OUR TEAM

ADMINISTRATION

Dave Looby, Executive Director

Dave came to Visit Minneapolis North in November 2007 from the North Hennepin Chamber of Commerce. Dave served as President and CEO of the chamber for more than 10 years and sat on the Board of Directors for Visit Minneapolis North before coming to the organization.

Mark Lynch, Senior Director of Sales & Marketing

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 implementing 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 started at the bureau after her career in the sales office at The Northland Inn in Brooklyn Park. She started at the organization as Administrative Assistant and has moved from that role to the Meetings and Conventions Department as a Sales Manager. In early 2004, Missy was then promoted to a new position of Office Manager to handle all of the operational needs for Visit Minneapolis North.

Angela Severson, Hospitality Coordinator

Angela started at Visit Minneapolis North at the end of January 2005 as the organization's new Administrative Assistant. She is a 2003 University of Minnesota graduate of Mass Communications and Spanish Language studies.  She went to school in Puerto Rico for a semester and has traveled extensively. Angela currently handles all of the inquiries in the leisure market, along with the wedding and reunion markets.

MEETINGS & EVENTS

Amy Nostdahl, Director of Meetings & Conventions

Amy 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 acedemic 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.

Brooke Stoeckel, Sales Manager

Brooke has been with Visit Minneapolis North since early 2004 as a Sales Manager in Meetings & Conventions. She graduated from Augsburg College in Minneapolis with a Bachelor's Degree in Mass Communications and a minor in Youth & Family Ministry/Religion in 2002. In December 2004, she was inducted into the Hall of Fame for the Best of 2004 Hall of Fame Up-and-Coming Meeting Professional Award through Minnesota Meetings & Events. Brooke is an active member of the local chapter of the Meeting Professionals International (MPI) and was voted MPI's Rookie of the Year in 2003-04.

SPORTS

Stephonie Wentz, Sports Sales Manager

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.

Megan Perry, Sports Events Manager

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.

TOURISM & COMMUNICATIONS

Brent Haugen, Director of Tourism & Communications

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 Unversity in Saint Paul.