WISE Twin Cities Board Of Directors

Organization: Minnesota Vikings

Company Title: Director of Inclusion & Employee Investment

Anne Doepner is entering her sixteenth season with the Vikings in 2021 and is in her second year as the team’s Director of Inclusion & Employee Investment. In her role, Doepner leads the team’s diversity and inclusion strategy and works to implement employee engagement, inclusion, and learning initiatives in order to create a sense of belonging, with the vision of enabling employees to bring their best selves to work.

In her previous role as the Vikings’ Director of Football Administration, Doepner was responsible for matters of salary cap management and compliance with the NFL’s Collective Bargaining Agreement. She worked closely with the personnel department on contract proposals, negotiations and player budgets, and performed research and analysis to assist the club’s strategic efforts. She served as the primary contract negotiator for rookie contracts from 2017 to 2019.

A staunch advocate for women’s career and professional development, Doepner is the president and founding member of the Twin Cities chapter of Women In Sports and Events (WISE), which was established in 2017. A native of Saint Paul, MN, Doepner holds a BA degree in French from the College of Saint Benedict. She and her husband Aaron reside in Saint Paul with their children Alice (9) and James (7).

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Organization: Minnesota United FC

Company Title: Premium Hospitality Manager

Kara joined Minnesota United in 2017, during the organization’s first year as an MLS Franchise. She worked to build a premium philosophy to support the customized needs of premium guests and multi-year relationships, and transitioned through TCF Bank Stadium into the opening of Allianz Field. Currently, she oversees the service and strategy of all multi-year suite and loge box clients and focuses on continuing exceptional experience and service in all premium areas, representing 3 inclusive clubs, loge boxes and the suite level. Kara also serves on the Women in Sports Events Twin Cities (WISETC) Executive Board, and the Association of Luxury Suite Directors (ALSD) Board of Advisors.

Kara graduated from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities in 2011 with a degree in Sport Management. She began her career in sports with the Major League Soccer National Sales Center training program and obtained her first ticket sales role at FC Dallas. Eventually returning to Minneapolis, MN – Kara spent time on various projects in fundraising, business development and events. In 2014, Kara rejoined the sports industry working with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx in premium hospitality. During her tenure, she managed the transition of suite multi-year clients through the completion of the new practice facilities, Mayo Clinic Square, and the opening of the Target Center Suite and Renovated Premium Level. Among some of her key projects were overseeing the launch of Chairman’s Club and Suites, guest chef programming, suite benefits and service offerings, and the launch of Mayo Clinic Square hospitality and events.

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Organization: Minnesota Department of Health

Company Title: Health Program Representative

Emily Weinberg is a two-time graduate of The Ohio State University. She holds a Bachelors of Science in Public Health and Master of Science in Sport Management. Before the pandemic, she worked for The Ohio State University athletic department, as well as Columbus Crew SC. Currently, Emily works for the Minnesota Department of Health with sports teams and institutes of higher education statewide in response to COVID19. She’s passionate about utilizing the platform that sports offers to make a positive impact in our local communities. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with family, getting outside, and doing CrossFit.

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Organization: Sportradar

Company Title: Product Manager

Kristin Gow is the Product Manager of Image and Editorial APIs for Sportradar. Kristin oversees the strategic vision and product roadmap for content APIs that deliver 150 collections of headshots, action images and sports news to media clients. Since joining Sportradar in 2015, Kristin has held management roles in both sales and product and spearheaded initiatives that streamlined processes and communication during a time of tremendous growth for Sportradar. Kristin currently serves on the Executive Board of Directors for Women in Sports and Events Twin Cities (WISE TC) and the Associate Board of Directors for Girls on the Run Twin Cities.

Kristin graduated from the University of Minnesota with a major in Communication Studies and a minor in Journalism & Mass Communication. After college, she juggled a few internships and a barista job until she landed a role as a TV production assistant/floor director. Kristin began hosting and producing backstage features with guests of the TV station’s lifestyle show and discovered her love of storytelling. In 2009, she packed up and moved to Austin, MN to pursue a job as a television reporter. During her time in Southern Minnesota, Kristin reported on a historic tornado outbreak, breaking news, and numerous state and local elections. She was promoted to the weekend sports anchor where she produced feature stories on prep athletes, hosted a weekly high school sports show, covered state tournaments and interviewed some of Minnesota’s top pro athletes. Kristin returned to the Twin Cities in 2012 and immersed herself in the business side of broadcast sports at a regional sports network.

Kristin lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two daughters. She enjoys running, drinking iced coffee, listening to audiobooks, and traveling with her family.

