Tammy Block is a mother of two and has raised her children in Rosemount, MN. She is a licensed attorney in Minnesota (admitted in 1998) and South Dakota (admitted in 2000), and Tennessee, with a practice that serves clients in a relationship-based model . Tammy has over 25 years of legal experience working with clients in estate planning, probate, real estate and small business matters. She travels within the state of Minnesota to serve clients in a broad geographic area and travels to South Dakota periodically to visit clients there and has established a practice in Tennessee which she services. Her goal is to provide families and individuals with a sense of security and to make the process easy to understand.
She graduated from the University of South Dakota with a bachelor’s degree in medical technology, got her law degree from DePaul in Chicago and her MBA from the University of Saint Thomas. She is a lifelong learner but is definitely done with the degrees.
Current leadership roles:
The motto she lives by is “Failure is not an option” – meaning you can always find a solution, so never give up.
Meet Nelson Paredez-Parks, a dynamo renowned for his eclectic skill set and embodying multiple roles. As an acknowledged expert in the entertainment industry, Nelson is known for his leadership of The ESI Network, a premier talent management company with over 30+ years in the entertainment world. He’s an expert in getting your kids into show business as well as navigating the entertainment business with healthy boundaries.
Two other initiatives including the latest two he is most excited with are Helpandanswers.com which helps business owners and entrepreneurs scale up and grow their businesses and TheAIxperts.com, which is an informational site educating entertainment professionals about how to integrate A.I. into their current business models. His other entrepreneurial past ventures include organizations like “Talent Plan,” a celebrity and impersonation company, “Break for Breakfast” a large networking group in Hollywood, “Rise up Entertainment” which developed a series of commercial spots that Nelson directed and produced, and “Kidz Eyes,” a nonprofit company that provided arts scholarships to underprivileged kids in the Los Angeles area. By combining his robust educational background from Columbia College and USC with a passion for mentorship and extensive travel, Nelson Paredez-Parks continues to influence the entertainment industry and inspire our youth. He is not just a player but a game-changer, mentor, and inspirational leader.
Nelson’s socials:
Andrew Hulseis currently in his second term as County Commissioner for Sherburne County District 1. Heis also President and owner of the A J Hulse Company which owns and operates 18|8 Fine Men’s Salons in Minnesota.Andrew has 35 years of business and leadership experience in senior executive General Management, Marketing, and Operations roles. He has led P&Ls ranging from $15M to over $1B in revenue. In his 12 years as an executive with Honeywell Intl, Andrew held various positions including Vice President of Business Development of Space Missiles and Munitions, General Manager of Aftermarket Jet Engine Systems, Vice President and General Manager of Honeywell Water Solutions, Vice President of Six Sigma, and Director of Marketing for Zoning Control Systems.
Andrew has also held the positions of Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Accraply, Inc. as well as Sage Glass, Inc. – a green tech startup.
Previously, Andrew served for a decade as a naval flight officer in both operational and instructional roles, achieving the rank of Lieutenant Commander. He completed three deployments including Desert Shield, and his awards include the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal x3, the Meritorious Unit Commendation, the Navy Battle ‘E’, and the Kuwait Liberation Medal. Hulse earned a bachelor’s degree in robotic engineering from Purdue University and a master’s degree in engineering systems management from St. Mary’s University in Texas. Additionally, he has completed executive programs in leadership, marketing,organizational change, and Six Sigma from The Wharton School of Business, Kellogg School of Management, and Hawaii Pacific University.
Andrew currently resides in Elk River, MN with his wife of 32 years, Gay Bunch-Hulse. The couple has two daughters, Bridgette age 30 and Savannah age 23.
Currently a young widow raising two children on his own; Paul’s path to success is an unconventional yet one to be greatly admired. Never a great student, he dropped out of high school at age 17 and obtained his GED. He never considered college. He then worked many odd jobs through his late teens to mid-20’s including: Cashier, Dishwasher, Retail, Quality Control for medical device manufacturing, Tech Support, Security, and making printing ink. A chance conversation around a fire with some friends led Paul to the building trades, which he started in the fall of 2000. Initially he installed voice, data, CCTV, and fiber optic cabling. This led Paul to the IBEW/NECA Joint Apprenticeship Program for power limited systems, where he currently holds a state license as a Power Limited Technician. He then worked for several different contractors until 2003 when he started with a contractor that he would work for 21 years, until the day they closed in 2024.
In 2006 Paul started specializing in public address, intercom, and audio-visual systems. He learned system programming for PA/Intercom, AV control, DSP Audio, Access control, and Fire Alarm Systems. In 2017, Management brought him out of the field and into Project Manager/Estimator Roles. Paul bid public projects and provided quotes for their private clients, overseeing their construction projects from submittal to closeout; where he continued to do a majority of their systems programming.
Paul has been the lead installer for several High School Auditoriums as well as many Gymnasiums and Cafeterias. He helped develop the system integrations that many school districts around the metro area are still using for emergency messaging in their facilities. He is the only person in the state who fully understands how to keep those systems running (He is currently training other apprentices).
