Jim is the Dean for Workforce and Economic Development, and Aviation Maintenance Technology at Northland Community and Technical College in Thief River Falls, and East Grand Forks, MN. In that capacity, Jim works closely with the professionals of the Center for Outreach and Innovation to further the college’s mission of creating business and industry training partnerships for value-added workforce development opportunities. Jim also works closely with the Aviation Maintenance Technology Program to assess program strengths and weaknesses and implement tactical and strategic plans which addresses enrollment growth and program development in response to new FAA Part 147 curriculum requirements.

Jim holds a baccalaureate degree in Industrial Technology from Bemidji State University, a certificate in Lean Manufacturing through the Executive Education Program at Fisher College of Business, The Ohio State University, and has completed Six Sigma Green Belt training through Prairie State College. He has worked with Glencoe/McGraw-Hill and the Manufacturing Skill Standards Council (MSSC), as a contributing editor for High Performance Manufacturing: Portable Production Skills. Jim has worked with the Society of Manufacturing Engineers on pilot preparation courses for their Bronze Level, Lean Certification Program.

Jim is the State Coordinator for the MSSC in Minnesota and has contributed to the MSSC Marketing and Curriculum Review committees. He is a member of The Society of Manufacturing Engineers, Manufacturing Skill Standards Council, the National Council for Advanced Manufacturing, and the National Coalition of Advanced Technology Centers where he serves as the Regional Coordinator for the Midwestern states, and is a member of the nation-wide Lean Educators Academic Network, (LEAN).

Jim is an executive committee member of 360 Degrees, Manufacturing and Applied Engineering Center Of Excellence, a unique collaborative of 7 two-year colleges and Bemidji State University within Minnesota State Colleges and Universities.

Fun Fact: Jim is a wooden boat enthusiast, and enjoys cruising northern Minnesota lakes in his restored 1959 Chris-Craft.

Top Strengths: Context, Focus, Communication, Responsibility, Harmony

Pat has 30+ years experience with the State of Minnesota in various capacities and Departments. In her current role as Director of Lifelong Learning, she is responsible for Continuing Education/Customized Training activities within the Center for Outreach and Innovation, Northland Community and Technical College-East Grand Forks Campus, as well as developing business client relationships and training curriculum to meet specific business and industry training needs. Other capacities within the State of Minnesota include Field Operations Manager, Local and Regional Marketer, Case Manager, Job Search/Job Club Coordinator within the Minnesota WorkForce Center System.

Fun Fact: Pat is the 1995 recipient of the Polk County Outstanding 4-H Alumni Award.

Top Strengths: Connectedness, Input, Learner, Achiever, Responsibility

Brad received a B.S. in Education from Bemidji State University; spent 23 years as a Distribution Manager with Bridgeman/Land O’ Lakes, was a Restaurant Owner, a Semi-Truck Driver, and a manager of local fraternal club. His position at the College is to train employees of mining operations on safety, on and off the job site, as well as forklift safety, and ergonomic back lifting.

Fun Fact: Brad has 5 children (all daughters), 11 grandchildren and in his children’s mind is getting smarter as they grow older. He hears quite often the question: “How did Mom and you stand it when all five of us kids were home; I can’t handle the 2 I have.” He just smiles and tells them I’m glad your kids are behaving the way you did. Payback can indeed be sweet!

Top Strengths: Arranger, Developer, Empathy, Learner, Context

Jenna joined the Northland team in November of 09. She received her AAS in Legal Administrative Assistant at Aakers Business College in Fargo, North Dakota.

Fun Fact: Jenna enjoys spending all her free time at the lake.

Top Strengths: Woo, Communication, Includer, Consistency, Harmony

Chris has been in the Fire service for over 15 years, currently serving as Assistant Fire Chief for Cold Spring Fire/ Rescue. Chris has been an Adjunct Instructor for 9 years. He currently serves as the President of the Fire Instructors and Training Officers Association of Minnesota.

Fun Fact: Chris has 3 Daughters: Alexis, Kaitlyn and Sarah.

Top Strengths: Responsibility, Arranger, Developer, Belief, Significance

NCTC Diploma Administrative Support Specialist

Fun Fact: Melrene had a catering service at one time and loves to cook. I enjoy attending my grandchildren’s sports activities and concerts. I also love to hunt, camp, fish and travel.

Top Strengths: Harmony, Relator, Arranger, Developer & Responsibility

After receiving degrees in Psychology and Business Administration at Jamestown College, Kirsten continued her education at Minnesota State University, Mankato and earned a Master of Arts in Industrial/Organizational Psychology. Kirsten worked at Data Recognition Corporation in Maple Grove, MN for several years as a statistical analyst and project manager where she developed and analyzed standardized assessments in conjunction with several state departments of education. In December of 2004, Kirsten became the Director of Workforce Development at Northland Community & Technical College. She enjoys working with companies to develop and implement customized educational programs. Kirsten serves on the Director’s Council for 360°, a MnSCU Center of Excellence in Manufacturing and Applied Engineering; Thief River Falls Community Education advisory board; several community Project Lead the Way boards at area schools; and coordinates NCTC's annual ROBO Storm summer camp for youth in northwest Minnesota.

Fun Fact: Kirsten and her husband eloped at a bed and breakfast - the innkeepers were their witnesses.

Top Strengths: Input, Learner, Arranger, Responsibility, Analytical

With fifteen years of experience delivering leadership training to local and international audiences, DeAnna Murphy has honed the art of listening to the needs of organizations and individuals and creating highly relevant, customized programs. Participants who experience her professional services are most likely to respond as this participant, from Loyola University, did: “Great energy and so engaging! Super individual knowledge presented in a completely customized fashion. I loved the interaction and the application back to my work and personal life. I’m ready for more!” (Roberta Kaskel, Director of Career Development).

