In the last year, Northspan has celebrated three internal promotions, and also welcomed two new team members:
Ali Bilden Camps, Promotion from Consultant to Senior Consultant
Ali Bilden Camps joined Northspan as a consultant in 2022 with a focus on regional workforce development. As senior consultant, Ali will cultivate client relationships, in addition to taking on a leadership role within projects. For example, Ali coordinates regular meetings for Northspan consultants working on our Capacity projects, helping businesses, organizations, and other types of groups build their internal capacity and attain greater efficiency and effectiveness in their efforts.
Stefanie Sjelin, Promotion from Associate Consultant to Consultant
Stefanie will remain our survey expert, and will begin to take the initiative of leading several projects within our Forming Connections, Building Capacity, and Accessing Capital services framework. Stef will apply analytical, interpersonal, creative thinking, business management, and leadership skills to help Northspan clients and partners achieve results and create positive change.
JL Herbert, Promotion from Operations Manager to Operations Manager & Associate Consultant
As operations manager, JL guides Northspan’s organizational operations and provides support to the Northspan board of directors, president and CEO, vice president, professional staff, and contracted independent consultants, as well as Northspan clients. In addition to tracking and managing assigned projects and facilitating communication, as an associate consultant, JL will oversee distinct aspects of team projects.
Jared Dunlap, New Hire, Consultant & Tribal Liaison
In this new position on the Northspan team, Jared will work to support the Driving Access to Wealth & Networks (DAWN) program and focus on building relationships with entrepreneurial clients and Indigenous communities across Northeast Minnesota and Northwest Wisconsin, including the Native Nations in this region.
Cooper Grahek, New Hire, Associate Consultant
Cooper joined the Northspan team part-time in January 2025. In this full-time, entry-level position, Cooper will focus on our Capital projects, helping Northspan clients connect with funding sources and growth opportunities.
* * *
About Northspan
Northspan provides economic development consulting to form connections, build capacity and access capital. As contracted and full-service consultants, we work to turn ideas into actions and accomplishments through process management, conversation facilitation, and expert navigation of complex challenges. This side of our work is funded entirely through private contracts with those who utilize our services, and, unlike our programming side, is not geographically limited.
Northspan began providing economic development consulting in 1985, and we now serve between 70-80 clients per year. We have a broad pool of services tailored to the needs, opportunities, challenges, hopes, and goals of each client. We work to engage your constituency, embrace tough challenges, identify areas for growth, and chart a path forward to help you succeed.
Learn more about the Northspan team and how we operate at northspan.org.