MINNESOTA-URUGUAY PARTNERS OF THE AMERICAS
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Kristine Martin, Immediate Past President
Kristine is the President of East Side Neighborhood Services, a nonprofit human service agency that provides social and other services to individuals, families and the communities of primarily Northeast and Southeast Minneapolis. Their purpose is to assist people of all ages and backgrounds in realizing a higher quality of life. Kristine has 30 years of working in public and nonprofit organizations, concentrating on social welfare, community development, and systems change. She has been involved with Minnesota-Uruguay Partners since 1992. Kristine has traveled worldwide and specifically worked on Juvenile Justice Reform in Uruguay. She has two children, both in University.
Sue VonBank, President
Sue is a special projects coordinator at the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. She initially became involved with Partners through her experience as an international educator with the MAST (Minnesota Agricultural Study Trainee) program at the University of Minnesota, where she worked with Uruguayan students and several faculty who were involved with MUP. She grew up only 20 miles from Montevideo (Minnesota), and loves building connections with people from around the world.
Ricardo Bonner, Vice-President
Ricardo is a native of Uruguay, a native of Uruguay, has spent over ten years in the U.S. and moved to Minnesota four years ago. With a degree in Economics, he currently works for Johns Hopkins University/Jhpiego as the Associate Director of Finance, managing special projects. Back home, in his years as a student, he founded and managed a horseback riding program across the Uruguayan grasslands for international riders. Through that experience he promoted friendship, cultural understanding and opened the doors of the Uruguayan countryside to foreign visitors. His values, education and passion for his country’s culture are a great fit for MUP.
Ross Knutson, Treasurer
Ross, a native of Minnesota, has spent the bulk of his professional career in Latin America. After graduating with an Accounting and Spanish degree from Luther College, he worked for the international consulting firm of KPMG. Upon leaving KPMG, he held a number of positions at non-profits across the Americas including stints in Guatemala, Ecuador, and Washington D.C. before settling in Peru. After nearly a decade in Peru, Ross and his family moved to Minnesota in 2012. Currently, Ross is working as a business analyst at McGough Construction and working to improve business connections between Minnesota and Latin America.
Patrick Moore, Chair for Membership Development
Patrick is the Communications Director for Pioneer Public Television in Southwestern Minnesota. He has lived in Montevideo, Minnesota for 28 years and during that time he has hosted more than 100 Uruguayan visitors to that community. He has degrees in History and Latin American studies from the University of Minnesota Morris, and brings his passion for the environment, hospitality, and civic engagement to Partners.
Rachel Limon, Chair for Program Development
Rachel serves as the Regional Trade Manager for Latin America & the Caribbean at the Minnesota Trade Office, and is the Director of Study Minnesota. She was awarded the Minnesota Consular Corps Business Leadership Award for her demonstrated and sustained commitment and achievements of cultural diversity, outstanding community service and excellence in business leadership. Rachel is an artist and tour guide at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts and devoted mother to her 9-year-old son.
Erik Brand, Director
A past president of Minnesota Uruguay Partners, Erik has worked for more than a decade in international affairs and public policy. He has served our chapter as President, Treasurer, and active volunteer. He is also a member of the Partners of the Americas (Washington, DC) Board of Directors. Erik is the publisher of the Latin America Advisor, a daily intelligence brief produced at the Inter-American Dialogue, a Washington think tank, where he also directs its Corporate Program.
Cecilia Delbene Lezama, Director
Cecilia was born and raised in Montevideo, Uruguay. She graduated from the Instituto of Profesores Artigas as a secondary Literature teacher, and taught for eight years in Montevideo. Six years ago, she participated in a teacher exchange program at a Spanish immersion school in Minnesota, and had such a great experience she found a job so she could stay! She currently teaches Spanish Language and Literature to grades 6-12 in Forest Lake.
Natalia Dorf, Director
Natalia is a Uruguayan who arrived in Minnesota in 2006 for an Internal Medicine residency at the University of Minnesota. After 3 years of training and 2 kids, she and her husband, decided the Twin Cities was a great place to live and raise a family (even with the cold winters!) Natalia now works as a physician hospitalist at Methodist Hospital and is involved in the community all around her. She has close ties to Uruguay and is honored to serve on the board of MUP to continue to build ties between both of her beloved homes.
Anna Moore, Director
Anna was born and raised in Montevideo, Minnesota, sister city to Montevideo, Uruguay. She grew up walking by a statue of José Artigas on main street, hosting Uruguayan visitors in her family's home, and celebrating the sister city connection with parades and asados every summer during the town's Fiesta Day's celebration. She has been a volunteer with Partners since high school and has formed countless wonderful relationships through this organization. She had the opportunity to visit Uruguay in 2011 and is hoping to plan a return trip soon. Anna studied Hispanic Studies and Secondary Education at the College of St. Benedict. She currently lives in Duluth, teaching Spanish at Marshall School.
