Our Leadership
Meet our dedicated leadership team, a group of compassionate individuals who are committed to guiding Dakota Woodlands toward a future where every family has a place to call home. Our executive team and board members bring a wealth of experience in social services, advocacy, and community engagement.
Colleena Carlisle
Executive Director
Colleena has over a decade of experience in nonprofit leadership and extensive expertise in the for-profit sector as a CEO and Founder. Her career has been rooted in maternal and family services, women’s development, and health, with a passion for helping individuals holistically grow into their best selves, fostering self-sufficiency and purpose-driven lives. Throughout her career, she has held leadership roles such as Director of Client Services, Director of Operations, Interim Executive Director, and Director of Programs & Outreach. Colleena has supported organizations through strategic planning and expansion, consistently driving growth and operational improvement.
Her goal at Dakota Woodlands is to enhance the organization’s day-to-day operations, establishing a solid foundation that will support her vision of leading Dakota Woodlands through strategic growth and expansion. Colleena is pursuing her master’s degree in business administration with a concentration in Leadership and Change Management. She also holds several coaching certifications, including trauma-informed, leadership and development, and a PCC-level certification recognized by the International Coaching Federation (ICF). She earned her bachelor’s degree in Sociology, with a focus on law, from the University of Minnesota. In her free time, Colleena enjoys spending time with her family and fitness activities.
Leadership Team
Directors and Team Leads
Board Members
Joel Franklin, Esq.
Board Chair
Joel Franklin, Esq. is an accomplished attorney and nonprofit executive with more than 20 years of experience advancing justice, equity, and community well-being. His work spans criminal and civil litigation, civil rights and employment law, and executive leadership in community-based organizations.
Joel has tried more than 100 court trials and 20 jury trials and has argued cases before the MN Court of Appeals and MN Supreme Court. He has advised public agencies and Fortune 500 companies on employment law, compliance, and risk management.
As the previous Executive Director of Community Ambassadors Initiative, Joel led violence prevention efforts through strategic partnerships and expanded organizational impact. He also previously served as Director of Services for St. Paul Youth Services, supporting at-risk youth.
Joel had held leadership roles with the NAACP Minnesota/Dakotas State Conference and juvenile reform initiative. He holds a Juris Doctor from William Mitchell College of Law and a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Beth Connaughty
Board Vice Chair
Beth is Vice President, Corporate Strategy at Thomson Reuters where she leads a global team of strategists and analysts focused on driving growth and fostering innovation. With over two decades of experience in strategic planning, data analysis, and market development, Beth has been a driving force in shaping the company’s strategic direction. Beth holds an MBA from the University of Minnesota with a focus on Strategic Management, and a Master of Science in Data Analytics from Villanova University. Currently a Rosemount resident, Beth has lived and worked in Dakota County for 17 years.
.avif)
Jessica Edwards
Board Treasurer
Jessica is a Senior Advisor at Advisors for Change, an accounting firm dedicated to serving nonprofit organizations. With over 20 years of experience in the accounting field, she is a Certified Nonprofit Accounting Professional and has expertise in nonprofit financial management. Jessica earned her bachelor's degree from Montana State University – Billings. She lives in Rosemount with her husband and four children. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling and discovering new cultures and landscapes.
Beth Papacek-Kovach
Board Secretary
Beth is Assistant General Counsel – Employment/Labor for CHS Inc., a diversified global agribusiness cooperative owned by farmers, ranchers and cooperatives across the United States. She has been practicing law for 25 years, with prior experience as a human resources manager and a technical recruiter. Beth holds a JD from Mitchell Hamline School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the College of Saint Benedict. Beth and her husband Paul live in Eagan and have five adult children, and she is a life-long resident of Dakota County.
Jessica Metzger-Nye
Jessica is an Enterprise Account Manager at Amazon Web Services. She joined AWS in 2020 and supports State and Local Government customers in their journey to deliver mission-critical outcomes to citizens through technology. Prior to AWS, Jessica worked at several other technology firms such as Oracle, Minnesota-based Proto Labs, International Decision Systems, and is a proud graduate of Bethel University in St. Paul. Jessica is married to an Army Veteran, Brian Nye, and has two boys, Owen and Jax. She has recently moved to Lakeville and looks forward to supporting the Dakota County community.
Shacore Nelson
Shacore Nelson is the Deputy Chief Biomedical Engineer at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center, where she leads initiatives to advance healthcare technology and improve medical outcomes for veterans. Shacore holds a Bachelor of Science in both Biology from Xavier University of Louisiana and Biomedical Engineering from Wichita State University.
Guided by compassion and service, Shacore is dedicated to creating lasting community impact and fostering hope and stability for those in need. Shacore lives in Dakota County and enjoys walking nature trails in her free time.
LaShawnda Bishop
LaShawnda is a highly motivated professional committed to quality client service, who is passionate about helping individuals obtain the resources they need to make long-term positive changes that enables them to obtain upward mobility.
Her experience comes from higher education, state, local government, non-profit, and the private industry. In addition she has experience volunteering at various community organizations. She has a special interest in facilitating growth groups in 12-step recovery, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), and racial equity. She piloted the Be Bold: A Racial Reconciliation reading group at the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities at the System Office. In addition, secured the $25,000 Innovations and Collaboration Funding Award for Women in Collaboration Initiative.
In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with family, friends, and her puppy. She loves making signature desserts and appetizers, traveling, and participating in recreational activities.
Melissa Bauer
Melissa Bauer is the Senior Director of Stores Strategy & Growth at Target Corporation, bringing more than 20 years of experience as a bold and strategic leader across merchandising, business development, financial planning, strategy development, and retail operations.
In her current role, Melissa leads a team that delivers internal and external insights to shape Target's Stores Strategy. She also oversees governance, operating routines, and program management in support of the company's most critical growth initiatives, fueling Target's long-term strategic roadmap.
Melissa earned undergraduate degree from the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management. She and her husband, Ben, have made Eagan their home for more than 18 years, where they are raising their two sons and are proud to be long-time Dakota County residents.