Toni Merdan is the Sr. Economic Development Officer for Congressman Collin C. Peterson. For the past 15 years, Toni has worked to facilitate community and economic development in the 35 counties of the 7th District by making sure communities, businesses and individuals are aware of the many resources and tools available to them.

Prior experience includes the City of Fergus Falls economic development agency, business consulting providing technical assistance to small businesses and commercial real estate development.

Stephen Larson is Regional Administrator for the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development in Northwest Minnesota. He has worked in rural Minnesota for the past 24 years convening and catalyzing collective action for mutual benefit within the arenas of economic and workforce development.

Stephen is certified by the Institute for Educational Leadership and the Commission on Rehabilitation Counsellor Certification. Stephen is a graduate of St. Olaf College and Minnesota State University Mankato.

Cheryal Lee Hills currently serves as the Executive Director at Region Five Development Commission, where she provides leadership in program development, program implementation, organization planning, financial planning/oversight and communication to the Commission and the five counties served by Region Five.  Region Five Development Commission initiatives include Economic Development, Transportation and several Grant/Loan and Contract administration projects.

Previously Cheryal held the position of the Executive Director of the Mid-Minnesota Builders Association, is a small business owner, and has extensive marketing, sales and business consulting experience. Cheryal has served on 7 local, state and regional Board of Directors is an active member of numerous community organizations.

Mike Triplett current serves as an Economic Development Planner with the White Earth Development Office, White Earth Nation. Mike coordinates the White Earth Nation Wind Project, implementing wind resource development for Tribe. He also assists the White Earth Economic Development Director with implementation of economic development planning activities for the Tribe.

Mike is the principal tribal grant writer for USDA and HUD infrastructure projects and serves as the tribal lead for EDA planning grant activities. Mike received his B.S. in Social Sciences from Colorado State University and has engaged in graduate work in Community and Regional Planning at Iowa State University.

Leon Heath currently serves as the Executive Director of the Northwest Regional Development Commission (NWRDC) located in Warren, Minnesota. The NWRDC operates a variety of programs in Kittson, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake, and Roseau Counties. Specific programs of the Commission include the Northwest Arts Council, the Land of the Dancing Sky Area Agency on Aging (21 Counties), the Enterprise Revolving Loan Fund, a U.S. Economic Development Administration Development District, a Minnesota Department of Transportation Regional Transportation Planning Program, and a 14-county emergency services planning program with the Minnesota Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Services.

Leon received his bachelors degree in Sociology from North Dakota State University and graduate work in Sociology and Criminal Justice at Mankato State University.