Advisory Board – STARBASE Duluth

The STARBASE Duluth Advisory Board is comprised of vested, passionate community leaders who feel deeply committed to supporting the advancement and sustainability of cutting edge STEM education in the Duluth and surrounding region.

Daniel Barnes

Vice President of Information Technology, Essentia Health

Dan Barnes is the current Vice President of Information Technology at Essentia Health. Dan has over 12 years of leadership experience in the healthcare IT setting. Dan began his career with Essentia as an IT project manager in 2005. Since that time he has held a variety of leadership roles in the IT area of the organization including Ancillary Applications Manager, Systems Manager and System Director of Clinical Applications. [read more] Dan has an extensive knowledge in strategic planning, governance, prioritization and process design and worked diligently to collaborate with clinical and business partners on standardization to achieve efficiency and a strong clinical practice environment. Dan believes in the power of partnership and has participated in a variety of cutting edge strategic IT projects to better serve the patients of Essentia Health.

Dan received his bachelors of marketing from St. Thomas University and holds a variety of certifications in the IT field.

Dan’s community involvement includes serving as the Vice Chair of the Minnesota EPIC User Group Board, as a troop leader of the Girl Scouts of Minnesota and Wisconsin and a local youth soccer coach.

Technology and science are core elements to Essentia’s commitment to its patients and fuels Dan’s desire to help further STEM education in our region. Additionally, as the parent of two young daughters, Dan has a personal interest to make STEM education more available to a wide range of students in the area.

Erica Danielski

Director of Retail Marketing, Allegion

Erica works for Allegion (allegion.com), a global security company with more than 30 brands sold around the world, all specializing in security solutions for homes, businesses, schools, and other institutions. Erica serves as the Director of Retail Marketing. Erica holds a master’s degree in business administration (MBA) from the College of St. Scholastica, with a specialization in leadership and change management. Her bachelor’s degree is in business from the University of Minnesota Duluth.

In Erica’s 24+ years of business strategy, operations, and marketing experience, she has served in strategy and marketing leadership roles with Samsung Electronics America, Imation (a 3M spinoff), Best Buy Corporate, AMSOIL, and maurices. She also served as a Strategic Business Consultant and a Marketing Partner for national clients Procter & Gamble, Johnson and Johnson, Frito Lay, and Subway Restaurants. While so much of Erica’s career has been spent working with innovative manufacturers and technology firms, successful work has been hand-in-hand with engineers and via an in-depth understanding of the technology that powers and produces these products and makes them unique.

Erica strongly believes in the mission of STARBASE and its ability to serve all students and introduce them to a cutting-edge curriculum. “I see daily the pivotal role that STEM fields play in advancing our work and society. Great innovations in design and manufacturing impact how we produce, deliver, and use products that enable and enrich our jobs, and our lives. Programs such as STARBASE introduce all students to this world and its exciting career opportunities. My hope is that STARBASE sparks for our youth a new passion that might not have otherwise been lit.” Erica lives in Duluth with her husband Aaron, and their sons Colton (14) and Grant (11).

Lori Hoyum, Vice Chair

Regulatory Compliance Administrator , Minnesota Power/Allete

Lori Hoyum works as the Regulatory Compliance Administrator at Minnesota Power/Allete. Prior to joining Minnesota Power in 2008, Lori worked as a Human Resource Manager with Duluth Public Schools for ten years. She earned her Bachelors of Arts degree in Communications from the University of Minnesota Duluth, as well as a Master’s of Arts in Work, Family and Community Education from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. Lori is also certified as a Senior Professional in Human Resources.

Lori is very excited to be involved with the Duluth STARBASE Program. Over the past three years she has been part of a team at Minnesota Power that puts on a Career Mentor Day that provides employees in STEM positions such as line workers, technicians and engineers, the opportunity to talk with middle and high school students and demonstrate technical aspects of their work. Being a strong supporter of experiential learning, and understanding the importance of having skilled workers in this region, especially for STEM-focused careers, Lori sees how the STARBASE Program delivers a one-of-kind hands-on learning experience to area youth that broadens their world in ways that the traditional classroom can’t. In addition to the STARBASE Advisory Board, Lori is a member of the Boy Scouts Arrowhead District Committee. Lori lives in Duluth with her husband of twenty-five years, Jeff, and her sons Josh (18) and Christian (16).

Laura Kircher

Enbridge Manager of Stakeholder Engagement

Laura is the Manager of Stakeholder Engagement for the Midwest Region. Her team manages stakeholder relationships for Enbridge operations in North Dakota, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. Laura has been at Enbridge for 12 years. Laura graduated from the University Wisconsin, Superior with a degree in Business, and a concentration in marketing. Prior to working for Enbridge, Laura worked for a consulting firm in Duluth that caters to the oil and gas business. Laura is an advisor to the Board of Better in our Backyard, an advocacy group focused on industrial development in the Midwest region. She currently sits on the Board for the Superior YMCA, and on the Iron Range Economic Alliance Board. Laura lives in Duluth with her fiancé, daughter, and corgi.

