Board of Directors

Mark Crellin, Chair of the RAGOM Board

In addition to serving RAGOM as the Board Chair, Mark Crellin concentrates on strategic planning, finance, development, and marketing efforts. Both Mark and his wife Rosemary Bentson volunteer as transporters and fosters, and Mark is also a member of the foster help team.

Mark retired in 2012 from the HiRel division of Vishay Intertechnology, an electronics manufacturer, where he was Vice President of Sales and Marketing. Mark and Rosemary now live at their lake home and enjoy fishing, grandkids, and, of course, Golden Retrievers.

The Crellin-Bentson family includes two sons, four grandkids, and two RAGOM dogs, Beau 15-201 and Tank 16-260; two 15-year-old cat sisters, Twinkle and Sweet Pea; and typically one RAGOM foster dog.

Mark and Rosemary particularly enjoy fostering senior dogs and retired breeding females. They feel privileged to have adopted two other RAGOM dogs, Harley 12-384 and Sandy 14-070, who have gone to the Rainbow Bridge.

Term expires December 31, 2020

Laura Buck, Director

In addition to fulfilling a RAGOM Board Director role, Laura Buck volunteers on the application screening team, visits with potential adopters in their homes, and fosters RAGOM dogs. Laura is employed by Arthur J. Gallagher as an Employee Benefits Consultant.

She enjoys snow skiing, water skiing, running, golfing, travelling, and spending time at the family lake cabin. Her family comprises her boyfriend and two rescued Golden Retrievers, Clancy and Champ.

Term expires December 31, 2019

Jennifer Deweese

Jennifer volunteered for more than eight years at the former Minnesota Valley Humane Society (MVHS) in a variety of roles: dog walker, adoption counselor, special events participant, and assistant to the dog trainers. She has also volunteered at the Animal Humane Society (AHS) as a training assistant and at various community events.

Jennifer retired from Delta Air Lines/Northwest Airlines in 2016. Her early experience included customer service, managerial, and training roles, with the last 18 years focused on project and process management. She is currently contracting at the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) as a process consultant in their IT Project Management Office.

Jennifer, along with her husband Clem and their 13-year-old Golden Retriever Bella, live in Eagan, Minnesota. She enjoys travel, hiking, biking, cross-country skiing, volleyball, card and board games, book club, and Pickleball. 

Term expires December 31, 2021

Marti Jones, Director

Marti Jones volunteers as a Board Director and focuses her efforts on growing awareness of RAGOM’s mission, handling communications and media relations, and supporting fundraising efforts. She believes RAGOM volunteers, adopters, donors, and supporters are the "best in the world" and cares deeply for RAGOM's beloved Goldens.

Marti's portfolio spans 20 years in communication and marketing. She has developed and implemented multifaceted campaigns for world-renowned organizations such as the American Red Cross and Mayo Clinic.

Marti taught public relations at the University of Minnesota and educated the public regarding relief efforts after 9/11 and during the Iraq War and Minnesota's 35W bridge collapse.

Marti earned her master’s degree in public administration and affairs from George Washington University and her bachelor’s degree in communications and psychology from Augustana College in Minnesota. She is also a board member of Serve Minnesota. Marti shares custody of a spirited Golden Retriever named Stella whom she adores and spoils.

Term expires December 31, 2021

Jane Nygaard, Founder and Director

Jane Nygaard founded RAGOM in February 1985 and continues to serve as a Board member. She regularly visits schools and scout groups to educate children about properly interacting with dogs and the responsibilities of caring for a dog, including the importance of microchips and training.

Jane is a retired nanny who cared for children in their homes while their parents traveled and has kept in touch with her former charges as they have graduated college, married, and had children of their own.

With the help of her husband Hank, Jane has fostered more than 1,000 dogs. After Hank died in 1999, Jane adopted Ford (Gabriel) 04-258, who was found in a trashcan and weighed just one pound when RAGOM rescued him.

Ford flourished and became a support dog, sitting with children in reading programs, attending funerals to support grieving families, visiting hospital patients, and comforting students who had lost two classmates.

After Ford died in May 2015, Jane adopted Doc (Baxter) 15-210 from the first group of Turkish Goldens that RAGOM helped to rescue and bring to the United States.

