Ayan Abdinur

Ayan Abdinur joined the team in early 2023, bringing many years of experience in economic development with her. As a 10-year veteran of the African Development Center, she worked with African communities throughout the state to ensure equitable access to economic opportunities.

Ayan brings a wealth of experience in project and program management, grant and loan administration, technical support, capacity building, and business development. She enjoys helping clients increase their financial literacy, build generational wealth, and create successful small businesses.  She has particular expertise in working with Minnesotans of African descent, and is proud to have counselled many African families in Minnesota to become first time homebuyers.

Ayan was raised in Rochester, Minnesota and has an MBA with an emphasis in project management from Capella University and a BA in Interior Design from Minnesota State University.  She loves traveling and spending time with her family and friends. 

Reva D’Nova

Reva D’Nova joined the Redesign team in May of 2023 and brings 20+ years of Administrative knowledge with her into the Administrative Assistant role. She has worked in various Twin Cities agencies within the Non-Profit sector polishing her Front Desk and Administrative skills – including Criminal Justice, Mental Health and Medical fields and is excited to be a part of the Redesign team.

Reva is also an Elder within the Native American Two-Spirit community and was one of four Native American Trans cohorts chosen to contract with the National Center for Transgender Equality for the US Trans Survey in 2021, with the final report to be released in 2023. She also mentors incarcerated individuals that have been recently released from custody. Some of the mentoring skills shared are Cognitive skills awareness, Health and sexuality, Financial planning and job seeking skills.

Reva is a long time South Minneapolis resident and spent her childhood growing up in the Seward neighborhood. In her free time, Reva enjoys Native American crafting, gardening, listening to music and hanging out with her cat, Cordelia.

Reva received her Administrative certification through Rasmussen Business College.

Andy Hestness

Before becoming the Executive Director of Redesign, Andy has been both a staff member and a member of the Board of Directors at Seward Redesign. He has a long history with the Franklin Avenue corridor, having worked for both the Native American Community Development Institute (NACDI) and Redesign on the Franklin LRT Station area development and other community projects. Andy has a background in architecture, real estate, construction management and community development. 

Krista Pearson

Krista Pearson joined Redesign, Inc in May of 2023. She comes with 21 years of experience at Minneapolis Institute of Art she has experience collaborating, coordinating, and building relationships with neighbors and community partners from across the Twin Cities to along Franklin Avenue. A graduate of Augsburg University in Urban Studies, a former resident of Seward, and a former employee of the Riverside Market, (now Seward Co-Op) she has deep roots in the area. Most recently she supported the Dream Sequence Project, a pop up exhibition of artworks on Elsa’s House of Sleep. Krista believes in art as a tool for connecting and inspiring communities to co-create the future together. She appreciates Redesign, Inc.’s commitment to asset-based community organizing, innovating, and coalition building.

Alan Petroski

Alan joined the Redesign team in 2015. He manages tenant leases and administration, monitors day-to-day operations of properties and implements construction improvement projects. Prior to joining Redesign, Alan worked for more than twenty years with tenants, owners, and brokers, managing, renovating, leasing and selling commercial and residential buildings throughout the metro area. Alan is a licensed real estate agent and a graduate of Metropolitan State University. 

Gabriela Ortiz-Riera

Gabriela’s role is to support and connect with businesses in the Redesign service area. As part of her role in supporting local businesses, she provides operational support for both the Longfellow Business Association and the Seward Civic and Commerce Association. 

She recently graduated from Augsburg University (Fall ‘22) with a BA in Political Science with a concentration in public policy and political change. As a student, she was actively involved in the community, including working as a volunteer to distribute fresh produce from the farmer’s market to community members at Riverside Plaza. Gabriela had an internship at Neighborhood Development Center (NDC) where she learned about the issues facing small businesses. This experience played a significant role in her desire to continue working alongside small businesses to provide support.

Abby Romero

Abby joined the Redesign team in 2021 and is responsible for leading housing and community focused redevelopment projects within Redesign’s service area. She knows what it takes to create healthy communities and has managed over $38MM of redevelopment at the intersection of affordable housing, arts and culture, transit and renewable energy. Abby’s great love is serving projects and programs that build social equity, create more just economic conditions, and meet community need. While much of her work has been in redevelopment, Abby believes that community power is intrinsic and needs no saviors. She works through an asset-based and equitable development lens to acknowledge the past, understand the present, and build a future with folks who have traditionally been left out of the development process. Prior to joining the Redesign team, Abby worked in shared mobility at HOURCAR and community and real estate development at PLACE. Abby holds a Bachelor of Design in Architecture from the University of Minnesota and is a Certified Professional Project Manager. She is seeking a Master of Professional Studies in Community and Economic Development from Penn State and a Leadership in Affordable Housing Certificate from Hamline.

