ABUS Faculty

DBA, leadership of responsible AI, Pepperdine Graziado Business School, Malibu, CA; MBA, project management, Capella University; BA, business management, Bethel University.

Dr. Elizabeth M. Adams is a global authority in responsible AI strategy, shaping how executives lead AI with purpose, integrity, and systemic impact. Her work spans global stages, translating responsible AI from theory into scalable, values-driven action and championing ethical, human-centered AI. She has presented on TEDx and is a LinkedIn Top Voice. Her awards include the 2025 She Shapes AI Thought Leadership in AI Award, the RAISE 2022 Leading Individual Award, and a Forbes accolade as one of the "15 AI Ethics Leaders Showing the World the Way of the Future." In 2025, she was appointed Visiting Scholar at Umeå University’s AI Policy Lab in Sweden, collaborating with global experts on responsible AI research.

ABUS 3950 – Special Topics
Spring 2026:
Ethical AI and Data Privacy in Business 
AI Project Management – Leadership & Implementation

EdD, leadership, University of St. Thomas; MA, leadership, Augsburg University; BA, computer science/business administration, Minnesota State University, Mankato 

Dr. William Bengtson is a corporate leadership consultant with over 30 years of experience in business and technology, having served over 20 Fortune 500 corporations and governmental entities. His expertise includes strategic assessment, project recovery and turnaround, change leadership, and program/project management. He is currently president and leadership consultant at the Minnesota Leadership Institute, which he founded. Dr. Bengtson previously served as chief operating officer of the Minnesota Security Board, director of financial systems at UnitedHealth Group, and senior manager with PricewaterhouseCoopers. He has spoken nationally on a variety of topics and retains certifications as PMP and Agile ScrumMaster.

• ABUS 4043 − Project Management in Practice

JD, Hamline University; BA, business administration, Cardinal Stritch University

Charles “Chuck” Bethel is an attorney who has worked for the last 20 years assisting businesses and government entities with contract and litigation issues. He has practiced transactional law (contract drafting) and litigation, as well as dispute resolution for a range of business, government, and individual clients. He has owned or managed a variety of businesses, including commercial laundries, restaurants, and nightclubs. Chuck has taught legal research and writing at Hamline University and courses at Fox Valley Technical College in Appleton and Oshkosh, WI.

• ABUS 4013W − Legal, Ethical, and Risk Issues for Managers

PhD, education, University of Minnesota; MBA, marketing and finance, University of Chicago; BA, English, Dartmouth College

Dr. Richard Brynteson is a teacher, executive coach, innovation consultant, author, and public speaker. He has been a professor in the MBA program at Concordia University since 1992. He is a prolific presenter of workshops and seminars and has published six books on business subjects like innovation, decision making, and behavioral economics. Dr. Brynteson has also been a marketing manager and has worked with companies on innovation projects in Africa, Asia, and the United States, including one year as a Fulbright Scholar in Mauritius. He has had to bribe his way out of jail only once.

• ABUS 4023W – Communicating for Strategic Results
• ABUS 4151 – Innovation for Leaders and Organizations
• ABUS 4026 – Guiding Public Perception in Business

Mini-master's in e-commerce, St. Thomas University; BA, political science, University of Minnesota

Ms. Drake is a marketer and business strategist who works as a consultant to the entrepreneurial community, including SaaS, manufacturing, and mid-cap businesses. Her special focuses are business and growth strategy, partnerships and business development, Lean Canvas, and Six Sigma. She draws on 15 years of experience as marketing manager for Honeywell International, the GEM Group, Gelco, the Carlson Companies, and Holmes Protection Group. Ms. Schaffhausen has taught a wide variety of classes on business development in the local community and is a facilitator for the UW River Falls Entrepreneurial Training Program.

• Introduction to Quality Management (ABUS 3301)

JD, William Mitchell College of Law; BS, chemical engineering, University of Oklahoma

Mr. Essien is the principal at Essien Law Office, PLLC, whose practice areas are intellectual property, business and corporate law, and international law. He is about to complete a PhD in organizational leadership and is interested in how leadership styles affect performance and creativity. He has taught online courses in business
law, legal environment of business, and business ethics at Strayer and Concordia universities and currently teaches legal environment of business at the University of Wisconsin-Stout. He is president of the Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers (MABL).

