Starting in 2008 with his work to pass the Clean Water Land and Legacy Amendment in Minnesota, Doug has over a decade of leadership with environmental nonprofits. For the last 6 years, Doug has served as an executive director taking on issues from climate change to renewable energy to playing a lead role in the fight to protect the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness from sulfide ore copper mining. Through this work he gained valuable insight in communications, marketing, and narrative-based motivation from partnerships with for-profit enterprises like Patagonia, Columbia, and many others in the Outdoor Industry. He is excited to bring cutting edge exploratory leadership and design thinking skills to H2O for Life.

Steve joined H2O for Life in 2008 as a volunteer and became the first full-time employee for the organization in 2009. Hall manages relationships with our US and International school service-learning program. In addition, he acts as the liaison between H2O for Life and our many Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) partners around the world who implement our water, sanitation, and hygiene education (WASH) projects at schools in need around the globe. Steve provides updates to our participants on the status of the WASH in Schools projects our program supports. 

Emilee joined H2O for Life in 2022, bringing with her over five years of experience with youth-focused nonprofits and a passion for getting youth involved in service-learning. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin - River Falls with a degree in Marketing Communications. Outside of work, Emilee enjoys reading mystery novels and taking her dog to the park.

Fred earned a Master of Public Health in Environmental and Infectious Disease Epidemiology from the University of Minnesota, and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire. He worked as an infectious disease epidemiologist for Washington County Department of Public Health and Environment for nearly 32 years. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Fred has been assisting numerous nonprofits and community-of-faith organizations in their response to the pandemic.

Over his career, he served on several boards and committees, including the Lakeview Hospital Infection Control Committee, The American Red Cross Minnesota Region board and St Croix Valley Red Cross board, and currently serves on the board of directors for Community Thread and H2O for Life. 

His international volunteer experience includes four community health and potable water supply services trips to rural Tanzania in 2006, 2007, 2014 and 2016. 

Fred and his wife have lived in the Stillwater area for over 35 years. They have two grown daughters. He is an avid sea kayaker and outdoors person.

Aaron is the Chief Financial Officer at Exact Sciences (NASDAQ: EXAS), a global leader in cancer diagnostics who mission is to help eradicate cancer by preventing it, detecting it earlier, and guiding personalized treatment.  Aaron joined Exact Sciences in 2024, bringing more than 15 years of strategic, progressive finance experience to the company.  Bloomer formerly served as vice president of corporate financial planning, reporting, and analytics (FP&A) for Baxter International, a global medical technology leader. He has significant experience with acquisitions and divestitures, portfolio management, setting corporate strategy and vision, leading financial transformations, and driving operational rigor.  Previously, Bloomer spent more than a decade with Fortune 500 company 3M, most recently as senior vice president of FP&A. Prior to this role, he served as chief financial officer for 3M China in Shanghai and as CFO for the company’s display materials division in Tokyo, Japan.

 

Aaron holds a bachelors in Finance and a Masters of Business Administration and lives in Chicago, IL.  He has two kids who he loves spending time with, is an avid MN sports fan (sadly!), enjoys traveling the world, and is thrilled to be a part of H2O for Life and the wonderful work being done to help with the global water crisis 

Liz is an experienced litigator and Partner at Robins Kaplan LLP, where she represents clients nationwide in products liability, commercial, insurance, and disaster litigation. Liz also serves as Co-Chair of the firm's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee and is actively involved in hiring, mentoring, and training the next generation of attorneys. Liz and her husband T.J., a former educator turned lawyer, live in North Oaks with their two young boys and rescue dog. 

Katy is passionate about education, serving as a special education teacher for 20 years and as an administrator for 3 years.  As a teacher participant and a supporter of the organization, she has been involved with H2O for Life since 2007. Katy loves to travel and has been fortunate to visit H2O for Life projects in Kenya, seeing firsthand the impact the organization has on both local and global communities.  She enjoys yoga, sports, traveling, and spending time with her family.  Katy and her husband live in White Bear Lake, MN with their three children.  

