Hennepin Theatre Trust Announces the Election of Three New Board Trustees

Hennepin Theatre Trust today announced the election of three new members to its Board of Trustees. They are Scott Benson, an attorney with Briol & Associates and former Minneapolis City Council member; Annette Meeks, founder/CEO of the Freedom Foundation of Minnesota and an experienced politician who was Tom Emmer's running mate in the recent gubernatorial election; and Thomas J. Rosen, a respected and successful CPA who is a senior partner at Frederick & Rosen Ltd., a firm which has served the Twin Cities for 40 years.

The new Trustees are experts in their fields, residents of Minneapolis/St. Paul and the surrounding areas and passionate about the positive contribution Hennepin Theatre Trust and the arts make to Hennepin Avenue. They will join a strong existing Board of Trustees with extensive experience in the arts and philanthropy, politics, communications, real estate, business, law and finance.

"Hennepin Theatre Trust is privileged to welcome these three talented new Trustees whose individual and collective expertise adds to an already active and prestigious board," commented Tom Hoch, President/CEO of Hennepin Theatre Trust. "We rely on the
Trustees to shape and support our vision and are extremely appreciative of the time and
energy they devote to ensuring the future of the Trust's historic theatres and a vibrant downtown."

Hennepin Theatre Trust's Board of Trustees:
Scott Benson, Ralph W. Burnet, Sonia Cairns, Diane Connor, Dan Cramer, Wendy Dayton, Archie Givens, Thomas L. Hoch, Julie Idelkope, Linda C. Ireland, Annette Meeks, Jann Olsten, John Pacheco, Brian J. Pietsch, Edward Pisarski, J. Patrick Plunkett, Thomas Rosen, Doug Ruth, James Rosenbaum, T. Jay Salmen and Daniel R. Tenenbaum.

Each new Board Trustee brings a diverse and particular range of expertise:
Scott A. Benson is an attorney with Briol & Associates, PLL, where he works in securities and complex commercial litigation representing clients in trial courts and arbitration panels throughout the country. Prior to joining Briol & Associates in 1998, he was a trial attorney at Dorsey & Whitney. Benson recently served two terms on the Minneapolis City Council, where he chaired the Health, Energy and Environment Committee and became one of the few elected officials in the country to earn a LEED Accredited Professional credential. Benson has also lobbied before the Minnesota State Legislature, administrative agencies and municipal governments. He is a cum laude graduate of St. Olaf College and he received his law degree cum laude from Georgetown University Law Center.

Annette Meeks is founder/CEO of the Freedom Foundation of Minnesota and a previous leader of the Center of the American Experiment. While in Washington, D.C., she served as Deputy Chief of Staff and in other capacities for Speaker Newt Gingrich. In Minnesota, Meeks served eight years on the Metropolitan Council where she was chair of the Transportation Committee and Vice Chair of the Community Development Commmitee. In 2010, she was the Republican candidate for Lieutenant Governor with running mate State Representative Tom Emmer in the second closest gubernatorial election in state history. Meeks is a popular public speaker and political commentator on local broadcasts. She and her husband, Jack Meeks, live in downtown Minneapolis.

Thomas J. Rosen, CPA, is Frederick & Rosen's senior partner and has been with the firm since 1973. He has an extensive record of handling complex corporate and personal tax issues. Rosen specializes in providing consulting services to small businesses and individuals, in addition to accounting and tax services including estate work. He is also a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accounts and Minnesota Society of Certified Public Accountants. Tom graduated from the University of Minnesota and lives in Minneapolis with his wife Gwynn.

HENNEPIN THEATRE TRUST, owner of the historic State, Orpheum and Pantages Theatres, is a non-profit organization devoted to enriching the vibrant cultural atmosphere of the Twin Cities. The Trust's activities include Broadway touring productions, concerts, comedy, speakers and other variety entertainment plus educational initiatives including the SpotLight Musical Theatre Program for high schools, Critical View student reviewer program, Teen Ushers, the Access Program and Kids' Night. For more information, go to HennepinTheatreTrust.org.

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