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Bob Byrnes

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Location
Marshall, MN

Sector Represented
Government

Biography
Bob Byrnes is currently Chair of Prairieland EDC's Board of Directors. He represents the government sector and has served on the Board of Directors for 11 years. Bob was born and raised in Waukon, Iowa. He received his Bachelor of Science Degree at the University of Wisconsin in Plateville, WI and has been a Marshall resident since 1979. Bob and his wife Brenda have two adult children Bridget and Brian. Bob is currently the Mayor of Marshall, MN, a position he has held since 1992, and the Regional Director of the University of Minnesota Extension Service. Bob is involved in numerous community organizations. He is on the Board of Directors for the Southwest Regional Development Commission and a member of the Marshall Industries Foundation.

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Jill Mockler

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Location
Sioux Falls, SD

Sector Represented
Lending

Biography
Jill Mockler has been a member of the Prairieland EDC Board of Directors since March 2006. She represents the lending sector and currently serves as the First Chair for the Board of Directors. Jill is an Assistant Vice President of Commercial Lending at The First National Bank of Sioux Falls in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. She began her career with the bank in January 2000. She graduated from the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, SD with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. Jill and husband, Travis, live near Beresford, SD on a farm. They have two girls, Lacey (5) and Kylie (2).

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Sherry Nelson

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Location
Sioux Falls, SD

Sector Represented
Business

Biography
Sherry Nelson is proud to serve on the Prairieland Board as Second Chair. Sherry represents the business sector and has been on the Board of Directors since December of 2005. She truly believes in its mission of helping grow small business and feels that Prairieland’s staff is a strong, committed team that works hard to pursue their goals. She is also pleased that the office of Balridge & Nelson designed Prairieland’s office building. Sherry is the Vice President of Baldridge & Nelson Architects and Engineers, Inc. in Sioux Falls, SD. She and her family live in Crooks, SD. She and her husband, Jeff, have two children, Jason and Katie. When not working, Sherry and her family love to travel and attend sporting events. She also enjoys going to her children’s activities. She loves music, reading, playing golf and video games.

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Matt Zebro

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Location
Wells, MN

Sector Represented
Lending

Biography
Matt Zebro currently serves as the Secretary/Treasurer of Prairieland EDC's Board of Directors. He represents the lending sector and has served on the Board since December 2007. Matt is the Vice President of Commercial Lending for Wells Federal Bank in Wells, Minnesota. He graduated from Saint John’s University in Collegeville, MN with a bachelor’s degree in Economics. He has been with Wells Federal since 1998, beginning his career in Mankato as a residential loan officer. Matt now lives in Wells, Minnesota (his hometown) with his wife Shannon and four children, Samuel, Lauren, Macy and Maya. They purchased Matt’s ancestor’s original family homestead in 2001 and spend most of their time working on various projects around the yard.

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Peter Neigebauer

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Location
Mankato, MN

Sector Represented
Community/Regional

Biography
Peter Neigebauer has been a member of Prairieland EDC’s Board of Directors since June of 2003 and represents the community/regional sector. Peter is the immediate past chair for Prairieland. Peter is the Division Chair and Agribusiness Instructor with South Central College, North Mankato, Minnesota. He has been responsible for several program initiatives in his 20 years working at the college. Currently, he is teaching courses on Farm Business Planning and Business Analysis, Agribusiness Industry Equipment and Forage, and Pasture Management courses for the College. Peter has twenty years of experience with designing field and curriculum offerings for students with diverse backgrounds including urban, rural and international students in career and technical fields. Peter has worked with several USDA Cochran Training Programs to provide Mid Management and senior Management Training for individuals from Russia, Turkey, India, Botswana, Poland, and Egypt as well as other developing countries. He was responsible for budgeting, scheduling, training and coordinating educational programs for the respective Cochran Fellows.

