Mission
To be expert navigators, transforming ideas into accomplishments.
Team
Elissa Hansen
President & CEO
ehansen@northspan.org
Elissa Hansen leads Northspan with more than 20 years of experience in business, community, organizational, and economic development across Minnesota and Wisconsin. She invests her time creatively advancing others’ capabilities. In Elissa’s role at Northspan, she engages with and elevates every client by facilitating tough conversations and moving organizations forward with action-oriented strategic methods. She works to create a setting for meaningful communications that respects diverse perspectives, creates joint resolve, and inspires individual and group action.
A Typical Week
Elissa Hansen
President & CEO
ehansen@northspan.org
Elissa Hansen invests her time creatively advancing others' capabilities. She pilots Northspan's facilitation of strategic planning processes for public, private, and nonprofit organizations in the Upper Midwest. She also spearheaded the creation of the northeast Minnesota Welcoming Community programming and has worked to expand and enhance Northspan’s programs. She leads Northspan with over 20 years of experience in business and economic development across Minnesota and Wisconsin.
KARL SCHUETTLER
VICE PRESIDENT
kschuettler@northspan.org
Karl Schuettler works to integrate Northspan’s vision into its work with clients and community partners. He facilitates strategic planning processes, uses data to tell stories for communities and organizations, manages community development projects, and supports Northspan’s programs. He joined Northspan in 2016 and holds a bachelor's degree from Georgetown University and a master's degree in urban and regional planning from the University of Minnesota.
ZACK FILIPOVICH
CONSULTANT & FINANCE MANAGER
zfilipovich@northspan.org
Zack Filipovich joined Northspan in 2022 and provides community, organizational, and business development services such as facilitating conversations, conducting business valuations, packaging Small Business Administration (SBA) loan applications, and designing loan fund services. Zack brings over 9 years of in-depth accounting and financial experience and 8 years of public service experience including reviewing and approving budgets. Zack holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and is currently pursuing his master’s of business administration from the University of Minnesota Duluth.
ALI BILDEN CAMPS
SENIOR CONSULTANT
acamps@northspan.org
Ali Bilden Camps joined Northspan in 2022 as a consultant and provides community and organizational development services. She manages the NORTHFORCE program by connecting career-minded individuals with professional advancement opportunities and supporting our regional employers’ current and future workforce needs. Ali brings over 15 years of nonprofit management and community development experience including working with organizations and individuals across all sectors. She has roots in northern Wisconsin and has called northeast Minnesota home for almost 20 years.
COOPER GRAHEK
ASSOCIATE CONSULTANT
dbremer@northspan.org
Doug joined Northspan in 2024 as a consultant and provides business development services such as facilitating conversations, conducting business valuations, packaging Small Business Administration (SBA) loan applications, and designing load fund services. Doug brings over 25 years of professional experience in a variety of industries, including banking, financial services, and hospitality. He has familiarity with the regional business climate and experience in diverse financial applications. He moved to Duluth in 2000 and has primarily lived here since but has lived in several other areas of the country during as part of his time in the hospitality industry.
SHAUN HAINEY
CONSULTANT
shainey@northspan.org
Shaun Hainey works to build strong relationships and networks that leads to creative, community-based problem solving. He manages the Northland Connection program and leads its work in regional food access, in addition to work on community development and strategic planning projects. He joined Northspan in 2023 and brings previous experience with the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office and St. Louis County (MN) Assessor’s Office.
Amber Lewis
CONSULTANT
alewis@northspan.org
Amber Lewis coordinates the Welcoming Community program focused on finding ways to bring community solutions to challenges while bringing people together across differences. Her work involves fostering a more welcoming community in northeast MN and supporting talent retention and community engagement in the region through facilitating community conversations, learning opportunities, and community projects centered on belonging and inclusivity. She joined Northspan in 2021 on a two-year fellowship with Lead for America and has a master's degree in conflict analysis and resolution from George Mason University and joined Northspan as a full-time employee in 2023.
STEFANIE SJELIN
CONSULTANT
ssjelin@northspan.org
Stefanie joined Northspan in 2023 as an Associate Consultant, utilizing a varied skillset and strategic mindset to capably assist with community, organizational, and business development and support the NORTHFORCE, Welcoming Community, and Northland Connection programs. Stefanie graduated summa cum laude from The College of St. Scholastica with a bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership and has lived in Duluth for over ten years. She is passionate about maximizing potential, furthering equity, and delivering quality results to stakeholders in communities throughout the region.
JL Herbert
ASSOCIATE CONSULTANT & OPERATIONS MANAGER
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Work
Cooper Grahek joined the Northspan team part-time in January 2025 as an associate consultant with a focus on business development. Now a full-time associate, Cooper contributes to the Northspan team’s economic and community development work, providing consulting services to form connections, build capacity, and access capital. Here’s a quick Q&A with Cooper: How did you…
Earlier in January, an array of community partners gathered in Hayward, Minnesota, for the latest installment of the Non-Traditional Lenders Forum. “It was such a fantastic turnout, and the positive response from the community has been overwhelming,” shared Entrepreneur Fund Program Coordinator Caleb Hacker. “We’re thrilled to have been able to bring everyone together, and…
I recently visited the Duluth Art Institute (DAI) in its new downtown location on a lunch break with a group of my colleagues. When we arrived, Christina Woods, the Executive Director, explained a little about the two exhibiting artists, one of whom was local artist Tom Rauschenfels. Rauschenfels’ primary artform is called woodcut printmaking, in…
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