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About PACER

Leadership

PACER is a Minnesota nonprofit, tax-exempt organization and a national parent center that provides information, training, and assistance to parents of children and young adults with all disabilities; physical, learning, cognitive, emotional, and health. Its mission is to improve and expand opportunities that enhance the quality of life for children and youth with disabilities and their families. Eighteen Minnesota disability organizations are part of the PACER coalition.

PACER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Paula Goldberg

Leading PACER Center is Paula F. Goldberg, the Executive Director. Paula co-founded PACER in 1976. PACER opened its first office in August 1978.

PACER maintains several boards and committees that support the mission and activities of the organization. The majority of PACER’s Board of Directors are parents of children with disabilities.

PACER Center Board of Directors 2018-2019

  • Alison Bakken, Vice President
    VP, Platforms Business Ops and PMO,
    Thomson Reuters

    Jeff Betchwars
    President, Executive Management Services

    Kofi Bruce
    Treasurer, General Mills

    Lisa Elm
    Winslow Capital

    Jeanette Frederickson
    Attorney

    Kathy Graves
    Partner, Parenteau Graves

    John Guthmann
    Judge, Ramsey County, Minnesota

    Ginny Hopper
    Attorney

    Gwen Hopper
    Community Volunteer

    Jay Jackson
    Thrivent

    Zac Lagen
    Verizon Wireless

    Daniel Levinson
    New Product Development, Optum

    Ronald Lezama
    Co-Founder, Minnesota Latino Caucus

  • Ruth Lowenthal
    Vice President Total Rewards, Xcel Energy

    Paul Luehr
    Partner, Faegre Baker Daniels

    Jessica Mattson
    Early Childhood Manager

    Don McNeil
    Attorney, Heley, Duncan & Melander, PLLP

    Corinne Niska
    Community Volunteer

    Mark O’Leary, Secretary
    Taylor Communications

    Shannan Paul
    Sales Manager

    Tammy Pust, President
    Chief Administrative Law Judge, State of Minnesota

    Ken Rosenblum, M.D.
    Owner, Co-Operative Plating Co.

    Sara Sagedahl
    Social Media Director, Best Buy

    Elizabeth Simermeyer, Treasurer
    Executive Vice President Global Marketing and Communications, Ecolab

    Dorothy Slegman
    Formerly MN Speech Hearing Language Assoc.

    Matthew Woods, President
    Senior Attorney, Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi

Other PACER boards include the Advisory Board, the Friends of PACER Advisory Board, the Marketing Advisory Board, and the National Business Advisory Board. Some members of PACER’s Advisory Board are:

  • Tani Austin, Starkey Laboratories
  • Melanie Barry
  • Don Davidson, Sears Imports
  • Mary Holmes
  • Linda Ketover
  • Mike Marso, 3M
  • Emmy Mastel, Prudential Financial
  • Colleen McGough-Wood
  • Jim Orrichio, Coordinated Business Systems
  • Lynne Singer Redleaf
  • John Valente, 3M