Meet The Board

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Brad retired after working 42 years in Finance and Accounting.  His career included time in public accounting, healthcare and as a Production Controller for Pearson in Owatonna, MN.  He's been connected to the Center since 2009 and serves as Treasurer.  He lives in Northfield with his wife Melanie.  They have two children and six wonderful grandchildren that take up much of their time these days.  When he's not with his grandchildren, he enjoys walking, fishing and traveling.

 Terri's history with the Exchange Club Center for Family Unity started as a parent mentor in 1994-1997. She was the Interim Executive Director for part of that time at the Center and re-connected with the Center as a Board member in 2016. She is currently the Board Secretary. Her professional interests have always had a focus on families and children. She is a Licensed Marriage and Family therapist in her private practice, Terri Ross Family Connections.

She and her husband Kent have 5 children and 13 grandchildren and a small hobby farm near Faribault. She enjoys kayaking, biking, cooking, reading, gardening and doing Sudoku. She also likes to travel, mostly to warm ocean beaches!

Jim Barnes Jim has a background in accounting, finance, treasury and education working for companies such as NCS Pearson, Toro and Multek.  He also taught Business Education in Byron and Cloquet with a year student teaching in Rochester at Mayo High School.  Jim has BS degrees from University of Wisconsin - Superior in Accounting and Business Administration (Finance emphasis) and a teaching degree from Winona State University.  Jim has served on the Technical Academies of Minnesota school board since 2016.  Jim has two teenage daughters and enjoys reading, watching Packers and Badgers football, Disney, traveling and planning travel for others via Jim's Insider Travel. 

Leshia graduated from Iowa State University in 1991 with a BS degree and began her career in banking that same year.  During her career she has worked in three states and in several areas of the financial services industry at both National and Community banks.

Leshia's volunteer experience includes Relay for Life, Mason City Downtown Association, Windsor Heights Annual Mini Marathon, Rotary, Owatonna Business Women and more.

She has been married to her husband, Troy for 22 years and together they have three children: Whitney, Nick and Sam as well as three dogs: Chloe, Copper and Ivy.   They have lived in Owatonna for 8 years.   Her hobbies include traveling, boating, fishing, movies, shopping and any opportunity to be involved with her kids.  

Karen moved to Owatonna from Scottsdale, AZ to Owatonna in late 2018 and joined the Board in 2020.  Her background includes 35 years managing operations in the corporate insurance world with Prudential and USAA before starting her own business.  Her business, While You're Busy LLC, is primarily focused on marketing and digital strategies.  

She enjoys spending time with her daughter Jordan, son-in-law Zach and new grandbaby Joelle who just arrived in June 2020 and getting involved in the community. 

In October 2018, Beth took over the Gene Drake Farmers Insurance Agency which is now the Beth Hortop Farmers Insurance Agency.  She was looking for ways to get more involved in the community and to help give back.  After joining Owatonna Business Partnership and Business Networkers, she met Annette Duncan who was looking for volunteers for the center.  The work this program does is much needed in our community.  Knowing that this helps children in Steele County as well as other surrounding counties, she knew she wanted to help.   

Bruce Kubicek was raised on a family farm near Hope.   Bruce graduated from Owatonna High School in 1964 and served in the Army Reserves from 1966 to 1971.  As an adult, he has been a conservation farmer having purchased his father’s and his grandfather’s farms.

He has been married to Rose Ann for 53 years and together they have six children, 25 grandchildren and two great grandchildren!

Bruce served as a Steele County Commissioner for District 1 for fourteen years and has also served on numerous Boards including the Steele County Extension Committee and St. Isidore and Bethlehem Academy School Boards.   He has also been a 4-H leader for the past eleven years and has served as a Trustee at Holy Trinity Catholic Church at Litomysl for more than twenty years.  He is also a current member of the American Legion Post 52 in Blooming Prairie and is on its Honor and Color Guard having also served two years as its Commander.

Bruce enjoys fishing, volunteering, and attending his grandchildren’s events.

Bruce has been a member of the Exchange Club Center for Family Unity Board for the past four years.

Jordan moved to Owatonna in 2017 from Arizona to start a family with her husband, Zach who is an Owatonna native.  They have a baby girl, Joelle and two dogs, Waffles and Biscuit.  She has been teaching for six years with experience in kindergarten, second, third and sixth grade special education.  

She enjoys spending time with her family, reading and being near the water during the summer.