Sally spent fifteen years as a Vice President in corporate finance for Bank One & Bank of America, specialized in commercial real-estate lending.  For the last ten years, Sally worked for mid size businesses in various marketing and management roles. She earned her BS in International Business from the University of South Carolina.  Since retiring in 2020, she has been an active volunteer and supporter of multiple non-profit organizations including 21 Roots, MPR, Urban Boatbuilders, Habitat for Humanity, & Braver Angels.  Sally is eager to advocate for H2O for Life’s exceptional programing and to help improve access to safe water for schools globally.  She and her husband, Randy, have four adult children and enjoy tennis, golf and summer activities on Turtle Lake.

Patty was a middle level educator at Highview Middle School where H2O for Life began as a service-learning program. Patty is a co-founder and has volunteered with H2O for Life since its inception in 2007. She is married, has 3 adult children, 6 grandchildren — all of whom are amazing water advocates. In her spare time Patty enjoys reading, travel, outdoor activities and is passionate about the global water crisis. 

With over two decades of experience spanning various sectors, John Hutchinson is a dedicated leader committed to driving positive change and fostering growth. As a Co-Founder, Chief Operating Officer, and President of CARE Counseling, John has led CARE into becoming a leader of excellence in the mental health field and championed CARE’s growth from 1 to 10 locations, 2 to 300 employees within 10 years led to three years on the Inc 5,000 list, Fast 50, Best Places to Work before finally culminating in a sale to Optum. 
 
 Hutchinson's visionary leadership has cultivated an environment where clinicians thrive, ensuring the delivery of the best possible client experiences. Through his remarkable contributions to the field, in 2023 John was recognized as a "Health Care Hero" by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal, for putting innovation, care, dedication, and compassion to work to improve the human condition. Hutchinson also serves as the Chairman of the Board for CARE More, a charitable initiative with the purpose of creating systemic change within the mental health community. Additionally, Hutchinson currently serves as a board member with YPO and H20 for Life. 
 
 John Hutchinson also founded, owns and/or leads a number of other organizations including Hutchinson Enterprises, a holding company which has completed over $30 Million in real estate transactions in the past 3 years, Ryzo Commercial Real Estate, Summit Realty, and Skywalker Structures. Hutchinson is an active early-stage investor in a variety of manners including venture funds, private equity groups, and direct investing. Leveraging his expertise in consumer behavior, healthcare, real estate and finance also creates a wide-variety of personal interest, with his current favorite being the operation of a tiny hosta farm with his daughters Charlotte (9) and Sophia (7) who are becoming increasingly fluent with financial statements. Many of John’s businesses are run jointly with the love of his life, Dr. Andrea Hutchinson who is a Psychologist, the world’s best mom, and of course an award winning business leader.

Anne recently retired after 37 years of teaching middle school Social Studies and Language Arts. She has been working with H2O for Life since 2007 helping raise awareness of the global water crisis with students at Centennial Middle School. Anne volunteers in the community with Let’s Go Fishing, Community Meals and at her church. She enjoys reading, spending time outdoors and playing pickleball. Anne and her husband live in Chisago City and have three adult children and six grandchildren.

Jennie Zafft, CMD, CRRP, is an accomplished marketing professional with expertise in strategic planning, brand management, public relations, advertising/media, sponsorships, customer service, financial and ROI management, and market research. She has extensive experience developing, planning, implementing, and managing all aspects of marketing, advertising, public relations, tenant relations, and communication programs for retail centers.

In her previous role at a leading global firm, Jennie was instrumental in creating Global Standards for Marketing for CBRE Retail Property Management. She currently oversees local marketing programs for Avison Young’s managed shopping centers across the United States, managing market-level strategies, creative messaging, media, and sponsorship activations to drive traffic, sales, ROI, brand awareness, and brand consideration metrics for the portfolio.

Jennie is actively involved with the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) as a volunteer and mentor and has received multiple MAXI Awards—the industry’s highest honor—for her successful marketing programs. She also volunteers with nonprofits ESA and H2O for Life.

Jennie is a graduate of Saint Mary’s University in Winona, MN.  She is the proud mother of two children, Will and Quinn.