Franklin Center Board of Trustees

Franklin Center is governed by a working Board of Trustees composed of Franklin Center and committed community leaders. They are responsible for the development and implementation of policies and programs that will enable the school to reach its educational, operational, and financial goals. People who volunteer to serve on our board of trustees come from a variety of backgrounds, yet are all united in their passion for the mission of Franklin Center and its students.

2022-2023 Franklin Center Board of Trustees

Officers

blankBob Tift, Ed.D. – Chair

Bob serves as a Partner with Partners in Mission, a Catholic school consulting firm in leadership coaching, governance and board development, strategic planning and executive recruitment. He served for 30 years in public and private school education, most recently as President of Benilde-St. Margaret’s. Bob’s career began in the Minneapolis Public Schools where he served as a special education teacher and administrator. Bob currently serves on the Board of the St Louis Park Emergency Program (STEP); as a St Louis Park Community Representative on the Southwest Light Rail Transit (SWLRT) Construction Information Workgroup; on the Philanthropy Council of Crescent Cove; and serves as a Fire Commissioner for the St Louis Park Fire Department.

blankMike Brown – Vice Chair

Mike is currently the Chief Operations Officer of Children’s Activities Management, which owns and operates 7, “kid focused” athletic activities facilities in the upper mid-west. He has consulted many public and private organizations in the health and fitness industry via ProfitPerformance Group, where he is Founder and Managing Partner. Previously Mike was Senior Vice President of Operations at LifeTime Fitness. He created LifeTime University, managed the growth and development of the first 70 locations nationally and assisted in taking the company public in 2003. Currently, he serves as Chairman of the Board of FISION corporation, a publicly traded company. Mike and Cathy Jo have been married for 33 years and have two daughters. Mike served in the US Naval Submarine service as a qualified US Navy Diver. He attended Naval Nuclear Power School and held multiple engineering certifications. He is honored to have been selected to the board of trustees and is excited to help the future growth of the Franklin Center.

blankAndrew Lanik – Finance Chair

Andy is an audit partner in the Minneapolis office of KPMG and specializes in providing professional services to healthcare and not-for-profit organizations. Andy is also a board member and finance chair of Twin Cities R!se. Andy earned his Bachelor of Arts from Boston College.

blankBrenda Furlow – Governance and Nominating Chair

Brenda serves as the chair of Franklin Center’s Governance and Nominating Committee. She has been a legal executive for over 30 years and has extensive experience in governance, legal, and compliance matters. She recently retired as General Counsel for Minneapolis-based life sciences company Bio-Techne.  Brenda earned her bachelor’s degree from Calvin College and a law degree from the University of Chicago.  She is married with two grown children.

blankAki Yoshino – Secretary

Aki serves as the Secretary of Franklin Center’s Board. She began her career as a Teach For America high school math educator in Los Angeles, California. After teaching many different grades and subjects in the United States and Japan, she shifted into a business career as a buyer for a national retailer. When her son was diagnosed with autism, she decided to dedicate all of her time to helping her son realize his fullest potential. She is the proud mother of a Franklin Academy 10th grader and is excited to begin her fourth year on the Board of Trustees.

Members-At-Large

blankTeri Crosby

Teri Crosby retired from her IT Consulting job in 2003 where she concentrated on developing Information Systems until asked to teach the credit processing system she developed for US Bank. Immediately she became hooked on teaching and finished her career traveling the world training in the world of Information Technology development. Since retirement, she has concentrated on family, philanthropy, community improvement, and travel.

Teri is an active member of two family foundations, various volunteering including tax preparation, Loaves and Fishes, special needs TA and has worked 15 years on an auction committee for the annual Second Harvest Heartland Dish Cuisine for Change spring event. Since her 2002 marriage to Robert, an adult diagnosed with Asperger’s in 1987, Asperger’s awareness has become a strong passion for Teri.

Teri holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing and Finance from the University of Wisconsin Green Bay. She also holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Management Information Systems from the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire.

blankPatrick Mulvihill, M.A.

Pat serves as the chair of the Franklin Center’s Finance Committee. He is the Assistant Provost for Global Education at Augsburg University. His portfolio includes study abroad programming, student and faculty exchange, and oversight of staffing and financial operations in Minneapolis and abroad. Prior to Augsburg, he served as the Director of Operations at the Higher Education Consortium for Urban Affairs (HECUA) and the Chief Operating Officer at Global Volunteers. Pat earned a BA in history from St. Olaf College and a master’s degree in international economic development from the Humphrey School at the University of Minnesota.

