Chad Johnson
Executive Director

Chad has been involved with Willmar Fests since 1999 starting as the Block Party liaison between Main Street Willmar, the Willmar Fire Department, and Willmar Fest Inc. He worked with the Main Street Willmar committee that organized and put the Downtown Block Party together. Chad has since taken the Executive Directors position and has held that since 2004.

He is a lifelong resident of and currently resides in Willmar with his wife, Lisa, two daughters, Karlee and Kelbe, and son, Kyler. Chad is the Finance Manager for Marketing Concepts of Minnesota, Inc. in Spicer.

He oversees the whole event and helps out where need be. Johnson is the spokesman for the event around the community and will try to get the involvement of the community in this event. He believes that Willmar Fests week is an awesome event for our community and surrounding area as the events bring in people from a vast are outside of Willmar itself. It involves both traditional and modern events for our city's long history. It has an excellent economical impact on our city as well as thousands of people come and attend the many events held throughout the short week.

The community involvement is one aspect that Chad really enjoys being a part of.  Willmar gets behind this event with enthusiasm and spirit like no other community celebration in the state. Willmar Fests week is a tradition Chad personally looks forward to every year not only because he is involved in the event but also sees the community as a whole get involved too.

Shane Johnson
President

This will be Shane Johnson’s eighth year of working with the Willmar Fests.

Shane is a lifelong resident of Willmar, attending the Community Christian School through the sixth grade and graduating from Willmar Senior High School.

Shane attended Ridgewater College and graduated from Minnesota State University, Mankato with a bachelor’s degree in finance.  He has been employed with Bremer Bank for the past 7 years, working as the Branch Administrator for both Willmar locations.  He currently resides in Willmar with his wife, Linnae, and their two daughters, Hailey and Myah.

Shane was a Royal Knight for Willmar Fests during the summer of 2000.  From 2001 to 2007 he served in the roles of Aqua Commodore and Festival Diplomat.

This year, he is serving as Willmar Fest Board President, working with the Board Members to oversee all functions of the 2008 Event.

Deb Zinda-Hanson
Vice President

Deb Zinda-Hanson is serving as Willmar Fests Vice President for 2008.  Throughout the years she has also served as International Ambassador and Visiting Dignitaries Host. 

She is a lifelong resident of Willmar and is employed by Bremer Bank in the capacity of Administration Officer. She and her husband Dan, who works for Engan Associates PA, have four sons, Marc, Grant, Joe and Jesse and reside in Willmar.

Deb is actively involved in the community as Co-Chair of  the Willmar Civic Scholarship Association, Chair of the Child Guide Advisory Board, and volunteers for the United Way of Kandiyohi County and ARC Rose Sale. 

“Willmar Fests is an excellent organization to be involved in to promote our City throughout the year.  It is also offers a wonderful opportunity to be a mentor to the Willmar Fests Ambassadors and candidates.” 

Regina Hatzinger
International Ambassador

This is Regina (Gina’s) Hatzinger first year helping with Willmar Fests.  Her role is serving as the 2008 International Festival Ambassador, assisting with the raffle, and other festival items.
She is employed at Calvary Lutheran Church as the Coordinator of Youth and Family Ministry in Willmar.  Her husband is Matt and they live in town.  They are new members of the Willmar community and previously they lived in Nebraska and Wisconsin before moving here. 
  
In past communities Gina was part of the TeamMates Mentoring Program that was founded by Tom and Nancy Osborne in Nebraska.  She also enjoyed working with youth and the Boys and Girls Club in Jackson, WI along with the Asset’s in Motion Program in Platteville, WI.

Please consider joining in the fun of the International Banquet that will be held on Friday, Jun 27, 2008 at 5:30 p.m. with a meal, entertainment and dance for all to enjoy at the Kandi Entertainment Center.  The cost is $10 per person.

Travis Szczesniak
Aqua Commodore

Travis is a lifelong resident of the Willmar Lakes Area attending the New London-Spicer school district grades K-12. He currently resides in Willmar with his wife and three children. He is employed by En-Tel Communications of Willmar.

The key events that Szczesniak will be overseeing are the “Rock the Beach” beach party on Robbins Island and the 2008 Kids Fishing Derby. The beach party gets started at 2pm with the Adam Herron Band rocking the Willmar Fests stage at Robbins Island and the 2008 Kids Fishing Derby from the David Rau Memorial Park.

The entertainment continues until Midnight with multiple bands featuring Red Room, a Minneapolis band that has opened for Aerosmith as well as the Christopher Banker Band out of St Cloud.

As if this wasn’t enough entertainment, the award winning Little Crow Ski Team and the best fireworks show in the area “Works Over Water” will add to make this a can’t miss event!

Cathy Fagerstrom

This is my 3rd year working on the Willmar Fests Board as the Treasurer.  I have enjoyed getting to know everyone associated with the board and have learned lots about what it takes to put on a festival of this size.
 
I have lived and worked in the Willmar area for 27 years.
 
I have owned my own accounting/bookkeeping service located in downtown Willmar since 1999.  This makes being the treasurer on the many boards I am involved on a little easier.
I have been involved with Girl Scouts, PTSA, Campus Ministry Center, Starcraft Camping Club and have held many positions on each.
 
I have two children, Emily will be a junior at Northwestern College in St Paul, and Adam will be a junior at Willmar High School this fall.
 
Work takes up a lot of my time, but I have enjoyed being involved in the many community groups that I have been in.  I enjoy camping, gardening and spending time with family and friends in my spare time.

Lori Tostenson
Coronation

Lori is a familiar face to several festivals in the area.  She has been involved with Montevideo Fiesta Days for several years and is currently on the Board of Directors for Willmar Fests.  She has been on the Board of Directors for the last two years.  Lori has also served as the Coronation Chairperson.  Lori is employed as the Branch Manager of the Co-op Credit Union located in CUB Foods. 

Lori resides in Montevideo with her husband, Perry.  Lori has enjoyed getting to know the young ambassadors that are chosen each year to represent the community of Willmar.  Coronation will be held on Saturday, June 28th at 2:00 pm at the WEAC.  This years Coronation program is being sponsored by the Willmar Fraternal Order of the Eagles Auxiliary. 

Representatives from area communities and special entertainment are just a part of coronation celebration.  Tickets are $5.00 (or $1.00 off with a button) at the door.  If you haven't been to a Coronation program, make this year the year to attend “Celebrating Together the Red Carpet Affair”.