GREATER MSP is the regional economic development partnership for the 15-county Minneapolis-Saint Paul region. As Chief Executive Officer, Frosch is responsible for leading the global strategy for economic development and job creation for the region, which has 3.6 million residents and a Gross Metropolitan Product of more than $260 billion. GREATER MSP is a growing cross-sector partnership that includes over 350 businesses, universities, cities, counties, foundations, and nonprofit organizations. As a partnership, GREATER MSP advances inclusive economic growth and global competitiveness by executing strategies in the areas of job creation, talent, innovation, and capital.

Prior to taking on the role of CEO in 2019, Frosch served as Senior Vice President of Strategy at GREATER MSP. Before joining GREATER MSP in January 2013, Frosch served as Legislative Director for Congresswoman Betty McCollum in Washington, D.C., and as Director of Environmental Policy at Environmental Initiative, a Minneapolis-based nonprofit.

Frosch currently serves on the Board of the Greater Twin Cities United Way and the GroundBreak Coalition Executive Council.

Frosch earned a bachelor’s degree in History and American Studies from Northwestern University and earned a master’s degree in International Relations from Dublin City University in Ireland, where he studied as a George Mitchell Scholar. He lives in Saint Paul with his wife Anne and their two young children.

Matt Lewis is Vice President, Partnership Strategy at the GREATER MSP Partnership, the public-private economic development partnership for the Greater Minneapolis-Saint Paul region. Matt leads the design and implementation of cross-sector initiatives among Fortune 500 companies, universities, startups and investment firms, government agencies, and others working together to build the Greater MSP region’s next economy across several key industry clusters in areas such as talent & workforce, startup growth & capital, and infrastructure. His team leads global technology and innovation hub strategies like MedTech 3.0 and MBOLD. Matt has served on several Minnesota boards and commissions, including the Governor’s Workforce Development Board, and served as the region’s federally designated innovation officer by the U.S. Economic Development Administration. Matt is a former journalist who earned his MBA and Master’s of Public Policy from the University of Minnesota and lives in Minneapolis with his wife Whitney Place and their daughter Georgia

Amanda Taylor is Vice President of Business Investment at the GREATER MSP Partnership. Amanda leads the team driving business attraction, expansion, and retention in the Minneapolis Saint Paul region, positioning the region for economic growth in the next economy. Amanda previously led the Research and Intelligence platform at GREATER MSP, providing intelligence and analytical expertise to inform strategy across the enterprise. Amanda brings 17 years of experience in economic development and corporate site selection to the organization. Prior to joining GREATER MSP, Amanda was a Senior Consultant with McCallum Sweeney Consulting in Greenville, South Carolina, providing site selection, incentives negotiation, and workforce services to corporate clients including Michelin, Northrop Grumman, and Lucid Motors. In this role, Amanda supported the creation of over 4,000 jobs and $1.3 billion in capital investment across North America. She also managed economic development strategy, site readiness, and location competitiveness consulting for clients including the Iowa Economic Development Authority, Arkansas Economic Developers Association, Charleston (SC) Regional Development Alliance, and Enterprise Florida. Amanda spent four years in project management and research roles with the Savannah (GA) Economic Development Authority, supporting significant capital investment and job creation decisions by companies like Gulfstream Aerospace and Mitsubishi Power Systems. Amanda earned her Master of City and Regional Planning at Clemson University and Bachelor of Arts from the University of Connecticut, double majoring in Geography and Economics. Amanda is an accredited Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Associate (LEED® Green Associate). In 2020, she was recognized as one of North America’s Top 50 Economic Developers by Consultant Connect. In 2023 she is a recipient of the Economic Development 40 Under 40 award by Development Counsellors International (DCI) and Jorgenson Consulting, recognized as a rising star under 40 years old in the economic development industry.