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Claire Gerber

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Location
Worthington, MN

Sector Represented
Community/Business

Biography
Claire Gerber has been a member of Prairieland EDC’s Board of Directors since June of 1991. He represents the community/business sector. Claire was born on October 26, 1940 in Wilmont, MN. After graduation from Our Lady of Good Council in Wilmont, he attended Worthington Community College. In 1959, he married his high school sweetheart, Jo Kramer. They have four sons Kevin, Todd, Jay and Justin. After 25 years in banking, Claire resigned to become an independent insurance agent. In 1988, he became owner/operator of Worthington Professional Services. Over the years, Claire has served on various city and county boards including 16 years as a Nobles Co. commissioner and a member of the Minnesota Insurance Trust. He is a member of St. Mary’s church and the Knights of Columbus. He is a proud grandfather of ten grandchildren and loves to hunt, attend sporting events, travel and spend time with his family.

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Dennis Klute

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Location
Westbrook, MN

Sector Represented
Lending

Biography
Dennis Klute was born in Worthington MN, graduated from Worthington H.S. in 1960 followed by college at St. John’s University and the University of Minnesota. College was interrupted with military service with the MN Air Nat’l Guard (1962 – 1968) as a member of 133rd Air Lift Group stationed in MPLS; and marriage in 1964 to Alma Woldan, Iowa native. Denny graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1968 with BSBA degree. After graduation, he worked for Control Data Corp. in the Human Resources Dept. Denny started his 38-year banking career in 1971 at Westbrook State Bank. He continues to work in the banking field, currently with Integrity Bank at Walnut Grove, MN. Denny moved to Milford, Iowa in October 2008 to purchase a retirement home and enjoy the Lakes area. Although he did not retire, Denny rents a home in Westbrook until his retirement date. Hobbies include: Model RR, boating, metal detecting, writing, drawing, woodworking and golf on occasion. Denny and his wife have two adult children, son living in Rochester and daughter living in Sioux Falls, SD. Denny has been a member, along with a past chair, of Prairieland EDC’s Board of Directors since October of 1989. Denny represents the lender sector.

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Sherri Schueller

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Location
Redwood Falls, MN

Sector Represented
Lending

Biography
Sherri Schueller has been a member of Prairieland EDC’s Board of Directors since May of 2008. She represents the lending sector. Sherri comes from Minnwest Bank M.V. in Redwood Falls, Minnesota. She has been part of Minnwest Bank for 18 years and is currently a Commercial Loan Officer. Sherri and her husband, John, have two children, Teri and Michael, who are currently attending college. They reside near Wabasso on their family farm. In their spare time, Sherri and her family enjoy spending time at their lake cabin.

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Jerry Benrud

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Location
Mankato, MN

Sector Represented
Lending

Biography
Jerry Benrud has been a member of Prairieland EDC’s Board of Directors since October of 2007 and he represents the lending sector. Jerry grew up in Southeastern, MN and started banking full time in 1979 in Central, MN. He later came to the Southern part of MN in 1985. Jerry joined Pioneer Bank in 1994 after managing a bank in a neighboring community for 7 years. Jerry is currently the President of Pioneer Bank in Mankato, MN. Jerry would not have enjoyed all of his successful years in banking if it were not for great customers and the support of great co-workers and the tremendous support and understanding of his wife, Vicki and now grown children, Dan and Krista. Although many people think he works a lot of hours, Jerry still finds time to travel, pheasant hunt and struggle at golf.

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Ralph Knapp, Ph.D.

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Location
Slayton, MN

Sector Represented
Community/Regional

Biography
Ralph Knapp was recently re-elected to serve as one of Prairieland EDC’s Board of Directors. Ralph represents the community/regional sector and has been on the Board of Directors for 18 years. Ralph currently lives on Lake Shetek. He has been married to his high school sweetheart (Bev) for 52 years and they have two wonderful children. Ralph worked over 30 years in the education system and retired in 1998. Ralph continues to keep himself busy with numerous community activities.

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Chad Syltie

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Location
Appleton, MN

Sector Represented
Business

Biography
Chad Syltie has served on Prairieland EDC's Board of Directors since March of 2010 and represents the business sector. Chad was born and raised in Appleton. He graduated from Southwest State University with a degree in Agribusiness and History. For the past 7 years, Chad has been employed as a credit manager with Western Consolidated Cooperative. Chad currently resides in Appeton with his wife, Cindy, and their two boys, Ross and Mitchell. In Chad's spare time, he enjoys keeping up with his boys, boating, hunting and golfing.