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Beth Shogren Announced as Executive Director of Green Minneapolis

Beth Shogren has been hired by Green Minneapolis to serve as the organization’s next Executive Director.

Ms. Shogren has spent over 20 years managing complex projects with multiple stakeholders from the public and private sectors. Her experience in owner’s representation and project management in the retail and hospitality sectors informed her work as founding staff for the Minneapolis Downtown Improvement District (DID). Ms. Shogren served as Director of Operations and as Chief Operating Officer of the DID, and as project manager for The University of Minnesota Foundation Real Estate Advisors before joining Green Minneapolis. Shogren is a graduate of Amherst College.

During her tenure at the DID, Ms. Shogren worked closely with stakeholders to develop and advance the initiatives of the Minneapolis Downtown Council’s 2025 Plan. Included in the 2025 Plan is a call for a greener downtown that is welcoming to residents, businesses and visitors. The plan identified the need for a non-profit conservancy – now known as Green Minneapolis – to partner with public and private organizations to coordinate and enhance funding, planning, programming, and management of existing and new parks and public spaces downtown.

“Beth’s proven track record at the Downtown Improvement District, where she successfully worked with multiple stakeholders to implement the goals of the 2025 Plan, make her a great fit for leading Green Minneapolis.” said Steve Cramer, President and CEO of the Minneapolis Downtown Council, and a board member of Green Minneapolis.

Since its creation in 2015, Green Minneapolis has become a key partner of the City of Minneapolis, responsible for the fundraising of $22M for The Commons park downtown, and recently authorized by the City Council to operate, manage and program the new 4.2 acre green space in 2017. Green Minneapolis focuses on greening downtown streets, increasing the urban tree canopy and the development of other critical green spaces in the urban core. The non-profit multi-project conservancy advocates for active, vibrant, welcoming green spaces, and develops partnerships between public and private entities to leverage projects both planned and underway.

“The board of Green Minneapolis is thrilled to have Beth Shogren as our next Executive Director. Her background and experience is spot on for what Green Minneapolis is looking for in a leader, and her passion for making downtown Minneapolis a thriving, inclusive place for residents, visitors and businesses is perfectly aligned with our mission.” said David Wilson, board chair of Green Minneapolis.

Ms. Shogren said, “I am thrilled to be joining Green Minneapolis during this time of exponential growth in our City. I share the board’s commitment to ensuring that as development accelerates downtown, we are also creating a green, vibrant and welcoming public realm that everyone in our community can enjoy. I look forward to building relationships with our many valued partners and advancing our shared goal of a vibrant, competitive and green Minneapolis”.

Shogren started in her new role January 10, 2017.

In related news, Green Minneapolis also announced the hiring of Amanda Wigen as its director of Programming and Events. Ms. Wigen is a graduate of Vassar College where she studied Urban Planning. Prior to joining Green Minneapolis, Ms. Wigen was the Operations Manager for Bryant Park in New York City, where she was responsible for sponsorship and programming of events and activities in the park, which has over 6 million visitors annually. Ms. Wigen started in her role January 1, 2017.

 

About Green Minneapolis

Green Minneapolis is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 multi-project conservancy, established to advance the vitality of downtown Minneapolis through parks, greening and program activation. Green Minneapolis engages in strategic public, private and philanthropic partnerships to advance the common goal of creating a vibrant public realm. www.greenminneapolis.org

 

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