About Us
At Fusion Learning Partners, we believe learning is the origin of change and transformation, and we believe learning never stops – it’s a lifelong endeavor that continues beyond the classrooms of our youth.
Fusion is a nonprofit organization committed to creating environments that promote learning for the individuals, organizations, and the communities they serve. From conferences and convenings to supporting collaborative initiatives and organizations, Fusion exists to strengthen and transform the communities where we work, live, and thrive.
Since 1976, Fusion Learning Partners (fka GTS Educational Events) has served a diverse set of public and private partners ensuring they have the knowledge, skills, and relationships needed to make positive change for themselves, and the organizations and communities they serve.
Our Mission, Vision, Purpose, and Values
Our Mission:
To serve the public and civic sector with events, programs and services that inspire innovation for the greater good.
Our Vision:
To be a catalyst that strengthens and transforms the communities in which we work, live and thrive.
Our Purpose:
We convene, connect and engage people and organizations so that they can discover innovative solutions to complex social problems.
WE DO THIS THROUGH:
Professional Learning Programs and Events
Meeting Coordination and Support
Organizational Support Services for Associations, Organizations and Initiatives
Our Values:
Cultivate Connections
Throughout human history, we have craved connection. It’s in our DNA as humans, and it’s in our DNA as Fusion Learning Partners. That’s why everything we do, from our events and conferences to convening and supporting collaboration, is built on a foundation of connection where we can all strengthen and transform the communities we serve – together.
Collaborate
Learning and innovation don’t happen in a bubble, and no individual alone possesses the power and knowledge we gain when we work together. Collaboration is the catalyst for breaking new ground, and with that in mind, we’ve made creating spaces for collaboration to happen a focus of all we do.
Future-Ready
When we connect and collaborate, we can begin seeing around corners and imagining what’s to come, allowing us to create the future we want together rather than letting it simply happen to us, our organizations, and our communities.
We are committed to:
Passion
We approach every project and partnership in the belief of our purpose, mission and vision.
Purpose
We believe that everything we do should be rooted in promoting innovative practices to strengthen and transform our communities.
Partnership
We build relationships that are mutually-beneficial, mission-aligned and transformational.
Fusion Staff
Fusion Learning Partners prides itself on the experience, expertise and passion of its staff. Whether our knowledge and expertise of program planning and event management, marketing and sales, operations management or providing key capacity building services, our team is passionate about the work we do and the impact our efforts have on the careers and lives of those who are served through the partnership and services we provide.
Dale Bowen
Deputy Director, Public Technology Institute
Noelle Hulshizer
Program & Communications Coordinator
Ian Jordan
Event Manager
Christopher Kohn
Sponsorship & Tradeshow Manager
Grant Schmalzer
Director of Business Operations
Dr. Alan Shark
Executive Director, Public Technology Institute
Dana Sobania
Event & Operations Manager
Margaret Winchell
Senior Account Executive & Event Manager
Mary Wynne
Board of Directors
Our Board of Directors represents different roles and organizations, which helps provide breadth and depth as they guide and advise Fusion Learning Partners on issues of the day and future direction. This team of nonprofit and business professionals knows the underpinnings of Fusion and what guides our work. The Fusion Board of Directors shares our mission and values and hold us to the highest standards so that the communities and partners we serve receive exceptional service and results.
Cathy Hart
President and CEO, Slainte Group
Sue Wallace
Vice Chair
Founder/CEO, Quantico Consulting
Dave Blanchard
Board Secretary
School of Education, Teacher Development: Information Media, Saint Cloud State University
Jay Kiedrowski
Board Treasurer
Senior Fellow, Humphrey School of Public Affairs
Janice Aanenson
Executive Director, Minnesota State IT Center for Excellence
Osman Ahmed
Director of Community Partnerships, Great MN Schools
Greg Anderson
Principal, Regional Practice Center Lead, Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc.
Nick Bata
Director of Sales, Horizontal Talent
Amy Cheney
Chief Information Officer, City of Bloomington, MN
Kaela Dickens
Client Lead & Analytics Consultant, Data Drive LLC
Adam Frumkin
Chief Information Officer, Franklin County, OH
Adam Larson
CIO/Director of IT, Washington County, MN
Elizabeth Lo
IT Director, Bedford County, Virginia
Joe Sheeran
Communications Manager, City of Maplewood
Tom Steichen
General Counsel & COO, Colliers Mortgage Holdings
Mary Wynne
Chief Executive Officer, Fusion Learning Partners
Fusion Jobs
Are you civic-minded and want to support positive change in our communities?
Do you thrive in an environment that is collaborative, entrepreneurial and values your contributions?
Then we want you to join our team!
