Ambassador 2012 President
Team Member Since: 2007
Sharon Kaplan
434-4046
kaplan.sharon@yahoo.com

Ambassador 2011 Past President
Team Member Since: 1994
Jeanine Nelson, Commercial Banker
US Bank
433-0217
jeanine.nelson@usbank.com

Jeanine is an Austin native and has been a Chamber Ambassador for over 16 years; she has served on all Ambassador subcommittees. Meeting people is what she likes best about Ambassadors and her work at US Bank. The owrk of the committee provides an opportunity to meet new business owners and employees, and Ambassadors are a "great group of friends." Jeanine and her husband have been married for 30 years, and have two adult children. "Austin is a small town with many opportunities," and "It's a great place to raise a family. It's home!"

Ambassador First Vice President
Team Member Since: 2009
Machelle Flugum, Accountant
Hill, Larson, Walth & Benda, P.A.
433-2264
mflugum@hlwb-cpa.com

Machelle and her husband have been married for over 33 years. They have two sons and four grandchildren. She has served on the Ambassador Business of the Year, Annual Meeting and AMIGO Day subcommittees. She says it's a great group of people and the committee's work helps her meet members of the business community.

Ambassador Team Captain-Second Vice President
Team Member Since: 2009
Abby Wangen, Personal Banker
Sterling State Bank
433-7325
awangen@sterlingstatebank.com

Abby has been a member of the Annual Meeting and Christmas in the City planning committees, and has helped Ambassadors carry the U.S. Flag in the 4th of July parade. She and her husband enjoy Austin's small town atmosphere. Being an Ambassador has helped her to get to know a lot of new business people. Abby's hobbies include reading, hunting and ice fishing.

Ambassador
Team Member Since: 2007
Eric Connett, Agent
Heartman Insurance
437-4503
econnett@heartman-insurance.com

Eric has served on all Ambassador subcommittees and is also chair of the Business Education Committee. Austin is a great place to live andraise a family, Eric notes, and he enjoys working with others to improve the business climate and community as a whole. Eric sells property/casualty, life, accident and health insurance.

Ambassador
Team Member Since: 2007
Shelley Jones, Agent
Sterling State Insurance Agency
437-3282
sjones@sterlingstatebank.com

Shelley has served on the Business of the Year and AMIGO subcommittees. She also serves as chair of the Christmas in the SW and is a member of the Festival Committee. Shelley has two daughters and a "significant other." She enjoys camping, traveling and scrapbooking. "I have met a lot of friends through Ambassadors," "both fellow Ambassadors and members of the business community. We have a lot of fun putting events together." Shelley notes that insurance is a must for everyone, and finds provising customers with a variety of options helps them tailor policies to their specific needs.

Ambassador
Team Member Since: 2004
Sarah Iverson
Christopher Lee Photography
437-0929
sarah@clpstudio.net

Ambassador
Team Member Since: 2003
Tom Klapperich, Market President
Home Federal Savings Bank
433-2355
tomk@hfsb.com

Tom joined the Ambassadors in 2001, and enjoys the Ambassador role of welcoming new business and members. He is a former captain, and has served on AMIGO Day, Business of the Year and Annual Meeting committees. As bank preseident, Tom likes working with people to help them "achieve their goals." He finds Austin to be close-knit community, and a great place to raise a family. Tom has four daughters and three grandchildren. Besides working with the Chamber, Tom also is a board member of the Austin Education Foundation and Apple Lane Child Care Center.

Ambassador
Team Member Since: 2011
Lindsay Harnack, Agent
American Family Insurance
437-3207
lharnack@amfam.com

Lindsay has been with the Ambassadors for about a year now. She likes being invoived in the community, providing good customer service and interacting with customers. Lindsay has a golden retriever and a boyfriend of four years and enjoys volleyball, kickball, and watching movies.

Ambassador
Team Member Since: 2002
Celeste Krause, Agent - Account Executive
C.O. Brown Agency, Inc.
433-4998
ckrause@cobrown.com

Celeste has served on the Annual Meeting decorating and AMIGO Day committees. She and her husband ahve been married for 32 years, and have two children and one grandchild. Both Celeste and her husband run the Lighthouse Event Center and love music. Celeste likes working with businesses as an Ambassador and as an agent for C.O. Brown Agency, helping people protect their assets and grow their business.

Ambassador Team Captain
Team Member Since: 2010
Bill Budion, General Manager
Austin Country Club
437-7631
wjb@austincountryclub.net

Bill and his wife have three cats and a foreign exchange student from Ecuador. Bill loves golf (of course), cooking, wine, sports and traveling. He has served on AMIGO Day and Business of the Year subcommittees. Bill loves the convenience of living in Austin - where you can be to work in 10 minutes - even during rush hour!

