Karen Frye and Kelly Klun have been elected to the board of directors of the Northeast Entrepreneur Fund. Frye is the founder and past president of Eagle Accounting Services in Duluth. Klun is an attorney and owner of the Klun Law Firm in Ely, and serves as the Ely city attorney.

New board officers were also elected. Mark Peterson, vice president and commercial district manager for US Bank in Duluth, was elected board chair. Sue Collins, president of the Northeast Higher Education District in Chisholm, was elected vice chair. Rebecca Spengler, owner of A Laundry Room Inc. in Ely, was elected secretary-treasurer. Bill Hansen, owner of Sawbill Canoe Outfitters in Tofte, was named past chair.

The Northeast Entrepreneur Fund helps people start and grow successful small businesses. It provides training, consulting and financing to emerging and small businesses in northeast Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin.

Since 1989, NEF has helped start, stabilize or expand more than 1,000 businesses; helped create or retain nearly 3,000 jobs; provided $9 million in loans to nearly 500 businesses; and served 10,000 people through its training, consulting and lending programs. More than 85% of business owners who receive assistance from NEF are still in business two years later. To learn more, visit www.entrepreneurfund.org.

The Greenstone Group, a 10-year initiative of NEF, seeks to foster a regional culture of entrepreneurship. It supports entrepreneurs through business performance coaching, access to professional services, and training, mentoring and networking opportunities. It also sponsors a campus entrepreneurship initiative with eight regional community colleges. To learn more, visit www.greenstonegroup.org.

• Kim Parmeter -8/31/2010
• Craig Kuske, P.E., S.E. -8/31/2010
• Barb Johnson -8/31/2010
• Doug Aretz -8/31/2010
• Shawna Jokinen -8/31/2010