Katie Heppner
Executive Director West Central Economic Development Alliance

Katie Heppner has served as the Executive Director of the West Central Economic Development Alliance, a nonprofit that focuses on economic and community development in Wadena County, MN, since April 2018.  Prior to that, she held leadership roles in local government throughout Greater Minnesota.  She earned her B.S. in Political Science and her Masters in Public Administration from Minnesota State University, Mankato.  In 2020, she was honored to received the Emerging Leader of the Year Award from the Economic Development Association of Minnesota.  Katie has a deep passion for rural engagement and serves on several boards during her “free time,” including the Brainerd Dispatch Advisory Board, the North Central Economic Development Association Full Corporation, the Central Lakes College Foundation, and is the Chair of the Staples-Motley Area Community Foundation.  She happily lives in Staples, MN with her husband Erich, two Bernese Mountain Dogs, and is expecting a baby boy to be born in September.

Sandy Voigt
Central Director, Women’s Business Alliance Entrepreneur Fund

Sandy Voigt joined the Women’s Business Alliance in 2018 as Director to launch a new Women’s Business Alliance Center to serve central MN.  The WBA a program of the Entrepreneur Fund and funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration as a certified Women’s Business Center.

Prior to joining the Women’s Business Alliance, Voigt spent several years at the Initiative Foundation in Little Falls MN and Region Five Development Commission in Staples working with business financing loan programs, grants for community and economic development and technical assistance programs for businesses.a  She has also worked with fund raising and development efforts to continue growth of nonprofits.

As Minnesota Technology’s (MTI) Regional Director for the St. Cloud/Central Minnesota Office she was involved with all aspects of organizational development including services, management, recruitment and budget administration.  As the MTI liaison to the federally funded NIST/MEP program she oversaw relationships with other national state-based technology economic development organizations. In addition to encouraging industry networks here in Minnesota she has also promoted their concept during visits to the Netherlands, Denmark, Scotland and New Zealand.

Voigt’s educational background is in healthcare but learned very early in her career that needles are terrifying!  A spatula and rolling pin seemed to fit better and as former business/restaurant owner learned a few business lessons, the hard way.  Later, set her sights on helping others avoid some of those pitfalls. She’ll share lessons learned AND the secret to flaky pie crust if you ask!

Cheryal Hills
Executive Director, Region Five Development Commission

Cheryal joined Region Five Development Commission (R5DC) in 2006 and has delivered over 25 years of experience in community and economic development in the public, private and non-profit sectors.  Cheryal currently provides oversight of over $3 million in project, levy and grant annual income via delivery of 5 lending programs, transportation initiatives, renewable energy, broadband and local food projects/programs.  Cheryal has worked with dozens of Federal, State and philanthropic partners to secure multi-millions of investments that address regional critical issues.  Cheryal is a certified Core4 instructor for entrepreneurial training and her experience includes co-ownership of a telecommunications company for over 26 years.  In 2018 Cheryal became a Qualified Administrator of the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) assessments to improve regional cultural competency.  Via Cheryal’s leadership, R5DC is a nationally recognized one of 6 Hub experts on delivery of the WealthWorks evaluation model. https://www.wealthworks.org/connect/hubs.