WISE Twin Cities Advisory Board

Andrea is a Minneapolis-based brand experience consultant currently acting as the Co-Executive Director of the Big Ten Basketball Championships coming to Minneapolis in 2023 and 2024. She originally partnered with Minnesota Sports and Events as a member of the Minnesota Local Organizing Committee responsible for bringing the 2022 NCAA Women’s Final Four Championship Tournament to Minneapolis. For this project she was responsible for the VIP hospitality events programming, oversaw the partner advisory council, managed local DE&I priorities, and served as the Title IX Program Director for the Title IX 50th Anniversary campaign. With a passion for community building and a need to create work that positively impacts the world around us Andrea has also been lucky to have worked with the teams at Minnesota Festival and Events Association, Twin Cities Catalyst Music, St. Paul Downtown Alliance, Towerside Business Alliance, the Basilica Block Party Planning Committee, Rock What You Got, Surly Brewing Co, and American Public Media Group. Andrea is also a co-founder of the Great Lakes Association of Musicians and Artists, a membership-based non-profit committed to supporting the contribution of independent artists and musicians in our community by providing the social, mental, and physical support resources that allow them to continue to create a kinder, more beautiful world.

Angelina Lawton is a visionary entrepreneur, award-winning CEO, and dynamic leader in the sports technology space. Her transformative story as the CEO & Founder of Sportsdigita has been recognized by Forbes naming her one of the "Top 30 Most Powerful Women In Sports" and has also been captured in many esteemed publications including Fortune, Entrepreneur, and Inc. Magazine. Angelina was named to the 2020 Class of Game Changers by Sports Business Journal representing the highest achievement for women in sports business and technology.

Angelina's professional career in the sports industry started with the NHL's Tampa Bay Lightning where she served as the SVP, Corporate Communications. During her time with the Lightning, Angelina witnessed the need for a better way for teams to tell their story effectively when pitching six and seven-figure deals to marquee brands. 

Harnessing this experience in the NHL, Angelina founded Sportsdigita in 2011 with a mission to revolutionize the way teams present themselves on "game day" while driving revenue. Today, Sportsdigita works with over 500 brands around the world delivering immersive, trackable presentations through its cutting-edge DIGIDECK platform. 

With a deep passion for mentorship specifically helping women who are pursuing roles in male-dominated industries, Angelina often speaks at Colleges and Universities as well as leading industry events sharing her career learnings so others can benefit. Angelina is also a proud Board Member of WISE TC and is a part of Chief as well as the Female Founders Collective exemplifying her dedication to helping others succeed through shared experiences.

Ann Dunne is the Assistant General Manager at U.S. Bank Stadium. In her role, Ann oversees the revenue generating efforts for the stadium including booking, special event sales, sponsorships and ticket operations. She also leads marketing and communications, event management, human resources and administration.

Shortly after graduating from Hamline University, Ann landed her dream job with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Target Center. She spent six seasons working for both the team and venue manager in marketing and communications. She also spent one season as a Minnesota Vikings Cheerleader and two seasons as a Timberwolves Performance Team Member. 

The next opportunity took Ann into media sales and marketing at KARE-11 and then Comcast Advertising. During her tenure in media, her focus was creating sales and marketing strategies, managing premium client events and incentives and leading sales teams to record setting success. 

A Minnesota native, Ann lives in Wayzata with her husband Joe and their three fur babies Winston, Solvi & Jagger.  Traveling, wine, and dogs are a few of her favorite things.

Kelly McGrath joined the organization in 2000 as the Director of Sales for the Minnesota Wild. In 2005, McGrath transitioned to the Director of Sales for Xcel Energy Center and in 2008 assumed marketing responsibilities for the venue. Her role expanded in 2022 to Director of Marketing and Communications for all Minnesota Sports and Entertainment-managed facilities including Xcel Energy Center, Saint Paul RiverCentre and The Legendary Roy Wilkins Auditorium. In the summer of 2023 McGrath was named General Manager and Executive Director of Xcel Energy Center and promoted to Vice President and General Manager in 2024.

An instrumental member of Xcel Energy Center’s leadership team, McGrath has successfully led bids with US Figure Skating, USA Gymnastics, USA Hockey, NCAA, National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) and Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) governing bodies, landing events that generated millions of dollars in economic impact for the region. 

McGrath lives in Stillwater, Minn., with her husband Wayne Petersen, who serves as Senior Director of Community Relations and Hockey Partnerships for the Minnesota Wild.   

Cathy Winter is an experienced leadership expert that is passionate about helping individuals understand and fine tune their unique style in order to bring out the best performance in themselves and their teams.

Education & Experience
Cathy brings to her clients the insights and learning from over 25 years of consulting and business management experience in sales, operations, and human resources for a number of corporate and sport organizations. She has become widely recognized for her expertise in assessing and optimizing talent as well as transitioning leaders, athletes and coaches into new roles, teams, and organizations.

