The Bush Foundation is thrilled to welcome three new members to our board of directors. Mary Brainerd, Jodi Gillette and Kevin Goodno will begin their service at the next quarterly board meeting in May.
The board of directors sets the overall direction for our work and is responsible for major strategy and policy decisions. Jodi, Kevin and Mary each bring a wealth of experience and expertise from the public, private and nonprofit sectors. We are excited to add their voices and unique perspectives to an already impressive group of leaders from across the region.
About our new board members:
Mary Brainerd is President and CEO of Health Partners. She recently announced her plans to retire after 25 years with the Bloomington, Minnesota-based nonprofit. Born and raised in St. Paul, Minnesota, she received the Medal of Distinction from the College of St. Catherine (1998), was named one of the Business Journal’s Most Influential Women in Business (1999 and 2002), received the University of St. Thomas Award for Ethical Leadership (2002), and was named Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal’s 2007 Executive of the Year.
Prior to joining HealthPartners, Mary held senior level positions with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota. She is one of the founding CEOs of the Itasca Project, and serves on the boards of Minnesota Life/Securian, Minnesota Council of Health Plans, the St. Paul Foundation, Minneapolis Federal Reserve and SurModics. Mary has a B.A. from the University of Minnesota and an MBA from the University of St. Thomas.
Jodi Gillette joined the D.C. law firm of Sonosky, Chambers, Sachse, Edreson and Perry, after leaving her post as Special Assistant to President Obama for Native American Affairs. Jodi formerly served as Senior Policy Advisor for Native American Affairs for the White House Domestic Policy Council, Deputy Assistant Secretary to the Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs for Policy and Economic Development in the U.S. Department of the Interior, and Executive Director of the Native American Training Institute in Bismarck, North Dakota.
Jodi served as an economic development planner for her tribe, the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in Fort Yates, North Dakota. She holds a B.A. in Government and Native American Studies from Dartmouth College, and a Master of Public Policy degree from the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs. Jodi received a Bush Leadership Fellowship in 2002.
Kevin Goodno is currently the Chair of the Government Relations Practice at Frederickson and Byron P.A., where he has worked for the past 10 years. Prior to that, he served as the Commissioner of Minnesota Department of Human Services. He served in the Minnesota House of Representatives for twelve years and was recognized for his leadership on health care, human services and tax policy issues. Kevin’s private sector experience includes practicing business and employment law with a Moorhead law firm and owning and operating a retail business.
Kevin’s Board service includes the Epilepsy Foundation of MN, the American Brain Foundation, Courage Center and the Citizens League.