Get to know Brandon Boat, LeadMN's newest staff member!

Brandon is the new Manager of Programs and Events!You can contact him at bboat@leadmn.org 

brandonTELL US ABOUT YOUR WORK EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND.

I graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College back in 2008 with a B.A. in History. After I travelled to South Korea to teach English, I came back home to Minnesota and worked in AmeriCorps for two years. My next step was turning my passion into a job by co-founding Danger Boat Productions and The Theater of Public Policy. 

Through this I got to perform in and plan over 400 events using comedy to get people excited about civic issues.I have also held numerous artistic residencies and had the fortune of serving on boards for several organizations, including the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network, MPR’s Generation Listen, and the Kingfield Neighborhood Association.

WHAT INTERESTED YOU IN WORKING FOR LEADMN AND WHAT PROJECT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING ON?

I really see LeadMN as an extension of what I have done in professional work and my personal life. I enjoy hosting and planning events and civic action so this is a perfect fusion of the two.What also intrigued me is that LeadMN represents 180,000 Students, which is huge!

As I begin my LeadMN journey, it feels like I’m drinking from a fire hose with all information coming my way. I have mentioned that I worked in affordable housing previously so the work that we are doing around basic needs is really exciting. Closer to my role, I am really looking forward to the first event. The first event will be a fun water slide..but I need to make sure there's a staircase to get there...and a pool at the bottom. 

WHAT INTERESTS DO YOU HAVE OUTSIDE OF WORK?

Surprisingly I do not like to host parties, doing it right means it’s too much to clean up. I have a two year old and another one that will be born in August, so right now they take up a lot of my time and focus. After they’ve gone to bed though, I really enjoy cooking and watching old films such as Polish New Wave or elevated horror. I also like playing video games and reading nonfiction, especially biographies. I have a State Fair Blue Ribbon for beer brewing, but haven’t brewed in a few years. I love to travel abroad, but with the new baby it might be a while before I do that again.