• ABUS 4013W − Legal, Ethical, and Risk Issues for Managers

MBA, University of Phoenix; BBA, management, University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire

Uriah has held consulting, leadership, and management roles inside software, telecommunications, and solar energy industries since 2005. In 2012, he cofounded SKYWISE Communications, a local business specializing in residential and commercial internet and TV. Uriah currently works at Capitalize Consulting helping finance and accounting clients implement software to automate cumbersome processes. His areas of expertise are motivating and coaching high-performance teams, managing strategic partnerships, and leading go-to-market strategy. Uriah values flexible routines, careful prioritization, and carving time for life’s most important milestones.

• ABUS 3052 – Career Building in the Remote Gig Economy
• ABUS 4022W – Strategic Management and Leadership
• ABUS 4027 – Core Technologies for the Business Professional
• ABUS 4101 – Accounting and Finance for Managers
• ABUS 4104 – Management and Human Resources Practices
• ABUS 4151 – Innovation for Leaders and Organizations

PhD, industrial/organizational psychology; MBA, St. Mary’s University; BA, psychology, Hamline University; Certificates in strategic and executive HR leadership and in data analytics, Cornell University.

Dr. Bradley Goodell is an organizational development psychologist. He is the owner of BDG Strategic Consulting, LLC, which provides expert consulting services in the areas of strategic planning, leadership coaching and development, team-building, and organizational structure assessment.

• ABUS 4022W – Strategic Management and Leadership
• ABUS 4023W – Communicating for Strategic Results

BA, economics, Clark Atlanta University; MA, international management with a concentration in finance, University of St. Thomas

Mr. Hampton is the owner/CEO of a real estate acquisition and investment firm. Before that he worked in investment banking, commodities, traditional banking, and the credit card industry. His employers have included Metris Companies, U.S. Bancorp, the Federal Reserve Bank, the Minneapolis Grain Exchange, and Piper Jaffray. Throughout his career, he has worked tirelessly on initiatives to unlock the potential of individuals in diverse workplaces. Mr. Hampton has extensive teaching experience at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. He currently teaches business, finance, and economics at Anoka-Ramsey Community College and Concordia University, where he is finance chair.

• ABUS 4217 – Real Estate Development: Process and Tools
• ABUS 4218 – Real Estate Finance
• ABUS 4545 – Mitigating Bias in the Workplace

BA, political science/pre-law, Clark Atlanta University; MBA, human resource management, and EdD, organization development, University of St. Thomas

Dr. Hampton has over 25 years of experience in strategy development, organization and leadership development, change management, talent management and acquisition, diversity and inclusion, employee engagement, training and learning development, performance management, total rewards and recognition, employee relations, project management and planning, process redesign and implementation, HR outsourcing, business acquisitions, and reorganizations. Tonya has spent the last decade designing and executing critical human resources practices, culture changes, organizational effectiveness, and diversity and inclusion in the healthcare industry. She is an adjunct professor at St. Catherine University and St. Thomas University, teaching in the master’s programs for leadership and organization development.

• ABUS 3510 – Communicating Virtually Across Global Teams in Applied Business Settings
• ABUS 4104 – Management and Human Resources Practices
• ABUS 4545 – Mitigating Bias in the Workplace

PhD, industrial ecology and sustainability, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; MSEL (Master of Studies in Environmental Law), Vermont Law School; MA, public administration, Hamline University; BA, history, College of Wooster

Garth Hickle is an independent environmental consultant with an emphasis on the circular economy and product stewardship. He led the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency product stewardship program for 15 years and served as the MPCA technical lead on product stewardship at the legislature. He was lead author of the Minnesota solid waste policy report and contributed to the pollution prevention evaluation report. He represented MPCA in international and national initiatives and symposia on product stewardship, recycling policy, and sustainable materials management. Dr. Hickle is also a senior lecturer in bioproducts and biosystems engineering at the University of Minnesota.