Who We Are
At Fusion Learning Partners, we believe learning is the origin of change and transformation, and we believe learning never stops – it’s a lifelong endeavor that continues beyond the classrooms of our youth. Fusion is committed to creating environments that promote learning for the individuals, organizations, and the communities they serve. From offering professional development programs, research and consultation services to public sector technology leaders and their teams, to providing organizational support and event management services to nonprofit and government agencies, Fusion exists to strengthen and transform the communities where we work, live, and thrive.
Available Position: Program and Communications Coordinator
Fusion is seeking its next Program and Communications Coordinator. This full-time, entry-level professional position has a variety of essential accountabilities that include program and event coordination, external communications, digital marketing, participant/stakeholder engagement and administrative management for our Public Technology Institute.
Compensation/Benefits/Work Environment
The salary range for this exempt position is $45,000 – $55,000. Benefits include 401K with employer match, generous paid holiday/vacation/sick time, Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) to offset health expenses and insurance, life insurance, employee assistance and gainsharing. This position is hybrid, with some in-person office time required as well as three to four onsite events per year. Travel to event locations is required, including local (Twin Cities Metro Area), greater Minnesota and national venues. Up-to-date proof of COVID-19 vaccination is required.
Please submit a cover letter and resume to support@fusionlp.org
Available Position: Registration and Operations Manager
Fusion Learning Partners is looking for a Registration & Operations Manager who is simultaneously skilled at problem-solving, creating efficiencies, working with technology, data and financial information while at the same time enjoys engaging with and supporting clients and attendees, ensuring they have a good experience.
The Registration & Operations Manager will have a two-pronged business focus:
- leading the organization’s event registration strategies and executing those strategies for assigned events
- supporting key financial and operational functions for the organization.
Compensation/Benefits/Work Environment
The salary range for this FT exempt position is $56,000 – $65,000. Benefits include 401K with employer match, generous paid holiday/vacation/sick time, Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) to offset health expenses and insurance, life insurance, employee assistance and gainsharing. This position is hybrid, with some in-person office time required as well as five to seven onsite events per year. Travel to event locations is required, including local (Twin Cities Metro Area), greater Minnesota and possible national venues.
Please submit a cover letter and resume to support@fusionlp.org
Press Releases
Exciting News from Fusion Learning Partners!
Fusion Learning Partners Welcomes the Public Technology Institute to Further Enhance Government Tech Solutions
MNIT Receives Golden GOVIT Awards at the 39th Annual Government IT Symposium
These awards recognize Individual Leadership and COVID-19 Rapid Response Efforts made by MNIT Services.
Accessibility Highlights from the 2020 Government IT Symposium
Minnesota’s digital accessibility coordinators share accessibility news, techniques, and resources with their state of Minnesota colleagues. They attend conferences to learn the latest and maintain their certifications. The Office of Accessibility asked Rita Larson to share takeaways from the 2020 Symposium.
NDIT Executives Participating in Virtual Government IT Symposium
Chief Information Officer Shawn Riley, Chief Information Security Officer Kevin Ford and Chief Data Officer Dorman Bazzell will participate in the 39th Annual Government IT Symposium Dec. 8 – 10.
Bush Foundation Grant for the Transforming Learning Summit Speaker Series
Our History
48 Years of Connecting, Convening, Inspiring, and Informing
How do local policymakers, staff, and appointed officials in diverse settings and from diverse backgrounds gain the knowledge to make informed decisions and the skills to work effectively with other stakeholder groups? This is the question from which Government Training Services (GTS) was born.
In 1976, as a result of work started by the Center for Urban and Regional Studies at the University of Minnesota, GTS was established as a public joint powers association. The intent was to bring together the providers and consumers of education and training, to develop quality programs available to all local governments so that each local entity did not have to “reinvent the wheel,” and to consider economies of scale. What emerged was a vehicle ideally suited for addressing intergovernmental and multi-sector educational needs.
In 2003, due to cuts in state appropriated funds, GTS transitioned to an independent, nonprofit corporation, with a new board of directors, an expanded mission to serve both the public and civic sector, and a new name – GTS Educational Events.
Over the years, GTS formed meaningful relationships with dozens of public, civic and private sector partners. Partners included those who worked with GTS for decades, as well as new partners who reaped the benefits of working with an organization that shared similar goals and values around the power of convening and connecting people.
In 2022, in response to an extensive market/brand survey and new strategic plan, GTS Educational Events officially became Fusion Learning Partners.
In 2023, Fusion Learning Partners acquired the Public Technology Institute and its programs and services, which allow us to broaden and deepen our work and commitment to serving public sector technology and innovation across the country. Now a national organization, Fusion is poised for growth in size, scope and impact.
Building on the strength of our 48 year history, we are moving into the future as an organization that is focused on playing an important role in our society – perhaps now more than ever – to be a catalyst for organization and community transformation. We do this in a spirit of partnership and co-creation, working with our partners, clients, stakeholders and participants to bring people together to learn, solve problems and create positive social change.