Nathan Arnosti is Director, Research and Intelligence at GREATER MSP. In this role, he delivers research and analytical insights to guide GREATER MSP’s strategies and platforms and to serve partners across the region. Previously, Nathan served as Director of Analytics for the Minnesota-based Center for Economic Inclusion, where he led a small team that advised hundreds of public and private sector leaders in Minnesota on strategies to build inclusive workplaces and economies through tools including the Racial Equity Dividends Indices and the Indicators for an Inclusive Regional Economy. Nathan has also served as a Policy Analyst at the Brookings Institution, a consultant to the McKnight Foundation’s Vibrant & Equitable Communities program, and in state and local government in New York.

Nathan earned a Master in City Planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a Bachelor of Arts in Geography and History from Middlebury College, and a diploma from Saint Paul Central High School.

A native of Saint Paul, Nathan and his wife Raffie recently moved back to Saint Paul after 12 years on the east coast.

JoAnne Berkenkamp is the Managing Director of the MBOLD initiative. MBOLD is a CEO-driven collaboration of Minnesota’s globally leading and growing base of agriculture and food companies and organizations.  We work to accelerate solutions to the globally significant challenges facing the food and agriculture sectors to drive sustainability, economic growth, innovation and talent attraction and retention.

JoAnne has two decades of experience working in the food, agriculture and environmental sectors in a variety of domestic and international contexts.  She most recently worked for the Natural Resources Defense Council, driving efforts to reduce the amount of food that goes to waste, and has worked extensively in food supply chain research and development, farm enterprise development, regional food systems and sustainable agriculture.  Berkenkamp also has a background in corporate finance and has worked in the international development field in Asia, Africa and Latin America. She holds a bachelor’s in finance from the University of Illinois and a master's from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

Ieesha McKinzie Collins is the Managing Director of ConnextMSP,  GREATER MSP’s newest strategic initiative focused on ensuring young BIPOC professionals are recruited, hired, and supported by local employers as they enter the workforce.

Prior to joining GREATER MSP, Ieesha served as Managing Director of External Relations for Breakthrough Collaborative, a national education nonprofit based in Oakland, CA. Other career highlights include leading strategic communications for a large charter school network in Texas and working in brand marketing & communications at General Mills. Ieesha also served as the education grants portfolio manager for the General Mills Foundation and has volunteered on several nonprofit boards which align with her deep commitment to educational equity.

Ieesha is a proud first-generation college graduate who earned a bachelor’s in journalism from Hampton University, a master’s in integrated marketing communications from Northwestern University, and a master’s in educational leadership from the Broad Center. As someone who values lifelong learning, Ieesha has participated in several leadership development programs including Teach For America, Management Leadership for Tomorrow, and The Broad Residency in Urban Education. Outside of the office, Ieesha enjoys spending time with family and friends, playing scrabble, and hosting themed social gatherings for fun.

Phil de la Vega is the Digital Strategy Manager at GREATER MSP and has been with the organization since June 2021.

Phil acts as a voice for the GREATER MSP Partnership. He ensures that communications align with the organization's mission and reach a wide range of audiences.

Before joining the GREATER MSP team, Phil led digital engagement strategies for the McKnight Foundation. In addition, he has worked in various non-profit and government roles, with vast experience in graphic design, website management, and social media.

Phil obtained a bachelor's degree from Marquette University and a master's degree from DePaul University. 

Kristin Guild brings over 25 years of experience in economic development to GREATER MSP’s mission to accelerate inclusive economic growth in the region, with a career spanning small business support, commercial real estate development, workforce development, land use policy, and organizational operations.

At GREATER MSP, Kristin leads two coalitions: the Business Bridge procurement initiative leveraging corporate buying power to maximize economic growth for Minnesota suppliers, and an employer-led coalition focused on training workers needed to realize the full potential of the region’s microelectronics manufacturing sector.

Kristin is a proven executive leader with expertise in economic development, equity and inclusion, talent development, and organizational operations.  Programs developed under her leadership have three times been honored with “best of” awards from the International Economic Development Council. Kristin holds a bachelor's degree from Carleton College and a master's in regional planning from Cornell University.

