Hennepin Theatre Trust Announces the Election of Two New Board Trustees

Hennepin Theatre Trust today announced the election of two new members to its Board of Trustees. They are Barbara Klaas, a community volunteer and activist who works on behalf of several prestigious Minnesota school and education organizations, and Jeannie Joas, President of JB Hudson Jewelers for the past 19 years, who serves on the Downtown Council Board and is very involved in philanthropy and the Twin Cities community.

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 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, Jeannie Joas, Barbara Klaas, Annette Thompson Meeks, Jann L. Olsten, John Pacheco, Brian J. Pietsch, Edward Pisarski, Thomas J. Rosen, James Rosenbaum, Doug Ruth, T. Jay Salmen and Daniel R. Tenenbaum.

Each new Board Trustee brings a diverse and particular range of expertise:
Jeannie Joas, President of JB Hudson Jewelers for the past 19 years, comes from a family of jewelers. With more than 30 years of experience in the luxury jewelry business, she led JB Hudson to partnerships with the Cargills and the Pohlads, two of Minnesota's most prominent families. The flagship JB Hudson store in the historic Young-Quinlan Building also received the 2008 "America's Coolest Store" award. Joas is passionate about giving back to the Twin Cities community: she co-chaired the Jeremiah Program's Bullfrog Bash, chaired a successful Symphony Ball for the Minnesota Orchestra and was Vice President of the St. Paul Jaycees. Joas was active in the Young Presidents Organization and a mentor with the Big Brother/Big Sister program. She currently serves on the board of the Downtown Council and was previously on the boards of the Women's Association of the Minnesota Symphony Orchestra (WAMSO) and the Raptor Center at the University of Minnesota. Joas supports charities including Children's Cancer Research Fund, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and Children's Home Society.

Barbara Klaas is a community volunteer and activist who has worked on behalf of several prestigious Minnesota education and advocacy organizations. She is currently on the board of Parents United for Public Schools, a statewide advocacy organization committed to quality public education for all Minnesota children. Klaas was also elected to the Hopkins School Board, serving for 15 years. She continued her emphasis on public education policy as an active and longtime leader for the Association of Metropolitan School Districts and the Minnesota School Board Association, where she served as both president of the board and an ambassador. She also established and chaired the Hopkins Legislative Action Coalition, a model for many parent advocacy groups. Klaas was instrumental in establishing the Alliance for Student Achievement, a coalition of the state's key education organizations, and served on the Minnesota Department of Education's "No Child Left Behind" task force. As an active volunteer, Klaas also received the TwinWest Chamber of Commerce "Woman of Achievement" Award for Outstanding Community Service. She has an MBA from the University of Minnesota and previously worked in marketing for two bank holding companies, Shawmut Corporation of Boston and Banco (now Wells Fargo).

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, the Broadway Confidential series, the Critical View student reviewer program, Teen Ushers, the Access Program and Kids' Night. For more information, go to HennepinTheatreTrust.org.

To post a comment, you must register and login.