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Organization: Satisfi Labs

Company Title: Senior Director, Client Success

Stephanie Rocco serves as the head of Client Success for Satisfi Labs, where she handles high level strategy and day to day management of clients in the sports, tourism, entertainment and hospitality verticals. She was previously a Senior Recruiter within Korn Ferry's Global Sports Practice. Prior to Korn Ferry, she spent 5 years at Learfield (now Learfield IMG College), where she handled searches ranging from entry-level to Vice President/General Manager roles, as well as selling corporate partnerships in collegiate athletics on behalf of the University of Utah.

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Organization: Minnesota Vikings

Company Title: Senior Manager, Premium Sales

After graduating from Brown University, Kathleen decided working in the sports industry would be a fulfilling way to connect her passion for sports with professional relationship development. Having previous experience with the Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Jets and San Francisco 49ers, she now oversees Minnesota Vikings Premium Sales and has been with the team for 7 seasons. She joined the WISE Board of Directors in July, 2018 as a member of the sponsorship committee. Kathleen lives in Eagan, Minnesota with her husband, Chris.

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Organization: FOX Sports North

Company Title: Producer

Vanessa is a producer at FOX Sports North, covering live events for the Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Timberwolves. She’s held this role full time since 2017, helping oversee remote productions and crew members for each game, executing sales and promotional elements, communicating with on-air talent, and attempting to steer the broadcast in the right direction. Vanessa is one of two full-time female NBA producers, and one of three in MLB.

She’s worked at FOX Sports North since 2006, and prior to becoming a producer, was a production assistant and associate producer. Vanessa’s first job was as a production assistant at FOX Sports Detroit, but she was introduced to television production in the ‘90s through family connections.

Vanessa is a Michigan State University School of Journalism graduate and will never pass down an opportunity to say “Go Green!” She is also the Awards Chair of the Upper Midwest Emmy Chapter and a Big Bothers Big Sisters mentor. She resides in St. Louis Park and is a fan of happy hours, good food, and warm weather (and yet she lives in Minnesota).

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Organization: Deloitte & Touche LLP

Company Title: Audit Manager

Lindy is an Audit Manager with Deloitte & Touche LLP within the Minneapolis practice. She has more than 5 years of experience working closely with clients to solve complex accounting issues. Her experience also includes planning and performing financial statement and internal control audits of both public companies and non-profit organizations.

Lindy also serves as the Junior Varsity Head Coach and Varsity Assistant Coach for the Simley High School Girl’s Basketball team in Inver Grove Heights. As a former collegiate player, she finds passion in the ability to not only develop the skills of her players but also to mentor them for life “off the court”.

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Organization: Tickets for Kids Charities

Company Title: Regional Director, Minnesota

Susan Murray is entering her 4th year as the Regional Director for the national nonprofit, Tickets for Kids Charities whose mission is to close the opportunity gap with equitable access to inspiring experiences for local kids that need it the most. Giving a child access to a sporting event, museum, theater, or family entertainment center helps them dream of a bigger and brighter future.

Susan started her career working in residential treatment setting with youth suffering from mental illness and chemical dependency. A change in her career path brought her to work at Thomson Reuters where she was a member of the Women in Leadership business group and organized the Aspire to Lead conference yearly. She facilitated mentoring circles and organized additional internal events to empower women to expand their networking and business skills. In 2019 she earned her Master’s Degree in Public and Nonprofit Administration from Metropolitan State University and reconnected to the community through her role at Tickets for Kids Charities.

Susan and her husband live in South Minneapolis and love to travel and try to keep up with their energetic dogs, Nora and Tilly.

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Organization: Arctic Wolf

Company Title: Email Marketing Manager

Jena Magee is the Email Marketing Manager at Arctic Wolf and previously with the Minnesota Timberwolves & Lynx. Jena has been on the WISE Twin Cities board since 2018 as VP of Web & Digital.

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Organization: Minnesota Timberwolves & Lynx

Company Title: Manager of Business Development

Micaela is originally from Milan, MN. She went to Dakota Wesleyan University, played basketball for the Tigers, and received both her bachelor’s and Master of Business Administration degree from there. While at DWU, Micaela worked at The World’s Only Corn Palace, a tourist attraction and event facility, where she gained her first experience with ticket sales, sponsorships, and event management. Micaela started with the Minnesota Lynx Sales and Service team in 2015 and is now in her 6th season with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx. She is currently the Manager of Business Development for the Timberwolves Sales Department. Micaela has a passion for building relationships not only as a ticket sales executive with fans and clients and now as a manager with her employees, but also with other young women professionals who seek to find the tools and support they need while entering the sports industry. As the Mentorship Co-Chair, she is excited to have an impact by helping to provide others with opportunities to create great relationships through events and mentorship pairings. Micaela currently lives in Minneapolis with her Fiancé, Jalen Voss.

