The Board of Directors for Irish Arts Minnesota is a working board of volunteers that organize the ongoing activities and programs and ensure the continued viability and success of IAM for years to come. All of our directors serve on sub-committees and take an active role in organizing our programs and events. The primary responsibilities of our board members include attending monthly meetings and annual events and contributing to grant applications.
Irish Music & Dance Association
Board of Directors
Meet the Board
Amber Ladany
President
Amber has been the IAM President since 2020 and an active board member since 2017. Amber grew up in Northern Minnesota and has been in love with Ireland since she and her mother began researching their ancestry when she was in the 5th grade. After moving to St.Paul, Amber decided to get involved in the local Irish community and began volunteering with the MN Irish Fair.
In addition to her involvement with IAM, Amber currently serves as the President of Out of the Mist Celtic Theater, is a co-area manager for the MN Irish Fair, and regularly assists with Center for Irish Music events and fundraisers. Amber Lives in St.Paul with her partner Shawn and their four cats.
Jan Casey
Vice President
Jan began serving on the IAM Board in 2005. From 2007-to 2013, she served as the secretary and now as vice president. Jan serves on the Entertainment Committee for our Landmark events and co-chaired the planning for “IAM Honors Ann Heymann” (2009) and “IAM Honors Paddy O’Brien” (2010).
She helped define the IAM Educational Grant Program, beginning in 2006, and continues coordinating the application process. Jan also manages IMDA’s Decade of Dance Award program and regularly contributes to the IAM newsletter and Facebook page. She is a long-time volunteer with Irish Fair, managing the Trisceil Tea Room, serves on the Cultural Committee and the Board for the Center for Irish Music, and is a regular volunteer bartender for functions at the Celtic Junction Arts Center. Jan and her husband Mike are both retired and live in St. Paul. You’ll often find them at an Irish music concert, ceili, or play. Jan has one grown son, Brian.
Maureen Engelhardt
Treasurer
Maureen has served as the IAM Treasurer since 2019 and as an active Board Member since 2017. Maureen has been an active member of the local Irish-American community for nearly 20 years. She is the program administrator for the Irish language group Gaeltacht Minnesota, a set dancer and teacher with Lóma Mór, and a member of the singing group Giggin’ Síles.
She worked on the planning team for “IAM Honors Will Kenny” in 2017. She grew up in southeast Wisconsin, soaking up Hiberno-English phrases from her grandparents (Corcaigh Abu!) that only made sense many years later.
Maureen has a massive collection of volunteer t-shirts from the IAM, Irish Fair, and Milwaukee’s Irish Fest. Other volunteer gigs include committee and board positions with Macalester College, Minneapolis South High, Mayflower Church, and the Minnesota Conference UCC. Maureen lives in Minneapolis with her husband, David.
Cindy Ladany
Secretary
Cindy has been an active board member since 2019 and is the IAM Secretary. Cindy has always had a love for Ireland and all things Irish. She has been a regular volunteer for IAM events for several years and the Irish Fair of MN, where she recently served as an area leader in the Tea Room.
Always an active volunteer, Cindy has worked backstage in the costuming and props area for the Bemidji Community Theater, coached softball and basketball for girls’ sports, volunteered as the secretary and carnival chairperson on the PTO of the local elementary school, and board member, site operator, and chef for the Bemidji Soup Kitchen for 18 years.
Upon moving back to Minneapolis, she got involved with Animal Rescue organizations. These included Wags and Whiskers, Ruff Start Rescue, and LightShine Rescue. After fostering over ten dogs (and foster failing with two of them!), she went on to help with the record-keeping side of the rescue. She and her husband, Steve, are recently retired and get to spend full days with their pack: Bella, Velvet, and Vinnie. She looks forward to getting more involved with IAM and the Irish community.
Michele Berg
Board Member
Michele has been an active Board member since 2021. Michele has volunteered and immersed herself in the community in many capacities. She was the PTA Secretary for her daughters’ elementary school and the Chair of the Teacher Appreciation Committee. She has fundraised for the Miss Coon Rapids Scholarship Pageant, which is part of the Miss American program and is a Girl Scout Troop Leader. Their troop has always been the Top Cookie Sellers in the state!
She was always very proud of her Irish Heritage. In 2009 her daughter Jenna became Minneapolis St. Pat’s Wee Leprechaun. Jenna and her sister Natalie were exposed to Irish Dance through their appearances and begged to become dancers. Michele is now a mom of two Irish Dancers at Mactir Irish Dance.
She has a background in marketing, management, communications, and advertising and is currently employed as an Information Security Specialist for the banking industry. Michele also volunteers for the Anoka Halloween celebrations in her spare time. She is looking forward to helping fundraise and provide scholarships to those in the Irish Arts community.
Michele lives in Coon Rapids with her husband Bob, daughters Natalie & Jenna, English Cream Golden Retriever Finn (in Gaelic, it means “White, Fair”), Pug Coco, and Lucy the cat. Michele will serve on the Vendor Committee for our Landmark events.
Bridget Dinter
Board Member
Bridget has been an active board member since 2021. Bridget looks forward to combining her passion for Irish culture and volunteering. Bridget grew up understanding the importance of her heritage, with the help of her grandmas, Farrell and Garvey. In 2017, she joined the adult class at Rince Na Chroi and loved getting more involved with the Twin Cities Irish community.
Bridget enjoys volunteering and has been a regular volunteer at the MN Zoo and Habitat for Humanity. In addition, Bridget is a leader for her PRIDE chapter at work. Through that work, she has launched five chapters and counting around the world. Bridget received her MBA from the Carlson School of Management in 2015. Since then, she received her Black Belt in project management, worked in marketing strategy, and is currently working as a Lead Business Analyst. She lives in St. Paul with her partner Peter and coonhound, Ike. She is excited to use her experience and energy to contribute as a board member for IAM and to the broader Irish community.
Eileen Dahil
Board Member
Irish Music and dance have always played a big part of Eileen’s life; Her mother and her mother’s siblings immigrated from Ireland and used to dance with her at home as a child. Eileen learned Irish dance from Sally Burke and Florence Hart and joined Mooncoin Ceili Dancers. She was a Minnesota Folk Arts grant recipient and used her award to study with Katie Griffin, from County Kerry, Ireland. She was the 2010 Conway award winner from Irish Fair of MN and is a proud founding member of the Saint Paul Irish Dancers.
Jody McDonough
Board Member