Sheila Rawski, Director

Sheila Rawski volunteers as a RAGOM Board Director and is an active member of the transport, home visit, and foster teams. She has also participated on the application screening team and volunteered at Goldzilla and other events.

As a Board member, she is passionate about supporting RAGOM volunteers and recognizing their unending service and dedication.

Sheila has worked for the City of Minneapolis for more than 20 years and is currently a housing inspector in North Minneapolis. She shares her life and home with husband Peter, their Saint Bernard Tallulah Mae, and cats Baron Von Buttons and Harley.

Term expires December 31, 2019

Missy Stanisz

Missy Stanisz was introduced to RAGOM as a foster, but after a career change made fostering a challenge, she looked for other ways to serve the organization. Missy volunteered her marketing skills for the annual Goldzilla event, and following the event began working with social media and supporting fundraising campaigns.

Missy earned her MBA in Marketing in 2015 from Baker Center for Graduate Studies and is the Director of Digital Gaming for San Manuel Casino in Highland, California. In this role, Missy is responsible for new player acquisition, player engagement, and monetization of the casino’s digital gaming products.

Missy lives in the San Bernardino Mountains of Southern California with Indy, her senior Golden Retriever. She enjoys live music, cooking, mountain living, reading, writing, scouring vintage decor shops, and exploring California’s wines, beers, and forests.

Term Expires December 31, 2021

Nicole Stundzia, Director

Nicole Stundzia joined RAGOM in April 2016. She serves on the RAGOM Board of Directors and is an active volunteer on the hotline, transport, placement, and home visit teams. Nicole also leads the application screening team.

In addition, Nicole is a foster. She enjoys fostering the retired breeder dogs and feels it is a very rewarding experience. Her family comprises Louie, her horse of 23 years; cats Bubbles and Pebbles; and dogs Lucy, Daisy (16-067TD), and Barney (Abe 17-224A).

Nicole has lived in Rochester for the last 10 years and works for the Mayo Clinic as an administrative assistant in the Information Technology department.

Term expires December 31, 2020

Jennifer Zacharias

Jennifer Zacharias joined RAGOM in March 2018, seeking a way to give back and support her passion for Golden’s after growing up with them for most of her life. Jen served as the 2018 Silent Auction event lead for Goldzilla 2018, driving much of the successful work that went into RAGOM’s first online auction.

Jen works as the Vice President of Sales for HomePop Furniture, a Kinfine USA company. She previously enjoyed a 13-year career with Target Corporation as a director in both the Merchandising and Innovation divisions.

Jen and her husband Mitchell enjoy hiking and cycling around the Twin Cities. They adopted Bodhi (Penn 17-261) in December 2017 and love how much joy he has brought into their lives!

Term expires December 31, 2021

Officers

Kate Heezen, Secretary

Although Kate Heezen volunteers as secretary for the RAGOM Board, as a foster, as the application screening team lead, rescue email team lead, and a member of the home visit team, she also works as a scheduler in a busy radiology clinic.

In her free time, she enjoys hiking and camping with her husband Ben and their dogs Buddy 15-168, a RAGOM Hound mix, and Lucy, a Golden Retriever. Lucy earned her first AKC Tracking Dog title in October 2016 and joins the family during pheasant hunting trips on their land in South Dakota.

Anne Kominek, Treasurer

Anne Kominek joined RAGOM as volunteer Treasurer and non-voting Board Member in May 2018. As Treasurer, Anne concentrates on the development and observation of RAGOM’s financial policies, annual budgeting, cash forecasting, bank account and cash management, and financial reporting.

Anne is the Cash Manager at Sun Country Airlines. Throughout her career she has held various treasury positions at Ceridian, Allianz Life, and Travelers Express Company (MoneyGram). She has her MBA in Finance, a CCM designation (Certified Cash Manager), and is working on her FP&A Certification (Financial Planning and Analysis).

Anne and her husband Gary have one cat, Henry, who showed up in their bushes in 2002. Their daughter and her Humane Society cat, Aruba, also live at home. Anne enjoys visiting her son and his two rescue dogs, Lenny and Theo.

Anne’s favorite hobbies are kayaking, camping with family, and being a RAGOM volunteer.