The Board
Paul Thomas
Interim Executive Director:
Morning show personality, marketing consultant, and event promoter, Paul Thomas (aka “PT”) is involved with a wide variety of organizations around the Twin Cities. His current role is morning show host for Entercom station The WOLF 102.9.
His passion for giving back to the community is evident in his 10 years of volunteer work as a youth hockey coach and his emcee work for various other charitable causes. He is also the founder of the LIVIN Foundation for mental health awareness and suicide prevention.
Bob Keseley
Director of Strategy & Operations:
Bob Keseley is a recently retired consulting services executive now pursuing philanthropy, giving back, and cultivating county music in the Midwest. As a board member of the Midwest Country Music Organization, his current focus is strategy, operations and business development.
Director of Sponsorships:
Shannon is an experienced business developer and strategist, specializing in partnership building and team leading. With over 20 years of Marketing and Sales Management within the media, event and entertainment industries, she has a deep understanding of Radio, Event, TV, Social & Digital Advertising. She spent many years in radio, including her role as Director of Live Events for Entercom Minneapolis (now Audacy) where she oversaw all station events, concerts, and strategic event partnerships. She currently works in the outdoor media industry, does consulting and serves as Director of the LIVIN Music Festival. Shannon holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management and Operations.
Besides events and music, Shannon’s passions include her travels across the globe, camping with friends and family, and most importantly being a mom to two active kids, Skyler and Madelynn, that keep her on the run every day and cheering from the sidelines.
Shannon has a passion for music and helping cultivate opportunities and relationships to help local artists, organizations and partners all advance and succeed as one local Midwest music community.
Eric Salisbury
Director of Artist Member Acquisition:
Eric Salisbury serves as Midwest CMO Director Of Artist Acquistion, with responsibilities including refining our artist member value propositions and recruiting new members. Onstage, Eric is a drummer. Eric’s primary musical role is as drummer/manager for the Ramble. Eric also manages pick-up classic country group The Cock-a-Doodle Dudes, writes and plays with Americana/folk rock group The Also-Rans, and backs country historian Nate Gibson in Nate Gibson & The Stardazers. Offstage, Eric is a Vice President & Managing Group Leader at the University of Wisconsin Foundation & Alumni Association (WFAA), the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s fundraising and alumni engagement arm. Prior to his 15 years at WFAA, Eric held positions as Vice President at Overture Center for the Arts (Madison, WI). Managing Director of Jubilee Theater (Fort Worth, TX), and Executive Director of the Madison Youth Choirs. Eric also sits on the board of the Evjue Foundation (Madison, WI). Eric has two high school aged children and is married to Emma (Membership Director at PBS Wisconsin).
Tanya Turner
Director of Business Member Acquisition:
Tanya brings deep experience identifying, negotiating, launching and managing new products, programs, business units and successful partner relationships with a strong emphasis on affluent customer acquisition, loyalty and retention strategies. She held executive management positions with Fortune 50 companies in the Airline, Travel & Hospitality, Finserv and Telco categories prior to starting her entrepreneurial journey with Karma & Co – curating bespoke “bucket list” experiences for ultra-HNW clientele. Tanya is a consummate marketer with an entrepreneurial spirit, and fully enjoys contributing as both a board member and volunteer for various non-profit organizations nationwide.
Ryan Pilgrim
Director of Finance:
Ryan is the Treasury Manager for Liberty Diversified International. In addition, he is part of the corporate development team. Ryan has been with LDI for 9 years. Prior to that he was in the finance industry as an Equity Trader. Ryan has a B.S in Accounting and in Finance from the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota.
Nikki Muhlbauer
Director of Membership:
She can be reached at nikki@
Bernie Merrill
Director of Website:
Bernie is the owner and general manager of KLGA & KLGZ Radio in Algona, Iowa. She began her broadcast career at age 16 and has experience in sales, on-air, engineering, and management.
Bernie graduated from the Radio Advertising Bureau “Rising Through the Ranks” Management course in 2014. And the National Association of Broadcasters “Broadcast Leadership Training” in 2022.
In addition to running the radio stations, she volunteers as a broadcast ambassador for the National Association of Broadcasters. She is on the board of directors of the Iowa Broadcasters Association and the Iowa Broadcasters Association Foundation. She also volunteers with several Algona area organizations including the Chamber of Commerce Board, Community College Advisory boards and is her son’s high school music boosters serving as the marching band uniform coordinator.
Bernie and her husband Gary are parents to Alison (David), Ryan & Joey.
Volunteers
Christine Passig
Information coming soon!
Matt Cave
Information coming soon!
Tim Mapel
Information coming soon!
Advisory Board
Arnie Andrews
Program Director / Ops Manager WCOW COW97
Ron Backer
Ken Lacy
General Manager, Lakes Jam
Michelle Westberg
Advertising Brand Project Coordinator, Treasure Island Resort & Casino
Neil Freeman
Group Manager, BOB FM
Owen Schultz
I am the assistant General Manager at Charlie’s on Prior where I have made it my focus to grow the music program with live music on our patio. I grew up in Savage MN and now live in Montgomery, MN with my wife and 2 daughters. Fun fact about me is I have an identical twin brother whom I am older by 1 minute.