Cathy has coached and developed leaders at all levels, from C-suite executives to front line leaders and individual contributors in Fortune 100, Fortune 500, and global organizations. Having been both a business leader and full-spectrum talent consultant, she brings a unique perspective to her advising approach and combines practical business experience with expertise in coaching, facilitating, and assessment to drive individual and team success. Cathy received her undergraduate degree in Psychology from the University of Minnesota and Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from the University of St. Thomas.

Presentations & Media
Cathy frequently presents on pressing leadership topics and is known for the lively energy of her presentations and her engaging, thought-provoking approach across global audiences. With an emphasis on the unique context and challenges each organization and its leaders face, she helps them recognize and act on opportunities to improve their influence, inspire their teams, and impact performance.

Courtney S. Ries is the Senior Vice President of Destination Branding and Strategy at Meet Minneapolis, the city’s tourism board. In her role, Courtney oversees the marketing, communications, partnership and visitor center departments. Since her return to the Midwest, Courtney has led a new direction for these areas of the organization, including the crafting of proactive public relations outreach to place Minneapolis on national, influential “Best Of” lists, overhauling the destination’s marketing approach and messages, creating the organization’s first diversity and inclusion strategy in all areas of her business lines and redefining membership outreach to heighten awareness of Minneapolis’ neighborhoods and small businesses. 

Courtney is deeply invested in the Minneapolis-St. Paul community. She is a graduate of the Leadership Twin Cities program, a mentor through the Women in Sports and Events association and a member of Make It. MSP.’s advisory council. She has supported numerous committees associated with events, including the 2018 Super Bowl and 2019 NCAA Men’s Final Four. 

Prior to her return to the region, Courtney oversaw the $10 million annual marketing budget for Travel Portland, the tourism board in Portland, Oregon. During her tenure, she also led the city’s Downtown Marketing Initiative, focusing on improving the economy and vitality of Portland’s core through strategic development, advocacy, programming, activation and events. 

A beneficiary of accelerated learning opportunities available through Minnesota’s public school system, Courtney graduated at the age of 20 from Northwestern University in Chicago. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in journalism.

Heather Hinkel, who is in her fifth season with the Twins, joined the organization in 2019 to help shape its future marketing structure, strategy and vision. She was promoted to Vice President, Brand Marketing in February of 2020. In her current role, Hinkel leads the Brand Marketing department, which is part of the club’s collaborative Marketing Communications team. Her key responsibilities include oversight of digital strategy, media, advertising, promotions, experiential, social, fan research and, ultimately, the continued evolution of the Twins brand. Hinkel brings an expertise in brand, business, engagement and experience strategy, along with consumer insights and research, honed through more than 15 years of marketing experience at renowned agencies. A native of Chicago, IL, Hinkel earned a degree in Advertising and Communications from the University of St. Thomas. Heather resides in Edina, MN, with her husband, Jared, and their children, Mason and Harper.

Jessica Poole has been an industry leader in athletics for over 20 years. She believes that sports can change the world and has enjoyed seeing the opportunities created and lives changed when people have the opportunity to participate in sports. While the bulk of her career has been spent in a college setting, Poole has spent time working in professional tennis and the opportunity with Minnesota Aurora FC provides her an opportunity to return to her first sport of soccer. 

“The mission and vision of Minnesota Aurora FC is unique and rare in today’s athletic landscape and culture. The idea that we are able to center all that we do around values steeped in community, equality and boldness is a game changer for our organization. I am grateful to have a front row seat for all that we will accomplish now and in the future.” 

Prior to taking on her role at Minnesota Aurora, Poole served as the Deputy Athletic Director at Chicago State University and also served as Interim Director of Athletics. Poole provided leadership, vision, strategy, direction and management over professional and support staff with oversight of business operations, human resources, diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), facilities, events, campus engagement, and capital engagement.  Poole also led in the oversight and management of policy development and strategic planning.  

Poole also served as Senior Associate AD for External Operations at Florida Atlantic University where she oversaw FAU's communications, marketing and corporate sponsorship areas while serving as a member of the athletics leadership team. 

A communications specialist by nature, Poole served in athletic communications capacities in athletic departments in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) at Vanderbilt and Ole Miss, in the Big Ten at Michigan and also in the Ivy League at Dartmouth College. 

When not out and about representing Aurora, Poole is active on the Board of College Sports Communicators (CSC), where she recently completed service as Board Chair and was the first Black woman to hold the position. She is also a member of the Black College Sports Information Directors and serves as a member of the executive team while also serving on the NCAA's Women's Basketball Final Four Media Coordination Committee.

She is also mom to her son William and enjoys spending time with friends and family. As an Ann Arbor, Michigan native, you can also always catch her cheering on her beloved Michigan Wolverines.