Melissa Hanson, MBA, serves as President of the Säjai Foundation. Melissa graduated from Bradley University and earned her MBA at the University of Minnesota, Carlson School of Management.
She has over 17 years of experience in marketing, management and business consulting. Melissa has worked with companies including General Electric, Pillsbury, International Multifoods, Jostens, Landscape Structures Inc. and others. Melissa is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Säjai Foundation, and works in key areas including product development, strategic alliances, fundraising and marketing. She is an avid biker and enjoys kayaking and hiking with her husband and three children.
Carrie Stolar
Carrie Stolar, MBA, serves as senior Marketing Manager at the Säjai Foundation. She graduated from Vanderbilt University, studied international economics under a Fulbright Fellowship at the Universität Kiel in Germany, and earned her MBA at Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management.
Prior to joining the foundation, Carrie worked in marketing, management and IT consulting for more than 9 years at companies including Accenture, Pillsbury, and Wilson Sporting Goods. Carrie’s responsibilities include product development and marketing at the Säjai Foundation. As the mother of three active children, she is passionate about encouraging and educating children to be active and healthy.
Amy Rea
Amy Rea is the Communications Coordinator for the Säjai Foundation, as well as its lead writer. She received a B.A. in English Literature from the University of Minnesota and has been freelancing full-time for nine years. She has written and edited for publications as diverse as corporate newsletters, consumer publications, literary journals, website content, market research reports, custom publishing books and book reviews. Her first book, An Explorer’s Guide to Minnesota, will be published by The Countryman Press in spring 2008. As the mother of two children, she finds the work she’s done with the Säjai Foundation to be especially fulfilling and worthwhile.
Christine Melko
Christine Melko, M.P.H. is a Registered Dietitian with nine years of experience. She graduated from Viterbo University and earned her master’s degree in Public Health from the University of Minnesota. Christine has worked at a Head Start program in the Chicago land area, as a research study coordinator at the University of Minnesota and served as a Peace Corps health volunteer in Madagascar. She is currently employed at a Twin Cities health care organization where she develops nutrition and health curriculum and educational programs.
Daniel Zeman
Dan Zeman, M.S. is an Exercise Physiologist with over 20 years of experience.
Dan graduated from the Ferris State College and earned his Masters Degree in Exercise Physiology from the University of North Texas. He has worked at St. Mary's Hospital in Minneapolis, MN as a clinical exercise physiologist with the diabetic and cardiac rehabilitation programs. He founded the comprehensive health and fitness program at the Flagship Athletic Club in Eden Prairie, MN.
Dan opened the Institute for Health and Fitness, Inc. located in the Minneapolis Sports Medicine Center, where he has worked with professional athletes from the NFL, NBA and the NHL as well as world-class and Olympic athletes, including marathon runners, wheelchair racers, mountain bikers and three-time Tour De France cyclist Greg LeMond. Dan plays a key consulting role in the Säjai Foundation research programs, curriculum development and more.