CHAPTER HISTORIAN
Gary Kuhn
HONORARY ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Darlene Diesch
HONORARY BOARD MEMBERS
David Pace and Clifford Whitehill
Kristine is the President of East Side Neighborhood Services, a nonprofit human service agency that provides social and other services to individuals, families and the communities of primarily Northeast and Southeast Minneapolis. Their purpose is to assist people of all ages and backgrounds in realizing a higher quality of life. Kristine has 30 years of working in public and nonprofit organizations, concentrating on social welfare, community development, and systems change. She has been involved with Minnesota-Uruguay Partners since 1992. Kristine has traveled worldwide and specifically worked on Juvenile Justice Reform in Uruguay. She has two children, both in University.
Sue VonBank, President
Sue is a special projects coordinator at the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. She initially became involved with Partners through her experience as an international educator with the MAST (Minnesota Agricultural Study Trainee) program at the University of Minnesota, where she worked with Uruguayan students and several faculty who were involved with MUP. She grew up only 20 miles from Montevideo (Minnesota), and loves building connections with people from around the world.
Ricardo Bonner, Vice-President
Ricardo is a native of Uruguay, a native of Uruguay, has spent over ten years in the U.S. and moved to Minnesota four years ago. With a degree in Economics, he currently works for Johns Hopkins University/Jhpiego as the Associate Director of Finance, managing special projects. Back home, in his years as a student, he founded and managed a horseback riding program across the Uruguayan grasslands for international riders. Through that experience he promoted friendship, cultural understanding and opened the doors of the Uruguayan countryside to foreign visitors. His values, education and passion for his country’s culture are a great fit for MUP.
Ross Knutson, Treasurer
Ross, a native of Minnesota, has spent the bulk of his professional career in Latin America. After graduating with an Accounting and Spanish degree from Luther College, he worked for the international consulting firm of KPMG. Upon leaving KPMG, he held a number of positions at non-profits across the Americas including stints in Guatemala, Ecuador, and Washington D.C. before settling in Peru. After nearly a decade in Peru, Ross and his family moved to Minnesota in 2012. Currently, Ross is working as a business analyst at McGough Construction and working to improve business connections between Minnesota and Latin America.
Patrick Moore, Chair for Membership Development
Patrick is the Communications Director for Pioneer Public Television in Southwestern Minnesota. He has lived in Montevideo, Minnesota for 28 years and during that time he has hosted more than 100 Uruguayan visitors to that community. He has degrees in History and Latin American studies from the University of Minnesota Morris, and brings his passion for the environment, hospitality, and civic engagement to Partners.
Rachel Limon, Chair for Program Development
Rachel serves as the Regional Trade Manager for Latin America & the Caribbean at the Minnesota Trade Office, and is the Director of Study Minnesota. She was awarded the Minnesota Consular Corps Business Leadership Award for her demonstrated and sustained commitment and achievements of cultural diversity, outstanding community service and excellence in business leadership. Rachel is an artist and tour guide at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts and devoted mother to her 9-year-old son.
Erik Brand, Director
A past president of Minnesota Uruguay Partners, Erik has worked for more than a decade in international affairs and public policy. He has served our chapter as President, Treasurer, and active volunteer. He is also a member of the Partners of the Americas (Washington, DC) Board of Directors. Erik is the publisher of the Latin America Advisor, a daily intelligence brief produced at the Inter-American Dialogue, a Washington think tank, where he also directs its Corporate Program.
Cecilia Delbene Lezama, Director
Cecilia was born and raised in Montevideo, Uruguay. She graduated from the Instituto of Profesores Artigas as a secondary Literature teacher, and taught for eight years in Montevideo. Six years ago, she participated in a teacher exchange program at a Spanish immersion school in Minnesota, and had such a great experience she found a job so she could stay! She currently teaches Spanish Language and Literature to grades 6-12 in Forest Lake.
Natalia Dorf, Director
Natalia is a Uruguayan who arrived in Minnesota in 2006 for an Internal Medicine residency at the University of Minnesota. After 3 years of training and 2 kids, she and her husband, decided the Twin Cities was a great place to live and raise a family (even with the cold winters!) Natalia now works as a physician hospitalist at Methodist Hospital and is involved in the community all around her. She has close ties to Uruguay and is honored to serve on the board of MUP to continue to build ties between both of her beloved homes.
Anna Moore, Director
Anna was born and raised in Montevideo, Minnesota, sister city to Montevideo, Uruguay. She grew up walking by a statue of José Artigas on main street, hosting Uruguayan visitors in her family's home, and celebrating the sister city connection with parades and asados every summer during the town's Fiesta Day's celebration. She has been a volunteer with Partners since high school and has formed countless wonderful relationships through this organization. She had the opportunity to visit Uruguay in 2011 and is hoping to plan a return trip soon. Anna studied Hispanic Studies and Secondary Education at the College of St. Benedict. She currently lives in Duluth, teaching Spanish at Marshall School.
CHAPTER HISTORIAN
Gary Kuhn
HONORARY ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Darlene Diesch
HONORARY BOARD MEMBERS
David Pace and Clifford Whitehill