Ambassador
Team Member Since: 2003
Thad Kusick, Agent
Edward Jones
434-2954
thad.kusick@edwardjones.com

Thad and his wife Wendy have two daughters. He enjoys the Austin Morning Lions & the Go-Cart unit, golf, church elder singing, water activites, and family. As an Ambassador, Thad likes the people and the opportunity it allows him to meet other business people. He feels that Austin has a small town with bigger city opportunity.

Ambassador
Team Member Since: 2012
Kiersten Hall, Independent Agent
Aflac
993-1228
kiersten_hall@us.aflac.com

Kiersten has three children and enjoys travel, photography and being an active mom. She appreciates the comaraderie among fellow Ambassadors, as well as being involved in nearly every event. In 2011, Kiersten coordinated the first annual "Austin Festival of Lights." She likes the hometown feel and the amenities that Austin offers.

Ambassador
Team Member Since: 2012
Dan Miner
Johnson & Doerhoefer P.A.
433-9453
dminer99@gmail.com

Dan enjoys being involved in the community and the comaraderie of the group.

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Ambassador
Team Member Since: 2012
Jayna Fett, Catering Manager
Holiday Inn & Austin Conference Center
433-1000
catering@hiaustin.com

Ambassador
Team Member Since: 2009
Linda Reinartz, Owner/Bookkeeper/Manager
Reinartz Appraisals
437-9179
linda@reinartzappraisals.com

Linda and her husband own and operate Reinartz Appraisals. They have four children and 11 grandchildren. Linda has worked on AMIGO Day and Freedom Fest subcommittees. She enjoys promoting the business community and getting to know more business people. Austin is a place "you can be anywhere in less than 10 minutes," and still find virtually everything you're looking for.

Ambassador Team Captain
Team Member Since: 2010
Justin Bickler, Owner
Simplified Technology Solutions LLC
437-8324
justin@simplifiedtechsolutions.com

Justin and his wife Lisa have three children. Since joining the Ambassadors, he has worked on the Festival, Downtown, Social Media, and Annual Meeting committees. He is also an active member of ChamberNet. Justin enjoys golf, kids, volunteering and jet-skiing. He believes that Austin is a vibrant business community with small town morals, parks, opportunities, and heroes.

Ambassador
Team Member Since: 2011
LeAnn Fischer, Sales Account Executive
Austin Post-Bulletin
434-7342
lfischer@postbulletin.com

Ambassador
Team Member Since: 2010
Marlene Blaser, Owner
Quiznos Sub
438-3079
marleneblaser@hotmail.com

Marlene and her husband own and operate Quiznos Sub, near Target. They have been married for 40 years and have three children and two grandchildren. Marlene also serves on the Chamber Board of Directors. She believes in Austin and says "it has everything you could want: friends, great schools, shopping." As an Ambassador she has worked on the AMIGO Day subcommittee and attends all Business After Hours.

Ambassador
Team Member Since: 2004
Penny Skauge, Senior Counselor
Gerard Academy
438-3232
purpleschwinn@hotmail.com

Penny has been an Ambassador for seven years and is one of Austin's greatest boosters. Her hobbies provide evidence: she likes "working at the YMCA, shopping at Twice Is Nice, and texting and talking on the phone." Penny has served on several Ambassador committees, including Business of the Year, Banquet Planning, and AMIGO Day, and has also been a team captain. Her family includes her dad, two brothers, and a cat named "Pumpkin."

Ambassador
Team Member Since: 2003
Beckie Blecker, Owner/Realtor
Blecker Realty & Auction Service
433-3536
bblecker@charter.net

Beckie and her husband have owned and operated Blecker Realty for eight years. The company was named "New Business of the Year" in 2004. Beckie has been a past-president and team captain and has served on several Ambassador subcommittees. "I really enjoy the Ambaasadors." "I think the Chamber and its Ambassadors do an awesome job, and participating is a great way to meet business people and build relationships."

Ambassador
Team Member Since: 2002
Terri Stough
Accentra Credit Union
433-1829
terris@accentracu.org

Terri loves to golf so it follows that her favorite Ambassador event is AMIGO Day. She and her husband have served on the AMIGO planning committee for years. Terri has served as a team captain and as a member of the Business of the Year committee. She also participates with Ambassadors in Christmas in the City and Freedom Fest events. Terri and her husband have two grown children and have been married for 29 years. Terri likes the Vikings nad her husband is a Packer fan!

