Advisory Board

Al Stauffacher

USA Broomball
www.usabroomball.com

Al Stauffacher, USA Broomball Governor and 3-year Ham Lake Park Commissioner, has been involved with Visit Minneapolis North since 2002. He has served as a board member on the Visit Minneapolis board of directors for over two years. He was a major contributing part in helping bring the World Broomball Championships to the Visit Minneapolis North area in 2002 and 2006, acting as the tournament director. Al has been a member of the World Broomball Executive Board for six years. Al is an active broomball player, goalie for the MN Reds. He helped his team win a world title in 2002, three national titles and six state titles. In 2005 Al sat as the Tournament Director for the U18 Girls National Softball Tournament in Ham Lake and the Broomball Director for the Snow Bowl Day Festival. Al lives in Ham Lake with his wife Stacie and three children Greta, Grace and Garrett.

Barclay Kruse

Associate Director
Minnesota Amateur Sports Commission
www.nscsports.org

Barclay Kruse is the Chief Communications Officer at the National Sports Center in Blaine, Minnesota. His department is responsible for media relations, advertising and promotion, website and several new initiatives including video production and web casting of National Sports Center events. Barclay also directs the Star of the North Games, Minnesota's annual Olympic-style multi-sport event for amateur athletes. He currently serves as president of the National Congress of State Games.

Dan Klinkhammer

Executive Director
Minnesota Youth Athletic Services
www.myas.org

Dan Klinkhammer is the Executive Director of the Minnesota Youth Athletic Services (MYAS). Directing 15 employees, his team worked with over 18,000 participants in 2007 primarily in baseball, wrestling, volleyball, swimming, golf and basketball. Dan was also a founding member of the Sports Alliance of Minnesota and Play Ball Minnesota. He has been a member of the Visit Minneapolis North Sports Advisory Board since day one. Dan has been married for 26 years and has two sons. In his free time he enjoys hunting, fishing, golf and motor sports.

Gerry Turnberg

USSSA State Director / Program Director
Minnesota Park & Recreation
www.mnrpa.org

Gerry Turnberg is the Program Director for the Minnesota Recreation and Park Association (MRPA).He is also the State Director for the United States Specialty Sports Association Softball (USSSA). Gerry is the Central Division Vice President for USSSA Slow Pitch Softball Operations. He has been very active as a participant, official and director in recreational sports for over 30 years. Gerry and his wife reside in Brooklyn Park, one of the first cities to be represented by Visit Minneapolis North.

Jeane Vestal

Park & Recreation
City of Maple Grove
www.ci.maple-grove.mn.us

Jeanne Vestal has been with the City of Maple Grove for 20 years, working as the Youth and Adult Sports Programmer. She is a member of the Minnesota Recreation and Park Association as well as a member of the Women's Hockey Association of Minnesota. For the past 10 years, Jeanne has been the Tournament Director for Women in Leisure Services.

Jerome Krieger

Park & Recreation
Ciry of Blaine
www.ci.blaine.mn.us

Jerome is a graduate of the University of St. Thomas with a degree in Physical Education. He previously worked for the city of St. Paul Park and Recreation Department for 19 years before joining the City of Blaine. In 2007 Jerome joined the City of Blaine and currently supervises the adult and youth athletic programs for the City of Blaine. He is a former professional baseball umpire and currently referees Men's Hockey in the (WCHA) Western Collegiate Hockey Association. He resides in Forest Lake with his wife Jeanne and daughters Madeline and Greta.

John Perry

District 3 Director
Minnesota Hockey
www.minnesotahockey.org

John has been involved with Minnesota Hockey since 1993, first as the League President for District 3 and now the District Director. Before coming to District 3 Hockey, he served as a local association president. John Perry is the District 3 Director for Minnesota Hockey. He is also the Director of the Advanced 15 Program, an Elite group of hockey teams. John lives in Plymouth with his wife Diane, a retired school teacher and has two children actively involved in hockey and the local community sports scene.

