Meet the GDNS Board of Directors

Barb Heideman, Treasurer: In 1999 Barb co-founded Responsible Owners of Mannerly Pets (ROMP), Ramsey County MN.  She was the board President 1999-2003 and Executive Director 2003-2005   ROMP was the first organized effort to establish off-leash dog parks in the Twin Cities region.  In her time with ROMP, Barb prepared grant proposals, solicited donations, and created nationally distributed educational materials for ROMP dog parks.  ROMP partnered with local government jurisdictions (city and county) to design off-leash dog parks for both people and their pets. Since 2012 Barb has served as the intake coordinator for Minnesota Wisconsin Collie Rescue, a foster-based breed rescue based in Minneapolis and Milwaukee, serving a 7-state area including Iowa, North and South Dakota, Missouri, and Nebraska.  In addition to her dog-related work, Barb had a 25+ year career in the medical device industry.  She holds a BChE in Chemical Engineering, a BS in Biological Sciences, and a BS in Medical Technology from the University of Minnesota.  Barb has been on the GDNS board since 2013 and is currently the proud human companion of Dolly the rescue Collie. 

John Mattice, Board Member: John earned a Ph.D. from University of Arkansas chemistry department in 1980 and subsequently worked with the University of Arkansas Crop, Soil, and Environmental Sciences Department until 2015. 

John’s research focused on the environmental fate of pesticides, quantifying pesticides in soil, water, plants, milk, and human urine.  He also chemistry to both undergraduate and graduate students during his tenure.  John regularly traveled internationally (Canada, India, Japan, Philippines) giving presentation on rice allelopathy.  Additionally, he reviewed proposals for funding and reviewed research papers submitted to journals for publication.  John has been on the GDNS board since 2019 and is the human companion to a sweet mixed-breed named Chance. 

Randee Olson, Vice President: Randee has a BS in Civil Engineering from Michigan Technological University (’89) and has worked for the US Forest Service for 32 years.  She spent most of her career on the Superior National Forest as a Field Engineer and Assistant District Ranger; and is now the Regional Incident Business Coordinator for the 20-state Eastern Region of the US Forest Service.  She has experience in project management for major road construction and is an expert in the Incident Command Structure.  She has been involved in emergency response for large fires, hurricanes, and most recently with FEMA for the Covid-19 vaccination campaign.  In addition to her experience managing large projects and involvement in incident management, Randee has been a dog lover since she was a young girl.  Dogs have always been part of her life, ranging from hunting dogs and English Bulldogs while growing up, to being owned by Newfoundlands since 1992.  Randee has been active GDNS board member since 2017 and is currently the human companion of Cooper T., a big old goofy Newfie! 

Mary Lou Sorenson, Secretary: Marylou recently retired after a 25-year career as a Certified Financial Planner (CFP).  She is currently a member of the Cook County Parks and Trails Commission for District 3 and has been a past board member of the Women’s Initiative for Service and Education (WISE).   Marylou joined the GDNS board in 2021 and is the very active down companion of Lucy the Labradoodle.

Cathy Quinn, President: Cathy has a BS in Earth Science from Northland College in Ashland, Wisconsin.  She was a Wilderness Ranger in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness for over twenty years.  In 2016 she was promoted to her current position as the Recreation & Wilderness Specialist for the East Zone of the Superior National Forest.  In addition to her work with the US Forest Service, Cathy worked for WTIP Community Radio in Grand Marais, MN for 15 years in a variety of roles including program & music director, festival director, on-air host, producer and volunteer coordinator.  Her work with WTIP and the US Forest Service has given her extensive experience overseeing employees and volunteers, collaborating with partners, organizing events, leading committees and managing complex projects.  Cathy founded GDNS in 2013 and her world pretty much revolves around her two dogs, Lucky LaRoux and June Bug. 

Go Dog North Shore.  It's about dogs and you.

Go Dog North Shore became incorporated as a non-profit in March of 2013.  Go Dog aims to promote active human and dog relationships on Minnesota's North Shore of Lake Superior by:

• creating and maintaining the new purpose-built Grand Marais Dog Park (coming in 2022)

•  advocating for dog-friendly cross-country ski trails in Cook County, MN

•  centralizing dog related information for Cook County, MN such as dog-friendly skiing, hiking, swimming, lodging, etc  

•  hosting skijoring races, a walking club and obedience training

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