American Swedish Institute Elects New Trustees and Confirms Board Leadership

MINNEAPOLIS — The American Swedish Institute (ASI) has elected five new members to its Board of Trustees: Hans Burbidge, Alyssa Malinski Erickson, Katie Jacobson, Lars Erik Leafblad, and Barbara Swadburg. The elections were confirmed during ASI’s Annual Membership Meeting in May 2025.

ASI Trustees serve three-year terms and contribute leadership, expertise, and cultural perspective to further ASI’s mission and programs.

Newly Elected Trustees:

• Hans Burbidge is Senior Vice President at Mediahub Worldwide and brings more than two decades of international marketing experience. Originally from Strömsund, Sweden, Hans lives in Minneapolis and actively maintains Swedish cultural traditions with his family.
• Alyssa Malinski Erickson leads the United Health Foundation’s America’s Health Rankings® platform. With 25+ years in marketing and social responsibility, Alyssa is a Gustavus Adolphus alumna with a minor in Scandinavian Studies.
• Katie Jacobson is a board-certified financial planner with a background in healthcare IT, philanthropy, and government relations. She carries on a family legacy at ASI, inspired by her great-aunt, longtime ASI volunteer Dorothy Delegard.
• Lars Erik Leafblad, co-founder of executive search firm Ballinger Leafblad, has served in leadership at the Bush Foundation and the University of Minnesota. He also founded Pollen Midwest and is a passionate advocate for civic leadership and connection.
• Barbara Swadburg is a retired franchise executive and active community volunteer. A former leader at Burger King Corporation, she continues to serve ASI as a mansion facilitator and contributes to several local organizations.

Board Officers for 2025–2026 were also confirmed:

• Sara Stenberg, Chair
• Tikki Brown, Vice Chair
• Lisa Källebo, Treasurer
• Brenda Butler, Secretary

Reelected Trustees:
ASI reappointed three trustees to second three-year terms: Tikki Brown, Axel Peter Hilger, and Lisa Källebo.

Departing Trustees:
ASI extends heartfelt thanks to William Weiler, Andreas Örnberg, and Dr. Maggi Adamek for their service.

Honoring Dr. Maggi Adamek:
Dr. Adamek completes seven years of service, including three as ASI’s Board Chair (2022–2025). During her tenure, she led the 2021–24 Strategic Plan and co-chaired the current planning committee. She supported board diversity and growth, helped develop ASI’s leadership succession, served on the CEO search committee, and remained an additional year to support the CEO transition. She generously gave her time, wisdom, and spirit, and ASI is grateful for her lasting impact.

New Board Members’ Bios:

Hans Burbidge is a Senior Vice President at Mediahub Worldwide. Hans’ career in marketing and media has spanned more than twenty years in both Sweden and the United States. He is a graduate of the University of Växjo in Sweden and received a Bachelor of Social Science majoring in Business Administration. During college, Hans had the opportunity to study abroad at the University of Macau, China. Hans grew up in Strömsund, Sweden and as an adult lived in Stockholm until moving to Minnesota with his family in 2016. Hans and his family find it important to continue to celebrate Swedish traditions here in Minnesota to stay connected to their Swedish culture. Some of their favorites include an annual Julbord, Midsummer parties, Kubb tournaments and the kids participation in the ASI Lucia celebration. Hans currently lives in Minneapolis with his wife, Jami, and their two daughters, Greta and Nora.

Alyssa Malinski Erickson has over 25 years of experience in marketing, communications, and social responsibility. Alyssa plays a pivotal role in leading the United Health Foundation America’s Health Rankings® platform – dedicated to improving the health of the nation through strategic dialogue and engagement with community leaders, policymakers, and non-profit organizations. Alyssa is a graduate of Gustavus Adolphus College with a minor in Scandinavian Studies.

Katie Jacobson is a proud Minnesotan, dog mom to mini-Aussidoodle Millie, & a lifelong adventurer with a passion for forging connections & inspiring change. Her Swedish heritage has always been close to my heart, reflected in cherished traditions like exchanging holiday gifts with our Swedish relatives & enjoying international visits to keep our bonds vibrant. As the great-niece of legendary ASI volunteer Dorothy (Dot) Delegard, she is honored to carry on a family legacy rooted with ASI. Katie graduated from the University of Minnesota-Morris in 2014 & from Bloomington Jefferson in 2010. Her career highlights span healthcare IT in project management at Epic (Madison, WI), Congressional Relations with the Library of
Congress (Washington, D.C.), & now as a philanthropy-driven, board-CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ & wealth solutions matchmaker (Twin Cities, MN). All-in-all, her work centers on empowering people & driving meaningful change. A dedicated advocate for philanthropy, legacy, & DEI & Belonging, Katie proudly mentors & volunteers through initiatives with Hennepin Healthcare, the University of Minnesota, & the Minnesota Orchestra.

Lars Erik Leafblad is a co-founder and principal of Ballinger Leafblad, a Twin Cities-based executive search firm serving civic clients, and has spent his career doing what he loves best—connecting people with one another and with new opportunities to develop their careers and connections. He has served as chief development officer for the Humphrey chool of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota and led the Bush Fellowship leadership programs for the Bush Foundation. Lars is also founder of Pollen Midwest, a Minneapolis-based nonprofit that existed for a decade to build deeper human connection across the region through digital storytelling and networking events. He earned his BA in Economics from St. Olaf College and his MBA from the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management. Lars lives in Shoreview, MN and is a proud Dad to four children; Bergen, Annika, Ingrid and Greta. He loves being a “Volleyball Dad” and enjoys collecting Minnesota’s state gemstone, Lake Superior Agate. He is named after his great-grandfather, Lars Lofblad, who immigrated to the United States from Sweden in 1891 and settled in northern Wisconsin. His late grandparents, Paul and Charlotte Leafblad, instilled in him a deep love and appreciation for his Swedish heritage.

Barbara Swadburg is currently semi-retired. In the 1970’s she began a career with Burger King Corporation as one of its first female franchise operators in the Midwest. During her 28 plus years with Burger King, she was elected as the Midwestern Regional Representative on the Board of the National Franchise Association and was also elected to the Board of Restaurant Services, Inc., the national distribution arm of Burger King Corporation. When she was Chairperson of Building and Properties at Y.M.C.A. Camp Widjiwagan, she led renovating the historic Kirby Dining Hall. She is a past President of the University of Minnesota Women’s Club, a group that provides scholarship assistance to qualified undergraduate students. Currently she divides her time between the American Swedish Institute, where she is a mansion facilitator and guide, the University of Minnesota Women’s Club, where she is a member of the nominating committee and Creekside Montessori School of Minneapolis, where she is a board member. She also holds a real estate license. Barbara and her husband, James Kurle, maintain contacts in Sweden with relatives and Dr. Kurle’s colleagues through frequent travel to Sweden and Scandinavia and through their relationship with the American Association for Runic Studies.