Carlson School of Management and Minneapolis Skyline

Executive Education Advisory Board

The Advisory Board partners with Carlson Executive Education leadership to ensure our professional development offerings meet the evolving needs of today’s leaders. Members contribute valuable insights on emerging trends in learning and development, provide feedback on new strategic initiatives, and recommend innovative course offerings. As advocates for Executive Education within their organizations, our Advisory Board Members play a pivotal role in shaping the future of talent development, helping us drive meaningful impact for leaders and their teams.

Advisory Board Members

Current as of June 2026

Jim Willenbring

Advisory Board President

Partner, Board Director, & Executive Coach, The Bailey Group

Melissa Brown

Advisory Board Member

Vice President, Human Resources, Andersen Corporation

Nicholas Christenson

Advisory Board Member

Vice President, Human Resources, Polaris Inc.

Gary Deppe

Advisory Board Member

Director of Learning and Organizational Effectiveness & Sales Training, Land O'Lakes

Steve Duren

Advisory Board Member

President, BPC Consulting LLC

Michele Durkin

Advisory Board Member

Sr Director Talent, HR Technology & HR Operations, Graco

Jamie Elliot

Advisory Board Member

Vice President of Talent & Sales Operations, The Tile Shop

Nicole Manthey

Advisory Board Member

Vice President, Global Talent, Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC

Zuzana Micko

Advisory Board Member

Vice President, Global Talent, Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC

Tara Whipple

Advisory Board Member

Vice President, Talent, Patterson Companies, Inc.

Stephanie Zimmerli

Advisory Board Member

Division Chair, Legal Department, Mayo Clinic