Jon Eichten serves as MNIT’s Deputy Commissioner. In his role, Jon oversees state agency business partner and governmental relations and ensures overall operational alignment with MNIT’s mission, vision, and values.

Jon previously held the position of Legislative Director, where he oversaw MNIT policy and budget proposal development, legislative affairs, and special projects.

Prior to joining MNIT, Eichten worked for the Minnesota Senate. He received his degree in Political Science from Carleton College.

Brandon Hirsch serves as Director of Government Relations for Minnesota IT Services, or MNIT. In this role, Brandon leads MNIT’s interactions with the legislature on matters related to policy and budget, advocating for strategic investments to enhance digital services, strengthen cybersecurity, and improve digital accessibility for Minnesotans. Brandon also coordinates with MNIT’s agency partners on information technology initiatives across the executive branch as they relate to policy, budget, and legislative oversight. In addition, Brandon coordinates MNIT’s engagement efforts with county technology partners and key advisory bodies including the Technology Advisory Council, Cybersecurity Task Force, and Geospatial Advisory Council.

With over 20 years of experience at the intersection of technology, policy, and public service, Brandon previously served as an assistant director at the National Archives and spent nearly a decade in technology administration and policy in the U.S. Senate.

Mr. Eichten is a principal with the Governmental team at LBCarlson. LBCarlson completed a strategic merger with Malloy, Montague, Karnowski, Radosevich, & Co., P.A. on January 1, 2025.

He has worked with school districts and other local governments for over 35 years. His areas of expertise include governmental auditing, accounting, federal financial assistance programs, Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting programs, management consulting services, internal control studies, operational reviews and cash flow projections. Mr. Eichten is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Minnesota Society of Certified Public Accountants, Minnesota Government Finance Officers’ Association, and Minnesota Association of School Business Officials. He is also a past Chairman of the board of the Minnesota Society of Certified Public Accountants and past member of Council of the AICPA.

Jen serves as an Associate Municipal Advisor on our School Finance team, supporting Municipal Advisors with bond and operating referendum planning, capital project levies, truth in taxation hearing preparation and property tax impact analysis. Prior to joining the Education Team, Jen amassed eight years of experience with Ehlers’ Minnesota Local Government Team as a Senior Public Finance Analyst assisting clients and colleagues with debt planning, coordination and documentation. She also has several years’ experience as a paralegal in both civil and commercial law.

Matthew joined Ehlers in 2018 as a Municipal Advisor with our School Finance team and was promoted to Senior Municipal Advisor in 2022. He brings more than a decade of direct school district experience to his role with the firm, most recently serving as the Director of Finance and Operations for Fridley Schools. Our clients appreciate Matthew’s specialized expertise in finance leadership, financial planning and operations management.

Ryan joined Ehlers as a Senior Investment Adviser in 2018, bringing more than 10 years’ financial and investment management experience to his role. Instrumental in driving the growth of our Investment services and capabilities, he was promoted to Managing Director in 2021. Previous to joining Ehlers, Ryan served as a Cash Management Officer with a Twin Cities-based community bank.

Serving the State of Minnesota as a county and state election official for over 22 years demonstrates a deep commitment to ensuring the integrity and smooth operation of the electoral process. It is an honor to provide guidance and support to hundreds of election administrators across the state. My current role is the election administration training lead and acting deputy director of elections for the Elections Division of the Minnesota Secretary of State's Office. Leading efforts to adapt to the evolving needs of election administrators and strive to enhance the knowledge and skills of those responsible for administration of elections in Minnesota.

Brian joined Ehlers as the Director of Investment Services in 2024, bringing our clients more than 20 years’ experience in developing fixed-income portfolio strategies, cash flow forecasting and investment policies for public funds investors. He previously worked for nearly a decade for a public-sector asset management firm, where he provided fixed-income investment services to municipalities, school districts and other public entities. Prior to that, he spent more than 10 years with two Minneapolis-based broker-dealer firms.

