Staff & Board

 

Bill Rubin / Executive Director

Bill Rubin / Executive Director


With more than 30 years of experience in economic development, Bill brings an extensive network of partners, unmatched insight and deep business knowledge to every deal.

Nita Dusek / Administrative Assistant

Nita Dusek / Administrative Assistant


Nita provides the day-to-day business office leadership and is the point of contact for the organization’s members. She has been with the EDC since 2013.

Krista Paulus/President

Krista Paulus/President

Security Financial Bank


Krista Paulus is a Commercial Lender for Security Financial Bank based out of River Falls. With over 24 years of lending experience, Krista has extensive knowledge in government funding programs such as SBA, USDA and Rural Development loans and programs. Current community commitments includes being actively involved as a Chamber Ambassador for both River Falls and New Richmond. Serving on the advisory board for Big Brothers/Big Sisters of St Croix County. Krista is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison in Business and is committed to aiding in the development and growth of our community.

Susan Yohnk Lockwood/ 1st VP

Susan Yohnk Lockwood/ 1st VP

WITC


Susan Yohnk Lockwood is the Vice President, Institutional Effectiveness and New Richmond Campus Administrator for Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College. She is active with several local organizations including the Forward New Richmond, New Richmond Area Economic Development Corporation, and New Richmond Area Community Foundation. Susan lives in New Richmond with her husband, two children, and two dogs.

Tom Loonan/2nd VP

Tom Loonan/2nd VP


Tom is a business, real estate and municipal attorney with Eckberg Lammers, PC a law firm with offices in Hudson and Stillwater, MN. He has worked in the St. Croix community for the past five years advising businesses in various transaction and serves as the civil city attorney for several communities.

Marina Onken Sec/Treasurer

Marina Onken Sec/Treasurer


Marina Onken is Professor Emeritus of Strategy and Innovation at UWRF after serving as the interim dean of the College of Business and Economics.  Her work in supporting innovation and entrepreneurship for the past 30 years has helped students start businesses, accelerate careers, and stimulate economic development.  She is active in the Hudson community and has lived there for 16 years.

Tom Aaby

Tom Aaby

Royal Credit Union


Tom Aaby is currently the Senior Vice President of Business Development at OEM Fabricators Inc. in Woodville, WI.  He graduated from the University of Wisconsin Stout with a degree in Industrial Technology with a concentration in Manufacturing Engineering.  Tom has completed Executive Development programs at the University of Minnesota Carlson School of Business and the University of Wisconsin Business School.   Tom also just completed his first year as a Board Member for the Wisconsin Technology Council.  He has three grown children and has lived in Rush River Township with his wife Mary for more than 30 years.

Paul Berning

Paul Berning

Growth Management Solutions


Married to wife, Breanne Berning, 4 children in Hudson School District. I currently serve in my second term on the St. Croix County Board of Supervisors District 7. Current President of the Hudson Area Public Library Board of Trustees. President/Co-Founder of Growth Management Solutions in River Falls, WI, a startup technology brokering firm. We have lived in Hudson for 10 years, and St. Croix County most of my life. Proud to be an American, Wisconsinite, and resident of this great county!

Carrie Borgstrom

Carrie Borgstrom

Royal Credit Union


Carrie Borgstrom is a Business Banking Officer with Royal Credit Union, serving New Richmond, River Falls, Somerset, and surrounding areas. She enjoys helping small business owners find the right lending solution to take their business to the next level. As an Ambassador for New Richmond Area Chamber, River Falls Chamber, and Somerset Chamber, she is very involved in the local communities. Carrie serves as Vice Chair for Forward New Richmond, working towards the growth, development, and vision for the city.

Tom Borowski

Tom Borowski

Hudson Hospital & Clinic


Tom joined Hudson Hospital & Clinic in October of 2017 serving as President.  Prior to joining Hudson Hospital & Clinic, Tom was a member of the Mayo Clinic Health System, most recently serving as Chief Executive Officer for the New Prague and Waseca, MN locations.  He is a member of the Hudson Noon Rotary Club and serves on the University of Wisconsin-River Falls Chancellor’s Advisory Council.

