MAGC - Board Members

Board Members

Stew Thornley

Stew Thornley, President
Health Educator
Minnesota Department of Health
625 North Robert Street
P.O. Box 64975
St. Paul, MN 55164-0975

Phone: (651) 201-4655
Fax: (651) 201-4701
Email: stew.thornley@state.mn.us

Stew Thornley has been a health educator for the Minnesota Department of Health’s drinking water program since 1993. His duties include training, public education and outreach, and media relations. Past communication experience includes two years as a publicity manager/national sales manager at Lerner Publications, field editor for Construction Bulletin magazine, and staff announcer/sports director at radio stations in DeSoto, Missouri, and Sauk Centre, Minnesota. Stew is a free-lance author and has had more than 40 books published, mostly on sports. He is also an official scorer for Minnesota Twins games. His hobby is visiting graves, including his own (shown above).

Jennifer Bennerotte, Secretary

Jennifer Bennerotte, Vice President
Communications and Marketing Director
City of Edina

Phone: 952-833-9520
FAX: 952-826-0390
Email: jbennerotte@ci.edina.mn.us

Jennifer Bennerotte has been Communications Director for the City of Edina since January 2000. In her position, she oversees publication of the City's two magazines, About Town and About Business; writes and produces several internal and external newsletters; produces programming for Edina Community Channel 16; maintains the City's website; is responsible for media and public relations; and manages all other communications-related activities. She has also worked as a reporter for several newspapers in Wisconsin, Iowa, and Minnesota. Jennifer holds a degree in Technical Communication Management from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville.

Sara Swenson, Treasurer

Sara Swenson, Treasurer
Communications Coordinator
Dakota County Community Development Agency
1228 Town Centre Drive
Eagan, MN 55123

Phone: (651) 675-4434
Fax: (651) 675-4444
Email: sswenson@dakotacda.state.mn.us

Sara M. Swenson has been the communications coordinator for the Dakota County Community Development Agency (CDA) since January 2001. She is responsible for all communication efforts for the agency. Prior to joining the CDA, Sara worked as publications manager for the Saint Paul Area Chamber of Commerce and, while in college at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, she was a communications intern at the City of Woodbury for a year and a half. Sara holds a Bachelor's degree in marketing communications and business administration.

Christine Dufour

Christine Dufour, Secretary
Deputy Communications Director
Minnesota Department of Education
1500 Highway 36 West
Roseville, Mn 55113
Phone: (651) 582-8720
E-mail: christine.dufour@state.mn.us

Christine Dufour has 15 years experience in communications, public relations, media relations, marketing and journalism. Christine began her career as a reporter working in northern Minnesota for six years. She worked for three years with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources as a public affairs coordinator. She served another three years in the Bloomington School District coordinating their public and community relations. She currently serves as the Deputy Communications Director for the Minnesota Department of Education. She enjoys biking on Minnesota trails and boating on Minnesota lakes. She also teaches group fitness classes at Lifetime Fitness.

Jacque Larson

Jacque Larson, Director of Membership
Community Relations Manager
City of Minnetonka
14600 Minnetonka Boulevard
Minnetonka, MN 55345

Phone: (952) 939-8200
Email: jlarson@eminnetonka.com

Jacque Larson joined the city of Minnetonka in May 2004 as the community relations manager. Her responsibilities include internal and external communications, including the monthly city newsletter; external and internal Web sites; media relations; and other communications-related projects as needed or assigned.

Doug Schultz

Doug Schultz
Information Officer
Minnesota Department of Health
625 N. Robert Street
P.O. Box 64975
St. Paul, MN 55164-0975

Phone: (651) 201-4993
Fax: (651) 201-4986
Email: doug.schultz@health.state.mn.us

Doug Schultz is an information officer with the Minnesota Department of Health, specializing in media relations in the areas of infectious disease and environmental health. Prior to joining the MDH Communications Office in 2002, he was with the Department of Human Services communications team for four years, working on a variety of external and internal print and Web products. He brings to government service nearly 20 years in community newspapers in Minnesota. A Minneapolis native, he is a graduate of Grinnell College in Iowa.

Jessica Beyer

Jessica Beyer
Public Information Specialist
Blue Earth County
205 S. 5th Street
Mankato, MN 56001

Phone: (507) 304-4491
Fax: (507) 304-4344
Email: jessica.beyer@co.blue-earth.mn.us

Jessica Beyer joined Blue Earth County as the public information specialist in June 2006, and is responsible for all internal and external communications for the county. Her duties include overseeing and developing newsletter publications, web sites, media and public relations, event planning, and all other functions related to communications. Part of her service includes representing Blue Earth County at the National and State and local levels.

Prior to her time in the public sector, Jessica worked in sales and marketing for Coughlan Publishing, a family owned children’s publishing company specializing in school and library markets. Jessica holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, with an emphasis in Human Resources. In May 2008, she obtained a MBA degree from Minnesota State University, Mankato. Jessica enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, outdoor activities, photography and volunteering for several community organizations within the Mankato area.

Jessica Beyer

Jason Egerstrom
Communications Specialist
City of Woodbury

Phone: 651-714-3527
Fax: 651-714-3501
Email: jegerstrom@ci.woodbury.mn.us

Jason Egerstrom has served as the communications specialist/Web site coordinator for the City of Woodbury since 2001. Prior to joining Woodbury, he held a marketing communications position at a wireless communications company in Plymouth and a public relations internship with the Kansas City Chiefs. He holds a journalism degree from University of Wisconsin, River Falls.