2023 Legislative Preview & Member Meeting

Adesewa Adesiji, DEED Workforce Strategy Consultant

Adesewa Adesiji is a Workforce Strategy Consultant (WSC) with the state of Minnesota’s Department of Employment and Economic Development. In her role for the metro area, she works with businesses developing strategies for attracting and retaining today’s and tomorrow’s workforce talent. An area of interest is increasing BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) representation in the workplace, across all industries and all levels. Adesewa received her bachelors in sociology from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities and her MBA from Augsburg College.

Commissioner Grace Arnold, Minnesota Department of Commerce

As overseer of state industries that provide financial security to Minnesotans and energy policy in Minnesota, Commissioner Arnold is committed to ensuring Commerce’s regulated markets are fair and accessible to all Minnesotans, and that Minnesota is a leader in creating a clean energy economy.

Commissioner Arnold was appointed by Governor Walz on April 15, 2021. Prior to her appointment, she served as the Deputy Commissioner of Insurance for the Commerce Department. In that role, she oversaw the life insurance, health insurance, and property and casualty insurance markets in Minnesota, ensuring that Minnesotans’ insurance complies with Minnesota law and that insurance companies are financially strong.

Commissioner Arnold spent nearly a decade at the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services where she helped lead the technology turnaround of healthcare.gov and led policy development during the implementation of the Affordable Care Act. Before joining the Department, Commissioner Arnold led product development for individual and family plans at Bright Health, a Minneapolis-based health insurer. She has a master’s degree from George Washington University and holds an undergraduate degree from Macalester College.

Commissioner Arnold lives in Minneapolis with her husband and two young kids.

Senator Nick Frentz (DFL-North Mankato)

Senator Nick Frentz was elected to the Minnesota Senate in 2016 running a successful campaign focused on education, good jobs, and transportation. He represents Senate District 19, which includes portions of Blue Earth, Le Sueur, and Nicollet counties in the south-central part of the state.

In 2019-2020, Frentz served on the following committees: Agriculture, Rural Development, and Housing Finance, Family Care and Aging, Transportation Finance and Policy, Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement. Sen. Frentz was also appointed as Assistant Minority Leader by the DFL caucus.

Members of Frentz’s family first moved to Mankato more than 150 years ago. Following graduation from Davis High School in 1980, Nick attended Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1984 and went on to law school at William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul. While attending, he was on the William Mitchell Law Review from 1986-1987 and received his law degree in 1987. He joined Frentz and Frentz Law Firm in 1987 and became a partner in 1989. In 2017, Senator Frentz merged his firm with Mashka, Riedy, & Ries to create Mashka, Riedy, Ries, and Frentz.

Representative Patty Acomb (DFL-Minnetonka)

Rep. Patty Acomb is a third term member at the Minnesota House of Representatives, directly serving the communities of Minnetonka, Wayzata, Woodland, Deephaven, and Shorewood. After graduating from the University of Minnesota with a degree in Natural Resource Management, she spent the first part of her career working for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and Hennepin County Environmental Services. Most recently, prior to serving in the Legislature, she was a member of the Minnetonka City Council, as well as serving on several local and state boards and committees. At the House, she currently sits as the Chair of the Minnesota House Climate Action Caucus, and will be the Chair of the Climate and Energy Finance and Policy Committee for the 2023-2024 biennium. Rep. Acomb aims to bring bold and creative legislative solutions to address climate change and preserve the beauty of Minnesota’s natural resources for generations to come.

Senator Eric Pratt (R-Prior Lake)

After graduating from Prior Lake High School, I attended the University of Colorado and earned my degree in Economics. While there I had the opportunity to play football, where I experienced what it was like to be part of a high-performing team. I saw examples of leadership that I carry with me today and learned lessons that I continue to use when facing professional and personal challenges.

I’ve worked in Banking and Finance for over 30 years, leading teams in risk management and fraud prevention. Working in a highly regulated industry has shown me that prescriptive rules usually come with unintended consequences. The role of government should be to assure fair competition has a chance to flourish, not to tell companies how to run their business.

Whether as a member of the Prior Lake – Savage School Board, or as a member of the Minnesota Senate, I’ve been recognized as someone who is effective at working across the aisle and getting things done for Minnesotans. I’m proud to represent Scott County in St. Paul, and to give back to a community that has given so much to me.

Amelia Cerling Hennes, CEEM's Director of Communications and Public Affairs

Amelia serves as Clean Energy Economy MN’s (CEEM) Director of Communications and Public Affairs. She is responsible for developing and implementing communication strategies to broaden the impact of CEEM’s public policy and oversee the organization’s overall communications and marketing strategy. Amelia is a storyteller at heart, and has enjoyed meeting people working in clean energy all across the state and helping share their stories.

Amelia holds degrees in broadcast journalism and Middle Eastern studies from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. She has more than a decade of experience in her field, including serving in the communications department at the Minnesota Senate, and serving as Weekend Anchor for the NBC affiliate in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.