Retired Chief Financial Officer at Schafer Richardson
Greg Springer recently retired as Chief Financial Officer at Schafer Richardson, overseeing financial and administrative operations since 2014.
He previously served as CFO of a privately held distributor of mid‑range computer solutions and held senior financial roles at UnitedHealth Group and Arthur Andersen LLP.
Greg brings extensive expertise in business processes, controls, public reporting, acquisitions, integrations, and banking relationships.

John Bierbaum retired as Chief Financial Officer of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis in 2012 after seven years of service. During his tenure, he advanced financial transparency, automation, accountability, and innovation across parishes and schools.
John played an instrumental role in the archdiocesan strategic planning processes for parishes (2009) and schools (2011). He is also the owner and operator of a dairy farm.

Co-founder and President of Strategic Technologies Incorporated
Carl Thelen is Co‑founder and President of Strategic Technologies Incorporated, a software development, consulting, and application support firm established in 1994.
He is a frequent presenter on corporate leadership, accounting, HR management, investments, marketing, project management, and software design.
A member of St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Corcoran, Carl chairs both the Finance Committee and the Facilities Planning Committee. He holds a double major in accounting and political science from Saint John’s University and an MBA from the University of St. Thomas.

Dave Bendel is a retired banker with 36 years of experience at US Bank, Bremer Banks, Marquette Banks, and Wells Fargo. He holds an undergraduate degree, an MBA from the University of St. Thomas, and a JD from William Mitchell College of Law.
An active parishioner at St. Pius X in White Bear Lake, Dave currently serves on the finance council and was a founding board member of Frassati Academy. He also serves on the executive team for the Synod of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis.

Managing Principal of Capital Markets, Transwestern
Mike Salmen is Managing Principal of Capital Markets at Transwestern. He co‑founded Equity Commercial Services, Transwestern’s predecessor in the Twin Cities. He has served as a partner since its 1996 inception.
Mike earned a B.A. in Business Administration, Magna Cum Laude, from the University of St. Thomas and an M.B.A. in Finance from the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management.
His honors include the SIOR Robert P. Boblett Award, Transwestern Champions Club, Transwestern President’s Award, multiple brokerage and industry recognitions, and service on numerous boards and advisory groups.

Laura King retired in 2019 as Vice Chancellor and Chief Financial Officer of Minnesota State Colleges and Universities. She previously served as Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Finance and as Assistant Commissioner and State Budget Director.
Laura holds an MBA from the University of St. Thomas and a B.A. in psychology and statistics from the University of Minnesota, along with advanced studies at the Harvard Institute for Educational Management.
She has served on several nonprofit boards and received the Minneapolis–St. Paul Business Journal “CFO of the Year” award in 2008.

Chief Operating Officer of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
Bill Lentsch is Chief Operating Officer of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. He brings more than 31 years of leadership experience from the airline industry, including serving as Executive Vice President & Chief Customer Experience Officer at Delta Air Lines.
Since joining the Archdiocese in 2021, Bill has overseen ministries, operations, and administrative functions.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering and mechanics from the University of Minnesota and an MBA from the University of St. Thomas. Bill and his wife, Kate, live in Mendota Heights and have four children.

Retired, Deacon St. Therese of Deephaven Parish
Deacon John Allgaier serves as a Deacon at St. Therese of Deephaven Parish and is a parishioner of Holy Name of Jesus in Medina.
He recently retired from General Mills, where he was Vice President of Business Development & Supply Chain at Fabcon, and previously Senior Sourcing Director for brand licensing, packaging, and capital projects.
John and his wife have three adult children.

Director of Clergy Services of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
Rev. Michael Van Sloun is Director of Clergy Services for the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. He also teaches Church Administration at the Saint Paul Seminary School of Divinity and writes the “Faith Fundamentals” column for The Catholic Spirit.
He previously served as pastor at St. Bartholomew in Wayzata and St. Stephen in Anoka. Before ordination, he worked as an administrator, teacher, and coach at Crosier Seminary High School (MN) and Central Catholic Junior–Senior High School (NE).

Archbishop Bernard Hebda serves as the Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. A graduate of Harvard University and Columbia Law School, he practiced law before entering seminary.
He completed his theological studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome and later served in the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts, eventually becoming Undersecretary in 2003.
Archbishop Hebda has served dioceses in Pittsburgh, Gaylord, Newark, and Saint Paul and Minneapolis.

Chief Financial Officer of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
Tom Mertens is Chief Financial Officer of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. He has more than 22 years of experience in corporate finance, consulting, and public accounting.
Before joining the Archdiocese, Tom served as CFO of Macquarie AIR‑serv Holding, Inc., and previously held finance and controller roles at ProStaff, Browning‑Ferris Industries, and KPMG‑Peat Marwick.
Tom is a graduate of St. John’s University and a CPA. He and his wife, Paula, live in Medina with their two children and are members of the Church of Saint Anne in Hamel.

Joseph Kueppers is Chancellor for Civil Affairs at the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. A graduate of St. Thomas Academy, the University of Minnesota, and Hamline University School of Law, he is also a graduate of the Archbishop Harry J. Flynn Catechetical Institute.
He received The Catholic Spirit’s Leading With Faith Award in 2007 and has served as a volunteer arbitrator and mediator since 2001.
Joseph is a board member of Catholic United Financial, Cradle of Hope, and the Serra Club of Saint Paul. He and his wife, Vicki, are members of St. Joseph in West St. Paul and have three children.

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