DeAnna’s primary expertise has been developed in the emerging field of strengths-based leadership—coaching and training around the discovery and application of strengths, helping individuals and organizations create heightened excellence and engagement. She has achieved advanced degrees and certifications from Brigham Young University (MS in psychology—emphasis on organizational psychology), the Coaches Training Institute, FranklinCovey, and the Gallup organization (certified Strengths Performance Coach, certified StrengthsQuest Educator/Advocate). She is recognized as the catalyst behind, and co-creator of the Strengths Based Leadership Institute—including co-designing the curriculum, her own strengths coaching methodology, and her unique and engaging TeamStrengths game, which integrates strengths discovery into high team performance. She is currently researching and writing her first book: Strengths Strategy—Developing Strengths in Service of Creating Excellence.

Fun Fact: DeAnna is the mother of celebrity, Matt Murphy, who was the survivor of a horrific black bear attack at Tomahawk Scout Reservation, when he was 14. Matt has appeared on Montel Williams, Good Morning America, several other national and local news programs, and was even included in a documentary. He has spoken before countless audiences small and large, sharing the wonderful lessons learned from his experience. Even though he came close to losing his life and had severe injuries, he has had a full recovery from his accident.

Top Strengths: Individualization, Connectedness, Maximizer, Developer, Achiever, Learner, Responsibility, Empathy

Norma Smith is a Leadership Trainer and Professional Coach at the Center for Outreach & Innovation within Northland College. She has presented, keynoted, trained and facilitated in human resources, marketing, and business strategy capacities throughout the United States and Western Europe. Prior to joining Northland College, from 1998-2008, Norma served in global leadership and consulting roles at both Motorola and Microsoft Business Solutions. Her areas of corporate experience and stewardship include product, project and program management; employee performance management, customer engagement strategy, market research analysis and marketing communications.

Norma has experience leading individuals and organizations through appreciative inquiry assessments, lean fundamentals, supervisory management training, focus groups, driver analysis and KPI identification. She additionally develops and delivers customized strength-based leadership training and performance coaching, helping individuals and groups improve their productivity and quality of life through finding and leveraging their strengths. Most notable is her recent work co-designing strengths-based training for teams and her focus on integrating informal performer support strategies within broader training delivery strategy and methodology.

Norma holds advanced certifications from George Washington University, Harvard University, Coaches Training Institute and Gallup University. She is a member of the International Coach Federation (ICF) and the American Society for Training and Development. She is recognized by Gallup as both a Strengths Advocate for Higher Education Institutions and a Gallup-Certified Strengths Performance Coach for business and industry.

Fun Fact: Norma is an active Tae Kwon Do student at Northwest Martial Arts in Moorhead, Minnesota. She and children hold advanced belts and look forward to participating in tournaments in 2010.

Top Strengths: Achiever, Learner, Ideation, Strategic, Individualization

Susan came to Northland College directly after finishing her Bachelor's degree in 2001. Starting out in student services, she later joined the Center for Outreach and Innovation in December of 2003. Since then, she has also worked to obtain her Master’s in Business Administration, graduating in 2007.

Her responsibilities include coordinating open enrollment courses for the East Grand Forks campus as well as some specialized courses that are contracted with area companies. CNA classes and testing are her busiest projects. Her educational background includes:

M.B.A. - Management, University of Mary, Bismarck, ND (2007)
B.S. - Information Networking Management, University of Minnesota, Crookston (2001)
A.A.S. - Marketing/Management, University of Minnesota, Crookston (2001)

Fun Fact: Susan is left handed and enjoys learning about unique trivia/facts.

Top Strengths: Relator, Strategic, Individualization, Maximizer, Belief

Connie received a Bachelors degree in Communications from Bemidji State University. She also holds a Lean Healthcare Certification from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston, MA; and a Lean Healthcare Certification from Belmont University, Nashville, TN. As An EMT for more than 20 years, it was Connie’s experience with emergency rooms that began her journey with Lean Healthcare. Her recent projects include Lean facilitation at First Care Medical, Fosston, MN; Lakeview Medical, Baudette, MN; LifeCare Medical, Roseau, MN; Villa St. Vincent, Crookston, MN; and Fair Meadow Nursing Home, Fertile, MN. In November 2008, Connie was named the Coordinator for the Coalition for Continuous Improvement in Healthcare.

Certified through the American Heart Association as an instructor in First Aid/CPR, her background in pre-hospital emergency care offers a learning environment rich in experience that is brought to the classroom. She also has the great opportunity to teach computers to business and industry and have assisted many adults from Introduction to Computers, to Expert Excel.

Fun Fact: Connie writes poetry and children’s books. And loves to mow lawn!

Top Strengths: Individualization; Self-Assurance; Deliberative; Maximizer; Adaptability

Peter grew-up in Wisconsin, lived in Upper Michigan, Arizona and now Minnesota. Peter has experience in formal education / training in Civil Engineering Technology (1992), Manufacturing Engineering (1999), Composites, Lean/Six Sigma and First Responder. With experience in construction, manufacturing, training development and project management, Peter has a variety of valuable skills.

Fun Fact: Pete enjoys restoring antique autos and motorcycles which he involves the entire family (wife Laura and 3 daughters). Pete also enjoys camping in rustic, remote sites.

Top Strengths: Responsibility, Arranger, Learner, Belief, Restorative