Daniel Scott
Chairman, Minnesota Regional Board

Mr. Scott is a partner with the law firm of Larson King, LLP engaged in commercial, product and employment litigation, insurance-related disputes and public affairs. With a business and tort litigation focus, Mr. Scott serves clients in the construction, energy, financial services, healthcare, manufacturing, political, retail and professional services industries.

Mr. Scott represents clients before judges and juries in state, federal, appellate and administrative courts, and in alternative dispute resolution. His clients include individuals, professionals, entrepreneurs, politicians, Fortune 500 companies, and governmental units. Minnesota Law & Politics recognizes Mr. Scott as a “Rising Star” and “Super Lawyer,” placing him in the top 5% of Minnesota lawyers.

Mr. Scott has served in numerous professional, civic and business organizations. He has been successively appointed by Saint Paul Mayors Norm Coleman, Randy Kelly and Chris Coleman to the city Heritage Preservation and Planning commissions. In 2009 he is the Chairman of the Saint Paul Area Chamber of Commerce and serves as a director on Capital City Partnership.

A South Dakota native, Mr. Scott received his undergraduate degree from Augustana College and law degree from the William Mitchell College of Law.

Cyndi Lesher
Director, Minnesota Regional Board

Cynthia (Cyndi) Lesher is the retired president and CEO of Northern States Power Company-Minnesota, an Xcel Energy company. During her career at Xcel Energy she served as Xcel Energy's vice president, chief administrative officer and chief human resources officer, president of NSP Gas, vice president of NSP human resources, and various other positions.

Ms. Lesher serves on the Board of Directors of Anchor Bank, the Twin Cities Area Red Cross (Board Chair), the Animal Humane Society and the University of Minnesota Institute of Technology Advisory Board. She also serves as a commissioner of the New Brighton Economic Development Commission and is a Regent Emeritus of the University of Minnesota.

Ms. Lesher was appointed chair of the Governor’s Workforce Development Council in 2004 by Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty. In 2003 she was inducted into the Women’s Economic Roundtable, comprising of the top 100 women leaders in Minnesota. In January 2007 Lesher was named President of the Host Committee for the 2008 Republican National Convention responsible for raising $58 million to fund the convention and to showcase Minneapolis, St. Paul and Minnesota to the world.

CityBusiness magazine named her among the Twin Cities' most innovative women. In 2007 she received the Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal’s Lifetime Career Achievement Award and she was selected by the Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce as the 2008 Woman of the Year.

Ms. Lesher earned a bachelor's degree in sociology from Drake University, a master's degree in rehabilitation counseling and psychology from St. Cloud State University, and completed the Master of Excellence Program at the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management.

Randy Schneider
Chairman, North Dakota Regional Board

Mr. Schneider is a Senior Tax Manager at Senger & Associates, P.C. He specializes in the construction, manufacturing, real estate, and agricultural industries. Mr. Schneider provides tax planning and business consulting within these industries. He has 23 years of experience in the public accounting and private industries.

Mr. Schneider has served as North Dakota Governor Appointee to the North Dakota Energy Policy Commission and North Dakota Renewable Energy Council since 2007 and also currently serves on the Business and Labor Advisory Board of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, the board of the North Dakota State University Center for Community Vitality and is President and Treasurer of the North Dakota Ethanol Producers Association.

Mr. Schneider was a founding member and treasurer of Gold Energy LLC, a start-up ethanol plant in Hankinson, North Dakota, and was a board member of US BioEnergy – Hankinson from 2006 to 2007.

Mr. Schneider graduated from the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, in 1980, with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a major in Accounting. He is a member of the North Dakota and Minnesota Societies of CPAs, and the American Institute of CPAs.

Don Drake
Chairman, Wisconsin Regional Board

Mr. Drake is the founder and owner of Shred-it Madison a document destruction company based in Madison, WI.  With over 3000 customers they are the largest document destruction company in the state of Wisconsin.  Shred-it provides document destruction services to a wide range of business and government entities.  Mr. Drake is also the founder of PODS Northeast Wisconsin, a portable storage company based in Appleton, WI.  They recently completed their 6000 move.  Mr. Drake recently successfully sold Endeavor Therapy and Sleep based in Mequon, WI.   Endeavor Therapy and sleep is a Medicare certified comprehensive outpatient rehabilitation facility and an independent diagnostic testing facility, which provides pulmonary rehabilitation, physical therapy and sleep studies.  A lifelong entrepreneur and veteran of ten startups, Mr. Drake continues to do business across the state of Wisconsin.

A native of South Dakota, Mr. Drake received his undergraduate degree in entrepreneurship from St. Thomas University and an MBA degree from the University of South Dakota.