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Organization: Fox Sports North

Company Title: Crewing Supervisor

Riley graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in 2017 with a degree in journalism and multimedia. She spent her free time on the pitch playing rugby and working part-time as a sports reporter for TV-10, a local news station in Eau Claire. She started her job with Fox Sports North in the summer of 2018 as the Operations Coordinator. Her primary job role is hiring freelancers to work most major MN sports, including the MN Wild, Twins, Timberwolves, Lynx, and Gopher hockey. One of her favorite annual events is Hockey Day MN, where she spends the weekend facilitating the crew needs and assisting the broadcast team.

In her free time, Riley loves to spend time with family and friends (and her family dog, Wrigley). One of her favorite annual activities is going up north with her extended family to Crow Wing County.

As the mentorship co-chair for WISE Twin Cities, Riley is excited to make an impact in young women’s lives by offering a helping hand when she can. By building a solid WISE Within program with the help of the Mentorship team, she hopes they can take this program to a new level of success.

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Organization: The Social Lights

Company Title: Director of Social and Content

Felicia is Director of Social and Content at a local agency called The Social Lights in Minneapolis. She began her professional career during the advent of social media marketing for brands and hasn’t looked back since. Felicia majored in Strategic Communications and Advertising at the University of Minnesota. She has more than 9 years of social media strategy and content oversight and has held positions in advertising, public relations and the professional sports industry. When she’s not at her desk or scrolling her phone for work, you can usually find her outside playing with her two rescue dogs, getting in a game of recreational soccer or watching her favorite local sports team.

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Organization: Philadelphia Futures

Company Title: Director, Individual Giving

Korinne Gerhart is the Director of Individual Giving at the Philadelphia Futures, a nonprofit college access organization based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Before joining Philadelphia Futures as a staff member in 2016, Korinned work for the Eagles Charitable Foundation for eight years. It was there that she oversaw two mobile direct service programs, assisted with fundraising and events, and traveled to Johannesburg, South Africa, to speak on the team's behalf about their relationship in the community. Traveling through Philadelphia and surrounding counties, the Eagles Eye Mobile provided over 10,000 youth with quality vision care services. The Eagles Book Mobile distributed over 50,000 books to youth without home libraries with Korinne's guidance. Having worn glasses as a child, Korinne was motivated to keep the vehicles on the road. With her network and colleagues, the foundation raised over $1million each year for the programs.

Korinne received her Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology from Temple University. Korinne is new to Minneapolis but looks forward to digging into the restaurant scene post-COVID shutdown.

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Organization: Minnesota Timberwolves & Lynx

Company Title: Database & CRM Specialist

After graduating from Lawrence University, Samantha started her career at a nonprofit where she discovered her passion for data analytics. She made a career move into the sports industry with the MN Timberwolves & Lynx after completing her MBA in 2019, which is where she was introduced to WISE.

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Organization: University of St. Thomas

Company Title: Athletics Program Manager

Sarah Denn is in her third school year on the St. Thomas Athletics Staff as the Athletic Program Manager. Denn oversees all Ticket Operations, including the Tommie Season Ticket program, as well as serving as the site manager for events, and assisting with both marketing and budget for the department. Sarah came to St. Thomas after two years as a Guest Experience Specialist and Tour Coordinator at SMG. As such, Denn developed and operated the Tour Department at U.S. Bank Stadium. She oversaw Premium Areas for all major events, such as the 2016 Grand Opening, Minnesota Vikings home games, ESPN X Games, Super Bowl LII, as well as numerous concerts, MSHSL State Tournaments, trade shows, and galas among others.

Sarah graduated in 2015 from the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management with a degree in Marketing. She brings experience from Major League Baseball (MLB), where she was a Facility Operations and Security Intern for the Office of the Commissioner in New York City. In addition, she served as an intern for NBC during the Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia in February of 2014. As well as experience with Minnesota Timberwolves & Lynx, and the 2014 MLB All-Star Game festivities at Target Field. Denn is currently pursuing her MBA at the University of St. Thomas and will graduate in 2021.

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Organization: Xcel Energy Center/Saint Paul RiverCentre

Company Title: Marketing Media Specialist

I'm a veteran marketer with a passion for live music and sports. I’ve been fortunate to work with a great team promoting a wide variety of events from music legends to national championships. Highlights include Prince, Adele, Foo Fighters and the Minnesota Wild playoffs. I love to travel the world, go to concerts, the theater and sporting events, meet friends for happy hour, read a good book, spend time with family and enjoy the outdoors.

