Meet the people
The
Committee
Five community leaders, business owners, and nonprofit professionals who volunteer their time to keep this project thriving.
Our Team
The people who believed in transforming a forgotten alley into a living canvas.
Each brings a different superpower. Together they turn ideas into walls, events into memories, and a city block into a destination.
Sara
Jespersen
"I love the Stillwater Community and put all my extra energy there."
This is me, Sara. I run Mad Capper with a crew of crazy talented fun-loving individuals. I love the Stillwater Community and put all my extra energy there! A few projects closest to my heart include reimagining Union Art alley, maintaining the stairs on the bluffs of Stillwater & Co-Chairing the World Snow Sculpting Championship. I serve as the Chair for The Discover Stillwater Tourism Bureau and am on the BOD of the Stillwater Area Chamber of Commerce.
Committee Members
Kelly Nygaard
Kelly Nygaard is the President of Discover Stillwater, and promotes economic growth to Oak Park Heights and Stillwater through tourism marketing. An advocate for community, historic downtowns, and public art, Kelly is thrilled to be part of the Union Art Alley team.
Eric Hoffman
Entrepreneur 360 Award Recipient from Entrepreneur Magazine as a technology leader known for innovation and web product development expertise with deep experience in Compliance, Security, Amazon Web Services & Cloud technologies, along with DevOps and Agile methodologies.
Heather
Rutledge
"A former dancer, Heather now enjoys Tai Chi, bicycling and hiking."
Heather Rutledge joined ArtReach St. Croix as Executive Director in 2011. For the previous ten years, she was Assistant Director of Abington Art Center & Sculpture Park in suburban Philadelphia. Heather has also worked with the MidAtlantic Arts Foundation and the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance. Her board service includes the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council (former) and Franconia Sculpture Park. A graduate of the University of Iowa, Heather now lives in Stillwater, MN with her teacher husband and two teenagers. A former dancer, Heather now enjoys Tai Chi, bicycling and hiking.
Lindsay
Belland
"A creative, artsy, outgoing individual and mother of three."
Lindsay is a mission-driven, nonprofit professional; currently working as a Sr. Event Coordinator for the University of Minnesota Foundation. With over 10 years' experience in public service and non-profit positions, Lindsay takes an active role in the community she lives and plays in; proudly serving Stillwater as a Board Member to the Board of Directors for Family Means, sitting on multiple community Steering Committees and volunteering at community events throughout the year.
Outside of work she is a creative, artsy, outgoing individual and mother of three; who enjoys camping, hiking, taking the kayak out on the river and of course a nice cold Farm Girl from LiftBridge Brewery. Seasonally, she sings Second Soprano with the River City Chorale.