Leadership Council

The Forge North Leadership Council is a group of entrepreneurs, investors, corporate executives, and community leaders that represents the diverse perspectives of the coalition and works to engage all members to establish goals, catalyze ecosystem-wide change, and promote signature projects - always with a focus on founders.

The council isn’t alone. Beyond the council, the Forge North coalition is made up of hundreds of partners working together on projects, in peer groups, and across the community to advance the overall ecosystem. And staff from the GREATER MSP Partnership support the coalition's work toward the Council's goals.

Leadership Council

Anisha Murphy

Director of Community Advancement, Community Reinvestment Fund (CRF)
Founder, Just Law LLC

Ann Holder

Founder + CEO
Marani Health

Brett Brohl

Managing Director, Techstars
Managing Partner, Bread & Butter Ventures

Brian Gustafson

Managing Director, Investments
TONKAWA

Damola Ogundipe

Founder + CEO
Civic Eagle

Dominic Iannazzo

Partner
Ernst & Young LLP

Dr. Paul Campbell

Co-Founder/ Partner
Brown Venture Group

Laura Dunham

Dean
Opus College of Business at University of St Thomas

Mary Grove

Managing Partner
Bread & Butter Ventures

Mary MacCarthy

Sr. Program Manager
University of Minnesota Venture Center

Michael Jones

Senior Executive VP and Head of Middle Market Banking – Minnesota and Colorado
Huntington Bank

Michelle (Tran) Maryns

Founder + CEO
We Sparkle

Sam Ndely

Philanthropic Advisor
The Minneapolis Foundation

Shelisa Demuth

Executive DIrector
BETA

Project Fellows

Al Cornish

General Partner
gener8tor

Angel Even

Founder/Owner/CEO
Led by TRUTH

Maria Ploessl

Executive Director
Minnestar

Mickayla Rosard

Head of Platform
Groove Capital