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Organization: Minnesota Vikings

Company Title: Manager, Premium Sales

After graduating from the University of Missouri with a degree in Journalism, Sara moved to the Hudson Valley, New York area and began her career in media sales. In 2019, she moved into the sports industry as a member of the premium sales team for the Minnesota Vikings. She believes that sports has the ability to connect people of all backgrounds and provide an unrivaled experience. She joined WISE in 2019 shortly after her move to Minnesota, and is thrilled to be part of an organization that empowers women across the sports industry and beyond as the Membership Engagement Chair!

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Organization: Minnesota Vikings

Company Title: Event Coordinator

Originally from Chicago, IL Haley moved to Minneapolis, MN in 2014 as a Freshman at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. During her time at the University, she learned of her love for event planning and passion for the sports industry. Graduating in 2018 with a B.S. in Business and Marketing and dual minors in Sport Management and Leadership she set off to find a career that combined both of her interests! Through various roles and internships with Twin Cities In Motion, Minnesota Timberwolves, and the Minnesota Twins she started her career with the Minnesota Vikings as an Event Coordinator in 2019. Although Covid-19 has posed some interesting obstacles that she never expected she is excited to see what the future is to bring both with the Vikings and her role for WISE Twin Cities. When she is not planning events, she is taking a walk around the lake or hanging out with her cat.

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Organization: Boys & Girls Club of the Twin Cities

Company Title: Director of Special Events

Amy is currently Director of Special Events for the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities, leading the efforts on multiple large fundraising events for the organization. Prior to joining the Clubs, Amy spent time at The Sanneh Foundation, Walman, Valleyfair, and the Minnesota Timberwolves & Lynx. She is driven by her passion to make a difference in the community. Amy graduated from Carlson School at the University of Minnesota with a degree in Marketing and International Business. She stays active with her son and enjoys traveling, cooking, and attending sporting events & concerts (impatiently awaiting their return!).

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Organization: Minnesota United FC

Company Title: Marketing & Communication Specialist

Kacy Kobakof is the Marketing and Communications Specialist at Minnesota United. She is entering her fifth season with the Loons. Kacy works with the Minnesota United brand both internally and externally and is responsible for executing the club’s paid advertising, working directly with both Minnesota United’s media buyers and media partners. She works internally with both the design and digital teams on content creation. Kacy is responsible for all club-related branding and messaging gameday assets and acts as a player liaison on gameday and at events. Additionally, she acts as an Executive Assistant to the Chief Marketing Officer on all fronts. Kacy first joined Minnesota United in its inaugural season in the Marketing and Communications department after graduating from Michigan State University. She started as a Marketing and Communications Intern, developing and distributing social media content and marketing, and has advanced through various promotions to her current role as Marketing and Communications Specialist.

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Organization: Delaware North

Company Title: Catering Manager

Clare Koppel works for Delaware North at Allianz Field as the Catering Manager. Prior to working with Delaware North in Minneapolis, Clare spent 10 years living in Los Angeles and Nashville where she worked in the Entertainment Industry at the top talent agencies, specializing in the culinary world, unscripted television, events and entertainment brand marketing.

Clare has her BA in Political Science and International Relations from the University of Montana - Missoula, as well as a Certificate in Entertainment Management from the School of Business Administration at Montana. Clare lives in South Minneapolis and in her (non-covid) free time, Clare loves outdoor concerts, Food & Wine Festivals, live sports, traveling and summer patio season at restaurants and breweries!

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Organization: Minnesota Wild

Company Title: Partnership Activation Coordinator

Erika Lone is a Partnership Activation Coordinator at the Minnesota Wild with over nine years of successful experience with partnership activation within the sports industry. Erika specialize’ s in managing corporate partnership accounts with different objectives and goals, creating specific partnerships unique to each of their brands. A strong believer in a positive and energetic workplace, Erika always tries to foster great relationships not only with external clients, but across internal departments and colleagues to successfully collaborate and create memorable experiences and programs for partners. When not working hockey games, Erika enjoys running outside, traveling and hitting up as many local restaurants and breweries as she can. Erika and her husband, Chris, reside in Richfield.

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Organization: University of Minnesota

Company Title: Director of Softball Operations

I have been married for 9 years to my wife Eliana who I met while living in Brazil serving a mission for my church. We have 4 kids (2 boys and 2 girls). I am from Pennsylvania, did my undergrad and Masters in Michigan and have worked at Michigan State University, University of Missouri and now the University of Minnesota.

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