Judy Praska

Executive Director
North Country Region Volleyball
www.ncrusav.org

Judy Praska has been the Executive Director for North Country Region USA Volleyball since 1999. She has a 15 year professional background in education, coaching and administration including event management. Judy and North Country Region host one of the largest volleyball tournaments in the state of Minnesota, The North Country Region Presidents' Day Festival. Visit Minneapolis North has worked with the Presidents' Day Festival for over five years now and is one of their most successful tournaments.

Kevin Merkle

Associate Director
Minnesota State High School League
www.mshsl.org

Kevin grew up in St. Paul, Minnesota. He received his undergrad degree from Westmar College and the University of Minnesota and his Masters Degree from Minnesota State University, Mankato. Kevin has spent his entire career as a teacher, coach and administrator. For the past six years he has been the Associate Director for the Minnesota State High School League. He has been actively involved with high school activity programs throughout his career. Kevin has two grown children, a 9th grade son and a grandson. In his spare time he enjoys spending time with his family as well as fishing, boating and golf—he is also a die hard MN Twins and MN Gopher fan!

Kory Lesnick

Director of Sales
Hampton Inn, Shoreview

Kory was born in Hibbing, MN. In middle and high school Kory was an athlete, lettering in many sports. She is currently attending Century College to obtain her B.A. in Marketing and Business Management. Kory has been in the hospitality industry for 16 years, working at the Hampton Inn, Shoreview for eight. Kory has served on the Visit Minneapolis North board of directors for six years and also sat on our Executive Committee. Besides being avid hockey fan, Kory also enjoys cooking, gardening, being with family and friends and ensuring that her hotel guests and employees are happy with their experience at the Hampton Inn, Shoreview.

Leslie Johnson

Director of Sales
Cambria Suites - Maple Grove
http://cambriasuitesmaplegrove.com/

Leslie attended McConnell Travel School in 1991. After attending school she worked as an international travel agent for ten years. During that time, Leslie traveled around the world to countries including Europe, Mexico and the Caribbean. Leslie decided she would like to change careers and was interested in the hospitality industry. She worked for CSM Lodging as a Sales Coordinator and was eventually promoted to a Sports Sales Manager. Leslie worked for the Ramada Minneapolis Northwest and Grand Rios Water Park for two years. Her connections in the area have allowed her to build many strong relationships with local organizations and facilities including the Minnesota Youth Athletic Services, USA Broomball and the National Sports Center. Leslie recently accepted a new Job as the Director of Sales at New Cambria Suites opening Dec 2008. Leslie's personal interests include traveling, watching and playing sports. She has been a Vikings Season ticket holder for the past 10 years!

Mark Daly

Park & Recreation
City of Fridley
www.ci.fridley.mn.us

Mark graduated from Mankato State University with a degree in Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies. He has been employed in the field of recreation for over twenty years. Mark has been employed for the City of Fridley for the past 10 years. 2007 will be his fifteenth year as an Assistant Boy's Basketball Coach for the school district of Spring Lake Park.

Megan Diaz

Sales Manager
Courtyard by Marriott

Megan Diaz is the Sales Manager at the Courtyard by Marriott in Maple Grove. Being native to the Visit Minneapolis North area, Megan grew up in the New Brighton. She was active in high school sports including: volleyball, softball, swimming and diving. Megan believes that it is very important for youth to be involved in organized sports as it teaches important life lessons. For this reason she believes it is essential to support the sports market and help in anyway to continue its growth. Megan is new to the Visit Minneapolis North Sports Advisory Board as of 2007 and is very excited to serve as an active member.

Sha Leahey

Registrar
National Sports Center
www.usacup.org

Sha Leahey was born and raised in Tampa, Florida. In college, she received her degree in Education from Florida State University. She has been with the National Sports Center for eight years, specifically working with the Schwan's USA Cup, one of the world's largest soccer tournaments. Passionate about her job, one of Sha's main focuses is making sure teams participating in an event on the National Sports Center campus have a comfortable place to stay while they are here. Sha is married and has two wonderful daughters, Katelyn and Meghan. In her free time she enjoys traveling, sports, reading and cooking.