Sons of Norway Leadership
Pictured from left to right: Claudia Berg, Per Mikalsen, Luella Grangaard, Kathy Dollymore, Mark Agerter, Ron Stubbings, Mary B. Andersen, Robin Fossum, Duane Kittleson, Dennis Rusinko, Chris Hicks, Dean Stiller.
Not pictured: Erik Brochmann
Executive Committee
Ron Stubbings, International Chair
In 1999, Ron was made an Officer of the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit, Knight 1st Class by King Harald for his contributions to the Norwegian Community in the Vancouver area.
Ron Stubbings
International Chair
Mark Agerter, International Vice Chair
Mark has held many leadership roles in various organizations including as past president of the Pacific Coast Norwegian Singers Association, as a member of his church Foundation Board, and as assistant scoutmaster in a local Boy Scout troop. A Sons of Norway member since 1970, in addition to local lodge leadership roles including lodge president, Mark has served as the District Two president, vice president and treasurer. He has been on the International Board for Sons of Norway since 2016, vice president since 2018, and has chaired the Governance Committee for Sons of Norway, the International Vice President’s network, the King Olav V scholarship evaluation committee and most recently chaired the Charter, Bylaws and Policy and Procedures re-write committee.
Mark attended the University of Oregon and the University of Oslo Summer school.
Mark Agerter
International Vice Chair
Mary B. Andersen, International Treasurer
She received her B.S. in Mathematics from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, MI
Mary B. Andersen
International Treasurer
Robin Fossum, International Secretary
She currently serves as Secretary of the International Board and is a member of the Corporate Matters Committee. Robin is a Governor of the Sons of Norway Foundation and chair of the Development Committee. She received her B.A. degree from Roosevelt University, Chicago, Illinois.
Robin Fossum
International Secretary
International Directors
Dennis Rusinko, District 1 Director
Dennis served as a squad leader in basic training at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, part of the 1st Signal Brigade responsible for all communications systems in Southeast Asia. He has also leveraged his leadership skills in multiple lodge and district positions for District One with Sons of Norway.
Dennis received his degree from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis and attended the Minneapolis School of Drafting.
Dennis Rusinko
District 1 Director
Chris Hicks, District 2 Director
Chris completed her education at Inglemoor High School in Bothell, WA
Chris Hicks
District 2 Director
Kathy Dollymore, District 3 Director
Kathy received her associates degree from Hillsborough College in Hillsborough, PA and her Dietetics degree from Immaculata College, Malvern, PA.
Kathy Dollymore
District 3 Director
Claudia Berg, District 4 Director
Claudia received her B.A. and M.F.A. degrees from the University of North Dakota and her Museum Management degree from the University of California Berkeley.
Claudia Berg
District 4 Director
Duane Kittleson, District 5 Director
Duane worked for a commercial real estate as their controller, giving him great insight into the finance side of a major business. As a leader for the organization, he interacted and negotiated with regional banks and commercial load providers.
Mr. Kittleson received his education from the Madison Business College in Madison, Wisconsin.
Duane Kittleson
District 5 Director
Luella Grangaard, District 6 Director
Luella received her B.S. degree from Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO.
Luella Grangaard
District 6 Director
Erik Brochmann, District 7 Director
Erik has held various positions of leadership with Sons of Norway including President of the Seventh District and member of the International Board for Sons of Norway.
Erik Brochmann
District 7 Director
Per Mikalsen, District 8 Director
Per completed his education at the Haugesund High School in Norway.
Per Mikalsen
District 8 Director
Chris Pinkerton, Sons of Norway CEO
Before joining Sons of Norway, Christopher held executive positions with Nationwide Insurance, Allianz Life of North America, The Independent Order of Foresters and Savings Bank Life Insurance of Massachusetts. He also created and led an independent consulting firm specializing in market strategy and implementation programs for the life insurance industry.
Mr. Pinkerton earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Franklin University in Columbus, Ohio and an MBA from Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio. He also holds the Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) designations and is a Fellow of the Life Management Institute (FLMI).
Chris Pinkerton
Sons of Norway CEO
Dean Stiller, Appointed Board Member
Dean has served on the International Board for Sons of Norway and Chair of the Audit Committee for the Sons of Norway Foundation. He is also a long-standing member of the American Fraternal Alliance. He received his B.A. in Mathematics from St. John’s University, Collegeville, Minnesota.
Dean Stiller
Appointed Board Member
District Presidents
District 1 – Mark Haugen
District 2 – Gerald Erickson
District 3 – Stephen Helmold
District 4 – Jerry Saude
District 5 – Cheryl Wille-Schlesser
District 6 – Lis A. Barca
District 7 – Gloria Benazic
District 8 – Tor Arild Halvorsen
Pictured from left to right: Gerald Erickson, Tor Arild Halvorsen, Mark Haugen, Jerry Saude, Cheryl Wille-Schlesser.
Not pictured: Stephen Helmold, Lis A. Barca, Gloria Benazic.