THE ORGANIZATION
meet our team

Megan Langley
Executive Director
Megan Langley is the Founder and Executive Director of Strengthen ND. Ms. Megan is a 2014 Bush Foundation Fellow, 2020 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for Social Impact Strategy, and an alumnus of the Harvard-Kennedy School of Government’s Leadership in the 21st Century Program and the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana State University. Ms. Laudenschlager currently holds several state-based and national positions related to rural placemaking and development, including positions on the North Dakota Council on the Arts Board of Directors, North Dakota Economic Development Foundation Board of Directors, North Dakota Rural Development Council, and the National Endowment for the Arts’ Steering Committee, which provides guidance to the Citizens’ Institute on Rural Design (CIRD).
Ann Olson
Local Foods Coordinator
Ann Olson brings six years of direct farmers market vendor experience to the Local Foods Coordinator position. A native of Des Lacs, North Dakota, Ann and her husband are raising their kids and produce business on her fourth generation farm. Besides market farming, Ann is a large animal veterinarian, aspiring baker and antique tractor show enthusiast. She is passionate about the local foods movement and assisting growers in growing their business to bring high quality products to local consumers.


barbara carley
Beth odahlen
Beth Odahlen, an original board member of Strengthen ND, worked for more than 22 years in higher education before transitioning to Strengthen ND. Her previous experiences were specific to leadership development, internship and experiential education, student support services, and grant management. During her time in higher education, Beth developed several successful programs which highly impacted student success. Beth is an eleven year member of the Society for Experiential Education (NEE) and is the current president of SEE.
Beth currently coordinates the Launching Leadership Program and the Strengthen ND AmeriCorps program. Beth brings a unique approach to program development and hopes to cultivate a passion for rural leadership and internships to youth and young adults in North Dakota.
Email: beth@strengthennd.com


Cher Hersrud
Natasha Gourd


Nancy Heskin-Rakness
Nancy Edmonds Hanson