• ABUS 4515 − Strategy and Management for a Sustainable Future

JD, University of Chicago; MBA with an MIS focus, University of St. Thomas; BA, economics and political science, University of Minnesota

Mr. Hohenhaus has spent many years as an IT consultant, systems administrator, project manager, and business analyst in the Microsoft Stack and Google Workspace. Over the last 20 years, he has been an IT or finance systems consultant for data analytics, reporting, business intelligence, data marts, and data warehousing. He has spent 15 years working in costing, finance, pricing, and mergers in the railroad and telecommunications industries. Mr. Hohenhaus taught economics, statistics, and information systems at Grand View University in Des Moines. At St. Thomas, he taught applied managerial economics (costing, forecasting, and demand analysis) and end-user computing/information resource management in the evening MBA program.

• ABUS 4028 – Introduction to Excel Analytics for Business Decision-Making

Doctor of Healthcare Administration (DHA), Medical University of South Carolina; MHA, BA, Healthcare Administration, Park University  

Dr. Alex Hooper served for 11 years in the United States Air Force in public health operations, environmental controls, hazardous waste management, and risk management across the globe, including Korea, Japan, the United States, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Iraq. He has previously held several roles in state government: the Minnesota Department of Health as Assistant Division Director of Health Regulation and Interim Director of Minnesota Office of Medical Cannabis, as well as the Arkansas Department of Health as Branch Manager of Personal Care Services.

• ABUS 3301 – Introduction to Quality Management

MFA, photography and film, art history; BFA, photography and film, University of Minnesota

David Husom has taught photography, media design, health journalism, digital media, and web design at the University of Minnesota and other colleges for many years. He has also been an OIT Technology Fellow, researching digital media in journalism and technology in the classroom, and he has been a commercial photographer in advertising, marketing, and media. His photos have been exhibited widely, including the J. Paul Getty Museum, San Francisco Museum of Fine Art, the Weisman Art Museum, and the Minnesota Historical Society. With his wife, David owns a printing company doing limited edition digital printing for artists, photographers, and museums.

• ABUS 3201 – Digital Design Strategies for Small Business

MBA, Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota; BA, real estate, St. Cloud State University

Kelly Jameson, RPA, is the director of real estate for the Metropolitan Council of the Twin Cities, where she assists the business units within the Council with all their real estate needs around transit, water and sewer, regional parks, and affordable housing. Before that, Kelly oversaw the Real Estate program at St. Cloud State University while teaching classes in real estate and finance. She is passionate about real estate programming in higher education and connecting talent to great jobs in real estate. She has industry experience in economic development, commercial real estate development, and property management.

• ABUS 4218 – Real Estate Finance

Master's in Human Resources and Industrial Relations, Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota; BA, Business Entrepreneurship & Human Resource Management, Bethel University

Isaac Johnson is a strategic HR leader with extensive experience in higher education and public institutions. He specializes in performance management, organizational effectiveness, and employee relations, particularly within unionized environments. He has held key HR and operations roles, driving process improvements and leading change management initiatives. He is passionate about fostering employee well-being, improving efficiency, and promoting effective communication. Utilizing his additional experience in municipal government and freelance writing, he is dedicated to sharing innovative HR strategies that enhance organizational health and success.

• ABUS 4023W – Communicating for Strategic Results

"I'm inspired by anyone who battles physical or mental challenges."

MA, health policy and management, University of Chicago; BA, biology, St. Olaf College

Geoff Kaufmann, a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, is vice president for patient services of the Biomedical Division of the American Red Cross. He is the former director of planning and marketing for the University of Minnesota Hospital and the Minnesota Regent for the American College of Healthcare Executives. A nationally recognized authority in health marketing, Geoff has 45 years of experience in business development, strategic planning, marketing, new product development, and operations. His focuses have included physician-clinic-hospital networks, clinical and service outcomes, senior healthcare services, a wound care business, and diagnostic imaging centers.

• ABUS 4501 – Building and Running a Small Business Enterprise
• HSM 4861 – Leadership and Business Planning in Healthcare Management: Capstone

MA in leadership and BA in human services, Concordia University, Saint Paul

Carol Klempka has been a provider of higher education for over 25 years. She is faculty emeritus at Concordia University, having held the positions of program chair of the BA Business program and associate dean of the School of Continuing Studies. During that phase of her academic career, she developed curricula in organizational behavior and mindful and authentic leadership behaviors, helping learners move along the continuum of self-directedness, honing their business skills and discovering their leadership potential. She has been developing user-friendly, tech-forward, interactive systems of instruction for CCAPS since 2017.