Taylor Smrikarova

Taylor joined the Redesign team in 2020. Her work is focused on the intersection of real estate development, architecture, urban-focused design and, community orientation. She believes that the development process itself adds beauty in creating occupiable art. Prior to joining the Redesign team, Taylor has worked in mixed-use development at The Excelsior Group; in both commercial real estate and architecture at THOR Companies and; office renovations at RSP Architects. She also worked in residential architecture at Nelson Architects; commercial mortgages at Capital One and; assisted homeowners during the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) after the 2008 crisis while at Dorner Law & Title Services. Her passion is real estate development that not only satisfies investors but also, uplifts end users from all walks of life. She values the full urban experience and gets excited about large & difficult mixed-use developments that feature mixed income housing. Taylor holds a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from Northeastern University and a Master of Real Estate Development from the University of Maryland. 

Adam Annis

Adam is a resident of South Minneapolis who takes great pride in our community.  Through his work with Xcel Energy, Adam is helping to lead the clean energy transition.  He also works closely with several of our local Native American non-profit organizations and is passionate about investing his time and energy in sustainable development, urban planning, and supporting local businesses.  Adam enjoys cycling, skiing, sailing, taking his dog Lucy to the Minnehaha Falls Dog Park, and exploring all of the wonderful things our city has to offer. 

Teshome Belayneh

Teshome (Tesh) received a BS degree in Information Technology from the Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, and MS degree in Security Technologies (MSST) from the University of Minnesota.

He worked in the Information Technology field for over two decades including in Networking, Technical Support, PBX Management, EDI, and Cyber Security. Tesh also co-owns and runs Rebecca’s Bakery and Café along with his wife Asse in the Seward neighborhood since 2013.

“It is great honor and privilege to be a member of Redesign Inc. Board of Directors. It will be a tremendous opportunity to contribute to our community along the fine board members of Redesign Inc. and changing lives in a palpable way. I am passionate about the noble work of this great organization, the clear vision and mission of Redesign Inc for over half a century and continue to do the best service and life impacting projects to the Seward neighborhood and the surrounding community. I am ready to listen, learn, and support the board’s agenda with integrity, honesty, and
transparency along the experienced board members, and be a good team player whatever it takes to move forward in this organization’s vision. This will be once in a lifetime opportunity and a remarkable experience. It’s a delightful opportunity to learn and meet people in the organization and in the neighborhood at the same time giving back to the community”.

Anna Growcott

Anna is the Director of Artspace Consulting, a division of Artspace Projects, a national nonprofit developer for the arts. She consults with municipalities and arts organizations to help advance their plans for sustainable and affordable creative spaces. Prior to moving to Seward in 2012, she spent a decade living in China, New York City, and Australia, working in education and the performing arts. Anna also serves on the Board of Directors for ARENA Dances, a contemporary dance company in Minneapolis. 

Tadd Kelly

Tadd is a Vice President and Credit Manager/Team Lead at Wells Fargo in the SBA Lending Division. He joined Wells Fargo in 1990 and received his degree in Finance from the University of St. Thomas (1993). Tadd also secured his MBA in Finance and Strategic Management from the Carlson School at the University of Minnesota in 1996. Tadd’s work at Wells Fargo focuses on small business loans, including underwriting financing and interpreting financial statements for a wide variety of industry types, as well as managing construction loans. Tadd has previously volunteered with Nokomis Healthy Seniors, MN Red Ribbon Ride, Open Arms of MN, Habitat for Humanity and Feed My Starving Children. Tadd moved to Seward in 1998 and joined the Redesign Development Committee in June of 2012. 

Claudia Klinkhammer

Claudia is a Principal Project Manager in the Department of Planning and Economic Development at the
City of Saint Paul. Her work on the team covers a wide variety of areas including small business
development, property disposition, and major development sites. Prior to working in Saint Paul, she
spent over 7 years working in development with a focus on hospitality projects. Claudia is originally from
Milwaukee, WI and moved to Minnesota as a member of the Hewing Hotel project team in the North
Loop. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with a BA in English and Women’s
Studies. She is a resident of the Howe neighborhood and enjoys reading, hiking, and camping with her
family.

