Staff

Before coming to the Parks & Trails Council as communications director in 2005, Brett worked in communications for the Minneapolis Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP). He has worked as a reporter for the Columbia Missourian and internationally in Jamaica and South Africa. Brett holds a bachelor of individualized studies degree from the University of Minnesota and a master's degree in journalism from the University of Missouri - Columbia. Brett attributes his appreciation for parks to his father, a lifelong parks and recreation administrator who raised Brett in the world-class Minneapolis park system.

Beth Hynes has been a member of the Parks & Trails staff since 1999, Beth's previous experience includes work as the office manager for the Minnesota Division - Izaak Walton League and program manager for Legal Advice Clinics. She has extensive experience in developing and managing databases, and currently serves as a beta tester and on the Technical Advisory Committee for the nonprofit ebase.org. (The software "ebase" is a Filemaker Pro-based complete database developed by nonprofits for nonprofit community relationship management.) Beth is also an avid member of a voyageur historical re-enactors group, La Compagnie.

Hlee Lee came to Parks & Trails in the summer of 2011 after spending the previous four years as a producer for Twin Cities Public Television (TPT). Prior to that she worked as a reporter for Hmong Times and as a communications consultant for St. Paul Public Schools. A graduate of St. Thomas University with a B.A. in Journalism, Hlee began demonstrating her creative genius at a young age – teaming up to win an EMMY as a high school student working on TPT’s youth-directed program “Don’t Believe the Hype.” She is a gifted communicator and storyteller who is well versed in multiple mediums. Having grown up in a family that is a fixture in our parks, Hlee has also become an avid fisherwoman who can be found landing the big ones almost every weekend throughout the summer.

Peter Morgan has been a lifelong outdoor enthusiast, canoeing and hiking throughout Minnesota and beyond since a youngster. Before coming to the Parks & Trails Council Peter worked primarily in magazine publishing, including many years with the Hungry Mind/Ruminator Review. He later founded his own periodical, Borealis, a magazine of northern literature, art and culture. Peter holds a bachelor's degree in Government from Harvard University and is finishing his Master of Fine Arts degree in Writing at Hamline University, where he also teaches writing. In the early mornings you can find Peter on the Mississippi River, coaching the competitive rowing program at the Minnesota Boat Club. Peter lives in St. Paul with his exuberant Labrador Wilson (pictured) and his adorable cat Annie.

Katie Roth joined the Parks & Trails staff in 2010. She has extensive office management experience, having worked for more than 10 years as the listing/sales coordinator at Edina Realty, Inc. in Minneapolis. Prior to that, she worked five years at Resource, Inc. in Minneapolis as an intake coordinator where she did vocational testing to help people with physical and mental disabilities get back on their feet. In 2009, Katie also completed the work to become a paralegal, an added advantage in an office that deals with land transactions. Katie is an avid biker, tennis player and loves crossword puzzles. She lives in Minneapolis.

Steve Young has worked as a volunteer land project manager for the Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota since 2006. He became a land acquisition consultant for the organization in 2009. Steve has 20 years experience in the commercial real estate industry and is a licensed real estate broker in Minnesota. He holds a bachelor’s degree in construction administration from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a master’s degree in real estate development from Columbia University in New York, NY.