Meet Our Board and Staff
Our all-volunteer board is drawn from all over Summit Hill. People have all kinds of reasons for serving on the board and come from many different walks of life. Everyone who works with us is someone who cares about our neighborhood deeply and volunteers their time to make it better. We work hand in hand with our dedicated staff and community volunteers to bring various projects and ideas to life. If you’re like us and want to make Summit Hill a better place to live, there are lots of ways to get involved with our work.
SHA Board of Directors
Jennifer Isernhagen - President - Fairmount Avenue
Bio coming soon!
Tricia Huntley - Board Vice President
A Minnesota native, Tricia had lived in Washington DC for 25 years when she contemplated moving back to the Twin Cities. After exploring Summit Hill on a summer visit, she fell in love with the area and put her DC house on the market shortly thereafter. She moved into her newly renovated Saint Paul home in the summer of 2023 and is thrilled to call Minnesota home again.
Tricia is an interior designer and principal of the national design firm Huntley & Co., now headquartered in MSP. She has also opened a design shop, called Greathouse, with a storefront in Tangletown. In her spare time, Tricia loves to shop at vintage and antique stores, visit museums and collect art, and go to the area’s parks (rain, snow, or shine) with her beautiful rescue dog, Ursi.
Eva Mastbaum-Wensing - Treasurer - Grand Avenue
Bio coming soon!
Ashley Brown - Board Secretary - Fairmount Avenue
The Summit Hill neighborhood has been part of my life as long as I can remember. From special outings to Grand Avenue as a child to long walks around the neighborhood dreaming of the perfect home, Summit Hill has always held a special place in my heart. I love the personality, charm, and history of the neighborhood; and the people and the walkability make this a wonderful place to live.
My husband, Matt, and I bought our home in Summit Hill in 2021 after spending many years in Mac-Groveland and Lowertown, and as students at St. Thomas and William Mitchell. I joined SHA because I am passionate about sharing and preserving the magic of this neighborhood. I am excited to be part of a group dedicated to making our neighborhood a better place to live for many years to come.
Paul Acito
Bio coming soon!
Elizabeth Carman
Bio coming soon!
Peter Hanf
I was not familiar with either St. Paul or the Summit Hill neighborhood until my senior year of high school. I grew up in a suburb of Minneapolis and downtown Minneapolis was where we went for special events. However, a friend of mine lived in Summit Hill. I attended his graduation party, which, to be honest, was nothing short of a revelation. It was nothing like the typical suburban grad party with a keg in the garage sitting next to a lawn mower and a can of paint. There were waiters, champagne, white linen tablecloths, live music, dancing, and well-preserved historic homes. The party opened my eyes to St. Paul.
My wife, Sara, and I bought our first home in the Irving Park neighborhood. We now live in Summit Hill. When our daughter Katharine (“Kate”) graduated from high school, we tried to emulate the magic of the grad party I attended so many years ago with champagne, white linen tablecloths, music (not live – they wanted a DJ!!) and dancing. It was an amazing night for an amazing group of kids.
Like many other SHA board members, I joined SHA because I am passionate about sharing and preserving the magic of this neighborhood. I am excited to be part of a group dedicated to making our neighborhood a better place to live for many years to come.
Kathryn Hoppe
A lifelong Midwesterner, Kathryn has called Minnesota home for over three decades. She is an affirmed localist and while she is interested in global events, trends and cultures, she believes that local participation is how to get things done. Therefore, she is honored to be a part of the Summit Hill Association and to contribute to her community.
Kathryn holds the idea of local participation so dear that she switched her football allegiance from the Green Bay Packers (she was raised in Wisconsin) to the Minnesota Vikings. Of course, she hopes that supporting the Summit Hill Association will prove more consistently satisfying!
Wanjing Ji
Bio coming soon!
Jennifer LaCroix
Bio coming soon!
Kate Quicksell - Zoning & Land Use Chair - Benhill Road
I moved to the neighborhood in 2018 having never lived in the Twin Cities before, and immediately fell in love with the area. My husband and I bought our house in 2020 and ended up on beautiful Benhill where we are lucky to enjoy few neighbors and many trees.
I decided to join SHA because I had so many questions and opinions about the neighborhood. Who decides what trees and grasses get planted? Who organizes community events? Who decides parking minimums? Who communicates with businesses on Grand? I wanted to be a person who helps answer all the many questions I had, keeping sustainability, small business, and walkability at the core of the neighborhood.
