Our Leadership
Meet our dedicated leadership team, a group of compassionate individuals who are committed to guiding Dakota Woodlands toward a future where every family has a place to call home. Our executive team and board members bring a wealth of experience in social services, advocacy, and community engagement.
Colleena Carlisle
Executive Director
Colleena has over a decade of experience in nonprofit leadership and extensive expertise in the for-profit sector as a CEO and Founder. Her career has been rooted in maternal and family services, women’s development, and health, with a passion for helping individuals holistically grow into their best selves, fostering self-sufficiency and purpose-driven lives. Throughout her career, she has held leadership roles such as Director of Client Services, Director of Operations, Interim Executive Director, and Director of Programs & Outreach. Colleena has supported organizations through strategic planning and expansion, consistently driving growth and operational improvement.
Her goal at Dakota Woodlands is to enhance the organization’s day-to-day operations, establishing a solid foundation that will support her vision of leading Dakota Woodlands through strategic growth and expansion. Colleena is pursuing her master’s degree in business administration with a concentration in Leadership and Change Management. She also holds several coaching certifications, including trauma-informed, leadership and development, and a PCC-level certification recognized by the International Coaching Federation (ICF). She earned her bachelor’s degree in Sociology, with a focus on law, from the University of Minnesota. In her free time, Colleena enjoys spending time with her family and fitness activities.
Leadership Team
Vacant, Director of Programs & Outreach
Board Members
Andrew Supina
Board Chair
Andrew is the PMO Director - Global Operations and Supply Chain at Solventum (formerly 3M Health Care). He has 27 years with 3M in various engineering & manufacturing roles. Andrew has a Mechanical Engineering degree from Iowa State & a Masters in Manufacturing Systems from the University of Minnesota. He is married with two sons and lives in Lake Elmo.
Joseph A. Rusche
CPA, MBT, Board Treasurer
Joe is a Tax Principal at Boyum Barenscheer CPAs and Business Advisors and has lived in Eagan for over 30 years. Besides his professional life, he is a Trustee of both St. Thomas Becket Parish and the J.A Wedum Foundation and the Treasurer of the Minneapolis and St. Paul Estate Council. Joe is married with three adult children and 6 Grandchildren.
Laura Weiss
Elizabeth Papcek-Kovach
Board Secretary
Laura is Vice President, Human Resources at Smart Care Equipment Solutions. Prior to this role, she was a Director of Human Resources at Ecolab, supporting multiple divisions during her 15-year tenure. Previously, Laura worked in HR, Administration, and Marketing positions at Lesaare International Corporation and its subsidiaries. Laura holds a bachelor’s degree from Minnesota State University – Mankato and an MBA from the University of St. Thomas. She resides in Apple Valley and is married to Steve Loosbrock; they have one son, Devin.
Elizabeth is Assistant General Counsel – Employment/Labor for CHS, Inc. In addition to her extensive experience as an attorney, Beth also has nearly ten years of experience as a human resources manager and a technical recruiter. In addition to her professional work, Beth provides pro bono legal work for indigent clients on employment and family law issues and is heavily involved in her Eagan community, school, and church volunteer activities.
Jessica Metzger-Nye
Jessica is an Enterprise Account Manager at Amazon Web Services. She joined AWS in 2020 and supports State and Local Government customers in their journey to deliver mission-critical outcomes to citizens through technology. Prior to AWS, Jessica worked at several other technology firms such as Oracle, Minnesota-based Proto Labs, International Decision Systems, and is a proud graduate of Bethel University in St. Paul. Jessica is married to an Army Veteran, Brian Nye, and has two boys, Owen and Jax. She has recently moved to Lakeville and looks forward to supporting the Dakota County community.
Tonya Foucault
Tonya is the Sr. Director of Marketing Communications of Institutional for Ecolab Inc., the global leader in water, hygiene, and infection prevention solutions and services that protect people and vital resources. Tonya has over 18 years of experience in the marketing communications field. She has been with Ecolab since 2016 and has made significant contributions in advancing the eaectiveness of internal communications as well as external brand awareness. Tonya holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, majoring in Marketing and minoring in Psychology, from the University of Minnesota – Duluth.
Beth Connaughty
Beth is Vice President, Corporate Strategy at Thomson Reuters where she leads a global team of strategists and analysts focused on driving growth and fostering innovation. With over two decades of experience in strategic planning, data analysis, and market development, Beth has been a driving force in shaping the company’s strategic direction. Beth holds an MBA from the University of Minnesota with a focus on Strategic Management, and a Master of Science in Data Analytics from Villanova University. Currently a Rosemount resident, Beth has lived and worked in Dakota County for 17 years.
Melissa Bauer
Melissa is a Director in Merchandising at Target Corporation. Her current team develops merchandising assortment strategies for new stores in neighborhoods across the US. She joined Target after completing her Bachelor of Science in Business at the University of Minnesota, Carlson School of Management. Melissa is married and has two children; her family has been part of the Eagan community for 15 years.
LaShawnda Bishop
LaShawnda is a highly motivated professional committed to quality client service, who is passionate about helping individuals obtain the resources they need to make long-term positive changes that enables them to obtain upward mobility.
Her experience comes from higher education, state, local government, non-profit, and the private industry. In addition she has experience volunteering at various community organizations. She has a special interest in facilitating growth groups in 12-step recovery, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), and racial equity. She piloted the Be Bold: A Racial Reconciliation reading group at the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities at the System Office. In addition, secured the $25,000 Innovations and Collaboration Funding Award for Women in Collaboration Initiative.
In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with family, friends, and her puppy. She loves making signature desserts and appetizers, traveling, and participating in recreational activities.