Sheldon Mains

Sheldon provides consulting services to nonprofit organizations and foundations on technology, communications, management, and program transfers between organizations. Sheldon was a founder of SPOKES Bike Walk Connect, a program to promote biking and walking. His eclectic background also includes working on energy and environmental policy for three governors and six years of engineering design in the building industry. Sheldon has served as Chair of the Seward Neighborhood Group, the Twin Cities Media Alliance and the Minneapolis Telecommunications Network. He has also served on the Minneapolis Planning Commission, Minneapolis Board of Estimate and Taxation, the Minneapolis Library Board and the Alliance for Nonprofit Management. Sheldon is currently Secretary/Treasurer of the Seward Towers Corporation board. He and his wife, Bev, have lived in their 98 year old home in Seward for over 30 years and just completed their first 5 year remodeling plan (25 years after starting it). 

Ewart Martens

Ewart is a co-owner of Mill City Builders, LLP, a design/build residential remodeling firm that has been in business since 1994. Mill City Builders specializes in renovations and additions to older homes in Minneapolis and St. Paul. The company combines an appreciation for the existing home with thoughtful design, solid workmanship, great attention to detail and quality materials. Ewart was originally from Germany, has been a resident in the US since 1988 and has lived in Seward since 1996. Ewart’s interest in Redesign stems from his wider interest in development issues, an interest in design and construction and a desire to impact the community in positive ways. 

Christine Diindiisi McCleave, M.A.

An enrolled citizen of Turtle Mountain Ojibwe Nation is the former Chief Executive Officer for the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition. She is a leader and an activist for Indigenous Rights, advocating for truth, justice, and healing for the genocidal policy of U.S. Indian Boarding Schools. Diindiisi McCleave previously worked for Indian Land Tenure Foundation, has a master of arts in leadership from Augsburg University, and a bachelor of science in communication studies from Northwestern University. She has dedicated her life and work to pursuing truth and healing for the Indigenous survivors of historical and inter-generational trauma at the hands of colonialism and settler-states. She is one of the primary investigators for the “Child Removal in Native Communities: An Anonymous Survey,” and, recently, was instrumental in writing H.R.8420 – Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policy Act—the first bill ever introduced to for a commission addressing boarding school policy in the U.S. She is also a member of the Truth and Reconciliation working group for the City of Minneapolis.

Lisa Middag

Lisa Middag is an urban planner who collaborates with communities and artists to support equitable, vibrant, and sustainable public spaces through inclusive placemaking and intentional community development. Lisa is the Director of Nicollet Activation for the Minneapolis Downtown Improvement District. She develops and implements an inclusive range of cultural experiences for daily users and visitors along the city’s historic pedestrian/transit mall. These efforts were rewarded in 2019, and again in 2021 with the International Downtown Association’s prestigious Pinnacle award for events and programming. She previously worked for Hennepin County Community Works and lead an effort to connect the Midtown Greenway bicycle trail to nearby cultural and commercial destinations through wayfinding and placemaking, as well as managed their federal Sustainable Communities grant program focused on transit oriented development. She is a member of the Project for Public Spaces Placemaking Leadership Council and was an Creative Community Leadership Institute fellow. She serves currently as Treasurer for Pollen Midwest, a media arts nonprofit that harnesses the power of narrative change to build towards a society that is free, just, and loving. She previously served on the Minneapolis Arts Commission and as Treasurer for Springboard for the Arts. She is a Certified Economic Development Finance professional (National Developers Council) and has an M.P.A. in urban and regional planning from the Humphrey School. She spent 10 years as the publications director and studio manager at the Walker Art Center.

Abdullahi Mohamed

Tony Scallon

Tony currently serves on several charter school boards and is a vocational consultant to another. He is the retired superintendent for the Minnesota Transitions Charter School and its founder, and formerly served as Alternative Program Coordinator for the West St. Paul School District. Tony has previously served on the boards for the Longfellow Community Council, Federal Home Loan Bank and National Cooperative Bank, among others, and was a Minneapolis City Councilmember and a founder of Redesign. 

Emily Kathrein Smoak