“STARBASE is inspiring minds to think about all the career opportunities that are available in the area. They demonstrate how STEM is in nearly every part of the workforce, and that digging into new problems can be fun and engaging. I am in awe of how the program works. I am excited to be a part of an organization that inspires and energizes new thinking!”

Lucas Mistelske, Chair

Vice President of Client Experience, arc Data Centers

Lucas Mistelske, Vice President of Client Experience, is a charismatic driver with a unique ability to manage and develop teams. His collaborative and compassionate approach to management aligns with his technical expertise to deliver a superior experience for ark clients.

Lucas has operational responsibility for key strategic partners and clients at arc. He oversees all aspects of governance, performance, executive engagement, financial performance and compliance for service delivery. Since 2012, Lucas has held several roles at ark – Manager of Operational Activity for the company’s two Minnesota data centers, Director of Data Center Operations for the company’s entire fleet of data centers and led the deployment of ark’s Managed Services offering, specifically the Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) development team and product platform.

Lucas is passionate about community engagement and relations. He currently serves as the board chair of STARBASE Duluth STEM Education Program, and in curriculum advisory board positions for multiple programs within the University of Minnesota Duluth, Lake Superior College, and Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College.

Jeff Price

Manager, American Engineering Testing, Inc.

Jeff Price works as the Manager of the Duluth office of American Engineering Testing, Inc. (AET). Jeff is a compassionate professional geologist with over 31 years in both technical and leadership roles in the mining industry. Working in multiple functions throughout the mining and plant processes has provided him with a unique skill set to improve work conditions, coordinate multiple tasks, and meet critical deadlines. Jeff thrives in challenging work environments with a proven record to analytically assess and work outside his comfort zone.

Jeff was an integral part of the STEM program from 2006-2016 in Hibbing’s Lincoln Elementary School for the 6^th grade class teaching Geology, Oceanography, and Rockets. He was also participated as an instructor for the Minnesota Minerals Education Workshop teachers convention.

Jeff received his education at the University of Wisconsin- Oshkosh receiving a Bachelor of Applied Science in Geology and Earth Science. Jeff also pursued a Master of Arts in Business Administration and Management at the College of St. Scholastica.

“My passion for STEM education developed when I was in high school. I was always interested in science with a focus on geologic processes, mineralogy, lithology, physics, and chemistry. The fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) play a crucial role in shaping our daily lives, influencing the infrastructure of society, and driving advancements that improve our quality of life and communication capabilities across the globe; essentially, by providing the tools and knowledge to solve complex problems and create innovative solutions that benefit humanity. The STARBASE program allows me to share my passion with students.”

Julie Padilla

VP, Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary, Minnesota Power- ALLETE

Julie Padilla is Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary at ALLETE. Ms. Padilla has worked for the U.S. Senate, the Minnesota Senate, and on multiple political campaigns. She was a partner at Larkin Hoffman in Bloomington, Minnesota, and went on to hold leadership roles in two renewable and energy efficiency financing companies. She joined Twin Metals Minnesota as their Chief Regulatory Officer in 2019 and was an attorney at Fryberger Law Firm before joining ALLETE in May 2024.

“I grew up in an area where there was very little focus on the myriad of opportunities that young people have for future education and employment. I wish I had a program like STARBASE that creates that feeling of something bigger, expanding the world and its possibilities, allowing for a different level of teamwork, and highlighting all of the voices in the room – not just the voices that are traditionally heard in the classroom setting. Seeing and hearing from people who are actually in STEM fields also gives context and focus to students interested in STEM that may not know how they can utilize those skills.”

Renee Passal

Reporter and Anchor, WDIO-TV

Renee Passal is a report and anchor at WDIO-TV in Duluth, MN and has nearly 17 years of experience as journalist.

Renee grew up on the Iron Range in Virginia, MN, After graduation she pursued a journalism degree at the University of Minnesota in the Twin Cities. Before landing her current position at WDIO, Renee worked at Fox 48 in Eau Claire, WI selling advertising. In 2005 she came back to Minnesota to report at WDIO. Since then, Renee has covered thousands of stories across the region including some at STARBASE! Mining and the Iron Range are her main beats, as they are called in the journalism world. [read more]

Renee and her husband Aaron are happy to be raising two little boys, Weston and Elliot, in Duluth. They are members of the Duluth Curling Club, where Renee has been a part of the fundraising effort for children called the House of Hearts.

