WELCOME NEW MEMBERS!

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS TO EDINA MORNINGSIDE ROTARY CLUB!
 
Click Read More to see biographical information for our newest members.
 
Biographical Information for our New Members:
 
Dr. Daniel Bittman
 
Dan Bittman continues his Rotary service, transferring his membership to Edina Morningside Rotary Club from Sauk Centre/Sartel Rotary Club in District 5950.
 
His Linked In page shows the following brief description.
Interim Superintendent Edina Public Schools (Current); Retired Superintendent (December 2024); MN Distinguished Service Award Winner (2025); MN Superintendent of the Year 2016; Nevada Kiwanis Teacher of the Year (1994).
 
Edina Public Schools published this press release:
Dr. Bittman is a distinguished, nationally recognized leader with over three decades of experience as a superintendent and educational administrator. Dr. Bittman retired from the superintendency of Elk River Area School District (ISD 728) last December, where he served for eight years. Prior to that, he was the superintendent of Sauk Rapids-Rice School District, receiving the Superintendent of the Year award from the Minnesota Association of School Administrators. He served at the Minnesota Department of Education as the Assistant Commissioner for the Office of Student Support Services and  Director of Teacher Quality and Educator Licensing, and held administrative leadership positions in numerous states, including in Clark County in Nevada, the fifth largest district in the nation.

Dr. Bittman has received numerous state and national recognitions. Earlier this year, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Superintendent of the Year award from the Minnesota Association of School Administrators, where he also served as president.

School Board Chairperson Karen Gabler described Dr. Bittman as “widely recognized for his dedication to developing strong leaders and fostering meaningful relationships across school communities. He brings vast experience managing budgets, developing and executing comprehensive strategic and facility plans, and implementing innovative instructional programs.”

Melisa Franzen

Melisa López Franzen is a former Leader in the Minnesota Senate, and most recently the Executive Director of Government and Community Relations for the University of Minnesota where she oversaw advocacy efforts for all five campuses.

Prior to her work at the University, Melisa served in the Minnesota Senate from 2013 to 2023, representing Senate District 49, which includes Bloomington, Edina, Eden Prairie, and Minnetonka. She was elected as the Senate DFL Leader in 2021, becoming the first person of color to lead a legislative caucus in Minnesota history.

An entrepreneur and attorney, Melisa López Franzen is the co-founder and president of NewPublica, a public relations and strategic communications firm. Earlier in her career, she spent nearly a decade at Target Corporation in legal and government affairs roles.

Melisa holds a Master of Public Policy from the Humphrey School at the University of Minnesota and a J.D. from Hamline University School of Law, where she served on the Journal of Public Law & Policy.

Beyond her professional and legislative experience, Melisa López Franzen has remained a tireless community leader. She is a former President of the Minnesota Hispanic Bar Association and a Regional Vice President for the Hispanic National Bar Association. She has served on numerous boards, including the Girl Scouts of Minnesota and Wisconsin River Valleys and Comunidades Latinas Unidas en Servicio (CLUES). She was named a Top Lawyer Under 40 by the HNBA and selected for the prestigious Aspen-Rodel Fellowship in Public Leadership and the HOPE Binational Fellowship Program for Latina professionals.

Melisa's sponsor is Jim Hovland.

Eli Johnson

Eli Johnson began his Rotary service as a member of the South Metro Minneapolis Evenings Rotary Club. We are excited that he is transferring his Rotary membership to Edina Morningside Rotary Club.
 
Eli says, "My guiding principle is simple: practice good karma, be kind to myself, and be kind to others."
 
My wife, Emily, our sons, Miles and Finneas, and our 2 furbabies, Legion the cat & Penny the dog, call Southwest Minneapolis home. When I’m not working, my kids dominate my life, but occasionally I indulge in my passions for music, travel, yoga, wine, beer, and food.Let me be your trusted real estate advisor for life, and together we can achieve your real estate goals while enjoying the journey.
 
Mindy Koropchak
 
Mindy Koropchak continues her Rotary service, transferring from the Rotary Club of Fargo North Dakota.
 
MIn Fargo, Mindy was a high school Biology and Chemistry teacher and, most recently, the Development Director then Interim Executive Director for the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony Orchestra.  Having very recently completed that role, she has time and energy and is looking for a new position for it, preferably in  Sales/Business Development or Learning and Development/Training.
 
In Mindy's free time, she enjoys cooking, going to music and fine arts events, volunteering with Grace Hospice, learning/playing piano, reading and going for walks.  Mindy was married in December to her husband Matt who is from Edina; she has two children, Jaci and Jacob, and one stepchild, Annabel.
 
Mindy is a former Rotarian, being a member of the Fargo West chapter, and is looking forward to becoming more involved with Rotary Club of Edina Morningside and this community as a whole!
 
Mindy's sponsors are Jim Hovland and Dick Crockett.
 
Jill Tenney
 
Jill Tenney is a Retail Banking Officer at First Bank & Trust in Edina. With over 20 years of banking experience, Jill has provided training and support for new hires in various areas of retail.   She specializes in consumer lending and growing banking relationships.  Jill’s hobbies and interests include yoga, hiking, weight training, listening to live music and spending time outdoors!
 
Jill attended community college and studied fine arts. She is an animal activist and has volunteered at animal shelters.  Outside of work, Jill enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with her family and friends.
 
Jill's sponsor is Nate Park.