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The Metropolis Foundation Board of
Directors
Duane A. Arens
Duane A. Arens Duane Arens is an Economic and Community Development Director for Connexus Energy, where his primary functions are to provide broad economic development planning to businesses and local units of government. Duane joined Connexus Energy in July of 1998. He has served on the staff of former Minnesota Governor Arne Carlson and has held representative positions with the Minnesota Department of Trade and Economic Development, AT&T, the Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce, and the Chamber of Commerce of the United States.
Duane holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Minnesota State University-Mankato, an MBA from the University of St. Thomas and is certified by the National Development Council as an Economic Development Finance Professional. He has taught at the University of Minnesota and has extensive experience working with government agencies, small businesses and communities. He has designed and delivered training programs in the telecommunications field and serves on many non-profit boards. Duane also has three Governor Appointments, including the Metropolitan Council and the Minnesota Amateur Sports Commission.
Duane has been actively involved in the local rugby community for over twenty years. He has represented Minnesota by participating on the Minnesota and Midwest select-side teams, selected from the best players in Minnesota and the Midwest. Duane brings his extensive background in management, community service, and athletics to The Metropolis Foundation.
Chris Babiash is a Green Bay, Wisconsin native who has been a part of the Twin Cities community since enrolling at the University of Minnesota, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Leisure Services Management in 1999. Chris joined M.A. Apparel, Inc. in 1998 and has been with the company ever since. Inspired by his involvement in rugby and years of facilitating rugby team sales for M.A. Apparel, Chris launched Rugby Athletic in September of 2005 (www.rugbyathletic.com).
Chris’s involvement with rugby began when he joined the University of Minnesota rugby team, where he was a three-year Captain, was selected to numerous collegiate select-side teams, and was honored with awards including the Club Sports Athlete of the Year and Team MVP. After University, Chris has continued to participate in rugby in the Twin Cites both on and off the field, where he has continued to earn honors for his play and volunteer efforts. He holds positions as the Youth Rugby Director for the Minnesota Amateur Rugby Foundation (MARF) and for the Minnesota Rugby Football Union (MNRFU), and as the Youth Development Officer (MN) for USA Rugby. He is also the current sitting President of the Metropolis Rugby Football Club.
Chris resides in Lino Lakes, MN with his wife Jen and children and man’s best friend (the dog), Dixie. In his free time, he enjoys rugby, sporting events, and spending time with his family.
Eric Curtin is an attorney at a Twin Cities-based Intellectual Property law firm, and holds Bachelor of Science and Law degrees from the University of Wisconsin. Eric's administrative and management background includes several years with Harley-Davidson Motor Company as an engineer and manager as well as recent involvement as a board member for the Metropolis Rugby Football Club.
Eric has been involved with rugby for over 20 years and has been an integral part of the Minnesota rugby community since moving to the Twin Cities in 1999. Eric continues to pursue rugby in Minnesota on and off the playing field. He has represented Wisconsin and the Midwest on Select-side teams. Eric’s non-profit experience includes a recent lead role in establishing a fundraising vehicle for collegiate rugby at the University of Wisconsin through partnership with the University of Wisconsin Foundation (with assets exceeding one billion dollars).
Eric brings his legal skills, rugby background and knowledge of foundation establishment and management to The Metropolis Foundation.
John Eichten is a Minneapolis native who has lived in England, Florida, and California. John graduated from St. Cloud State University in 1990 with a degree in business organizational development. Since being recruited into Rugby off of a Florida basketball court, John played for clubs in Jacksonville, Florida and Bloomington, Minnesota before joining Metropolis RFC, where he is a three-time winner of the Club Man Award and is currently active as an Old Boy member. John also coaches the South Metro Rugby Club based out of Minneapolis South High School, and recently earned honors as the Minnesota Rugby Union High School Coach of the Year. John’s passionate commitment to rugby is epitomized by his devotion to growing young men into leaders, both on and off the Rugby field.
John brings extensive experience to the Foundation, including eight years with the Minnesota Amateur Rugby Foundation (M.A.R.F.), two years as Vice President of the Minnesota Rugby Union, five years as Metropolis RFC Vice President, and three years as Co-Sponsorship Chair for the Health Information Management Systems Society of Minnesota.
John is an energized, active leader as Business Development Manager
for Escape Key – Business Tech Solutions, melding technology and
business perspectives together to achieve client-specific results. Prior
to joining Escape Key, John represented Microsoft® Business Solutions
to small to medium sized businesses on a national basis. John’s
varied management experience spans businesses of all sizes, from start-ups
to large, global businesses including Target Corporation. Married and
living in Southeast Minneapolis, John is also a business mentor for
students and an avid music enthusiast. John brings his extensive business
and leadership skills, together with his storied background in rugby
and youth athletics, to the Foundation and its Board of Directors.