My husband and I are expecting our first child this summer, and it has only solidified our desire to remain in this neighborhood and continue to improve it for all the families who call it home. I am so excited to let my son choose a donut at Woellet’s, play in any of our neighborhood parks, walk to daycare and school, have brunch at Salut, admire the beautiful homes and leafy trees, attend a neighborhood concert with grandma while we enjoy a dinner at Hyacinth, and continue to take in everything Summit Hill can offer.
Rich Segar - Grotto Ave
My wife Marie and I moved to Summit Hill in late 2022 after raising our three children in Eagan. Minnesotans at heart, we have ranging interests in maple syruping, pickleball, golfing, quilting, pottery, MN United Soccer, and the Vikes. We love our Minnesota classics and will always find us at the Minnesota State Fair, foraging for mushrooms and agates, driving tractors, or yelling for our dog Harvy.
We relocated close to Grand Avenue to appreciate the convenience of walkable restaurants and retail. Grand Avenue and Summit Hill neighborhoods have a unique charm with rich history in architecture and community. I joined Summit Hill Association in early 2024 with an interest in learning more about the happenings around Grand Avenue. As the SHA representative on the Grand Avenue Business Association (GABA) Board, we are striving to proliferate the walkable nature and retail prosperity of Grand Avenue through communication, activation, and strategic planning. SHA and GABA collaboration and partnership is creating positive energy on Grand Avenue by bringing people to the streets, while looking forward to evolving Grand Avenue’s continued vitalization.
Tony Sjogren - Lincoln Ave
My wife Stacy and I moved to a home on Lincoln Ave in St Paul just over 10 years ago. We had raised our two daughters in the St Cloud areas and were ready for a change. We wanted to be in St Paul specifically for the nature of the neighborhoods and the amenities a larger city has to offer. We love the Summit Hill Neighborhood.
When not working at a Rebuilding Together MN - not for profit housing organization, I spend time fixing up our 1920’s duplex or in the front of my boat fishing up north.
Simon Taghioff
We bought our first home in Summit Hill in 2017, moving our young family here because we loved the beautiful older homes, the walkability, and the proximity of shops, cafes, and restaurants on Grand Avenue. It reminded me of the neighborhood where I grew up in London. We've found a real community here - the kind of place where you know your neighbors - as well as lots of other families with young kids.
I joined SHA because I want to make Summit Hill an even better place to live. Serving on our Zoning & Land Use Committee has given me the opportunity to work on several important (and sometimes controversial) studies and projects that shape our neighborhood and city. Partly due to my work with SHA, I was appointed to the Saint Paul Planning Commission in 2021.
Dan Walsh - Grand Avenue
Having spent most of my life in St Paul, I have always admired the Summit Hill area. I remember my grandma taking me to the first Grand Day Parade back in 1977 and over the years I have come to enjoy and cherish the area.
When the opportunity to purchase a home in the area became available years ago, I jumped on it. My family has been a part of St. Paul for over 100 years. We are one the founding families of the St Paul Curling Club so being a part of the area that I have known for so long seemed like I had found my place.
I decided to raise my hand and join the Summit Hill Association Board because we need to preserve communities like this as they are unfortunately becoming an endangered species. Having the opportunity to help drive and build a better community was something I felt I had to be part of. I look forward to helping and adding to an already great history with the board as well as an unbelievable group of members and community residents.
Adina Weseman
Bio coming soon!
Interested in serving your neighborhood? Learn more about serving on the SHA Board.
SHA Staff
Our Executive Director and her team work with our board to set our overall vision and strategic direction, and are responsible for delivering our board projects and annual work plan, and putting on community events. They run the organization and manage our volunteers. They also work closely with the City of Saint Paul and its various departments to coordinate communications and community engagement. Our staff hold office hours at Linwood Recreation Center every week, as well as regular community coffees and other outreach.
For general inquiries and office hours, please see our contact page.
Monica Haas - Executive Director - St. Clair Avenue
My husband and I moved to Summit Hill 20 years ago. We had had our wedding reception on Summit Avenue and we instantly fell in love with the neighborhood. We went on to raise our four daughters here. When we first moved in, I was given a welcome basket from SHA, and I always thought it would be a cool job to have, and one day there happened to be an opening. I took the job seven years ago. I love working with our neighbors, businesses, and our local government. I have had the privilege of working with some very talented people. I am excited to see how our neighborhood will develop and change as we grow as a community.
Email Monica: director@summithillassociation.org
Jess Del Fiacco - Communications Volunteer - Grand Avenue
I’ve lived in the neighborhood since 2018 and have deep roots in the Saint Paul. I love Summit Hill’s walkability, beauty, and history — and having a front row seat to bustling Grand Ave.
As a communications professional, I wanted to use my skills to give back to my community. I am excited to support SHA’s important work and get to know more of my neighbors along the way.