Meet our Board of Directors.
The BLAEDC Board of Directors is comprised of business and community leaders who volunteer their time and expertise to improve the economic conditions of the area and create jobs for area residents. Their collective experiences and knowledge guide the organization.

John Ohlin
Board President
President and CEO
Deerwood Bank

Jim Haakonson, CPA
Past Board President
Principal
CLA

Sandy Zutz-Wiczek
Board Vice President
Vice-President, Clinic Operations
Essentia Health- Brainerd

Terry McFarlin
Past Board President
President and CEO
Anderson Brothers Construction

Julie Anderholm
Treasurer
Anderholm Consulting

Mike Dillon
Past Board President
President
Lexington Manufacturing

Hara Charlier
President
Central Lakes College

Andy Isackson
Chief marketing officer
CTC

Rob Birkeland
Owner, Realtor
Larson Group Real Estate
Directors Emeritus
Several individuals in the Brainerd Lakes Area have dedicated time and resources to BLAEDC. Some of these individuals have gone above and beyond and have been recognized as director emeritus members.
Kevin Close
Owner/ Broker of Close Converse Commercial & Preferred Properties
Member of Upper-Midwest CCIM organization (Certified Commercial Investment Member)
Served on the Brainerd Lakes Area Community Foundation and Kinship Partners
Charles (Chuck) D. Albrecht
President/CEO at Mid-Minnesota Federal Credit Union
Secretary/Treasurer for the Minnesota Credit Union Network
Board Chair for Minnesota Christian Broadcasters, Inc.
Board Chair for St. Joseph’s Medical Center and Board Member of Brainerd Lakes Health
Tom Anderson
CEO of Integrated Retirement Initiatives
Former COO at Hunt Technologies, President/COO for Universal Pensions and Executive VP for Bisys
Certified Public Accountant
Served on YMCA, Brainerd Lakes Chamber, and St. Joseph’s Medical Center boards
Arnie Johnson
Owner of Johnson Enterprises LLC
Partner in Lake Country Synergic LLC
Founder and former CEO and chair of Universal Pensions
Founder of BLAEDC and served as President for two years and on its board for two years
Served on the Bremer Bank, College of St. Scholastica, and Central Lakes College Foundation
Janelle Riley
CEO of Syvantis Technologies
Kevin Larson
CEO/GM of Consolidated Telecommunications Co.
Board member, St. Joseph’s Medical Center Foundation
Served on Brainerd Lakes Chamber Board of Directors
Former Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Minnesota Telecom Alliance
Angella D. Roby
Controller for Oakridge Homes of Brainerd
Certified Public Accountant
Served on Sunrise Sertoma Club
Served on the Brainerd Lakes Chamber Board of Directors
Karlo Goerges
CEO of Pequot Manufacturing
Terry McCollough
Former Publisher of the Brainerd Dispatch
Served on St. Joseph’s Medical Center
Former chairman of Northwest Daily Press Association
Reggie Clow
President and part owner of Clow Stamping Company
Served on Brainerd Lakes Area Chamber
Program chair at Central Lakes College
Jim Kraft
President of Frandsen Bank & Trust
Past president of BLAEDC and the co-founder of the Pequot Lakes Area Development Organization
Timothy Bergin
Principal at Larson Allen, Weishair and Co.
Served on Brainerd Lakes Sunrise Rotary Club, the Junior Rotarian Program, Round Lake Association, and Junior Achievement
Clint Nelson
Real Estate Broker and co-owner of Positive GMAC Real Estate
Past President of BLAEDC
Mike Larson
Vice President of Operations at Essentia Health
Paul Means
Chairman and Director of RiverWood Bank
Served on the Brainerd Family YMCA
Bruce Buxton
Board Past President
Chairman of the Board for Widseth Smith Nolting
Board of Director for the Brainerd Lakes Chambers, Lakes Area Senior Center
Active with East Gull Lake Planning Commission and Susan B Komen for the Cure activities
Served on Boy Scouts of America Pine Tree District and Troop 43, the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, City of Brainerd’s zoning ordinance task force and Northland Arboretum