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Please join us in welcoming four community leaders to our board.

We are excited to announce the election of Pete Berlute, Sonali Dalal, Julie Ring and Mel Towle to our board of directors.

“Our four new board members each bring with them a vast array of knowledge and expertise,” said board chair Dr. Joseph Lee. “We are thrilled to see how their unique insights and perspectives will help the Foundation amplify its impact and imagine new possibilities for the communities we serve.”

"Welcoming Pete, Sonali, Julie, and Mel to our board is both an honor and a moment of deep optimism for our future,” president and CEO Chanda Smith Baker said.

“Each brings extraordinary expertise and a commitment to service that reflects the very values we hold dear—connection, equity and community. Their leadership will strengthen the roots from which our work grows and in these complex times will help us ensure our decisions are grounded in both wisdom and care. I am grateful for their willingness to join us in shaping a future where every voice matters and every investment creates lasting change."

Pete Berlute

Pete Berlute is the senior vice president and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at Securian Financial. He joined Securian in 2006 as a director of accounting and financial reporting and has held various senior leadership roles within the organization, including CFO of our Wealth Management Group, Chief Technology Officer and leader of their Affinity Solutions business in the US and Canada.

As CFO, Pete is responsible for establishing, implementing and mainlining the financial plans and policies of Securian Financial — setting fiscal controls, preparing and interpreting financial reports and safeguarding the company’s assets. Before Securian Financial, Pete worked as a CPA for Ernst & Young in Chicago and Minneapolis. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and Finance from the University of Miami (Ohio).

Sonali Dalal

Sonali Dalal is the vice president and Chief Investment Officer (CIO) at the University of St. Thomas, Minnesota, overseeing the Endowment and other University investments. Prior to joining St. Thomas, Sonali served as Deputy Chief Investment Officer at Pennsylvania State University.

Sonali has more than 20 years of experience investing in institutional capital and is a CFA charter holder. She has an MBA in Finance from Pennsylvania State University and an undergraduate degree in Commerce and Economics from The Bombay University, India. Sonali also holds a Chartered Accountant designation (CPA equivalent) from The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. In addition to her work in finance, Sonali serves as a board member of the Early Math & Language Initiative (EMLI).

Julie Ring

Julie Ring, with 30 years of experience in program management, public policy, advocacy and executive leadership, has dedicated her career to public service. In 2013, Julie was appointed executive director of the Association of Minnesota Counties (AMC). Prior to her current role, Julie served as legislative coordinator, Health & Human Services Policy analyst, and the Local Public Health Association director.

Before joining AMC, Julie worked for ten years at the Minnesota Department of Health in a variety of positions focused on grant and contract management, legislative policy, and local public health system development. She began her career as a grant writer in an economic development district in rural South Dakota, writing FEMA flood mitigation grant applications for ten counties. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Political Science from the University of Minnesota-Morris and a certificate in Conflict Resolution from the Mitchell Hamline School of Law.

Julie is active in the National Association of Counties where she is a past president of the National Council of County Association Executives.

Mel Towle

Mel Towle is the current Commissioner of Finance for the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, a sovereign tribal nation (Nation) located in central and east central Minnesota, having served in this role since 2019. He also serves as the Vice Chair of the Institutional Investment Committee.

Prior to serving in his current role, Mel was the executive vice president and general manager of the Nation’s largest employer, Grand Casino Hinckley, an entertainment destination located in Hinckley, MN. Other previous roles include Chief Financial Officer at Mille Lacs Corporate Ventures, senior financial analyst for Deluxe Corporation and senior auditor and auditor at KPMG.

Mel serves as Vice President of the Nations inaugural Institutional Investment Committee and as a Director for Woodlands National Bank, served two three-year terms on the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce and served in the United States Army. He graduated from the University of Minnesota - Duluth with a Bachelor of Arts in Business majoring in Finance with minors in Accounting and American Indian Studies.

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