In the spring of 2024 after his contractor closed, Paul learned that a new contractor had had taken on the product line of PA and Intercom Systems that he had been working on for over 20 years. He ended up going to work for them and was hired as a Field Service Tech, and in the spring of 2025 was promoted to Assistant Project Manager. Paul continues to learn new AV systems and PA/Intercom skills as the equipment develops over time.
He started playing guitar at the age of 13 on a nylon string acoustic borrowed from his mom’s friend. He is mostly self-taught and has been in various bands since he was 15 years old. Paul is currently the rhythm guitar player/vocalist for Wasted Talent, who he has been playing with since 2016. He also plays Bass guitar and drums; however says he still has a lot to learn on drums.
Paul met my wife in the fall of 1999 when they were both working the Trail of Terror at the Renaissance Festival. They were married in 2004, bought a home in 2006, had their first child in 2011, and second in 2017. In 2021 his wife was diagnosed with Angiosarcoma and began treatments immediately. After many rounds of chemo and radiation it was found to have spread and in early 2022, she was given a prognosis of 3-6 months. They as a family did as much as they could with the kids including a once in a lifetime trip to Disney World and Universal Studios in Orlando, FL. She held on until March of 2023 when she passed away at 42 years of age. Paul now spends most of his time working and caring for his 2 kids, trying to help fill the void that has been left by their mom’s passing.
He enjoys woodworking, has built a few guitars, and some other projects; but there has little time right now however looks forward to hopefully someday getting back to those projects.
Katina Schroeder, formerly Mrs. Dakota County, successfully captured the Mrs. Minnesota America crown on Sunday, June 2, 2024, at the Eagan Community Center.
Her unique personal story through pageantry since childhood hasn’t always been rhinestones and roses. Four years ago, on August 20, 2021, she was in Las Vegas, not for a pageant, but as a woman just shy of 300 pounds and clinically diagnosed as morbidly obese. Being truly scared for her health is what prompted her to travel to seek medical intervention to change her life forever. Fast forward exactly 3 years to the day – August, 20, 2024…Katina returned to Las Vegas, checking in to the Mrs. America pageant on this date as Mrs. Minnesota at 51 years old and a total loss of 135 pounds!
Katina resides in Burnsville, MN with her husband Michael of 19 years, her daughter Raina, and a small zoo consisting of three dogs and two birds. She has been a professional Executive Assistant for the past 22 years, enjoys hosting backyard pool parties, accessorizing her neon green Jeep, being a parent volunteer for both of the Prior Lake Girls Swim and Dive team along with the South Metro Storm swim team and reading about women’s history in the Renaissance era. She holds Bachelor and Master’s degrees in English and Literature from Hamline University in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
Katina’s platform #KeepHerConfident joins in advocacy with the national body positivity campaign sponsored by Dove and Nike to help keep girls in sports with downloadable tools for coaches to promote positive body image in athletes. In addition to #KeepHerConfident, as Mrs. Minnesota, Katina also champions Mrs. America’s partnership with the Victoria’s Voice Foundation – a national organization which educates and provides the necessary tools for parents and families to take action to proactively prevent substance abuse and overdose deaths. For additional information or for appearance or speaking requests, please visit her personal website https://mrskatinaschroeder.wixsite.com/katina or the Mrs. Minnesota America social media sites on Facebook and Instagram.
Valerie Lockhart has a deep love for words, technology, and photography. She has been providing SEO services and creating digital content for 10+ years through her business, Ninja Media International. Valerie also serves as Executive Director for both the Minneapolis Television Network and the Minnesota Women in Technology. She is passionate about individual rights and digital accessibility and spends her free time helping people learn how to leverage technology and media to become more self-sufficient.
Laela is a truly exceptional individual whose commitment to leadership, academic excellence, and service to others sets her apart among her peers. Her involvement in an extraordinary range of activities—spanning academics, athletics, civic engagement, and community service—reflects both her remarkable work ethic and her passion for making a difference.
Laela is an active member of Business Professionals of America, Youth in Government, Model UN, and the National Judicial Competition, where she has demonstrated strong public speaking, analytical thinking, and collaborative leadership. Through Bengals in Government and Debate, she has developed a nuanced understanding of government, policy, and advocacy—skills that directly align with the goals of the Military Teen Panel.
Her service includes working as a tutor with Bengal Junction, mentoring underclassmen as part of the BHS Orientation Link Crew, and leading within Jr. Advisory Board Leaders & Achievers of America. She balances these commitments while maintaining a rigorous academic schedule, being an active member of the National Honor Society, and participating in Track, Cross Country, and Taekwondo. Laela currently services a position on the Minnesota Military Teen Panel.
Laela a position on the Minnesota Military Teen Panel.
Laela’s involvement in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and her job outside of school speak volumes about her time management skills, maturity, and character. She leads with empathy, humility, and quiet confidence.