Jodie Thompson

President

Jodie Thompson is a lifelong Waseca-area resident with deep roots in the community. A graduate of Waseca Public Schools, she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Studies with a minor in Management from Gustavus Adolphus College.

In 2006, Jodie and her husband, Isaac, returned to Waseca with their three young children. She began her real estate career in 2011 and has been helping individuals and families navigate the buying and selling process ever since. Jodie is passionate about real estate and is committed to providing knowledgeable, personalized service while making each experience as smooth and stress-free as possible.

Community involvement is also very important to Jodie. Over the years, she has volunteered countless hours with local schools, churches, and community organizations. Since 2018, she has served as a Waseca Area Chamber Ambassador and is also an active member of the Waseca Area Chorale and the Waseca Area Lions Club.

Jodie currently serves on the Chamber Membership Committee and is a member of the Workforce Development Committee. Through her Chamber involvement, she enjoys supporting local businesses, building connections, and helping strengthen the Waseca community.

 

 

Katie Gonzales

Secretary 

Katie Gonzales is a dedicated State Farm agent based in her hometown of Waseca, MN, where she offers a comprehensive range of insurance services including auto, home, life, and health insurance. With over five years of experience in the financial services industry, Katie is committed to providing her clients with the best possible coverage to safeguard their families and financial futures.

A proud graduate of Waseca High School, home of the Bluejays, Katie has deep roots in the community she serves. She finds immense joy in helping her neighbors and friends secure peace of mind through personalized insurance plans.

Outside of work, Katie is an active member of the Waseca Rotary Club and a committee member for Southern Minnesota Pageants. Katie loves spending quality time with her husband, Andrew, and their two wonderful children, Levi and Grace. Her dedication to both her family and her clients is evident in everything she does, making her a trusted and valued member of the Waseca community.

 

Jamie Beckstrand

Treasurer 

Jamie Beckstrand serves on the Waseca Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Board of Directors and is Chair of the Agribusiness Committee. Professionally, she works as a Relationship Manager at United Prairie Bank in Waseca, where she enjoys building relationships and supporting individuals and businesses throughout the community.

Jamie is a 2019 graduate of South Dakota State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Agribusiness with minors in Animal Science and Economics. Born and raised in rural Waldorf, Minnesota, she has strong roots in agriculture and remains actively involved in both her hometown and Waseca County. She currently serves on the Waldorf City Council and the Waseca County Extension Committee.

Agriculture continues to be an important part of Jamie’s life. In her free time, she enjoys helping with her family’s cow-calf operation, which focuses on raising high-quality show cattle, as well as traveling across the country to exhibit their cattle.

Outside of work and agriculture, Jamie enjoys participating in bowling and sand volleyball leagues, spending time with her niece and nephew, and enjoying time with her two dogs, family, and friends.

 

 

Jessica Klinger

Director 

Jess Klinger has called Waseca home since 2009 and is passionate about serving both her workplace and her community.

For more than 10 years, Jess has been part of the team at Minnwest Bank, formerly Roundbank, where she is actively involved in several internal committees, including the United Way Committee, Safety Committee, Customer Appreciation Committee, and Branch Team Building Committee. Her dedication and willingness to go above and beyond have been recognized with the bank’s Outstanding Service Award, which she received in both 2016 and 2018.

Beyond her professional role, Jess is deeply involved in the Waseca community. She serves as Chair of the Waseca Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Events Committee and is a member of the Chamber Board of Directors. She is also active at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and enjoys supporting her son’s many activities, including serving as a team mom for the Waseca Baseball Association in 2025.

Jess is known for her positive energy, generous spirit, and willingness to lend a hand wherever she is needed. She brings enthusiasm and heart to everything she does and enjoys finding ways to support the people and organizations that make Waseca a great place to live.

When she is not working, volunteering, or spending time with family, Jess can often be found cheering on local Bluejay sports and attending community events. She is grateful for the support of her husband, Matt, their son, Keian, and their two fur babies, Reese and Twix.

 

 

Aaron Omtvedt

Director 

Aaron Omtvedt is a funeral director and embalmer that has lived in Waseca with his family for twenty years. He is an owner and managing partner of Steffel & Omtvedt Funeral Care LLC, which operates as Dennis-Steffel-Omtvedt Funeral and Cremation Service in Waseca, Janesville, and Waterville, and as Schoenbauer Funeral Homes in Montgomery and Le Center.

Aaron grew up in Estherville, IA and graduated from Estherville Lincoln Central High School with the class of 1998. He went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from the University of Northern Iowa and an associate’s degree from Worsham College of Mortuary Science. Aaron and his wife Carol relocated to Waseca in 2005, and their two teenage daughters Ava and Stella have grown up knowing Waseca as their home.

