State Office Staff
Not sure who to contact? Refer to the end of each bio for guidance.
Michelle Witte
Executive Director
Michelle Witte serves as the Executive Director of the League of Women Voters of Minnesota, founded in 1919 to further empower voters and defend democracy after the passage of the 19th Amendment which expanded votes for women. Michelle has served as ED since 2017, and is deeply passionate about serving voters through our vibrant nonpartisan organization, committed to civic engagement through the work of 35 community-based chapters with more than 2,300 members here in Minnesota, and more than 800 chapters throughout the United States. Michelle is a graduate of the University of Minnesota, has a Public Affairs Fellowship from the Coro Foundation, and has followed the proud League tradition of women serving in government, having served as an elected school board member for South Washington County Schools. When not working on our democracy, Michelle enjoys being active in her Woodbury community with her husband Eric and rescue dog Kiwi, and spending time with her 2 adult daughters.
Email Michelle | 651-402-3184
Contact me for: Media contact, urgent League issues, fundraising/development
Amy Perna
Associate Director
Amy's passion for civic and community engagement began in high school where she organized faculty and students to support and celebrate underrepresented communities. In 2016 she was hired by LWV St. Paul to run candidate forums. She loved it so much that she joined the board in 2017 and served in many positions, including co-president. She has experience working in both the nonprofit and government sectors.
Amy has a B.A. in Anthropology & African History from the University of Minnesota and a Master's in Public Policy from the Humphrey School. In her free time, Amy enjoys connecting with family and friends, cooking and rowing. She lives in St. Paul with her family.
Email Amy | 651-224-5445
Contact me for: Vote411.org, Youth Engagement, League/member support, Voter Service, and Membership
Sam Streukens
Civic Engagement Director
Sam found his passion as an organizer while learning about climate change, democracy, and racial justice in greater Minnesota. He helped register underrepresented communities to vote in the 2020 election, and promoted sustainable farming and healthy rural communities with the Land Stewardship Project. He wants to continue educating the public on the issues relevant to our lives and building relationships based on shared values. Sam likes to complete spreadsheets, plan events, and reach every voter, but will not turn down an opportunity to chat over coffee and cookies!
When he is not working, Sam enjoys hiking and biking in the bluffs of southeast Minnesota where he lives, spending time with friends and family, and supporting local businesses. He is completing his Master’s in Advocacy and Political Leadership from Metro State University, after earning a Bachelor’s in Global Studies from Winona State University and serving a short stint in the Peace Corps.
Email Sam
Contact me for: Advocacy, Voter Service, Vote411.org
Bridgit Jordan
Accounting Manager
Growing up on a farm in southwest Minnesota, Bridgit learned to milk cows, raise chickens and drive tractors, instilling the “roll up your sleeves and get the work done” ethic at an early age.
After graduating from St. Olaf College with a degree in social work, Bridgit worked in that field for a couple of years before moving out of state with her husband. Since her social work licensure wouldn’t transfer, she found work in nonprofit finance instead. Twenty years later, she has never looked back. Today, she helps to keep the doors open and the lights on, bringing that same hardworking ethic to the League.
Bridgit lives with her husband, two daughters and three cats in south Minneapolis. Now, if only Minnesota could look a little more like a sunny, Mexican beach…
Email Bridgit | 651-224-5445
Contact me for: Financials for local Leagues, IRS and tax issues
Mary Brodd
Technical Services Manager
Mary grew up in Moline, Illinois, "farm-implement capital of the world." She went off to college in Washington, D.C., then spent three years working as a contractor at the US Embassy in Moscow, USSR/Russia. Back in Illinois, she and her husband raised two children, all the while involved in Scouting, PTA, and marching band.
Mary worked as a church secretary in IL and then MN for almost twenty years. They were lured to Minnesota by a job opportunity for her husband, and Mary began her involvement with the local LWV in 2018. She enjoys helping MN's local Leagues use all our technology tools to spend less time on admin and more time "empowering voters and defending democracy." Mary enjoys reading (working on presidential biographies right now), collecting fountain pens, and weightlifting. She and her husband live in Woodbury.
Email Mary | 651-224-5445
Contact me for: Database, Vote411.org, website, Canva, Google Workspace
Lorene Dickert
Administrative Assistant
Lorene grew up on a farm in southeast Minnesota, near Rochester, and later went on to college at Augsburg, receiving her Bachelor’s in American Studies and Library Science. She spent the bulk of her career at Fairview Hospital and Healthcare Services. Now semi-retired, she enjoys gardening, playing handbells, and spending time with her grandchildren.
Email Lorene | 651-224-5445
Contact me for: Lorene will happily accept all questions and will do her best to guide you!
Paul Huffman (Volunteer)
Election and Redistricting Policy Coordinator
Paul joined LWVMN as a state member in 2018 and joined the Woodbury-Cottage Grove Area League in 2019. He has been committed to public service throughout his life, beginning as a nuclear submarine officer in the U.S. Navy, where he served 13 years on active duty and retired as a Commander from the Naval Reserve. He also worked in the nuclear utility industry where he held a number of senior operating and corporate leadership positions, retiring from Xcel Energy in 2019 as General Manager Nuclear Fleet Operations.
Paul was attracted to LWV by its commitment to “Empowering Voters” and “Defending Democracy,” as well as LWV’s track record in supporting redistricting reform and opposing partisan gerrymandering. He has been LWVMN’s Redistricting Coordinator since June 2019 and is a member of the Our Maps Minnesota redistricting campaign steering committee. In 2020, he became the LWV WCGA Voter Service Director, was a precinct Head Election Judge during the 2020 Election, and served on the Washington County Ballot Board.
In serving as Election and Redistricting Policy Coordinator, Paul wants to use his organizational and strategic planning experience, and his education and experience in election administration, to support innovation and growth in LWVMN’s support for voters to maximize their readiness and willingness to participate in elections, and to create long term partnerships to support a healthy democracy.
Paul has a master’s degree in National Security Affairs from the Naval Postgraduate School, an MBA from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, and recently received a graduate Certificate in Election Administration from the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of MN.
Bailey Lengfelder
VOTE411 Intern
Bailey is a current junior at Macalester College majoring in Economics and Gender Studies, with a minor in Statistics. She serves as President for the Macalester College Consulting Club and plays on Macalester's Women's Golf team. She is originally from Renton, WA. Bailey also volunteers at Planned Parenthood in her free time and has a passion for nonprofit work.