Board Members

Emily joined the AAF board in 2023 with the goal of using her professional skills to give back to the community. As a local estate planning attorney, Emily is especially passionate about the areas of charitable giving and creating opportunities for people to leave a legacy through their estates. As the current Board Chair, Emily is honored to lead AAF’s efforts in making a positive impact in Austin and greater Mower County.

Catherine joined the AAF board in 2022 to better support Austin and the surrounding communities. Having attended college thanks to a scholarship from a local foundation, she is especially passionate about her work on the Scholarship Committee. As its Chair, Catherine is honored to help students access the educational opportunities that shaped her own life.

I am the Secretary of AAF after working with other nonprofits. I became involved because I believe community foundations can help to insure the health and success of our city.

Isaac Gorman is the Treasurer of the Austin Area Foundation, a role he has held since 2024. Having grown up in the community, he is passionate about supporting initiatives that strengthen the area and give back to the place that shaped him.

Taggert Medgaarden serves as the Executive Director of the Housing & Redevelopment Authority of Austin, leading efforts to expand housing options and advance key redevelopment projects across the community. He also supports the Austin Area Foundation in its mission to strengthen the Austin area.

Pierre Lilly has been a dedicated member of the Austin Area Foundation Board since 2021, contributing his business expertise to support advancing the Foundation’s mission of strengthening the Austin community and Mower County through philanthropy. He serves as Chair of the Audit Committee and is committed to ensuring sound governance and financial stewardship. Pierre is Senior Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer at Hormel Foods Corporation. His involvement with the Foundation reflects a deep commitment to community engagement and sustainable impact.

Gail Dennison is the Director of Development and External Relations for The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, located in Austin, Minnesota. Gail leads the team responsible for developing fundraising support for The Hormel Institute’s cancer and biomedical research and helping to establish research collaborations. She is the government liaison working with state and federal legislators and agencies, and led the past two major capital campaigns that helped transform HI into the state-of-the-art research center it is today.

Gail holds a master’s degree in philanthropy and development, a bachelor’s degree in business, and industry certifications. She is part of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce Leadership Group and serves on multiple boards including Apex Austin, Austin Area Foundation, Development Corporation of Austin, KSMQ Regional Board, and AFP Global IDEA and AFP Southern Minnesota. In 2024 she received the “Outstanding Fundraising Professional” Award from AFP, the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

Kevin Finley is a lifelong resident of Austin, Minnesota, with deep roots in the community and a strong commitment to local involvement. He has proudly served on the Mower County Fair Board for 16 years, including the past 12 years as President.

Kevin is the owner of K&L Construction, a locally based business he has operated for more than 30 years. He is also a fifth-generation farmer, raising both crops and livestock alongside his wife, Kathi, and working with two of their four children to continue the family’s agricultural tradition. A strong believer in supporting local businesses and strengthening the community, Kevin is dedicated to giving back through service, leadership, and long-term investment in Austin and the surrounding area.

I have been a member of the Austin Area Foundation board since 2024. I also serve on the AAF Development Committee and the AAF Nominating Committee. I am the AVP of Commercial Lending with First Farmers & Merchants Bank in Austin and Brownsdale, Minnesota. My focus is helping local organizations and growing companies secure the financing they need to support growth, operations, and long-term sustainability.

In addition to my professional experience in banking and commercial finance, I am passionate about community involvement and nonprofit service. I believe in supporting organizations that create meaningful impact in our local community, and I am committed to contributing financial insights, collaborative leadership, and strategic guidance as a member of the AAF board.

Joan Hanson is the Executive Director at the Mower County Senior Center, responsible for the strategic and operational management of the organization. Prior to joining the Senior Center, Joan held leadership roles at Hormel Foods in creative services, meetings and events, and the SPAM Museum.

Joan is a native of Slayton, a small town in southwestern Minnesota. She received her bachelor’s degree in food science and nutrition from the University of Minnesota. Currently, Joan serves on the Digital Equity Advisory Committee and the Austin Art Festival Visual Arts Committee. She is a member of Austin Morning Lions and PEO.

Jeanne Poppe was a charter member of the Austin Area Foundation Board of Trustees. She, along with other Austin civic leaders, determined there was value in creating a community foundation. She served for a term at the beginning of this journey and then left the board when she was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives. In early 2022, she was invited to return and is currently serving her second term, serving as the Chair of the Nominating Committee.

Varinh Van Vugt joined the Austin Area Foundation Board of Trustees in August 2025, however she is not new to the community. Her family moved to Austin in the late 1980s as refugees from Laos. As a longtime resident she has observed the impressive way in which neighbors care for each other through difficult times, as well as collaborate to enhance the community. In her professional life she works with multicultural families to support student success and family engagement at Austin Public Schools.

Varinh serves on various boards in the community such as the Salvation Army Advisory Board and the Austin Aspires Board of Directors. She also volunteers her time serving the City of Austin as a member of the Austin Human Rights Commission and the Police Civil Service Commission. In her free time she enjoys singing karaoke and going on adventures with her husband and their three sons.

Tom is proud to be born and raised in Austin. His parents are Richard and Kaaren, and he has two brothers, Scott and Michael. He graduated from Austin High School in 1986 and married his Ellis Middle School crush, Shellie, in 1990. They have three daughters, Megan, Madison and Maya, and six grandchildren. Tom is a past president and current member of the Austin Lions Club, in addition to serving on the Board of Directors for the Austin Area Foundation. He is also an active member of Faith Evangelical Free Church, where he has participated in various roles on the church board and sings on the worship team. He enjoys following Minnesota sports teams, traveling, golf, and taking in a music concert whenever possible.

My family and I moved to Austin in 1988. I was the oral surgeon here, and my wife was a nurse in the emergency room at Austin Medical Center (as it once was known). We found Austin to be a fantastic community in which to live, work, and raise our family. Being on the AAF board is one way I can show appreciation for what this community has shown us.

Abby Mueller supports the Austin Area Foundation through organized, detail-focused administrative work that helps advance the Foundation's mission. With a background in nonprofit administration and a commitment to community service, Abby helps ensure accuracy, efficiency, and strong communication, processes, and procedures across the Foundation's work. She holds a Master of Public Administration with a concentration in Nonprofit Management and is a Certified Nonprofit Professional. Abby is dedicated to supporting the Foundation's efforts to strengthen the Austin community through connection and shared purpose.