Studio 180 Board of Directors
Todd Andrews, Chair
Now retired, Mr. Andrews was an attorney for 44 years. A graduate of the University of Minnesota, he received his Juris Doctor degree from Hamline University School of Law and holds a Master of Laws in Taxation from Boston University School of Law. Mr. Andrews practiced estate and gift taxation, financial planning, business continuation planning, general corporate and business law, probate, trust administration, and non-profit organizations. Mr. Andrews formerly was an adjunct Professor of Law at William Mitchell College of Law (now Mitchell Hamline College of Law), St. Paul, Minnesota, where he has taught classes in the Master of Law (Taxation) program. He was a Fellow in the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (now retired). Chair and Reporter of Drafting Wills and Trust Agreements manual published by Minnesota Continuing Legal Education. Mr. Andrews was a board member of the National Sports Center Foundation and past chair of the Endowment Committee at St. Stephens Episcopal Church.
Melinda Cathey
Melinda is a graduate of Wittenberg College where she was a first-team Academic All-America honors in basketball and went on to play on the 1983-84 Athletes in Action (AIA) touring team. Melinda received her Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology from Trinity International University in 1985 and practiced individual, family, and marriage counseling in a variety of settings: community health, church, and private practice. Melinda lived in St. Petersburg from 1992 -2002 with her husband, Mark, where she co-founded The Harbor with Alex Krutov in 2001 and served as its Executive Director until 2015. The Harbor was the first transitional care program of its kind in St. Petersburg and the second in Russia. Melinda completed TBRI (Trust Based Relational Intervention) Educator Training. She now trains and consults on trauma informed therapy and The Harbor model of residential care with those working with orphans or foster kids in any capacity. Her training of TBRI principles has been enthusiastically received in Russia, Ukraine, Mexico, Bolivia, and the U.S.
Art Erickson
Founder of Urban Ventures Leadership Foundation, Art has 45 years of experience working with youth, facilitating community development, and forming collaboratives and networks, including Twin Cities Urban Resources Network (TURN). Since 1958, when he served as the West Metro Area Director of Young Life International, and at Park Avenue United Methodist Church as the Youth/Community Director, Mr. Erickson has empowered Minneapolis communities by dedicating himself to the education, independence and success of at-risk youth in urban communities. In 1993, Art co-founded Urban Ventures Leadership Foundation. In 2019 Art co-founded StudiOne-Eighty and now is its executive director.
Mark Ettinger
Mark Ettinger is a Certified Public Accountant and holds a Master’s of Business Taxation degree. He has over 25 years of experience as a tax and accounting advisor. He is a principal with CJMn LTD in Edina. He works with small businesses, individuals, expatriates, estates/trust, and not-for-profits. He also works with Fortune 500 executives and has been a speaker on tax topics. Mark attended Iowa State University where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting. He received a Master’s Degree in Business Taxation from the University of Minnesota. He is a member of the national and state societies of Certified Public Accountants. His outside activities include family time, being an avid reader, bicycling, working out, home improvement projects, and travel. He has also been involved on the executive committee of another community organization involved in fundraising for over 10 years.
William “Chuck” Hill
Chuck Hill is the President and CEO of Programming Solutions Inc. He is an IT Consultant with extensive experience in contract management, project management and technical lead responsibilities. Responsibilities include directing and leading Information Technology organizations and Software Development projects. Chuck is a demonstrated leader and communicator with particular success at coaching, developing, and motivating others. His experience includes proposing, planning and managing large, highly complex projects through the complete System Development Life Cycle (SDLC). His industry experience includes state and local government human services systems (client management, financial management and program management). His design and development experience, coupled with over 30 years of project management experience provides employers and clients with innovative business solutions and distinct competitive advantage. He is the founder of The Minnesota CHILL Foundation, has served as Greater Twin Cities United Way – Board of Directors and has a Bachelors in Management Information Services from the University of Minnesota.
Paul Mitchell
Paul Mitchell has spent his career leading small/midsized business, enterprise, and account management teams in the areas of sales process and execution. Paul has a 25-year history of personal and professional growth leadership and success in diverse industries. Acting as a servant leader and motivator, Paul has led teams with annual revenue responsibility in excess of $500M. The goal has always been to work with organizations with a purpose, committed to growth and looking to help their people improve so they can better provide for their families. Paul has also a platform “A Life in Black and White.” This is focused on educating people on the challenges of race in our businesses, communities, and families. The efforts have led to a better understanding of the many challenges people of color face, so the focus can be on understanding, compassion, and empathy. Paul is committed to his family and will always strive to build better communities and help those in need. We are all better when we encourage one another and help those in need.
Kristina Myankova
Ms. Myankova is a Finance and Operations Coordinator at LuminFire, a tech company located in Minneapolis. A graduate from the University of Northwestern-St. Paul, she received her B.S. degree in accounting and minored in marketing. A recipient of the ActSix scholarship, Ms. Myankova was part of the first graduating class through the ActSix scholarship program in the Midwest. Ms. Mynkova is from Bulgaria and she is inspired to serve her community both locally and globally. She is interested in the intersection of business, government, and non-profit organizations for the betterment of society.
Al Nuness
Al Nuness, Vice President Jostens Sports Sales, now retired, has a very diverse background. He is a former collegiate basketball star, First Team All-American at Iowa Central Junior College, All Big Ten at the University of Minnesota and was drafted by the Phoenix Suns. Al was the first African American hired as a full-time coach at the University of Minnesota. He was also Director of Sales and Community Basketball Operations for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Al has twice been named to the NCAA Executive Committee for the Final Four Tournament. In addition, Al worked for 12 years in sales management positions with the Pillsbury Company: five years as District Sales Manager, three years as Regional Sales Manager, and four years as National Product Sales Manager. Prior to this, he was a teacher and basketball coach for five years at Minneapolis Central High School in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Destinee Shelby
Destinee is the owner/founder and operator of Baked, LLC ‘s The Kitchen in Minneapolis & Owner of Homebody Candle Co. She is a graduate of Roosevelt High School in Minneapolis. She is also the Founder of Black Entrepreneur State Fair and Sista Scouts mentorship program. Destinee is an influential leader in the Minneapolis community. Destinee has been recognized as a TCB Top 100 people to know list, Top Performer Recognition – Black Business Ball, and was a Finalist in NDC’s Year of the Entrepreneur Awards in 2020.
George F. Robinson
As Founder and President of The Robinson Group, a Minneapolis-based consulting and training company, George utilizes his twenty-seven years of corporate experience in helping companies align their culture strategy with business goals to heighten productivity and bottom-line performance. George has implemented breakthrough training, sales and marketing strategies for clients such as; Ford Motor Company, Philip Morris, Cendant, Bayer and Riddell. Mr. Robinson is an Executive Consultant with Insight Education, a leadership, diversity, and organizational development consulting company. He has worked with companies such as such Boeing, Cisco, Monsanto, Merck, and Coke in the US, Asia ,Europe ,and South America. Mr. Robinson also serves on the Board of Turning Point and Missouri Valley College and former Board of Trustees for the Breck School in Minneapolis. He is a former Board Member of the Rio Grande School in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He has also been on the Board of Advisors for Urban Ventures Leadership Foundation and the Board of the Fairway Foundation. Mr. Robinson holds a Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Missouri Valley College.