Thank you, Tahera. Welcome, Corrie and George!
Corrie Besse, FMR's new finance director, and Dr. George Annor, our newest board member.
Tahera Mamdani, our finance director, retired this summer after a 5-year career with Friends of the Mississippi River. We celebrate her service while also welcoming Corrie Besse as she steps into this important role.
We're also delighted to announce that Dr. George Annor, a long-appreciated colleague from the Forever Green Initiative, recently joined the FMR Board of Directors.
Thank you, Tahera, and welcome, Corrie!
The staff and board of FMR bid a fond farewell to Tahera Mamdani, who retired this summer after 5 years as FMR’s finance director.
"In Tahera's time with FMR, she managed significant growth in the organization's budget size and complexity with professionalism. She also brought a warmth and joy to her work that her colleagues will dearly miss," said FMR Executive Director Whitney Clark.
Not one to seek the spotlight, Tahera was known for her smile, patience, love of the river and keeping FMR’s systems humming. We are deeply grateful to her for her foundational role and wish her all the best in her well-earned retirement.
FMR is now excited to welcome Corrie Besse to the finance director role.
"She's a seasoned pro with a reputation for competence,” said Whitney.
Corrie brings more than 20 years of nonprofit experience to the table. Most recently, she led finance, human resources and organizational operations at Northern Clay Center in Minneapolis. Her work in arts administration shaped a human-centered approach to leadership rooted in stewardship, collaboration and creative care.
Corrie has hit the ground running, quickly learning all the complexities of a new and multi-faceted organization. We are deeply grateful to have her on the team.
Welcome, Dr. George Annor!
Internationally, Minneapolis is known as a center of food manufacturing and research. The Twin Cities is also known for the Mighty Mississippi, a world-class river flowing through the heart of our metro. In his role as a researcher and teacher, Dr. George Annor contributes to both, helping to feed the world while caring for it.
As part of the Forever Green Initiative team at the University of Minnesota, a keystone FMR partner, George is helping to develop innovative food systems that improve human health while advancing environmental sustainability.
In addition to his research and academic strengths, George is renowned as an engaging collaborator.
“Few experts can communicate their knowledge and bring together different groups like George. Whether you're with a nonprofit like FMR, a farmer, a government agency official or a corporate executive, George builds connections and finds common ground,” said Whitney. “We've worked with him in our work to transform agricultural systems and now we're excited to have his expertise and talents on our board.”