2023 Board of Directors
SHANEN CORLETT
President
Shanen grew up in Sharon, Wisconsin and graduated from Big Foot High School after which a 21 year career in banking spanning both Wisconsin and Minnesota followed. Shanen relocated to Minnesota for M&I bank in 2002 and has been the Director of Member Services at the Lakeville Area Chamber of Commerce since 2015. In 2019 Shanen completed the Institute of Organizational Managment Program in Madison, WI. Shanen has a long history and passion for raising funds in support of public safety in the city of Lakeville which led to her founding the Lakeville Public Safety Foundation in 2014.
Shanen lives in Chaska with her husband Mike and her two four legged babies Reggie and Lambeau.
In her free time Shanen enjoys volunteering, spending time with her family, attending Broadway shows and taking an occasional Caribbean cruise.
STEPHANIE SCHERER
Vice President
Stephanie graduated from Indiana University and obtained her Minnesota Real Estate License. She has continued her professional education by completing her Masters in Real Estate at the University of St. Thomas and earning her Minnesota Brokers License. She focuses on marketing and leasing commercial space for Metro Equity Management’s portfolio, as well as, continued work with third parties through tenant representation and sales. Stephanie lives in Credit River with her husband Quenton and their three children.
SARAH SMITH-LARKIN
Treasurer
Sarah Smith- Larkin grew up in Winnipeg, Manitoba and graduated from Kelvin Sr. High School. She attended Augsburg College and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in International Business. While at Augsburg, Sarah played basketball and soccer. She continued on to Law School and graduated from William Mitchell College of Law with a Juris Doctorate. She practiced law in St. Cloud until 2008 when she returned to family owned Brackett’s Crossing Country Club where she currently is the President. Sarah lives in Lakeville, MN with her husband Patrick, son Thomas (13), daughter Olivia (8), and dog Kramer (1). In her free time, she enjoys coaching her son in basketball her daughter in basketball and soccer and cheering on the Vikings.
KIRSTIN SPECHT
Secretary
Kirstin Specht is a founding member of the Lakeville Public Safety Foundation. Kirstin graduated from Moorhead High School in 1992 and Gustavus Adolphus College in 1996. She currently works for Stretch-n-Grow of Dakota County as a Fitness Coach. In her free time, she enjoys going to her kids’ activities, spending time at the cabin, and volunteering throughout the community. Kirstin currently lives in Lakeville with her husband, Chad and her two kids, Gavin and Ava.
JAMES KRETSCH
Board Member
Jim grew up on a farm near Foley, MN and attended college at the University of Minnesota-Morris where he was a varsity wrestler and received his BA in Business-Economics. After college Jim attended Hamline University School of Law in St. Paul, MN from which he received his Juris Doctorate. Jim has now spent twenty-five years at Kretsch Law Office representing family owned businesses, international corporations, trade organizations, franchises and partnerships, attending to their day to day needs, real estate, mergers and acquisitions, litigation matters and just about everything else affecting his business clients and their owners. Jim is married to his (ever-patient) wife Jane and they have three children; Morgan, James and Amelia. Jim is active in the Lakeville community and currently serves as the Chamber of Commerce Board Chairman, Lakeville Lions, Lakeville Rotary and is an assistant coach on the Lakeville Clay Target Team. When not involved with his work and community activities, Jim enjoys spending time with his family, attending his daughter’s gymnastics meets and his son’s soccer games and trap meets, participating in anything outdoors with family or friends, the BWCA, and the occasional endurance race.
PATTI McDONALD
Board Member
A graduate of the University of South Florida, Tampa, Patti has been involved in the development of the practice at McDonald Eye Care Associates since August 1983. As a person committed to the community, Patti has served on many committees over the years. As a chamber member she has served as an ambassador and board member. She spent five years as Treasurer of the Lakeville Hockey Association. Patti was presented with an award from the Dakota County Department of Health for “outstanding contributions in promoting the health of the citizens of Dakota County”. This was in recognition for her involvement with the “Challenge to Change” committee, a collaborative effort by ISD 194, Lakeville Police, Lakeville Faith Community, and Lakeville Chamber of Commerce driven to address drug and alcohol use among youth in our community.
Most recently Patti was honored for her work with the Pure Performance Initiative and other community involvements; being named an Exceptional Business Woman by the Dakota County Press.
TIM ROCHE
Board Member
Tim graduated from Hastings High School in 1996 and Minnesota State University, Mankato in 2000. Originally in Non-Profit Management as President of a Chamber of Commerce for 12 years with the last 5 years being at the Lakeville Chamber of Commerce and Visit Lakeville Convention & Visitors Bureau. In 2018, he became Director of Membership & Marketing at Brackett’s Crossing Country Club. His hobbies include Coaching Boys Lacrosse (Eastview HS 2006-2017, Lakeville North HS 2019-2022) and spending free time at a Lake Cabin on Rainy Lake in International Falls or a Hunting Shack 40 miles SW of I. Falls deep in the woods. Tim has lived in the NE Corner of Lakeville since 2004 with his wife Kelly (Principal of St. Joseph’s Pre-8 School in Rosemount) and their two Sons – Liam (16) & Aiden (13).