Travis Karlin is a Market Manager for Wal-mart in for operations in Minnesota and Wisconsin. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Rice University. Prior to his career, Travis was a Supply Corps Officer in the United States Navy. Travis began his rugby career in the early 1990s and has played for a variety of clubs. He is currently the president of the Metropolis Rugby Football Club here in the Twin Cities. In addition to playing rugby, Travis coaches the South High School boys team, and is a Level II certified referee.
Travis is active in the community as well, and has served as the District Grant Coordinator for Target Corporation. He has also chaired United Way fund drives, served as Building Chair for Habitat for Humanity, and has been involved with various Masonic charities for two decades.
Travis brings his leadership and management skills, along with his knowledge of charity and non-profit work to The Metropolis Foundation.
Christine Levens is the Executive Director of the Northeast Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce. A longtime northeast Minneapolis resident, Christine is a graduate of the College of St. Catherine and has been working in the northeast community for the past 10 years.
While her career began in business management, Christine gravitated toward the nonprofit sector, where she has been able to strive toward her goals of serving people, and in particular, of serving the local Minneapolis community. As part of her current efforts, she has leveraged networking opportunities for the northeast business community and focused upon public safety.
Christine brings her vast experience in public works and the nonprofit
sector, together with a strong local Minneapolis flair, to The Metropolis
Foundation.
Russ Spaulding is an owner of a Twin Cities-based business process management consulting firm. Russ holds a Bachelor of Science degree in marketing and finance from Minnesota State University-Mankato.
Russ is a married father of two, with children of ages 3 and 8. He has also been involved in amateur rugby for over 20 years, including representing Minnesota participating on the Minnesota and Midwest Select-side teams for several seasons.
Russ brings his organizational and financial skills together with his
background in amateur rugby to The Metropolis Foundation.
Greg Stern came to the Twin Cities in 1996 from Cleveland, Ohio, where he worked for Chase Manhattan in his first two years after earning his B.S. in Finance degree from the University of Akron. Greg is currently an ABS Home Equity Trader for GMAC-Rescap, one of the largest privately-held companies in the Midwest. He has been with Rescap for 9 years, with a background focused in Risk Analytics and Credit Policy. He has additional administrative experience in rugby circles, serving as Treasurer for the Minnesota Local Area Union from 2000-2004. More recently, Greg has led efforts in raising grant awareness among Foundation members and contributors, and brining value to the corporations that choose to give to the Foundation.
Greg fell into rugby 14 years ago at the age of 23, after growing up
playing soccer. He instantly took to the challenges on the field in
coordination, communication, and tactical strategy that the game requires.
In his first two years in rugby, he was awarded Rookie of the Year and
Back of the Year from Akron RFC. After moving to Minneapolis and joining
Metropolis RFC, Greg had the opportunity to play rugby at the highest
level, participating in two Division II XV's National Quarterfinals
Teams in 1998 and 2004, and as a National 7's finalist in 2000. Greg
has also played internationally on several tours with Metropolis to
the UK, and on a US Select-Side team at the Maccabi Games in Israel
in 2001, where the US took the Silver Medal. Greg served as Metropolis
XV's Captain and 7's Captain in 2001-2002.
Steve Waters is a sales representative for Plateworks, Inc., a local Minnesota company. Steve markets and sells flexographic printing plates for the corrugated box market in the Twin Cities and greater Iowa regions while pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in marketing from Metro State University. Steve's administrative and management background includes several years at Central Container Corporation as the Quality Manager, Safety Manager and Production Manager.
Steve has been actively involved with amateur rugby for over 14 years. He has served as President of the Board for the Metropolis Rugby Football Club and continues to participate with the club on and off the field. Steve has also served as head coach for the Macalester College Rugby Club, and has been a staunch supporter of amateur and, having children of his own, youth athletics.
Steve brings his enthusiasm for sales and experience with the rugby community to The Metropolis Foundation.
Chris Zwettler Chris Zwettler is the founder and chief engineer of Zwettlerer Engineering, and further works as a contract engineer for selected clients. His work experience includes time with 3M and Imation Corporation as a Senior Mechanical Engineer. Chris holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin, and a Masters of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Minnesota. Chris has been actively involved in amateur rugby for over twenty-five years, including over fifteen years of active participation and promotion of rugby in Minnesota. He was also a member of the U.S. National Handball Team from 1984-1988.
Chris brings his strong engineering and industry background, together with an extensive history in amateur athletics, to The Metropolis Foundation.
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