Mae Hougo is the Executive Assistant to the CEO of GREATER MSP. In this role, she supports our CEO, Peter Frosch. Previously, Mae worked as a congressional staff for over five years, where she learned how to strategically manage time and maximize efficiency. Outside of work, you can find Mae reading around the Minneapolis Chain of Lakes or in line at her favorite local bakery, Atuvava.

Morgan Hill currently serves as Director of Business Investment at the GREATERMSP Partnership. In this role, she executes and manages prospecting activities related to lead generation.  She also promotes all of the Minneapolis-Saint Paul region, alongside the organization's Business Investment team and regional stakeholders.

Morgan began her career in economic development with the GREATERMSP Partnership, where she served as Project Manager on the Business Investment Team. Morgan has also led economic development for the City of Hastings, Xcel Energy and ISG. As Economic Development Coordinator for the City of Hastings, MN, she created and implemented a successful Business Retention & Expansion Program, led the redevelopment and revitalization efforts of the city's central corridor, instituted local financing and incentive programs and successfully increased the availability and size of certified/shovel-ready sites. In her role with Xcel Energy, Morgan served as Economic Development Analyst on the Corporate Economic Development Team, which included the management of the regional Certified Site Program, business retention and expansion, research and development of opportunistic markets and areas of growth, as well as client and project management. Morgan's role at ISG was focused on business and economic development throughout ISG's twelve markets of focus, specifically in opportunities tied to local municipalities throughout MN, WI and IA.

Morgan is the current President of the Economic Development Association of Minnesota. She holds a Master's Degree in Business Administration from the University of North Dakota. She is an IEDC Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) and an NDC Certified Economic Development Finance Professional (EDFP).

People leadership and cultivating culture highlight Jennifer’s HR and Organizational Development strengths. With over 15 years of expertise in diverse spans of industries including, but not limited to, manufacturing, healthcare and nonprofits, Jennifer finds significance in serving the team behind the organization. Driven by high optimism to help people magnify their talents, Jennifer believes everyone contributes a worthwhile purpose on this planet. She is responsible for the attraction, engagement, development, and retention of GREATER MSP’s most valuable asset—our excellent people. Inspired to work amongst a constellation of super stars, Jennifer finds her job rewarding as she learns something new every day. Jennifer graduated from St. Olaf College with a degree in Family Studies and focus in HR Management. She received her Masters in Communication from Bethel University with a distinction in training and development. Having visited 22 Latin American countries, she practices Spanish as a second language and makes an unbeatable guacamole.

Lauren Matushin is the Office Support Specialist at GREATER MSP. She comes to the organization with eight years of administrative experience, most recently in collegiate administration at the University of Minnesota's Department of Horticultural Science, where she built a breadth of expertise in executive assistantship, faculty support, and academic program management. In these roles, she developed keen interpersonal communication skills, insightful organizational tactics, and a taste for streamlining administrative processes. She also developed strong opinions about apples. Outside the office, Lauren enjoys watching period films, writing fantasy, and laying in the grass. She lives in St. Paul with her husband and son. 

Jean-Luc Mette is the Director of Business Investment at the GREATER MSP Partnership, where he leads efforts to attract, retain and expand businesses to advance the region’s global competitiveness.

With 15 years of experience in economic development, marketing and strategic partnerships, Jean-Luc has worked across public and private sectors, including roles with PUMA, Sezzle, the University of Texas System and the City of San Antonio’s Economic Development Department.

While in San Antonio, Jean-Luc collaborated with startups and global corporations like Toyota, Halliburton and Microsoft, helping to create thousands of jobs and securing over $1 billion in regional investments. He also led the launch of the city’s Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Program.

Jean-Luc earned his bachelor’s and graduate degrees in Germany and an MBA in Texas. He lives in Stillwater with his wife, Lindsey, and their two children.

In his role as Comptroller, Sam provides financial leadership to the organization and oversees GREATER MSP’s accounting and financial reporting. In this role, Sam establishes and implements financial policies and procedures, controls, and best practices to ensure the organization’s finances are accurate and compliant.