RossOlsonWebRoss Olson, MBA

Ross serves on the Finance Committee. He is a Business Resiliency Advisor at Cargill, a privately held global company bringing food, agricultural, financial and industrial products to people around the world. Prior to Cargill, Ross held a variety of Resiliency and Finance leadership positions at Best Buy, UW-Stout, and Northwest Airlines. He earned his B.A. degree in Mathematics and Statistics and an M.B.A. from the University of Minnesota. Ross has a son at Franklin Academy.

blankDr. Casey Burrows

Dr. Catherine (Casey) Burrows is an Assistant Professor in the Autism and Neurodevelopment Clinic at the University of Minnesota. She completed her doctoral training at the University of Miami, and clinical pre-doctoral internship at Duke University Medical Center. She received a post-doctoral training fellowship from the University of Minnesota’s Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (MNLEND) program. She loves working with children with unique perspectives on the world and is thrilled to be a Board Member of Franklin Center.

blankJen Kyllonen

Jen Kyllonen is a residential Realtor with Edina Realty’s 50th & France (Minneapolis) office. She has 25 years of experience selling real estate all over the Twin Cities and is a perennial member of Edina Realty’s “Chairman’s Circle,” which includes the top .5% of Realtors nationally. Jen is dedicated to helping others live to their highest potential, whether it be through a solid education or affordable, safe housing. Jen is married with 2 adult children and savors time with family and friends, whether enjoying music, playing outdoors, or traveling.

blankAudra Williams

Audra sits on the Development and Facilities Committees. Audra is an Associate General Counsel at Ryan Companies US, Inc., headquartered in Minneapolis. Audra previously practiced real estate law at Dorsey & Whitney LLP and earned her undergraduate and law degrees at the University of Minnesota. Her son is a high school student at Franklin Academy.

blankMark Zeman

Mark is a founder of Zeman Construction Company and currently serves as the company’s President. He has nearly 40 years of experience in commercial construction management. Mark serves on the Board of Directors for Catholic United Financial Foundation and is the President of Golden Valley Golf and Country Club. Mark and his wife Carrie recently celebrated 25 years of marriage and have raised three children. He is honored and excited to be involved in Franklin Center.

blankSteve Hall

Steve is honored to serve on the Franklin Center Board of Trustees. He is the Director of Product Management at Groves Learning Organization. He has worked in marketing and in leadership positions at The Gillette Company, Sunbeam, LeapFrog Enterprises, and taught elementary school in San Francisco Unified School District. Steve earned his Bachelor of Arts in German Language from St. Cloud State University and his Master of International Business Management from Thunderbird School of Global Management in Phoenix, Arizona. He and his husband live in Minneapolis with their two sons; one is a 2020 graduate of Groves Academy, and the other is a student at Franklin Academy.

blankRahul Kansara

Rahul has more than 22 years of experience in the hotel industry owner of Solus Hospitality. He has served on the boards of the City of Inver Grove Heights and Days Inn Alliance. Rahul earned a BA in Molecular Biology from UC Berkeley. One of Rahul’s twin sons has attended Franklin Academy and Franklin Therapy for 7 years.

Rahul has always been interested in taking part in an organization that helps his children success. He hopes that his 22 years of experience in business can help the organization grow.

blankChris Rahill

Chris has over 20 years of experience in the marketing industry, including 11 years as the Chief Strategy Officer at Yamamoto. He has a dual BA in English and Economics from the University of Pennsylvania.

Chris has been involved with several area nonprofits’ fundraising efforts, including serving as the Chair of the Basilica Block Party and providing strategic and creative services to ensure successful events.

He has a neurodiverse son and would like to play a small role in expanding awareness, understanding, and appreciation for the difference that Franklin Center can make in the lives of the neurodiverse.

blankDavid Salmon

David serves on the Governance and Nominating Committee. David is an attorney at Fredrikson & Byron P.A. where he represents private equity funds, venture funds, and other financial buyers in mergers and acquisitions matters. Before practicing law, David was an Internal Auditor for Ecolab for two years. David earned his BS in Finance and Political Science from Iowa State University and his JD from the University of Iowa.

blankLeah Schelin

Leah joined the Board of Trustees for Franklin Center in 2023. She has over 25 years of experience serving the healthcare sector, including positions at Accenture, UnitedHealth Group, GoodRx, and currently serves as SVP of Product at UpHealth. Leah earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at UCLA. She has two children: one in the Upper School at Breck and one at Franklin Academy.