DISTRICT GOVERNOR ELECT BIOGRAPHIES
Pete Nelson D5580
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Leif Hagen D5950
Leif grew up in Stevens Point and graduated from St. Olaf College with a BA degree in German and French in 1988. After college, he taught foreign languages in Zug, Switzerland before teaching English for two years in Gero, Japan.
In 1992, Leif joined Lutheran Brotherhood as a financial planner and worked there until 2002. He joined LPL Financial in 2002 and then added Medicare supplemental insurance to his menu of services. He owns his own company, Achievement Financial, in Eagan, Minnesota.
Leif is divorced and has three daughters, Kajsa, Svea and Britta. He now lives with his partner, Valdir Oliveira, from Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Leif enjoys foreign languages, foreign travel, collecting art and attending art shows.
Rotary involvement
Leif is a 18-year Rotarian. He served twice as club president for the Eagan Rotary Club and as 2-year charter president for the MN Pride Rotary Club. He’s a PHS (Paul Harris Society) member and has participated in many ways in Rotary.
Eagan Rotary Club President 2009-2010 and 2020-2021
MN Pride Rotary Club charter president 2021-2022 and 2022-2023
GSE team leader to Bangalore, India February / March 2009
GSE Finland host family in 2009, GSE Brazil host family in 2011
Rotary International Friendship with Brazil – family host in 2019
District Conference co-chair in 2012
Assistant Governor for Area 2 – 2010 to 2013
15 Paul Harris donations. Paul Harris Society member since 2010
Rotary International major donor – Level 1 - 2019
Current District Foundation grant committee member 2023
Rotary District 5950 Governor Elect 2026–2027
Rotary International conventions attended in Birmingham, England; New Orleans; Bangkok, Thailand; Hamburg, Germany; Calgary, Canada
Michael-jon Pease 5960
Michael-jon Pease has been a Rotarian since 2011 and a Paul Harris Fellow since 2019. He served as President of St. Paul Rotary in 2019-2020, after serving as Sargeant-at-Arms and Events Team Lead. He is active on the St. Paul Rotary Foundation board, the St. Paul Rotary Club Board (Director Emeritus), St. Paul Rotary International Service Team and Winter Spark gala committee, as well as the District 5960 Camp RYLA planning task force. He attended the 2012 RI Convention in Bangkok when he husband, Christopher Taykalo, was President of Minneapolis-University Rotary, as well as the 2019 RI Convention in Hamburg.
Professionally, Michael-jon is Executive Director of the Saint Paul Parks Conservancy. His nonprofit career began in Lanesboro, MN as the first Executive Director Cornucopia Art Center (now Lanesboro Arts) and includes 15 years at Park Square Theatre in Saint Paul. A skilled fundraiser, Michael-jon taught fundraising at the graduate level at St. Mary’s University – Twin Cities and served as VP of Communications for the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Minnesota Chapter. As a volunteer, he serves on the boards of Minnesota Citizens for the Arts (Advocacy Chair). Dodge Nature Center (Development Chair), as well as the Advisory Board of Circus Juventas. For fun, he is the Emeritus Senior Captain of the University Club of St Paul Croquet Team, the “Varsity Blues” and a very amateur gardener.
Jeff Halverson D5970​
Jeff Halverson graduated from the University of Iowa with a B. S. Pharmacy in 1979. He served as a staff pharmacist for three years before becoming the Director of Retail Pharmacies, Covenant Medical Center. During this period, Jeff completed his Masters in Business Administration from the University of Northern Iowa. His career progressed with roles as Director of Business Services and Community Health Services at Covenant Medical Center and culminated with his Vice President position at MercyOne Medical Group, Northeast Iowa before he retired in May 2022. Jeff served on the Mercy Services Board of Directors, Iowa City and remains a registered pharmacist with current Iowa and Florida licenses.
Jeff served as Waterloo Downtown Rotary Club President 2013-14, was District Group Study Exchange Committee and was and Group Study Exchange Team Member to India in 1990. He is currently the District Foundation Stewardship Chair and District Board of Directors Member.
Jeff has been married to Mary Margaret Halverson for 43 years. They have 3 adult kids who are all married to great spouses. The three families live in Florida, Wisconsin and Illinois. With 8 grandchildren Jeff and Mary Margaret are often visiting the three states to stay connected with the families.