Aaron looks forward to serving Waseca and its citizens on the Chamber Board of Directors. He believes that the collaboration of individuals, businesses, and local government is integral to the betterment of the entire community. Further, he believes Waseca is well on its way to becoming a showpiece of cooperation, commerce, industry, and quality of life for all Minnesotans to emulate.

Shannon Kuball

Director 

Shannon is part of James Bros Construction. Shannon grew up in the family business working alongside her parents and many other family members.  After graduating from high school she earned an Associate’s Degree in Ag-Business, a Bachelor of Science in Communication Studies, and a Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy.  She has used those degrees to serve the community in various capacities from outpatient therapy to hospice work while also owning and operating Kuball Dairy Farm with her husband Nathan.

In June, Shannon officially returned to her roots at James Bros Construction to continue the tradition of excellence alongside her siblings and her mom.  The company has since opened a landscape supply retail location in Waseca and continues to look for ways to better serve the surrounding communities with an emphasis on excellent workmanship, customer service, and community engagement. 

Shannon believes we are better when we work together and is passionate about the intersection between business and community engagement.  She values community service and is on the board for Together on Memories-nonprofit, is Secretary for the Grizzly Booster Club, is Co-Chair of the Rice County ADA Board and volunteers for various church, school, and community activities. 

Shannon and her husband Nate have two daughters in college and a son in his senior year of high school.  In her free time, Shannon likes to garden, hike, ride bike, and go camping with her family. 

 

Sara Lynch

Director

Sara is a lifelong Waseca resident and serves as Vice President of Mortgage Lending at Keen Bank. With more than 25 years of banking experience, including more than two decades with Keen Bank, she brings extensive knowledge, professionalism, and a strong commitment to helping individuals and families achieve their financial and homeownership goals.

Throughout her career, Sara has especially enjoyed guiding customers through the home financing process and building lasting relationships within the community.

Sara is a graduate of Leadership Greater Waseca and believes strongly in giving back to the community she calls home. Since 2016, she has served as a Big with Big Brothers Big Sisters Southern Minnesota and has also volunteered with Junior Achievement as both a board member and classroom instructor. In addition, she has served on the Community Education Advisory Board.

As a member of the Waseca Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Board of Directors, Sara looks forward to supporting local businesses, strengthening community connections, and contributing to the continued growth and success of Waseca.

Sara and her husband, Jason, are proud to call Waseca home, where they are raising their three daughters, Camryn, Haydn, and Amilya. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, golfing, walking, and spending time with family.

 

Ellie James

Director

Ellie was born and raised on a farm in Waseca, Minnesota, alongside her nine siblings. Growing up in a large farming family helped shape her strong work ethic, practical approach to problem-solving, and deep appreciation for family, community, and service.

She began her professional career in Human Resources after earning a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Master of Business Administration. After several years working in human resources compliance, Ellie chose to pursue her interest in law and went on to earn her law degree.

Today, Ellie is an attorney with Patton, Hoversten & Berg, P.A., where she practices in the areas of family law, estate planning, and business law. Her background in business and human resources gives her a practical, client-focused perspective and allows her to approach legal matters with both professional knowledge and an understanding of the real-world challenges individuals and businesses face.

Ellie is also passionate about supporting local businesses and entrepreneurship. As the owner of Main Street Venue in Elysian, she has firsthand experience with the opportunities and challenges of owning and developing a small business. She also supports her husband’s family-owned business, James Bros. Construction, which has given her an even greater appreciation for the hard work, relationships, and dedication required to build and sustain a successful business.

Her experiences as an attorney, business owner, and supporter of a family-owned company provide Ellie with a unique perspective on the needs of local businesses and the importance of a strong, connected community.

Outside of work, Ellie enjoys spending time with her family, playing sports with her children, reading, running, and gardening. In both her professional and personal life, she values building strong relationships, serving others, and contributing to the community she calls home. 

 

Larry Johnson is the owner of Johnson Premier Mortgage. His company assists people in the southern Minnesota region with their home ownership goals. He is passionate about helping people achieve their dream of owning property and provides constant contact and accessibility during the purchase so that clients have a clear understanding of the process.

Married to his wife Linda for 34 years, they have 4 children and 4 grandchildren. He is known for his witty sense of humor, friendly demeanor, fresh sneaker collection and remembering clients’ names long after the sale is done.

Larry was recognized by the Chamber of Commerce in 2013 with the Distinguished Service Award for his participation in multiple organizations throughout his community and received the Chamber award for Social Media Rising Star in 2024.