2010 UAEDC Board and Staff
The current UAEDC Board and staff have education and experience in public finance, loan packaging, business administration, financial analysis, marketing, retailing, and public and private sector funds administration (including loan servicing), accounting, etc.
UAEDC Staff
Becky Bowen, Underwood Economic Developer, joined the UAEDC as its part-time Economic Developer (2 days per week) in August 2008 pursuant to a contract with NorthCountry Cooperative Foundation of Minneapolis, MN (such contract is currently held by Common Enterprise Development Corporation of Mandan, ND, where she is a part-time employee). She has practiced law for over 15 years in Texas, North Dakota, and Minnesota, as well as worked for four years as the Development and Communications Coordinator for the Great Plains Regional Office of Ducks Unlimited and for ten years as the Executive Director for Northern Plains Ballet, in Bismarck. In her positions at Ducks Unlimited and Northern Plains Ballet she applied for and administered several government and private sector grants. While practicing law in Texas, she specialized in commercial lending matters. She was the recipient of the North Dakota Chamber of Commerce’s Community Leadership Award for Bismarck in 2002.
Ms. Bowen is also a full-time assistant professor at Dickinson State University and has instructed classes at the University of Mary and Rasmussen College in Bismarck. Her field of expertise includes business law, entrepreneurship, marketing, advertising, business ethics, and human resource management, law and development.
UAEDC Board
Robert Larson, President of the Board, is the Senior Vice President of North Country Bank, and has served continuously on the UAEDC Board since its inception in 1990. He also serves as a Board member on the Lewis & Clark Regional Development Council. Mr. Larson has over twenty years lending experience.
Amanda Haseleu, Vice-President of the Board, is manager of Cottingham Insurance, and has served on the UAEDC Board since 2006. She also is a member of Underwood's Landscape and Architecture task force and was instrumental in procuring the new signage for Underwood. She also is an investor in Underwood Commercial Properties, Inc. (UCPI), a for-profit corporation whose mission is to increase and improve the business activity of Underwood by better serving the wants and needs of residents and customers of the surrounding area, including US Hwy 83.
Diane Schell, Secretary/Treasurer of the Board, has been the Underwood City Auditor for over twenty years. She has served on the UAEDC Board since 2001 and also serves as a Board member for UCPI, the Underwood Civic Club, and the McLean County Fair.
Toni Cottingham, teacher and coach at Underwood Public School, has been active in community development since 2006. She is a member of Underwood Landscape and Architecture task force and was recently named the High School Division’s Coach of the Year.
Talesa Heger moved to Underwood in 2007 and has served on the UAEDC Board since 2008. She also serves on the Underwood Park Board.
Garrett Gross has served on the UAEDC Board since 2007. He is employed at Falkirk Mine.
Joe Fleischman has served on the UAEDC Board since 2009. He took over the management of Harper's Hardware in 2009. He also operates All City Picture Framing, a picture-framing and clock repair business in Underwood.
