The MMEA board of Directors is a volunteer group committed to supporting Minnesota’s students and educators. We would love to hear your input at our board meetings which are open to the public! Board meetings take place on Saturdays throughout the year and are held virtually (zoom links will be updated when available).

2025 Meetings 8am-12pm: 

January 11, 2025
February 13-15, 2025 (Midwinter Convention)
March 8, 2025 – Install New Board members and Annual Membership Meeting
May 17, 2025
September 6, 2025

2026 Meetings 8am-12pm:

January 10, 2026
February 12-14, 2026 (Midwinter Convention)
March 14, 2026 – Install New Board members and Annual Membership Meeting
May 16, 2026
September 12, 2026

Throughout the year we also have committees and task forces working on specific projects. If you would like more information or want to volunteer your time and talents, please reach out to our board members or staff!

Executive Committee

Karen Howard, President

University of St Thomas, St Paul
khoward@mmea.org

Nicole Thietje, President Elect

New Prague High School
nthietje@mmea.org

Christopher Rochester, Past President

MacPhail Center for Music
crochester@mmea.org

Vice-Presidents

Andy DeLuca, Co-Band VP

Monticello High School
adeluca@mmea.org

Jonathon Knutson, Co-Band VP

Byron Public School
jknutson@mmea.org

Seth Freundschuh, Orchestra VP

Bemidji High School
sfreundschuh@mmea.org

Jacob Kempenich, Choral VP

Spectrum High School, Elk River
jkempenich@mmea.org

Joel Pohland, Jazz VP

Pierz Healy High School
jpohland@mmea.org

Abigail Van Klompenberg, Collegiate Chapters VP

Concordia College, Moorhead, MN
avanklompenberg@mmea.org

Aaron Lohmeyer, Middle-Secondary Classroom VP

Winona State University
alohmeyer@mmea.org

Ruth LeMay, Middle-Secondary Ensemble + VP

Minneapolis Public Schools
rlemay@mmea.org

Michael Bjork, Elementary VP

Justice Alan Page Elementary, Maplewood, MN
mbjork@mmea.org

Region Representatives

Gunnar Aas, Region Northwest Representative

Bemidji High School
gaas@mmea.org

Christopher Barnes, Region Northwest Representative Elect

Roseau School
cbarnes@mmea.org

Iris Kolodji, Region Northeast Representative

Marshall School
ikolodji@mmea.org

Kelly Taylor, Region Central Representative

Litchfield Public Schools
ktaylor@mmea.org

John Pohland, Region Southwest Representative

New Prague High School
johnpohland@mmea.org

Melanie Sheridan, Region Southeast Representative

Winona Area Public Schools
msheridan@mmea.org

Rachel Gorden Mercer, Region Twin Cities Loop Representative

Boeckman Middle School, Farmington, MN
rgordenmercer@mmea.org

Eric Songer, Region Twin Cities Loop Representative

Chaska Middle School West
esonger@mmea.org

Natalia Romero Arbeláez, Region Twin Cities Loop Representative Elect

The Blake School
nromero@mmea.org

Kimberly Keaton, Region Twin Cities Central Representative

FAIR School, Crystal
kkeaton@mmea.org

Appointed Positions

Casey Clementson, Advocacy Co-Chair

University of Minnesota
cclementson@mmea.org

Jeff Sands, Advocacy Co-Chair

Minnesota State Community and Technical College
jsands@mmea.org

Sarah Minette, Interval Editor

sminette@mmea.org

Erin Berg, Retired Members Chair

eberg@mmea.org

Mark Gitch, MSHSL Representative

Wayzata High School, Wayzata
mgitch@mmea.org

Cheryl Berglund, Community Music Chair

MacPhail Center for Music
cberglund@mmea.org

Michael Buck, Perpich Center for Arts Education Representative

Perpich Center for Arts Education
mbuck@mmea.org

Staff

Jerri Gibson Neddermeyer, MMEA Executive Director

execdirector@mmea.org

Jordan Bongaarts, MMEA Program Coordinator

jbongaarts@mmea.org

Lori Lenz, MMEA Administrative Secretary

lenz@mmea.org

Wanda Borman, MMEA MWC Assistant Program Coordinator

wborman@mmea.org