WC 2023 Nov From Passion to Purpose: Women Leading on Boards

More about Stacey
Stacey is a Family Office Senior Advisor with Wells Fargo, of which she has served in various roles for the past 25+ years. She is committed to ongoing education and professional development, which shines through her 3 undergraduate degrees (accounting, anthropology and English), master’s degree (management) and designations (Certified Financial Planner, Certified Trust and Fiduciary Advisor).

Not only that, but Stacey is also chair of the Executive Governing Board and serves on the investment committee for the North Dakota State University Foundation. She is treasurer for the Great Plains Food Bank and serves on the Cass County Electric Board of Directors. She has also served in leadership roles with the Red River Valley Estate Planning Council.

More about Julie
Julie Blehm is a retired physician with an impressive background that displays a commitment to excellence. Julie earned her bachelor's degree in biology at Concordia College and attended University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences (UNDSMHS). Julie is also board certified in Internal Medicine and Geriatrics and is a Fellow in the American College of Physicians.

Before her retirement in 2020, Julie served as Senior Medical Director at Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota, Department Chair of Clinic Internal Medicine at Sanford Health, Director of Internal Medicine Residency Continuity Clinic and Associate Dean of the SE campus of UNDSMHS. Her community activities have included her service as President of the Cass Clay YMCA board, as well as her service on the Fargo Moorhead Symphony board, Fargo Moorhead opera board, Concordia College Board of Regents, North Dakota American Foundation for the Prevention of Suicide board, North Dakota Special Olympics Board of Directors and her current service on the boards of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, North Dakota Professional Health Program, YMCA and North Dakota Museum of Art Foundation Board. Julie also was a member of the medical team for Special Olympics USA in Special Olympics World Games in '13, '15, '17, '19, '21 and '23.

More about Caitlin
Caitlin Stoecker is a Program Manager at Doosan Bobcat, where she leads a new product development team focused on an attachments strategic growth initiative through flexibility, unconventionality and remembering the “peopleness” of work. Her experience includes positions in corporate communications and philanthropy in a variety of industries including tech, fiber broadband and telecommunication, higher education and human services. Caitlin received her master’s degree in organizational communication and strategic communication from North Dakota State University. She also received her bachelor’s degree in management communication from NDSU. Caitlin has been serving on the Board of Directors for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Red River Valley since January 2020, and prior to joining the board was a volunteer on the Sweetheart Ball planning committee. She has also been serving on the NDSU Department of Communication Advisory Board since 2019 and is currently serving as Past President. Prior to these most recent board terms, she was active in volunteer leadership positions for Chamber committees. Melissa Sobolik is the Chief Executive Officer of the Great Plains Food Bank, North Dakota’s only food bank. She grew up on a farm near Courtenay, ND and earned her BA in political science from Concordia College.  

More about Melissa
A 16-year veteran of hunger-relief, Melissa began her work with the Great Plains Food Bank in 2007, working with programs and agency relations and launched the organization’s first direct service programs, like the Mobile Food Pantry and the BackPack Program. She then started and served as director of the Ending Hunger 2.0 initiative, which focuses on long-term solutions and prevention to food insecurity. She was named CEO in July 2021.  

Melissa was elected to the Fargo City Commission, served as the Development Director for the Plains Art Museum, worked in a rural think tank and served on the board of directors for Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity, Metro Youth Partnership, ND League of Cities, and others.  

She, her husband Jeremy and their rescue Golden Retrievers, Gracie and CeCe, make their home in West Fargo.