“I have found STARBASE to be fascinating since the first time I was invited to cover the program. It is growing and reaching even more students. I want to be a part of expanding education in the Northland. The exposure to STEM could help open students’ eyes to a career they didn’t think they would be interested in or excel at.”

Chad Ronchetti

Director, Planning and Economic Development, City of Duluth

Chad Ronchetti is the Director of Planning and Economic Development for the City of Duluth. Chad has 10 years of business and economic development experience across the fields of architecture, engineering, permitting, construction, and municipal government.

In 2012, Chad began his career in Environmental Permitting for Burns & McDonnell Engineering as a Geographic Information Systems Specialist calculating potential, environmental impacts for infrastructure projects such as transmission lines, power plants, and pipelines in support of local, state, and federal permits. Chad opened a Duluth satellite office for Burns & McDonnell in 2014. As the sole representative in Duluth, Chad’s expanded role included business development for market expansion and client service. Inspired by community service, Chad took a position as an Economic Developer for the City of Duluth in 2018, which provided years of critical experience in municipal government attracting investment and encouraging tax base growth. In 2021, Chad became the Director of Project Planning and Development for Kraus-Anderson Construction where he combined his expertise in business development and economic development through project origination, entitlements, policy navigation, and strategic market growth. Chad supported clients by assisting them with navigating the Minnesota Arrowhead, Iron Range, and Northern Wisconsin markets by working to advance development and business expansion goals.

Chad’s community involvement has included service on a Duluth City Council-appointed Earned Sick and Safe Time taskforce, Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Duluth Chamber’s Leadership Duluth Steering Committee, Hermantown Economic Development Authority, and President of the Board for Lincoln Park-based Ecolibrium3. Chad currently sits on the STARBASE MN Advisory Board and the Local Initiative Support Corporation Advisory Board.

“I believe that STEM provides us with the insight to think critically about what we see around us and engage in world in a whole new way. Arming our youth with the knowledge STEM provides will help our region be competitive on a global scale because in today’s economy, we are competing within a globally integrated system. I feel passionately that STEM education prepares the youth of our region to do just that, and that retaining those STEM educated youth will position our region to be a leader in the economy of the future.”

Patrick Waddick

President of Innovation & Operations, Cirrus Aircraft

Patrick Waddick is President of Innovation & Operations at Cirrus Aircraft. He is responsible for leading enterprise-wide Innovation and Operations activities including research and development, engineering, program management, manufacturing operations, global supply chain and quality. Patrick joined Cirrus Design Corporation in 1988 contributing to the early engineering efforts on the model VK30 composite pusher-configuration aircraft. Transitioning from VK30 Chief Engineer to ST50 Project Engineering Manager, Patrick led a joint Cirrus and Israeli design team through to early flight testing stages. [read more]

Patrick began his professional affiliations first with AIAA at the University of Wisconsin, Madison as a student chapter Vice President. In 2004, he was the recipient of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Hap Arnold Award for Excellence in Program Management. Patrick is also a member of the AOPA and EAA aviation organizations. An active FAA Private Pilot since 1988, he holds a single-engine instrument land rating.

Patrick was educated at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering Mechanics from the School of Engineering in 1989. During his degree program he completed a cooperative education internship with IBM Corporation in East Fishkill, New York.

Trevor Willis

Academic Dean of Business, Industry, and Aviation, Lake Superior College

Trevor Wills is an Academic Dean at Lake Superior College overseeing programs in Business, Industry, and Aviation. He also has 20 years of experience as a Chief Operations Officer for financial institutions in our region. He has previously been an adjunct professor at St. Scholastica for 15 years teaching Graduate and Undergraduate courses in Business, Economics, and Finance. He began a 9 year STEM career in the Air Force by learning Aviation Electronics and used those skills to maintain complex systems on fighter aircraft, and also served as an instructor teaching others in the Air Force these skills.

Trevor has a Bachelor’s degree in Professional Aeronautics from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. He has a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Wayland Baptist University. He is also completing a Doctorate in Leadership from Saint Mary’s University.

Trevor has been a board member and president of his local Barnum Dollars for Scholars committee for 10 years. They support graduating high school seniors by offering scholarships to students to pursue their education at two-year and four-year schools. This small school committee has generated strong community support for its graduating seniors planning to attend further schooling. Trevor is a board member of the Minnesota State Transportation Center of Excellence which supports transportation career education and outreach efforts in Minnesota. Some transportation careers supported are; Aviation, Automotive, Heavy Equipment, Truck Driving, and Power Sports.

Trevor lives in rural Barnum with his wife of 30 years and three dogs; two Saint Bernard’s and a Dutch Sheppard.

“Starbase reaches so many of our rural schools that are not able to provide immersive STEM experiences. This program changes the lives of students in our region. Without immersion and exposure to STEM professions, many students would not know that these career fields are accessible and attainable.”