Our Team
Administration
Dave Looby, Executive Director
dave@visitminneapolisnorth.com | 763.252.1415
Dave came to Visit Minneapolis North in November 2007 from the North Hennepin Chamber of Commerce. He served as President and CEO of the chamber for 10 years and sat on the Board of Directors for Visit Minneapolis North before becoming employed by the organization. Dave likes to get involved in the communities he serves. He has been a member of numerous boards, committees, commissions, and fraternal and social organizations within and outside of VMN’s eleven member cities. He is involved with the 610 Crossing Coalition and the North Metro Mayor’s Association.
Mr. Looby is a life long resident of the north Metro area. Prior to his time at the Chamber, Dave sold heating and plumbing supplies, was a professional Boy Scout, promoted Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer, and even toured the country with Kermit & Miss Piggy! Dave has a B.S from Bemidji State University and an A.A. from North Hennepin Community College.
Mark Lynch, Senior Director of Sales & Marketing
mark@visitminneapolisnorth.com | 763.252.1423
Mark came to Visit Minneapolis North in May 2007 from Cenaiko Productions, Inc. There Mark managed three of the company's large consumer shows in Fargo, ND and Saint Cloud, MN. Cenaiko Productions produces shows including the Minnesota Sportsman's Boat, Camping & Vacation Show, the Minnesota Boat & Marine Products Show, and the Minnesota Home & Patio Show. In addition, Mark was General Manager of Cenaiko Expo, Inc. There he grew the company and its market share over the course of an eight year tenure.
Prior to his time at Cenaiko Productions, Mark served as Director of Sales at the Earle Brown Heritage Center (EBHC). In that position, Mark was involved with designing and iplementing such projects as EBHC's large addition, initial website presence, re-tooling sales and marketing strategies as well as EBHC's technology.
Mark graduation from Hamline University in Saint Paul, MN with a Bachelor's Degree in Public Administration.
Missy Stahlecker, Office Manager
missy@visitminneapolisnorth.com | 763.252.1422
Missy joined the organization in 2003 and has been in the hospitality industry for over 28 years. As the Office Manager, she handles all of the operational needs for Visit Minneapolis North. When she is not in the office, Missy enjoys spending time outdoors with her family.
Meetings & Events
Amy Nostdahl, Director of Meetings & Conventions
amy@visitminneapolisnorth.com | 763.252.1411
Amy Nostdahl graduated from the University of North Dakota (UND). She was the first person to graduate from UND with a Bachelor's degree in Cultural Tourism. She designed this major with the help of her academic advisors. Amy began working in the industry at the Greater Grand Forks Convention & Visitors Bureau immediately after graduation. In the summer of 2004, Amy was hired as a Sales Manager for the Meetings & Conventions Department for Visit Minneapolis North. She was then promoted in 2005 as Senior Sales Manager for the department. Amy now holds the title of Director of Meetings & Conventions. She is active in the Midwest Society of Association Executives as Chair of their Young Professional group. She also hold memberships in the American Society of Association Executives, Christian Meetings & Conventions Association, and the Religious Conference Management Association.
Brooke Stoeckel, Sales Manager
brooke@visitminneapolisnorth.com | 763.252.1420
Brooke has been with Visit Minneapolis North since March 2004 as a Sales Manager in Meetings & Conventions. She is currently the 2008 Saint Paul Winter Carnival Queen of the Snows where she travels, along with her 20 plus other royal family members, all over the country and state of Minnesota representing the 122 year legend of the Saint Paul Winter Carnival. She also currently serves as the Vice President of Education on the Board of Directors for the Minnesota Chapter of Meeting Professionals International (MPI), where in 2004 she was also nominated and awarded the “Rookie of the Year” Award. Brooke graduated from Augsburg College in Minneapolis with a Bachelor's Degree in Mass Communications and a minor in Youth & Family Ministry/Religion in 2002. Brooke stared her career right out of college in sales at a Conference Center then in December 2004; she was inducted into the Hall of Fame for the “Best of Hall of Fame Up-and-Coming Meeting Professional” through Minnesota Meetings & Events.
Sports
Megan Perry, Sports Events Manager
megan@visitminneapolisnorth.com | 763.252.1413
Megan came to Visit Minneapolis North in December of 2004 to fill a new role as Sports Sales Coordinator. She graduated from the Minnesota School of Business and completed with an A. A. S. Degree in Business Administration in March 2005. She is continuing with her education to reach a personal goal of attaining a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration.
Stephonie Wentz, Director of Sports
stephonie@visitminneapolisnorth.com | 763.252.1412
Stephonie graduated from Devil's Lake High School and continued her education at Lake Region State College before moving to Minneapolis in 2000. She started in the hospitality industry as a Guest Service Agent at the Hilton (now Crowne) in Brooklyn Center. As Stephonie was promoted to different positions at the Crowne, she moved up to SMERF Sales Manager and excelled in that position for a number of years. She decided to bring her talent and skills to Visit Minneapolis North in 2006 and joins the team as Sports Sales Manager. In 2008, Stephonie was promoted to Director of Sports.
Tourism & Communications
Brent Haugen, Director of Tourism & Communications
brent@visitminneapolisnorth.com | 763.252.1416
Brent came to Visit Minneapolis North in February of 2001 with a background in the educational field. He started as an Administrative Assistant for the Tourism department and received the Extra Mile Award from Explore Minnesota Tourism in May of 2002. He worked his way up getting promoted to Tourism Sales Administrator, assuming the role of group sales for the organization. Brent's role at the organization made a change again in September 2004 and was promoted to Tourism & Communications Manager. He graduated from Ridgewater College with an Associate of Arts degree in Business Administration in 1999 and has completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing Management at Concordia University in Saint Paul. In 2008, Brent won the Travel Marketing Award from Explore Minnesota Tourism & the MSAE Award for the Fargo Girls Night Out promotion.
Laura Fogelberg, Tourism & Communications Coordinator
laura@visitminneapolisnorth.com | 763.252.1410
Laura is an Edina native and was a part of the first class of students to go through the Normandale French Immersion program. She is a recent graduate of the University of Iowa. Laura earned a degree in journalism with a focus on cultural studies and minored in French. Laura's introduction to a second culture at an early age sparked her interest for travel and language.