Open 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday
Closed at 3:30 p.m. on Fridays, Memorial Day through Labor Day
RNDC office closed to the public until further notice.
Our office is closed to the public as a precaution to help slow the spread of COVID-19.
3 Civic Center Plaza, Suite 310
Mankato, MN 56001
Phone Number: (507) 387-5643
Toll-Free: (800) 450-5643
Let us contact you, please fill out the form below and we will get back to you!
For directions to Region Nine’s offices click here.
Nicole Griensewic
Executive Director
See Biography
507-387-5643
nicole@rndc.org
Nicole Griensewic’s passion for public service is reflected in Region Nine’s accomplishments, including national innovation awards for transportation projects, communications and marketing, climate change, medical device manufacturing, and flood mitigation. As executive director, Griensewic has made it a priority to foster collaboration and engagement by sharing Region Nine’s story both regionally and globally. At the third Americas Competitiveness Exchange on Innovation and Entrepreneurship tour, Griensewic was asked to present to leaders from 28 countries, highlighting efforts and best practices from Region Nine. In 2018, Griensewic was asked to be an ambassador for the Americas Competitiveness Exchange on Innovation and Entrepreneurship program, a two-year appointment, as well as selected to participate in the Transatlantic Cluster Initiative program.
Griensewic is an active board and committee member for multiple organizations throughout Minnesota. Griensewic is the immediate past President of the Greater Minnesota Partnership, and is the chair of the Executive Committee, former executive committee member and chair of the Governance Committee for the University of Minnesota’s Center for Transportation Studies. Griensewic also serves as secretary of Lutheran Social Services of Minnesota’s Governing Board of Directors and as chair of their Governance Committee and serves as an advisory board member for South Central College’s Center for Agriculture. Lastly, she serves on the executive committee for the MACS Board, Minnesotans for the American Community Survey Board of Directors.
Griensewic is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and Elizabeth Kearney Woman’s Leadership Institute. She received the 2017 Outstanding Recent Alumnus Award from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Her professional background includes extensive private sector and non-profit leadership experience.
Heather Bartelt
Executive Assistant
See Biography
507-389-8864
heather@rndc.org
Heather Bartelt joined Region Nine in November of 2019 as an executive assistant. Over the course of her 12-year career and several years’ experience supporting a successful sales team, she has developed a passion for working with individuals from various backgrounds. Heather completed her Bachelor of Science in Sociology at Minnesota State University, Mankato.
Corree Johnson Stamschror
Communications Specialist
See Biography
507-389-8885
corree@rndc.org
Corree Johnson Stamschror joined Region Nine in August of 2018 as a communications specialist. With her expertise in marketing, social media, and communications, she will work to further increase Region Nine’s brand presence and impact throughout the region.
Originally from rural Southeast Minnesota, Corree is passionate about educating rural communities and entrepreneurs on marketing and communication strategies. Corree completed her Bachelor of Science in Marketing Communications at Bemidji State University, and holds multiple certifications relating to social marketing.
Lu Vanderwerf
Finance Director/Revolving Loan Fund Coordinator
See Biography
507-389-8878
luann@rndc.org
For the past fifteen years, Lu Vanderwerf has worked for Region Nine as the organization’s finance director. She has administrated the Region Nine’s Revolving Loan Funds for the last 12 years and serves as a member of the Board of the 504 Corporation.
Lu enjoys seeing the new ideas that come through the loan funds and watching them take shape and become businesses. She appreciates being a part of an organization that helps communities grow through new businesses, added jobs, and needed services.
Lu was raised in the New Ulm area and attended St. Cloud State University and Mankato State University, where she earned a degree in accounting and business administration with a minor in business law. Since starting her position at RNDC, she has also completed the mediation and conflict management program at CDR Associates in Colorado.
Prior to Region Nine, Lu worked in the private sector for the Scheutzle, Carlson, LLC CPA firm, MCG and Parker Hannifin in New Ulm. She also served as the corporate credit manager for Norwood in Sleepy Eye. She currently lives in New Ulm with her husband of 40 years. They raised three daughters and have five grandchildren.
Linda Wallace
Senior Financial Accountant/ Revolving Loan Fund Assistant
See Biography
507-389-8889
ljwall@rndc.org
Linda Wallace is the Senior Financial Accountant/RLF Assistant at Region Nine. Wallace graduated from Minnesota State University Mankato, Mankato, with a Bachelor of Science in accounting and business administration along with a minor in business law. Wallace works to maintain the financial stability of the organization, prepares many financial reports for grant programs, and completes the organization’s annual audit.
Kristian Braekkan
Senior Regional Planner
See Biography
507-389-8862
kristian@rndc.org
Kristian Braekkan joined Region Nine in February 2018. His work relates to resource development, economic development, and industrial projects.
Kristian completed his Ph.D. at Virginia Tech in 2010. His research on industrial relations spans a wide variety of contexts, such as steel, coal, health care, manufacturing, and service industries. He has presented and published his research domestically and internationally.
Leah Petricka
Community Development Director
See Biography
507-389-8863
lpetricka@rndc.org
Leah Petricka joined Region Nine in February 2021 as a Community Development Director. Her work includes community and economic development planning.
Leah was raised in Montgomery, Minnesota and attended the University of Minnesota -Twin Cities, where she earned a degree B.S.in Housing Studies focus on business and finance and a minor in economics. Prior to joining Region Nine, she has worked as a city planner, a community development specialist, and executive director for a housing and redevelopment authority. Leah holds a certificate in economic development from Hamline University, is a certified housing development finance professional and is working on becoming a certified economic developer.
Joel Hanif
Community Development Planner
See Biography
507-389-8870
joel@rndc.org
Joel Hanif joined Region Nine in September 2019 as a community development planner. His work includes community and economic development planning.
Joel is a native of Columbus, Georgia and a new transplant to Minnesota. Prior to joining Region Nine, he worked as a regional planner and community developer for the River Valley Regional Commission in Americus, Georgia. There, he worked on local and regional comprehensive plans, Community Development Block Grants, and other planning and grant projects. He became an AICP certified planner in January 2019. Joel holds a Bachelor of Arts in Geography and a Master of Environmental Planning and Design from the University of Georgia.
Alejandra Bejarano
See Biography
alejandra@rndc.org
