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Interested in being part of the Board of Directors? Learn more and apply below.
Sarah Hammer
President
Sarah was raised in Dover MN, but spent most of her time in West Concord MN, on her family's farm where her family has lived for over 100 years. She spent her childhood outdoors, riding bikes, causing mischief while exploring the great outdoors and spent time camping on her family farm in West Concord.
Sarah in her adult years lived in various states but always called MN her home. She attended South Dakota State University for Social Work and Psychology and later moved back to Faribault with her husband, Gary, and their 6 kids along with their 2 dogs and a stubborn cat. Sarah works at Benedictine Community in Owatonna as their Short-Term Social Services. In her spare time she enjoys running/ hiking through River Bend and listening to True Crime Pod Casts.
Greg Simmons
Vice President
Greg is the Science Department Chair at Shattuck-St. Mary’s School, has a Master’s degree in natural sciences and environmental education, and an educational doctorate degree. His area of expertise is environmental justice practices and the implementation of environmental education. He and his family enjoy the trails at RBNC and he hopes to bring his passions for environmental conservation, preservation, advocacy, and climate change to the Board.
Karen Zeller
Treasurer
Karen is the retired CEO of Cedar House, Inc., a mental health center covering southern Minnesota. Prior to that, she was an education for over 20 years. She has two Masters' Degrees and a Doctorate in Education Administration. She and her husband, Simon, have five children and nine grandchildren. Her children have enjoyed the nature center and now her grandchildren are enthusiastically experiencing nature through River Bend. She has been an outdoor enthusiast all her life and is especially proud of River Bend and what it offers to Faribault and the surrounding communities. She enjoys being a part of the Board of Directors and the ability to give back to RBNC for all the experiences it provides for people of all ages.
Abby Malmanger
Secretary
Abby is a Dentist at Southern Heights Dental Group and grew up in Faribault exploring at RBNC which helped her develop a passion for the outdoors. She enjoys connecting with people and wants to help others experience nature and support conservation.
Mandy Barnes
City Council Liaison
Mandy Barnes is a Faribault native and frequent visitor to the River Bend Nature Center. She is a City Council member, serves on the Board of Directors for the Faribault Housing and Redevelopment Authority, is the City Council Representative on the Board of Directors for the Paradise Center for the Arts, and is a certified Chaplain.
In her spare time, she enjoys volunteering, investing time with friends, family and community, being outdoors, and walking/hiking with her two Standard Poodles. She lives in the wisdom of knowing how healing and stress-sloughing the outdoors can be, and what being one with nature truly brings.
Tom DeMatteo
Tom Is Chief Legal Officer, General Counsel and Secretary for ABC Bus Companies, Inc. He is responsible for all legal affairs for the company. Tom spends all his free time hiking and has hiked in every state park in Minnesota. He looks forward to helping River Bend continue to enhance all of its educational and out reach programs.
Patrick Schaefer
Patrick Schaefer joined the RBNC Board of Directors during the summer of 2021. Patrick grew up in Eau Claire, WI and moved to MN in 2002 to attend St. John's University. He has worked at Shattuck-St. Mary's since the fall of 2006 and is currently in his fifth year serving as Upper School Director. Patrick and his family, wife Amanda, Aubrey (10), Wesley (8), frequently visit RBNC and enjoy spending time hiking and biking the trails. This past winter, the whole family took up cross country skiing and found RBNC as the perfect place to escape and practice this new hobby.
Ibrahim Khalif
Ibrahim Khalif, Executive Director of the Faribault Youth Empowerment Center, is a dedicated advocate for immigrant and refugee youth. Arriving in Faribault as a refugee at 14 and graduating from Faribault High School and South Central College. He is committed to promoting diversity in environmental stewardship and plays a crucial role in both community and environmental leadership. In his free time, Ibrahim enjoys swimming during the winter and walking along the trails of River Bend Nature Center in the summer.
Nort Johnson
Nort Johnson is a native of Faribault, Minnesota and currently serves as President and CEO of the Faribault Chamber of Commerce & Tourism. Johnson attended two Minnesota colleges and began a career in publishing management and marketing in southern Minnesota, spending eleven of those years at the Schwan Food Company. During that time, he also held a city council seat, and became involved in economic development at many levels. Volunteer work in Nort’s past has included non-profit boards for Junior Achievement, United Way, Economic Development Corps, Paradise Center for the Arts and several trade related professional groups. After 25 years in North Dakota, Nort found his way back to Faribault and says he’s “blessed” to use his experiences to help grow and promote his hometown. He and Shelly’s blended family includes 7 grown children and 9 grandchildren.
Courtney Cavallier
Courtney Cavellier has lived in Faribault with her family since 2004. She grew up spending time in the woods and out on the ocean in Massachusetts. Her husband, Matthew, was one of the initial planners for the 25K and 50K races included in the Maple Syrup Fun Run each May. They have two sons, Peter and Joseph. For the past twenty years, she has been an administrator and teacher at Shattuck-St. Mary’s School. During that time, she also served for four years on the Faribault School Board, was an active member of the Roosevelt Elementary School PTO, and served on the Strategic Planning Committee for River Bend. She began her career as a teacher for students with reading difficulties in a small boarding school in rural New York and then in a large K-8 public school in the Boston Metro area. Courtney holds a B.A. from Wesleyan University in Connecticut and an Ed.M. from Harvard University, and she is currently working on an Ed.D. at the University of St. Thomas. She is excited to work together with the team of River Bend Nature Center to achieve their strategic vision.
Sara Caron
Bio Coming Soon
Alex Lopez
Bio Coming Soon
Cory Jensen
Bio Coming Soon
Jessica Kinser
Bio Coming Soon