Board of Directors - Minnesota
Don Bottemiller
NGP Inc. Chairman
dbottemiller@homecrest.com
Don Bottemiller is the Northern Great Plains Inc. Chairman, and CEO of Homecrest Industries, Incorporated, a leading manufacturer of casual and outdoor furniture located in Wadena, Minnesota.
Don graduated from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota with a bachelor of science Chemistry degree. He has also done graduate work in the meteorology field at St. Louis University.
Don served two terms as a regent of Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota and is a past president of the Summer and Casual Furniture Manufacturers Association. He is currently on the boards of the American Furniture Manufacturers Association and Tri-County Hospital. In addition, Don is chair of the Wadena Airport Advisory Council, president of the Wadena Area Concert Association, and choir member at Immanuel Lutheran Church.
Marcie McLaughlin
Executive Director, Minnesota Rural Partners
mmclaughlin@rupri.org
202.624.7843
Marcie McLaughlin is the National Policy Director for the Rural Policy Research Institute (RUPRI) in Washington DC. RUPRI conducts policy-relevant research and facilitates public dialogue to assist policymakers in understanding the rural impacts of public policies and programs. For ten years prior to this position, McLaughlin served as the founding Executive Director of Minnesota Rural Partners, Minnesota’s state rural development council. Minnesota Rural Partners is a network of federal, state, local and tribal governments, and the private, non-profit and educational sectors. MRP is involved in several projects including entrepreneurship, telecommunications and new agriculture. MRP also hosts the annual Minnesota Rural Summit. Director, National Policy Programs
The Rural Policy Research Institute
400 North Capitol Street NW
Washington DC 20001
Prior to her tenure as director of MRP, Ms. McLaughlin served as a Renville County Commissioner. McLaughlin first work in rural and community development in water planning for six southwestern Minnesota counties. She has owned and operated a small family business. She is a current board member of the Northern Great Plains, Inc and a trustee emeritus of the Blandin Foundation.
McLaughlin holds a master in public administration degree from the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, has an elementary education degree from Southwest State University in Marshall, Minnesota and advanced studies in adult education from Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas. Ms. McLaughlin’s move to Washington DC continues the experiment in the similarities and differences of rural and urban life.
Ron Vantine
Attorney, Lindquist & Vennum
ronaldgvantine@msn.com
Ron Vantine is a business lawyer with the Minneapolis-based firm of Lindquist & Vennum. He has 35 years experience serving as general counsel to mid-cap companies and entrepreneurs. Ron's practice focuses on commercial and international business transactions which typically involve structuring and negotiating a wide range of contractual relationships such as joint ventures and other strategic alliances, product marketing and distribution, and technology licensing agreements.
Ron was born and raised in Bismarck, North Dakota. He received his Bachelors Degree from the University of North Dakota and his law degree from the University of Michigan Law School.
Ron is the chair of the Board of Trustees of United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities in New Brighton, Minnesota, past Chair of the Board of Episcopal Community Services in Minneapolis, and a current member of the Agency's Counsel of Executive Advisors, a past member of the Board of the Minneapolis Area United Way, and a Chair of the Legal Division Campaign for the Minneapolis Area United Way Campaign. Ron and his wife, Carol, continue to be involved in a variety of community organizations.