Jeff assists our school district clients in developing financial solutions that improve and enrich their learning communities. Prior to joining Ehlers, he was Director of Fiscal Affairs with Winona School District for eight years. He also served as the Financial Director for three Wisconsin school districts. Jeff’s hands-on experience as a school district business official gives him unique insight into the challenges his clients face and empowers him to devise unique solutions helping to move their projects forward.

Karissa Hall has served as the Assistant to the Superintendent at Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial School District since 2017. With a background in sales, marketing, and graphic design, she brings a creative and strategic approach to her work. Karissa leads the district's social media platforms and designs parts of the district website, ensuring effective communication and a strong online presence. She played a key role in communicating the district's successful $6.5 million bond referendum in 2024, as well as the renewal of the technology levy and existing revenue referendum in 2022. Karissa can offer valuable insights into the strategies, timelines, and materials that contributed to the success of these initiatives.

Abbey Lang is the Director of Community Services for Dassel-Cokato Schools. Her career has spanned more than twenty years, dedicated to public education and creating lifelong learners. Since 2016, she has provided leadership in developing and implementing Dassel-Cokato's community services, including community education, communications, and health services. Abbey believes in building relationships and creating connections between the district and the community.

Kay Villella has been in communications for over 20 years – the last 15 of which have been at Twin Cities school districts. Through her work, she's shared creative two-way communications that highlight each organization’s mission, values and goals. Much of her current day-to-day work focuses on understanding her district's audiences – the needs of staff, families and the community at large.

Some of Kay's largest projects have been referendums and boundary changes. She's helped lead her teams through three successful referendums (Anoka-Hennepin Schools 2017, Osseo Area Schools 2022 and 2023). A strong community engagement process on boundary changes followed the 2017 referendum and is currently in the midst after the 2023 referendum.

Braden Wesley serves as the Business Manager for the Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial School District. He has served in this role for 12 years. In his 12 years at the district, he was part of 4 successful referendums (both operating levies and bond referendums). Prior to working at the school he worked at Eide Bailly for 6 years. He received his bachelor’s degree from Minnesota State University – Mankato.

Randy is a Product Manager with our School Finance team, bringing nearly 25 years of school finance experience to his role with the firm. Prior to joining Ehlers, he led the Business Services functions for several Minnesota school districts, including New Prague, Elk River, Lakeville and North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale. Since retiring from North St. Paul in 2021, Randy has remained active in education finance as well as coaching tennis for Red Wing Public Schools. Our clients appreciate Randy’s keen understanding of the challenges Minnesota school districts face and how his analysis helps them drive projects toward successful completion.

Beth is a Municipal Advisor with our School Finance team. She brings nearly two decades of public finance experience to her role with the firm, most recently serving as the Director of Business Services for ROCORI school district. Prior to that, she worked as a Business Manager with Holdingford Public Schools and a governmental audit supervisor with a private firm. Beth holds a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from the College of St. Benedict.

As the Director of School Finance for Minnesota Department of Education (MDE), Cathy oversees teams that support general education and categorical funding, levy process and certification, financial management audits and Uniform Financial Accounting and Reporting Standards (UFARS), aid payments, budget and forecasting, fiscal notes, data management including students, transportation, and MDE-ORG sites, special education funding and compliance and monitoring, and facilities and Long-Term Facilities Maintenance (LTFM) funding.

Before joining MDE in July 2022, Cathy gained 23 years of school finance experience serving as Executive Director of Business Services/CFO at Duluth Public Schools, Finance Funding and Management Specialist at Arrowhead Regional Computing Consortium (ARCC), and Business Manager at Lake Superior School District.  In addition, Cathy was an adjunct instructor for St. Mary’s University teaching school finance to educators seeking administrative or superintendent licenses.

Cathy earned her bachelor’s degree in management from the College of St. Scholastica.