2026 Board of Directors Slate

Please welcome your 2026 MPI Minnesota Chapter Board of Directors:

President-Elect

Katy Billig, CMP, Director of Group Sales, Hotel Indigo Minneapolis Downtown

Director of Finance

Jessica Derrick-Elavsky, Sales Account Executive, Meet Minneapolis

Director of Education

Nikki Gustafson, Director of Sales, Visit Greater St. Cloud

Director of Marketing & Communications

Josh Roberson, Project Manager, Showcore

Director of Membership

Breanna Johnson, CMP, Events and Member Benefits Specialist, Minnesota Nurses Association

The following individuals will be continuing their service on the Board of Directors to comprise the full Board for 2026:

President

Sarah Wilmes, Destination Sales Director, Mall of America

Immediate Past President

Nicole Palkowitsch, Manager, Event Planning and Meeting Management, Ameriprise Financial

Vice President of Finance

Lisa Benevides, Senior Events & Sponsorships Specialist, Fredrikson & Byron, P.A.

Vice President of Education

Kendra Wente, Sales Manager, Intercontinental Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport

Vice President of Marketing & Communications

Kane Harris, Speaker Consultant, Elan Speakers Agency

Vice President of Membership

Mark Moen, Director of Operations, The Lofton Hotel

If you have questions about the nomination process or the slate, please get in touch with

office@mpimn.org.

2025 Board of Directors

Email Entire Team

The MPI Minnesota Chapter board of directors is elected annually by the MPI Minnesota Chapter membership. It consists of the president; president-elect; immediate past president; vice presidents of marketing and communications, membership, finance, and education; and directors of marketing and communications, membership, finance, and education. Any member of the MPI Minnesota Chapter who has been a member in good standing for a year or more is eligible to serve on the board of directors.

If you have an interest in serving on the board of directors, please click here for more information.