The leadership for the Fargo Park District Foundation Foundation Board of Directors is made up of community leaders and concerned citizens serving in a volunteer capacity. Their roles include financial overview and support, overseeing risk and compliance (fiduciary), creating accountability, transparency and strategic fundraising direction and monitoring and evaluating governance.
Meet the Fargo Park District Foundation Board Members
President
Mike Erickson has worked at Sanford Health since 2011. He is responsible for numerous teams in a wide variety of areas that include Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, Rehab, Therapies (Physical, Occupational & Speech), and Orthopedic and Eye Surgical Services. Mike also leads all the real estate planning, design and construction for Sanford projects.
Mike and his wife Nichole live in Moorhead with their daughter Quinn and son Quade. Mike is a board member for the YMCA of Cass & Clay Counties and serves on the Downtown Moorhead Inc. (DMI) board.
Stacey was elected to the Fargo Park District Board in 2018. As part of her role as Park Board President, she serves as district's representative to the Fargo Park District Foundation Board. She has lived in Fargo for over 30 years and currently resides in south Fargo with her husband Wes. They raised their boys (Ben & Peter) in south Fargo and their family has been avid park users for decades. Stacey works part-time for The Apartment Movers, Inc., and has been involved in many local organizations. She looks forward to working to make Fargo an excellent place for families to live and grow.
Chad Marsden grew up in Fargo graduating from Fargo North in 1994. He graduated from Concordia College in 1999 with a BA degree in Business Administration as well as earing his Masters of Finance from the University of Colorado in 2005.
Chad started his professional career in business banking spending 16 years after college graduations working as a commercial lender. During the past eight years, he has worked in Real Estate Investment and Development.
Chad and his wife, Jenny, live in Moorhead and they have three children Owen, Gavin and Kate. They spend much of their free time with their kid’s activities, either as spectators or coaching.
Rock Messerschmidt grew up in Dilworth, MN and graduated high school in 1975. He received his BA in Business Administration/Accounting from Concordia College in 1979. Rock is married to his wife Brenda and they have five children. His professional career began in Banking in 1979 with Bremer Banks. Today, Rock is currently the Senior Vice President-Regional Sales Director at Bell Bank. He is actively involved in many non-profits, including United Way of Cass-Clay, YMCA of Cass and Clay and CHARISM.
Melissa Brandt is a Fargo native and graduate of North Dakota State University with over 25 years of experience in people management, budget management, brand building and community development. With a passion and understanding of the history of Downtown Fargo, she was the President and CEO of the Downtown Community Partnership, advocating for businesses, residents, and community partners focused on economic growth, vibrancy, and advocacy.
Melissa Brandt is passionate about her family, friends and giving back to the community and boards that she serves on. She has worked in complex business environments and has a strong understanding of teams and what motivates them. She is a proud mother to her son Caden and her 2 fur babies (Lindy & Bentley). She also loves to golf, explore the world, fashion and laketime.
Darren Dunlop is the Vice President of Corporate Partnerships for the Fargo Moorhead West Fargo Chamber of Commerce, which serves members in and around its Metro area of just under 250,000 residents.
Dunlop had more than 30 years of sales and management experience prior to joining the Chamber in 2012. He has lived in Fargo Moorhead for over 40 years, since attending college at MSUM.
He is responsible for securing sponsorships from member firms for programs and events as well as building relationships with and enhancing the experience of a core segment of the Chamber’s membership.
Joe Deutsch was reelected for his fifth term in 2022, originally joining the Board in 2006. A native of Fargo, Joe grew up in the Fargo Park District, riding his bike to play basketball at Michelson Park and golfing at El Zagal Public Golf Course. This is a tradition he has carried on while raising his own children in Fargo.
As a professor at North Dakota State University, Dr. Deutsch prepares physical education teachers, coaches, and recreation specialists. Joe is married to his wife, Brandi, and has three sons. In his free time, Joe enjoys any recreational opportunities with his family and coaching his sons' sports.
