The Charles L. Sommers Alumni Association, Inc.'s Nominating Committee appointed by the Board of Directors has nominated the following individuals to be included on the ballot for election to the Board of Directors for a three-year term (2026 through 2028):

John McKinney
John McKinney was an Interpreter in Ely in 2012 and 2013, at Bissett in 2014, and served as Training Coordinator in 2015 and 2016. He became a Life Member in 2019 and returned in 2021 and 2022 as an Alumni Interpreter during peak season. John now works full-time as a Professor of Management and Human Resources at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga; in addition to teaching, he consults in domestic and global HR. Before higher education, he worked in Human Resource Management, including in outdoor adventure tourism. He lives in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Shane Johnson
Shane Johnson worked at Northern Tier from 2006 to 2012—Trading Post staff (2006), Interpreter (2007–2009, 2011), and Assistant Chief Interpreter (2012). An Active Annual Member of the Charles L. Sommers Alumni Association, he is a Procurement Specialist at Los Alamos National Laboratory in Los Alamos, New Mexico, supporting critical purchasing and contract functions.

Cortney Grosz
Cortney Grosz has been an active member of the Board of Directors since 2019 and leads the SAA staff support activities. He was an OA Voyage foreman in 1999 and 2000 and became a Life Member in 2008. An advocate for Northern Tier programs with a keen interest in canoe base history and memorabilia, Cortney also serves as an Assistant Scoutmaster for his son’s troop. He works as a Pharmacist for Northwest Texas Healthcare System and lives in Amarillo, Texas.

Joe Mingrone
Joe Mingrone has been an active member of the Board of Directors since 2020. He previously served as an Interpreter in 2010, 2012, 2013, and at Bissett in 2015. During those summers, he developed a lasting passion for photography, fishing, exploration, and cultivating meaningful outdoor experiences. Joe became a Life Member of the SAA in 2012 and has since returned as an alumni volunteer for both summer canoe and Okpik winter expedition treks. He works professionally in Sales and Marketing and holds an M.B.A. from the University of Minnesota.