Who We Are

Members of the Minnesota IT Workforce Collaborative come from large, small, and self-owned businesses, non-profits, and government agencies. We are consultants, owners and employees in areas of IT.

Executive Committee

CHAIR
Russell W. Fraenkel
Executive Director of Leading-Edge Collaborations, Inc.
Executive Director of Leading-Edge Collaborations, Inc. In this role he actively supports individuals and groups to achieve success through high-quality collaboration strategies. He currently serves as a project consultant with Dakota Future, assisting the organization to achieve their county-wide economic development mission.  He utilizes his 30 year community/public education experience to collaboratively create IT/STEM career pathways for E-12 students.

VICE-CHAIR
Tom Melander
Workforce Development Consultant
Tom Melander is a Workforce Development Specialist and an active Career Facilitator with the MN Dislocated Worker Program. In addition to his work for Minnesota IT Workforce Collaborative, Tom currently serves on the Career Counselor Content Advisory for Minnesota’s award winning career development portal www.iseek.org and the Twin Cities IT Alumni Association Board of Advisors.

PAST CHAIR
Kay C Hendrikson, PhD PMP
IT Director, City of Minneapolis

ADVANCE IT MINNESOTA REPRESENTATIVE
Bruce Lindberg
Executive Director, Advance IT Minnesota

SUPPLY/DEMAND COMMITTEE
Jim Johnson

COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE
Jonathan Brandt

EDUCATION COMMITTEE
Mary Bock

Leadership Team 

Michael D. Kelly
Michael has made his career in IT for over 25 years. He has worked in the Banking/Financial, Telecommunications, Retail and Aerospace industries. Having grown up in Colorado, Michael moved to Minnesota 14 years ago working for Norwest Banks. Since then Michael has owned his own company, worked in small start up consulting companies and worked as an independent consultant with software development firms and large, domestic banks. Michael enjoys the outdoors by cycling, hiking and camping.

Mary E. Texer
Director of IT Industry Relations, Advance IT Minnesota
Mary is a focused, experienced leader with a diverse background in Learning and Development, Leadership, and Workforce and Vendor Management.   She has broad industry experience including retail, finance and insurance, government, information technology consulting, manufacturing, medical, and education.  Mary has a solid reputation for moving organizations, teams and individuals to reach their goals.  Mary is currently the Director of IT Industry Relations at Advance IT Minnesota.  She serves on the Minnesota IT Workforce Collaborative leadership team and on its supply/demand standing committee.

Peter Lindstrom, Communications & Marketing Committee
Vice President of Public Affairs, Minnesota High Tech Association
Peter Lindstrom is Vice President of Public Affairs for the Minnesota High Tech Association (MHTA), the largest technology trade organization in the state. MHTA supports the growth, sustainability and global competitiveness of Minnesota’s technology-based economy through advocacy, collaboration and education. Mr. Lindstrom has over 15 years experience in the nonprofit and government sectors.  His experience includes leading legislative and communications efforts for MHTA and the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office. He was elected in 1999 to the Falcon Heights City Council, re-elected in 2003, and elected mayor in 2007.  Mr. Lindstrom also serves on the board of directors for Northwest Youth & Family Services and the College of St. Benedict/St. John’s University Politics and Public Policy Alum Chapter. Mr. Lindstrom holds a BA from St. John’s University and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Hamline University.

Bill Coleman
Executive Director, Dakota Future
Bill is executive director of Dakota Future, Dakota County's private-public economic development organization. Dakota Future links business, education and government in pursuit of global economic competitiveness. 

Jerry Vitzthum
Director, Anoka County Job Training Center
Director of the Anoka County Job Training Center, Jerry administers the Anoka County Workforce Center in Blaine, MN. The Workforce Center provides employment and career services to over 10,000 north metro area residents every year. 

Michael Spano
President, Tribeca Ltd.
Michael has been in the Executive Search and Consulting business for over 23 years. Michael founded Tribeca Ltd. In 1989 and has been responsible for business development, financial management, operations, and strategy. During the past 20 years, Tribeca Ltd. has participated in projects for more than 250 clients.  

Sharon Boerbon Hanson
Associate Executive Director, Advance IT Minnesota
Sharon is also executive director of the IT career development strategic leadership team and a member of the Board of Directors for the Center for African Aid Development. She has an extensive background in mar-com, operations, and brand building (personal and corporate/small business). She is the founder of the Twin Cities IT Alumni Association and author of “101 Ways to Dead-end Your IT Career: A Tongue-in-Cheek Compendium of Advice” as well as 11 other instruction manuals.She was recently