• ABUS 3051 – Career Search for the Professional Environment
• ABUS 4105 – Becoming an Authentic Leader in an Applied Business Setting

PhD, organizational communication, University of Minnesota; MA, interpersonal communication, University of Wisconsin-Madison; BA, communication and English, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Ann Lowry has over 20 years of experience as an educator and organizational consultant on topics such as presentational speaking, conflict resolution and negotiation, and intercultural communication. She is owner and president of Ann Lowry and Associates, an organizational development consulting firm, where she specializes in group and team effectiveness, strategic planning and goal setting, conflict resolution, and more. She also teaches at Northland College. She was named one of the U of M's CLA Alumni of Notable Achievement in recognition of her contributions to Minnesota businesses. She is currently pursuing a second PhD in mind-body medicine with the intention of assisting leaders to improve performance.

• ABUS 3510 – Communicating Virtually Across Global Teams in Applied Business Settings
• ABUS 4023W – Communicating for Strategic Results

JD, Hamline University; MA, French and German, Cambridge University; BA, French and German, Cambridge University

Deborah Mackay practiced construction law for 14 years at the Minneapolis firm of Faegre & Benson, where she handled a broad range of construction industry disputes and transactions. She has represented large commercial contractors, design professionals, subcontractors, material suppliers, and project owners. Deborah taught construction law and ethics in the Infrastructure Systems Engineering program at the University of Minnesota and has presented numerous construction law continuing education seminars. She is a past chair of the Construction Law Section of the Minnesota State Bar Association and a past president of the Construction Financial Management Association (CFMA), Twin Cities chapter.

• ABUS 4013W – Legal, Ethical, and Risk Issues for Managers

MA, strategic communications, Purdue University; BA, Sociology, Minnesota State University, Mankato

Caroline Marin’s studies at Purdue University focused on audience development and marketing. She has nearly two decades of experience in communications and organizational success spanning multiple industries, including education, journalism, public and media relations, and strategic marketing. She currently works at Thomson Reuters as a marketing operations lead. The most rewarding parts of her career come from supporting and developing collaborative and cohesive teams, something she’s pleased to bring to her teaching at the University of Minnesota.

• ABUS 3051 – Career Search for the Professional Environment

MA, sustainable design, Minneapolis College of Art and Design; BA, english and environmental studies, Hamline University

Ms. Mohn has over a decade of experience in strategic communications, grant writing, and program design. Her master's thesis project (funded with a grant from the Bush Foundation) focused on using the tools of sustainable design to drive creative community development in rural Minnesota communities. She serves as director for foundation relations and strategic communications for the PFund Foundation and runs her own consulting business.

• ABUS 4571W – Introduction to Grant Writing

MEd., University of Minnesota; BA, English and political science, St. Olaf College

During grad school at the U of M, Jeff taught courses in poetry and literature. He took a break from teaching to serve as a copywriter and creative director at several agencies. In 2010, he cofounded an agency, Neidt Writer, as a way to work with brands and agencies who wanted to tell thoughtful, authentic stories. In addition to running Neidt Writer, he is a frequent speaker and teacher of both poetry and professional writing, often looking for areas where the two fields intersect.

• ABUS 3201 – Digital Design Strategies for Small Business
• ABUS 4702 – Applied Digital Marketing

MBA, Augsburg College; BS in accounting, Golden Gate University

Stacy O'Fallon is a Certified Managerial Accountant, specializing in start-up and growth-oriented organizations. She has over 20 years of experience in service-based industries, focusing on the areas of accounting, finance, and technology. She has held senior accounting and finance positions with Oceanaire Seafood Room, HMS Host, Nath Companies/Bonfire Restaurants, and Kaskaid Hospitality. She started her own hospitality accounting consulting service in 2014, Front Burner. In 2012 she was selected as one of the Top Women in Finance by Minnesota Finance & Commerce. Stacy is an adjunct instructor in business and accounting for St. Paul College and the University of Phoenix.

