Events

Cheri began her aviation journey at age 17, inspired by an Aerospace Science class. She completed her flight training during her senior year and earned her Private Pilot license before attending Minnesota State University, Mankato (MNSU) for an Aviation degree. After graduating, she served as a flight instructor and became Assistant Chief Flight Instructor. She flew for Great Lakes Aviation and corporate jets for North Star Aviation before joining Northwest Airlines (now Delta Air Lines), where she advanced to Captain of the Airbus A320 and took on roles such as Pilot Recruiter and Ambassador. 

Cheri also co-founded the annual WING (Women Inspiring our Next Generation) Flight, providing female high school students with an inspiring flight experience to explore aviation careers. In addition to her work at Delta, she has been an Adjunct Professor at MNSU, advising various aviation student organizations and helping to build partnerships, such as with Delta’s Propel University program.

For over 30 years, Cheri has volunteered with the MN Aviation Career Education (ACE) Camp, aimed at introducing high school students to aviation careers. She is a founding member of two Women in Aviation chapters in Minnesota and contributes to numerous aviation-related organizations, including serving on boards, planning events, and giving talks. In April 2024, Cheri was inducted into the Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame, recognizing her significant impact on the state's aviation community and her dedication to mentoring and fostering opportunities for young people in the field.

For 20 years, Jason was a reporter and morning news anchor at WCCO-TV, in 2022 he shifted shifts and shifted gears by becoming a talk radio host. DriveTime with DeRusha is on WCCO-AM 830 from 3-6pm weekdays. He's also the food editor of Minnesota Monthly and an in-demand social media influencer and emcee. Jason serves on the Board of Directors of Second Harvest Heartland the the Philanthropic Board for M Health Fairview Masonic Children's Hospital. 

Listen to Jason on WCCO radio or check out his podcast; you can also follow him on Facebook and Instagram. WCCO: https://www.audacy.com/stations/wccoradio/shows/drivetime-with-derusha-1c157  Blog: https://www.jasonderusha.com/  X/Instagram: DeRushaJ Facebook: TheJasonDeRusha

He left a successful two decade TV news career to bring new energy to drivetime talk radio and podcasting. He won an Emmy for anchoring morning news and another for breaking news. He helped launch a news and lifestyle show “WCCO MidMorning” at 9am.An online innovator. A James Beard Award nominee for his television food reporting. And the food and dining editor for Minnesota Monthly magazine.

This Marquette University political science/broadcast journalism graduate went from interning at ABC “World News Tonight,” to reporting/anchoring at KWQC-TV, WISN-TV, and WCCO-TV before moving to radio.

Jason’s first job was as a referee of a 4th grade basketball game. High School morning announcement guy. College TV station News Director. His TV career took him from an internship at ABC News’ investigative unit, to reporting and anchoring jobs at KWQC-TV in Davenport, Iowa, WISN-TV in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and finally WCCO-TV in Minneapolis.

At least a dozen Regional Emmy Awards. A national James Beard Foundation nomination for outstanding TV segment. 40 Under 40 from the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal. Young Alum of the Year for the Marquette University College of Communication.

But the most important award is the trust of listeners, and readers – who count on Jason to help them jump-start every day.

Dawanna S. Witt was elected as the Hennepin County Sheriff on November 8, 2022. She was sworn in and took office on Tuesday, January 3, 2023. She is the first woman and person of color to hold the office.

Born in Chicago and raised in Minneapolis, Sheriff Witt became a mother at 15 but nevertheless excelled at school. She earned several scholarships to college, including the Justice Alan Page Scholarship. As a condition of that scholarship, she volunteered in several community organizations in various roles and saw firsthand how her actions could make a positive difference in the lives of young people. Her passion for working with kids remains to this day.

Bryan Piatt is a mental health therapist, specializing in supporting people living with OCD and anxiety. He is a former news anchor and reporter at KARE 11, and the host of the “Take What Serves. Leave the Rest” podcast—which creates a safe space to talk about mental health. For the last five years Bryan has been speaking publicly about his own journey with OCD and anxiety. He is also a Breathwork facilitator, meditation guide, and yoga teacher. Woven throughout all of his work is the message that—no matter what you're experiencing—you aren’t alone.

Heather Edelson is a County Commissioner on the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners and was elected in May of 2024.  She represents District 6 of Hennepin County, which encompasses 16 cities, including Hopkins, Edina, Minnetonka, Orono, Excelsior and Wayzata.

Edelson received her undergraduate degree from Hamline University where she majored in Legal Studies and received her Masters Degree in Social Work from the University of Minnesota. Edelson worked as a Clinical Therapist at outpatient clinics and served on many boards and commissions that advocated to improve education outcomes and human rights including serving as a Guardian ad Litem.  

Edelson served 3 terms as a State Representative in the Minnesota House of Representatives.  At the Minnesota Capitol, she served as Vice Chair on the Ways and Means and Public Safety Committees and was a member of the Education Finance, Human Service Policy and Environment Policy and Finance committees.  For three years Edelson ran the Civility Caucus that worked to improve and strengthen bipartisan work at the legislature. Much of her policy work at the Capitol focused on literacy, the intersection of mental health, public safety, and health and human service policy. 

Edelson resides in Edina with her husband and three sons.

Bream has interviewed such music royalty as the King of Pop (Michael Jackson), the Queen of Soul (Aretha Franklin) and Prince as well as Bob Dylan, U2, three Beatles, four Rolling Stones and all of Maroon 5. He has performed with Alice Cooper, jogged with Willie Nelson and walked the streets of New York with Bruce Springsteen. A longtime voter for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Bream has also written for the Los Angeles Times, Billboard, Vibe and other publications. He has a journalism degree from the University of Minnesota, where he established the Jon Bream Scholarship for Arts Criticism. www.jonbream.com