Rebecca joined the CEDA team in May of 2017. Rebecca has a Master’s Degree in International Relations from the University of Wales, Swansea, and Bachelor of Science in Political Science from South Dakota State University. She has spent the past 15 years working on/leading political campaigns for both local and national candidates, as well as issue based campaigns.

Rebecca’s interest in rural economic development stems from her experiences working with rural communities during her political career, where she heard about the needs and difficulties facing rural communities across the nation. She has a strong desire to help to make positive changes for rural America.

Laura joined CEDA in April 2020 as an Economic & Business Specialist for Cannon Falls and Dodge County. Laura has a background in sales, marketing, management and digital marketing and has been an advocate for Cannon Falls businesses over her lifetime. Before CEDA, Laura worked as a Marketing Director for a Minnesota based community bank and served as a board member for the Cannon Falls Education Foundation for almost 15 years.

Laura is originally from North Dakota (Go Bison!) and grew up with entrepreneurs for parents. She got the retail bug early and when her family moved to Minnesota, she continued to work for her father’s business and learned the value of supporting local merchants. Laura is passionate about keeping rural America thriving and relevant!