Finalists Announced for Vice President of Finance and Administration

Bemidji State University and Northwest Technical College are announcing three candidates who will visit the campuses as finalists for the position of vice president of finance and administration. On-campus interviews begin Monday, May 18.

The finalists are:

  • Karen Snorek, currently vice president of finance and facilities at South Central College
  • David Bjelland, currently chief financial officer at Alexandria Technical and Community College
  • Brent Winiger, currently vice president for finance and administration at Rivier University in Nashua, N.H.

On-campus interview schedule:

  • May 18 – Karen Snorek
  • May 21 – Dave Bjelland
  • May 27 – Brent Winiger

The trio of finalists are vying to succeed Bill Maki, vice president of finance and administration at BSU and NTC since 2004, who on July 1 will become president of Minnesota’s Northeast Higher Education District.

Finalist bio sketches

Karen Snorek has over 22 years of experience in higher education with the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities. She currently serves as vice president of finance and facilities for South Central College, with campuses in Faribault and North Mankato, Minn. She has provided strategic fiscal management and budgetary advice to presidents and leadership teams. Throughout her career, she has led and managed renovation and new construction projects worth more than $25 million.

She currently chairs the Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union board and has previously been a member of the Affinity Plus foundation.

David Bjelland is in his 10th year as chief financial officer at Alexandria Technical and Community College. He provides direction for the college in all areas of financial management, including budget, accounting, financial reporting and compliance with state and federal regulations. He oversees facility and grounds maintenance, safety and security, and the college’s auxiliary operations. He works directly with the college president and leadership council to align the college with MnSCU board policies, directions and targeted outcomes.

Prior to his current position, he was finance director for the St. Cloud Housing and Redevelopment Authority, finance director for the city of Faribault and department accountant for the city of St. Paul. He also served as a local government auditor for the Office of the Minnesota State Auditor.

Brent Winiger is currently vice president for finance and administration at Rivier University in Nashua, N.H. He has previously held positions including vice President for financial affairs at the University of Mary in Bismarck, N.D.; finance director for the city of Newport, Ore.; and budget director for Boise State University.

He has provided direction and oversight for university-wide budgeting, accounting, financial reporting, compliance, facilities maintenance and construction, and campus security.

Contact
Dr. Martin Tadlock, provost and vice president for academic affairs, Bemidji State University & Northwest Technical College

Bemidji State University, located in northern Minnesota’s lake district, occupies a wooded campus along the shore of Lake Bemidji. Enrolling nearly 5,000 students, Bemidji State offers more than 50 undergraduate majors and nine graduate programs encompassing arts, sciences and select professional programs. BSU is a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system and has a faculty and staff of more than 550. University signature themes include environmental stewardship, civic engagement and global and multi-cultural understanding.