• ABUS 3051 – Career Search for the Professional Environment
• ABUS 4101 − Accounting and Finance for Managers

BS, construction management, Minnesota State University, Mankato

Eric is a practiced facility and construction manager with over 30 years of experience in the industry. He has managed large campuses and regional facilities for demanding clientele, numerous new building construction projects, and several building renovation projects. His leadership experiences have included facility and construction management roles for various government agencies and private industry. Currently, Eric serves as the construction operations manager for the Minnesota Department of Administration, Real Estate and Construction Services. His passion for the development of knowledgeable and professional individuals drives his track record of success.

• ABUS 4213 – Owning and Managing a Building

MBA, marketing focus, University of St. Thomas; BA, business administration and French, special emphasis on international business, Concordia College 

Kay Rindels is an independent marketing consultant with more than 25 years of experience equipping high-growth companies with strategies to engage customers and stakeholders with compelling marketing and digital communications. She works with emerging and established technology firms across the United States to drive measurable change across their B2B sales channels. In 2004, she launched Rindels Technology Marketing Inc. to offer strategic marketing, analyst and public relations, public speaking coaching, and customer advocacy programs to a wider set of organizations. She brings these marketing best practices and examples to her courses to ready students for today’s business environment.

• ABUS 4701 − Introduction to Marketing

Dr. Rinkoff has been teaching in and administering higher education since 2005. She is most interested in systems thinking and information fluency, which have in common asking good questions, critical thinking, and collecting information and turning it into applied knowledge and wisdom. Carol has previously served higher education institutions in Minnesota, California, and Maryland as the director of undergraduate and graduate business programs, dean of academic affairs, dean of a satellite campus, and vice president of academic affairs. She has coauthored a book on how managers can use social media in business, and teaches a graduate course in CCAPS, CIVE/ASCL 6314 – Leading Projects and Teams.

• CIVE/ASCL 6314 – Leading Projects and Teams
• ABUS 4106 – Scandals versus Best Practices: Business Ethics in the Real World
• ABUS 4108 – Personal Ethical Decision Making

MBA, Edgewood University; MA , communications, UW Milwaukee

Renee brings over three decades of experience in the education sector, where she has established herself as a respected leader in instructional design, curriculum development, strategic planning, and project management. As the founder of a specialized consulting firm, she provides expert guidance to organizations seeking to elevate their learning environments and workforce development initiatives. Renee partners with industry leaders to deliver coaching and training programs focused on educational best practices and employee upskilling. Her academic contributions include teaching communication and business courses at institutions such as the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Edgewood University, Concordia University, and the University of Minnesota. In addition to her business endeavors, Renee is a dedicated yoga practitioner and instructor across the United States and internationally.

• ABUS 4022W – Strategic Management and Leadership

PhD, management with a focus on organizational leadership, University of Phoenix; MA, organizational leadership, St. Catherine University; BA, human resource management, Metropolitan State University

Dr. Tschida’s career has focused on human resources as a practitioner, consultant, educator, business owner, coach, and mentor. She has led strategic human resources initiatives in corporate, government, and academic settings. Her leadership roles have included human resources vice president, director, and consultant. As a business owner, she has applied business concepts and theories to develop solutions to meet day-to-day operational needs and strategic objectives of organizations. She has held various faculty roles at Concordia University, St. Paul College, and Anoka-Ramsey Community College, and serves on the board of directors of Lee Carlson Center, a Twin Cities-based nonprofit mental health provider.

• ABUS 4104 – Management and Human Resource Practices

MSW, St. Catherine University/University of St. Thomas, and BS, sociology, St. Catherine University

Mandy is a Licensed Independent Social Worker with over 25 years of experience supporting youth, families, community, and educational organizations. She has been a provider of higher education in Minnesota since 2021, serving as an adjunct professor, program chair, course designer, and subject matter expert. She currently works as a therapist, school social worker, clinical supervisor, and educational consultant. Mandy's previous roles have included direct service and leadership in nonprofit and K–12 education settings. Her expertise on the impacts of trauma guides her work to support healing in individuals and systems.

• ABUS 4107 – The Trauma-Informed Workplace