Prior to this role, Sam spent 6 years in public accounting, where he conducted audits of companies in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul region. Most recently, Sam worked for a local consulting firm providing finance and accounting services to a variety of companies (this is how he found GREATER MSP!). Sam is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), and holds an active certificate in Minnesota.

Vivian Nguyen is the Operations Manager, HR & IT at GREATER MSP. She was in the Senior Living industry for 12 years in various roles including EA, Operations Manager, and Executive Building Director. In these roles, Vivian acquired strong communication skills, grace under pressure, and a can-do attitude! She was born and raised in North Minneapolis and speaks fluent Vietnamese. When not working, she enjoys quality time with her family at Taylors Falls. 

Rachel Placzek is the Manager, Platforms at GREATER MSP, working in the organization’s new Strategic Initiatives Hub. The SI Hub works to provide connectivity within and across GREATER MSP’s Strategic Initiatives to align opportunities, solve problems and scale impact.

Rachel relocated to the Twin Cities in the summer of 2019. Prior to joining GREATER MSP, she served as the Director of Talent Strategy for the Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development in Lincoln, Nebraska, her hometown. Rachel earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science, Global Studies and Spanish from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and spent seven months studying Spanish in Bilbao, Spain. She’s passionate about community-supported agriculture and Stabilo pens.

Tamara Downs Schwei brings more than twenty years of experience promoting community food ecosystems, health and sustainability. She led the Homegrown Minneapolis initiative at the City of Minneapolis for eight years, cofounding and leveraging more than $1 million for the Farmers Markets of Minneapolis Collaborative, staffing the Homegrown Minneapolis Food Council, increasing urban agriculture and resources for food entrepreneurs and overseeing implementation of pandemic- related hunger relief efforts for thousands of residents. Tamara served for six years as Executive Director of Urban Roots, a St. Paul organization whose mission is to cultivate and empower youth through nature, healthy food and community, where she increased the impact and scope of programs and led successful rebranding, fundraising and infrastructure development efforts. Tamara also has several years of experience implementing community wellness and sustainability initiatives for public and non-profit organizations, including most recently at Allina Health. Tamara holds a Master of Public Policy from the Humphrey School of Public Affairs and a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Spanish from the College of Saint Benedict.

Julia Silvis is the Managing Director of Research and Intelligence at GREATER MSP. In this role, she supports the business investment team, GMSP’s strategic initiatives, and shapes regional strategy. In addition, Julia supports the Sustainable Aviation Hub and other decarbonization and sustainability related efforts. Prior to GMSP, Julia was with McKinsey & Company, where she served clients on a variety of decarbonization topics. Prior to that, she supported the Itasca Project, a virtual roundtable of CEOs, non-profit, and civic leaders of the greater Minneapolis-St Paul region. Its mission is to advance regional economic competitiveness and expand prosperity for all residents.

Julia earned a Ph.D. in Transportation, Technology and Policy from the University of California-Davis. She graduated from Harvard College with honors in History & Science. She currently chairs the Minnesota advisory board of the Trust for Public Land and was a 2014-2015 Humphrey Policy Fellow. In 2016, she was selected to attend the Young American Leaders Project at Harvard Business School.

A native of the greater Minneapolis-St Paul region, she always has her fingers crossed for snow and good (cross-country) skiing weather. 

Jim Southwick is Managing Director for Minnesota MedTech 3.0. Jim joined GREATER MSP after retiring from a 21-year career at Medtronic, where his positions included head of global government affairs, deputy general counsel for international, vice president of international regulatory strategy, and division business counsel. Before Medtronic, Jim worked as an international trade negotiator for the U.S. government at the Office of the United States Trade Representative. He also practiced international trade and business law at law firms in Washington and Minneapolis. Jim has a law degree from the University of Minnesota, a master’s in Latin American Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and BA in international relations from Carleton College. He is on the Dean’s Advisory Council for the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs.