YWCA Minneapolis Welcomes 2025 Board Members
YWCA Minneapolis today announced its incoming slate of board members. The cohort will serve on the Board of Directors of YWCA Minneapolis through June 2028. Members may choose to serve a second consecutive three-year term.
"As we look to the future, our board members are key partners in helping us achieve sustainable growth,” said Shelley Carthen Watson, president and chief executive officer, YWCA Minneapolis. “Their leadership will help ensure YWCA Minneapolis continues to be a beacon of hope, action and progress in our community."
New Board members in 2025:
Cheryl Bethune currently serves as the chief human resources officer at Bio-Techne Corporation. Previously, she spent over 20 years at General Mills, Inc., leading and developing human resources strategies across the U.S., Asia, Latin America and Europe. Before changing her focus to human resources, Cheryl held various engineering and manufacturing roles at The Procter & Gamble Company. She serves on several local boards and organizations, including Washburn Center for Children, Lundstrum Performing Arts and The Links, Incorporated.
LaToya Burrell, JD, MBA, is general counsel for Zinpro Corporation and executive director of Anderson Foundation. She serves as Zinpro’s corporate secretary, leads the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Team and corporate giving program, Zinpro’s Rising T.I.D.E.S. for Change. Prior to joining Zinpro, she was Dean of Graduate Education and Accreditation at North Central University in Minneapolis. Before higher education, her practice areas included bankruptcy, multi-district litigation and mass torts. She also served as an academic counselor and adjunct professor at Southern University Law Center and Mitchell Hamline School of Law. She is licensed to practice law in Minnesota and Louisiana.
Jill Davies is the senior director of corporate responsibility and human rights at Best Buy. Previously, Davies worked in various responsible sourcing and impact roles at Target. Davies holds a Bachelor of Arts in political science from St. Olaf College and a Master of Science in Foreign Service from Georgetown University. She also served in the Peace Corps in Uzbekistan and Mozambique.
Dr. Marcheta Evans, Ph.D., is the 12th president of St. Catherine University and made history as the institution’s first African American president. Prior to joining St. Kate’s, Dr. Evans served as Chancellor of Bloomfield College of Montclair State University. She had led Bloomfield College as its 17th president since 2019 and was both the first African American and first female to lead the college.
Karissa Kirvida is a seasoned sales and merchandising executive with over 25 years of experience. She brings a unique blend of strategic insight, operational excellence and a people-first leadership style. She has held key roles at global CPG leaders and high-growth start-ups, including e.l.f. Cosmetics, Unilever and Target Corporation—where she drove category-leading growth, launched breakthrough brand collaborations and built high-performing, cross-functional teams.
Minya Nance is the chief executive officer and founder of Culture Core, a boutique consulting firm that helps organizations build or rebuild intentional, inclusive cultures rooted in trust, alignment and purpose. Before launching Culture Core, she served as assistant dean at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, where she led innovative efforts to redesign the student experience.
Shelley Sánchez is a business strategist, innovator, award-winning leader and volunteer passionate about helping individuals and organizations tap into their creative potential. She currently has her own strategic consulting, coaching and speaking business. Sánchez earned a bachelor’s degree in biology and Spanish from Gustavus Adolphus College and has completed numerous executive leadership courses through the University of St. Thomas.
Katie Schoeneck is currently a client centricity consultant at Thrivent Financial in the Insights and Strategy Department, where she shapes stories through information and data to advance organizational strategies. Katie is deeply committed to advancing equity, justice and empowerment. She passionately supports the fight to eliminate racism, uplift women and ensure dignity and freedom for all.
Cheryl Winston has had a thirty-year career as an engineer and a sales executive. Winston is currently responsible for the Health and Baby businesses at Target. Her sales experience spans the chemical and the consumer-packaged goods industries at companies including Rohm and Haas (Now Dow Chemical), PepsiCo, SC Johnson, Kimberly-Clark, Johnson & Johnson and Kenvue. Winston holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from M.I.T. and an Executive MBA from Villanova University.
Ebony Wyatt is the vice president North America retail and sales strategic initiatives and has been with General Mills for 22 years. Wyatt’s experience across sales includes category management and shopper insights, direct sales leadership and leading large geographically dispersed teams. In 2022, Ebony was recognized as the national recipient of the Bobbie O'Hare Impact Award from NextUp. She is an active leader and mentor within General Mills’ Black Champions Network and serves as Betty’s Family Network sales group advisor. In 2023, Twin Cities Business Journal named Wyatt one of the Top 100 leaders.
Board members completing terms in 2025:
Kim Ford, Freelance Artist and Educator, July 2022 - June 2025
Nancy Garret, Vice President, Market and Provider Analytics, Highmark Health, July 2019 - June 2025
Leslie Holman Holt, Chief Executive Officer, Pinnacle Performance Group, Inc., Jan. 2019 - June 2025
Shweta Jhanji, SVP, Treasurer, Ameriprise Financial Services, Jan. 2022 - June 2025
Kimpa Moss, Partner, EisnerAmpner, July 2022 - June 2025
Carissa Rollins, Former Chief Information Officer, July 2018 - June 2025
Jan Wikman, Sales and Marketing Consultant, Jan Wikman Consulting, July 2019 - June 2025
Nominations to the board may be made to YWCA Minneapolis President and CEO Shelley Carthen Watson. A complete list of YWCA Minneapolis Board of Directors is available online. Photos available upon request.
About YWCA Minneapolis
YWCA Minneapolis is a nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating racism and empowering women and girls. For more than 130 years, YWCA Minneapolis has led initiatives to challenge social injustices, particularly at the intersections of race and gender. Each year, the organization serves more than 15,000 people through high-quality programs and advocacy focused on racial justice, early learning, youth development and wellness.