford University and holds a bachelor’s degree in English from St. Olaf College. Additionally, she is an internationally published author of two contemporary novels.


Director

Meredith Moore

Meredith Moore is President of Leverette Weekes, a leadership development and communications agency focused on corporate social responsibility and executive coaching. She helps entrepreneurs and executives drive positive organizational impact through inclusive leadership and authentic storytelling. Previously, Meredith led global CSR initiatives for Fortune 500 companies, including McDonald’s, where her work contributed to the company’s recognition with the Catalyst Award for advancing women in leadership. She is the author of Getting Unstuck: A Guide to Moving Your Career Forward.

Meredith holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from Howard University and a Master of Science in Managerial Communications from Northwestern University. She was a 2021 Black Venture Institute Fellow.


Director

Darryl Sellers

 

Darryl Sellers is the Public, Media Relations & Communications Consultant/Strategist for Hennepin Healthcare’s Research Institute. Darryl’s role includes public and media relations, interviewing doctors and other leaders and storytelling. He’s also creating strategies to amplify doctors’ voices about the organization’s commitment to diversity in research.

He is a Minneapolis native who has more than 20 years of experience, which includes public and media relations, communications, and seven years in TV news with stints in the Rochester-Austin and Saginaw-Flint markets. Darryl is noted for his experience shining a light on organizations making positive societal changes, helping them share with more people how they positively impact the world. He previously partnered with the Biden-Harris Administration’s “We Can Do This” Covid-19 Public Education Campaign which had the mission to bring more vaccine equity to 80+ Black communities, amplifying the voices of doctors with the W. Montague Cobb Institute/National Medical Association, the oldest largest national network of Black doctors in the U.S.


Director

Rico Paul Vallejos

Rico Paul Vallejos is an award-winning creative director, writer and educator. As Chief Creative Officer of RicoLatino LLC, he develops multicultural marketing and communications strategies for a range of organizations. He has taught Multicultural Communications at the University of St. Thomas and regularly presents on language, culture and DEI topics at conferences and universities.

Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Rico studied cultural anthropology and sociolinguistics in England and Spain, conducting fieldwork across the Caribbean and South America. He is a Trustee Emeritus at Hamline University and a board member of Afton Press. Rico is fluent in English and Spanish and conversant in several other languages. He enjoys travel, language learning and exploring cultures through food and storytelling.