Gooseberry Park Board Bios
Ruth (Charlie) Duchene is a first year board member. She is a certified and registered Dental Assistant for Dr. Kent Spriggs. She is married and has 2 kids. Her husband Paul works for JDP Electric in Fargo.
Shelly Gompf has been a member of Gooseberry Park Players Board since 2016. She is an arts advocate with past volunteer leadership with the Plains Art Museum board of directors. She is currently is the Director of Healthcare Leadership and Assistant Professor at the Offutt School of Business at Concordia College. Prior to shifting her career to higher education, Shelly held VP of Human Resource roles with Catholic Health Initiatives, Innovis Health, Ulteig Engineers, Vogel Law Firm as well as Douglas County Hospital. She currently is the president of Strategic Evolution, LLC a consulting firm dedicated to the promotion, engagement and enhancement of people strategies for businesses of all sizes. Shelly brings decades of business best practices and compliance management to the board and looks forward to a long commitment to the arts.
Dana Haagensonhas been part of the Gooseberry Park Players board of directors since 2011. She served as the board president from 2012-2015 and is currently the board vice-president. In addition to Gooseberry Park Players, Dana also volunteers in various other youth theatre programs in the FM area. She also serves on various committees through Moorhead Public Schools and St. Joseph’s church. Dana is an adjunct instructor, teaching Accounting and Human Resources, at MN State Community and Technical College. She and her husband, Loren, have 3 daughters, and have lived in Moorhead for the past 25 years.
Janelle Leiseth has been on the GPP Board since the 2015 season. She has served on a number of planning committees and local boards, generally centered around her volunteer work with public schools and church & missions. A graduate of Concordia College with majors in Biology and Environmental Studies, she has worked as an environmental instructor and with Seattle’s Northwest Biological Science Center in conjunction with WA & OR fisheries. Janelle currently stays home to care for her four children with husband, Matt, juggling schedules and keeping ducks in a row. Janelle has had a life-long love of creating, whether it be music, sewing/crafting or relationship. To quote Albert Schweitzer: “Constant kindness can accomplish much.”
Grace Matheson has been involved with Gooseberry Park Players since 2000, and currently serves as the Treasurer on the Board of Directors. She has been the Office Coordinator at Fargo Family Dentistry for 14 years. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her grown children and grandson, reading, gardening, walking, and experimenting in the kitchen.
Rebecca Moore is currently serving her second year on the Gooseberry Park Players Board. She is Professor of Political Science at Concordia College in Moorhead, where she teaches courses in international relations. Rebecca's 12-year old daughter Meghan has been in two Gooseberry Park Players productions.
Gary Nickell has been on the Gooseberry Park Players Board since 2014 and he is currently the President of the board. He has been Professor of Psychology at Minnesota State University Moorhead since 1982. Two of his children have been involved in a number of Gooseberry productions. He has been a parent volunteer with Moorhead High Theater and Speech programs. In his spare time he likes to golf, canoe, bike, and spend time with his family.
Susie Nickell has been on the Gooseberry Park Players Board since 2014. She is a Realtor at Town and Country Realty, and currently on the Board of Directors at Fargo Moorhead Area Association of Realtors. Susie has a background in Music and Theatre performing in the US Air Force Academy Band for 10 years, and working as a professional musician most of her life. She also volunteers for Moorhead High Speech and Theatre Programs.
Lanah Olsonhas been on the Gooseberry Park Players Board for 3 years. She has been in (Actor and Stage Manager, student intern) and with the program for 16 seasons! She works at an Elementary school for Fargo Public Schools and she is the Assistant Director for theatre in West Fargo (Middle School). In her spare time she is a volunteer cheerleading coach, choreographer for Elementary schools, and avid baker.
Frank Pierce Jr has been on GPP Board for many years including serving as the President. He is the owner of Pierce Roofing and Sheet Metal, Inc.
Ilene Cohen-Pearson has been a member of the GPP Board for 4 years. He daughter Hannah was part of GPP doing both tech and acting. She has been the chair of the Silent Auction, produced and shared information with GPP families through the weekly newsletter, "The Revue" and has helped in other aspects behind the scenes.She is a lead pre-primary teacher and Pre-primary Coordinator Dakota Montessori School in Fargo for 13 years
Laura Slicer has been on the Gooseberry Park Players Board for since January 2016 and a GPP Parent for the past two seasons.She works as the Director of Business and Operations the in the office of Research and Creative Activity at North Dakota StateUniversity and is a member of the FM-PM Rotary Club.