Ambassador
Team Member Since: 2006
Jackie Bumgardner, Department Manager
Games People Play
433-7593
embroidery@gppaustin.com

Jackie has been both a past-president and Ambassador of the Year recipient. She has served on all Ambassador subcommittees. "I love the camaraderie within the group." "Ambassadors are all about growing and uniting the business community." Jackie works as the Embroidery Manager and Digitizer at Games People Play, and feels the staff there are "an extension of my family." Jackie and her husband have two children, both of whom live with their families in Austin. "Austin is very family oriented with a small town feel and bigger city amenities. We also have great schools and a lot of options for youth activities."

Ambassador
Team Member Since: 2001
Jim Stough, Funeral Director
Worlein Funeral Home
433-5000
jtbkstough@charter.net

Jim has been a member of the Ambassadors for ten years, and has served as president, team captain, and AMIGO Day chair. He has been a member of the Ambassador "Team of the Year" three times. He has also served on the Chamber's Board of Directors. He and his wife have two grown children. Jim's favorite hobby is golf, and he is also a sprint car racing and Green Bay Packers fan. He moved to Austin from Fairmont and says Austin is a great place to raise a family, offering a wide variety of services and shopping while maintaining "a small town feel."

Ambassador
Team Member Since: 2012
Ashley Heiny
CFS Companies
434-2299
aheiny@cfscompanies.com

Ashley has three sisters, a brother, and a basset hound named Walter. She enjoys walking, reading, and hanging with her family. Ashley likes meeting new business owners, meeting people, and being involved with the community. She feels Austin is a small, spunky town with many opportunities.

Ambassador
Team Member Since: 2010
Cindy Engelman, Graphic Artist - Commercial Sales
Smyth Companies
434-5918
cengelman@smythco.com

Since Cindy has joined the Ambassadors, she has found it to be "a great way to meet people, learn about the local business community, and promote your own business." At Smyth, she works with businesses to develop print materials that help their companies become more successful. Cindy and her husband have two children. She likes music, gardening and fishing.

Ambassador Team Captain
Team Member Since: 2010
Jamie Surdy, Paraplanner
Davis, Thoen, Kramer & Associates - Ameriprise Financial
437-3523
surdy_16@hotmail.com

Jamie is one of the newer Ambasadors, joining the committee about one year ago. He enjoys the opportunity to promote his business and others in the community. "The Chamber has done a great job promoting myself and my organization, and I've met a lot of great people by becoming involved." "I would strongly urge all area businesses to participate!" Jamie enjoys hunting, fishing and exercising. He has a brother and a sister.

Ambassador
Team Member Since: 2008
Kevin Swank
Simplified Technology Solutions LLC
437-8324
kg2swank@yahoo.com

An Austin native, Kevin has over 30 years sales experience in our area. At STS, he works with commercial accounts to offer practical solutions to technological issues. He and his wife have four children and a granddaughter. Kevin has served as team captain, vice president and AMIGO Day chair. In his spare time, he likes to hunt, fish and golf.

Ambassador
Team Member Since: 2010
Miguel Garate, Advisor
Riverland Community College
433-0680
miguelgarate@riverland.edu

Since joining the Ambassadors, Miguel has found it a great way to meet people and learn about the work of the Chamber. He is active in a wide variety of organizations throughout Austin, including the YMCA, Mower County Historical Society, Mower County mentoring program, and public health. He also works as a consultant to many Mexican residents. "I love the way people here talk about our community with such a passion," he praised. "People really care about our community."

Ambassador
Team Member Since: 2009
Bonnie Graff
Mayo Clinic Health Sytem-Austin
437-3894
graff.bonnie@mayo.edu

Bonnie and her husband have two children and a grandson. She enjoys family, traveling and reading. Bonnie has served on several committees including Annual Meeting, AMIGO Days, and Christmas in the City. She enjoys meeting and greeting people from all different businesses and learning about what they do. The best thing she likes about Austin is the way the community has changed and adapted to the diversity.

Ambassador
Team Member Since: 2011
Jennie Germain
Paramount Theatre/Austin Area Commission for the Arts
434-0934
director@paramounttheatre.org

Ambassador
Team Member Since: 2009
Renee Wangen
KAUS AM/FM Radio
438-1021
rwangen@austin.threeeagles.com

Renee has been a sales representative for KAUS for 18 years, serving customers in Austin, Rochester and Owatonna. She is also co-owner of Wangen Automotive. Renee enjoys organizing city-wide events. She has been a member of the Freedom Fest committee, and also volunteers at the Salvation Army and Feed a Family program. Renee likes to snowmobile and collect refrigerator magnets.