Board of Directors Welcomes New Members

Written by marketing and communications intern Julia Lealos '24

For the 2024-2025 school year, the Benilde-St. Margaret’s Board of Directors is pleased to welcome three new members effective July 1, 2024. Officers include Tom Lynch ‘85 (chair), Danielle Hermanny ‘03 (president), Mark Sanderson (vice chair), Patrick Kocourek ‘85 (treasurer), and Phong Luong (secretary).

“I am grateful for our BSM Board of Directors, who are engaged, knowledgeable, and wholly  committed to the long-term success of BSM. I look forward to working closely with Mark as the Board vice chair in the coming year,” said Danielle Hermanny ’03, BSM president, noting, “Our new Board members represent a wide range of experiences and perspectives, both professionally and personally. I appreciate their enthusiastic ‘yes’ to serving and supporting our community in this crucial capacity.”

The three new directors include Lynette Crandall, Kathleen Waddell Coyle ‘03, and Jeff Hillins ‘90. They succeed members Nadia Martyn ‘05, Laura Portz, John Thiesen ‘06, Maureen Grazzini ‘86 and Sean Lumpkin ‘88, who have completed their service with the 2023-2024 school year. 

“I am truly thankful for the service of Laura, Nadia, John, Maureen and Sean.  Each of them in their respective roles have left a lasting legacy on our school, and their contributions over many years on the Board provides a foundation for the future success of the BSM community,” said Tom Lynch ‘85, chair of the BSM board of directors. “I look forward to working with the new members and the full Board over the upcoming year. ”

“The new directors began their three-year term on July 1, 2024. Read more about the current Board of Directors and the Board Governance on our website.

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About the New Board Members

Lynnette Crandall

Lynnette Crandall is a practicing attorney, lobbyist and real estate development and finance professional focusing on large-scale economic development initiatives and public-private partnerships. She has an undergraduate degree from the University of Iowa and earned her J.D. from William Mitchell College of Law (now Mitchell Hamline).

Lynnette and her husband, Shawn, have two sons, Slater ’24, a BSM alum, and Cooper ’27 a current BSM student.

She has served on the BSM Governance Committee since the fall of 2022. Lynnette has been active with Good Shepherd School in Golden Valley and St. Mary of the Lake parish in Plymouth. 

Lynnette has been very involved in sparking the interest of young people in her industries, including working with colleagues to create an annual scholarship for young women pursuing careers in public finance. “Our family has really enjoyed being a part of the BSM community, and I’m honored and excited by this appointment.  It will give me a chance to do even more for this special place, grounded in faith, that provides students with the nurturing education and important skills to serve them throughout their lives.” 

Kathleen Coyle ‘03

Kathleen Coyle is the vice president for premium sales at the Minnesota Vikings where she has worked for over 10 years. Prior to her current role, she worked with the San Francisco 49ers, New York Jets, and Cleveland Cavaliers.

Kathleen holds a B.A. in public & private sector organizations from Brown University. While at Brown, she was also a member of the women's soccer team. During her time at BSM, Kathleen was active in a variety of co-curriculars including student council, soccer, basketball, and track.

Most recently, Kathleen has served as a member of the strategic enrollment committee for BSM.

Kathleen and her husband Chris live in Eagan, MN with their daughter Lily (3). “I'm honored and enthusiastic about joining the BSM Board. The BSM community has made a profoundly positive impact on my life, and I am eager to collaborate with fellow board members to extend this transformative experience to current and future students alike.” 

Jeff Hillins ‘90

Jeff Hillins is a proud alum from the BSM Class of 1990 and is a graduate of Boston College. He received his MBA from the University of Minnesota, Carlson School of Management. He has been serving for two years as an at-large strategy committee member for the BSM board of directors and continues to be an active community member as a parent and alum. He also holds a seat on the board at the Bakken Museum, serving as the current chair of its strategy committee.

Jeff has been a business and marketing leader at 3M for 25 years and currently is global business unit vice president for the industrial adhesives and tapes division. 

He and his wife Dawn have three children: Lauren (’24), Brooke (’26) and Leah (’28). The Hillins family are members at Our Lady of Grace Church in Edina. Personally, he pretends to be younger on the ski slopes, has been unsuccessful in becoming a scratch golfer but enjoys traveling with his wife and watching his three daughters in their competitive sports. “I feel honored to be joining the BSM board and helping reinforce and strengthen the BSM community today and in the future.”