Mark Carlson

Mark Carlson


Mark Carlson is semi-retired and lives with his wife Linda in Pleasant Valley for nearly 20 years. Mark worked for 20 years as a Juvenile Probation/Correction worker in Ramsey County. Before that, he served in the Navy on Submarines for 12 years of active duty and then joined the Naval Reserves. He drives for Uber and Lyft part-time. Linda is also a Navy veteran and currently works for the Veteran’s Administration. Mark currently serves as a St. Croix County Supervisor for District 15, and has been president of Emmanual Lutheran Church in Hudson for the past 8 years. He is also on the St. Croix County Public Protection and Judiciary Committee.  

Steve Gossel

Steve Gossel

Baldwin Lightstream


Steve is the CFO for Baldwin Lightstream. He has also served on the Woodville Village board since 2007 and have been the Village President since 2015.  Prior to running for the Village board, he was on the Baldwin-Woodville Chamber of Commerce board.  He grew up in the Baldwin-Woodville area and lives in Woodville with his wife Kristen, son Cameron and dog Jaxon.

Brian Hinz

Brian Hinz

Studio EA


Brian Hinz is the co-owner at Studio EA in Hudson, WI. Studio EA has practiced architecture in the St. Croix River Valley for 40 years with Brian joining the firm in 2006. He directs design, planning, and programming for a diverse range of project types from single family residential to industrial to professional office. A resident of St. Croix County since 2008 he has served as board member for the Hudson Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau and is a former President of the Hudson Noon Rotary Club.

Carah Koch

Carah Koch


Carah Koch is serving her second term on the St Croix County Board as the District 5 representative in the City of Hudson.  Carah has over 20 years of experience in local and regional government, and currently serves as the Federal Program Officer in Wisconsin for the US Department of Commerce where her focus is on the expansion of internet access for all Wisconsinites.  Carah also enjoys being active as a Board Member for the Hudson Dog Owners Association, and as a Rotarian.

Rob Kreibich

Rob Kreibich

New Richmond Chamber


Rob Kreibich is the Executive Director of the New Richmond Chamber of Commerce and currently serves on the New Richmond Economic Development Corp, the Momentum West Board of Directors, the West Central Regional Rail Coalition and at the state level, the Edvest College Savings Board. His past experience includes a journalism degree from University of MN, serving on the State Legislature for 14 years, served as chair of the Higher Education Committee, and  worked as a regional marketing specialist for Marshfield Clinic.

Scott Morrissette

Scott Morrissette

First National Bank River Falls


Scott brings 34 years of experience in the financial services industry. He is currently with First National Bank River Falls and focuses on commercial banking in the western Wisconsin market. He is involved with the River Falls Sunshine Fund, a local student lead non-profits, Rotary, and serves on the River Falls City Council as President.  He was also past Board Chair of the River Falls Chamber of Commerce.

April Nelson

April Nelson

WI Business Development


April Nelson is Vice President/ Loan Officer for WBD, Inc., a Certified Development Company. Her role is assisting financial institutions and borrowers with SBA 504 financing in Western Wisconsin and 14 counties in Minnesota. April brings over 24 years of experience in the financial industry.

Kim Rock

Kim Rock


Kim Rock recently retired from a 40-year career in hi-tech manufacturing and electronics, having worked in a number of management and marketing roles in companies ranging from start-ups to global top 100 sized firms. He was previously a consultant with Enterprise Minnesota, part of the US Dept. of Commerce Manufacturing Extension Partnership program, where he assisted manufacturing firms with business practice improvements.

Ann Searles

Ann Searles

St. Croix Valley Food Bank


Ann is the Executive Director of the St. Croix Valley Food Bank. She has over 20 years of for-profit and non-profit leadership experience. Ann has worked in the St. Croix communities for the past eight years establishing collaborative partnerships that build healthy communities and is a member of Hudson Day Break Rotary.

Aaron Sundeen

Aaron Sundeen

Derrick Building Solutions


Aaron Sundeen is the Director of Business Development for Derrick Companies in New Richmond.  He has lived in Hudson for 22 years with his wife and two children and has been an active member in many local organizations throughout the St. Croix Valley.

Brian Zelenak

Brian Zelenak


Most recently, Brian Zelenak was President/CEO at St. Croix Electric Cooperative (SCEC) late 2018-2023. Prior to joining SCEC, Brian was the CEO of a Minnesota Cooperative and spent over 20 years in various regulatory roles at Xcel Energy/NSP.  Brian has lived in the Hudson area since 2006 and has been active in area organizations including the Family Resource Center of St. Croix Valley, Camp St. Croix YMCA, and Very Special Arts of Wisconsin.

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