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Opportunity Partners' Executive Team
Bruce Bester, Senior Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer
 Bruce Bester attended the University of Minnesota and the University of Maryland and graduated cum laude from North Michigan University with a bachelor's degree in accounting, finance and economics. He also has a Mini MBA from St. Thomas University. After service in Vietnam and employment at Honeywell, Bruce came to Opportunity Partners in 1974. He has been involved in all major growth initiatives of Opportunity Partners, overseeing an agency budget that has grown from $1 million to $27 million. Bruce is an active volunteer with nonprofits, currently involved with MN Rehabilitation Services, Minnesota Association of Community Rehabilitation Organizations, Minnesota Nonprofit Employers Workers Compensation Fund (board of directors) and the Association of Residential Resources in Minnesota.
Brenda Goral, Senior Vice President, Client and Customer Care
 Brenda Goral has joined Opportunity Partners as Vice President, Vocational Services. In her role, she oversees employment and personal development programs for individuals with developmental disabilities, autism, brain injury and other special needs. Prior to arriving at Opportunity Partners, Brenda worked for 28 years at Dakota Communities, Inc., most recently as Vice President of Program Services. She brings a wealth of management and leadership experience to Opportunity Partners, including a proven ability to lead projects successfully. Brenda has a B.S. degree from Minnesota State University at Mankato and has completed graduate level coursework in special education at St. Mary’s College of Minneapolis. She has been active in a number of organizations, including the Association of Residential Resource in Minnesota (ARRM), where she served on the Board of Directors, and Minnesota Life College, where she currently serves as a member of the board.She has also been active in the Association for Severely Handicapped, the MN Association for Severely Handicapped, and the National Association for Dual Diagnosis. In 2004, Brenda was a recipient of The Business Journal “Woman Change Maker Award” for outstanding leadership in the community.
Bridget S. Kohl, Vice President, Human Resources and Volunteer Services
 Bridget S. Kohl was named Vice President, Human Resources and Volunteer Services for Opportunity Partners in January 1999. She attended the College of St. Benedict and received Mini MBA degrees from St. Thomas in Human Capital Management and Nonprofit Management. Bridget has had over twenty years of experience in human resources in such diverse fields as manufacturing, retail, transportation, warehousing and the medical field. Bridget directs the human resource department and oversees the volunteer and education departments. She is a member of the National Society of Human Resources, Twin City Personnel Association , the Employers Association and Past President of the Downtown Lions Association.
Dave Lanari, Vice President, Information Technology
David Lanari joined Opportunity Partners in 2005 as the Vice President of Information Technology. He has a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Business Administration from St. John's University. David is accountable for the organization's technology initiatives and support functions. With over 20 years of technology experience, David has become an accomplished senior IT manager by providing effective leadership across multiple diverse organizations through achievement of corporate goals and initiatives. David's senior IT management positions include: VP and CIO for ABI/ Risk Management Alternatives Inc., VP of Information Services & Systems for First Health Inc., VP of Technology and Resource Administration for Woodland Container Corp., Director of IT for RR Donnelley Logistics, and District IS Manager for United Parcel Service.
Glen Rank, Vice President, Sales & Business Development
 Glen Rank brings a wealth of private sector business and sales management experience to Opportunity Partners. Glen spent several years in finance, accounting and operations management roles with Gould Inc., a manufacturer of portable power sources and The William Harvey Co., a manufacturer and wholesaler of plumbing equipment. In 1989 he joined Dun & Bradstreet as a sales manager and spent 16 years leading high performing sales teams locally and nationally, most recently as Vice President, Risk Management Solution Sales. Since leaving D&B, Glen has been consulting in the areas of sales and marketing management for some of the largest companies in the region. Glen actively volunteers with many nonprofits including Smile Network International and Into-action and serves as a mentor for at-risk individuals.
Wendy Waldner, Vice President, Residential Services
 Wendy Waldner was promoted to Vice President of Residential Services in 2004. Wendy has worked for the company since 1991, most recently as Director of Residential Services, where she supervised the operations of Opportunity Partners residences. As Vice President of Residential Services, Wendy oversees Opportunity Partners' 20 residences, which serve 88 people, as well as its community-based programs, which serve 200 clients living in apartments and homes in Hennepin and Anoka counties. Wendy has worked in the social services field since 1980 and has a bachelor's degree in social work. She also has earned a Mini MBA in Nonprofit Management from St. Thomas.
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