Dan Collison, Executive Director
Dan Collison became a board member of the East Town Business Partnership (formerly the East Downtown Council) in 2010, the Membership Director in 2011, the board President in May of 2013, and the Executive Director in 2014. He has been instrumental in redeveloping the ETBP board, establishing a five-year strategic plan, catalyzing new business member engagement, producing increasingly effective public forums, and forging new strategic collaborations between business leaders, civic leaders, and the residential communities of the East Town Business District.
Christie Rock Hantge, Executive Coordinator
Christie Rock Hantge has been working as the executive coordinator for the East Town Business Partnership (formerly the East Downtown Council) since November of 2012. Her duties and responsibilities include supporting the work of the board of directors; assisting the executive director with membership recruitment and retention; helping to plan and facilitate events; overseeing the Web site and social media; and working in partnership with the treasurer to manage the organization’s finances.
Christie has 18 years of experience working for Minneapolis neighborhood organizations. She holds an MA degree in Public Administration from Minnesota State University at Mankato and is in the process of writing her dissertation to finish her Doctorate in Public Administration at Hamline University. Christie is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP), and has completed the National Development Council’s Economic Development Finance Professional Certification Program.
Ben Kvale, Social Media Intern
Ben Kvale is a student at North Central University, majoring in Marketing and Entrepreneurship. He is helping to grow the East Town Business Partnership’s social media presence. He will be updating our Facebook and Twitter accounts, and providing material for our Website posts. Ben will be doing some profiling of our members, so don’t be surprised if you get an email from him. He will be attending some of our upcoming business forums and happy hour networking events. For more info about Ben, please check out his LinkedIn profile.
