Welcome to six new Achieve board members

We’re excited to welcome six outstanding leaders to the Achieve Twin Cities Board of Directors! Each brings a unique blend of professional expertise, community commitment and passion for supporting young people as they plan for their futures. From human resources and technology to finance, innovation and strategy, these new members share a common belief: that every student deserves the tools, opportunities and confidence to pursue meaningful, life-sustaining careers.

Jackie Boyd – Senior Vice President of Human Resources, Best Buy
Jackie Boyd has built her career helping people thrive at Best Buy. Today, she leads HR support and strategy for the company’s U.S. retail and Geek Squad Services teams, shaping the experience of thousands of employees nationwide. Previously, Jackie served as vice president of HR for Best Buy Health and guided enterprise talent acquisition.  

Meaghan Carpenter – Director and Vice President of Talent Strategy, Xcel Energy
At Xcel Energy, Meaghan Carpenter drives talent acquisition, workforce planning, leadership development and employee experience—ensuring the company is ready for both today’s challenges and tomorrow’s opportunities. Her career spans leadership roles at Danfoss, Eaton and Target, where she built inclusive cultures and led transformational change. 

Mike Eliason – Managing Director, Accenture
Mike Eliason helps organizations navigate complexity and create strategies that last. As managing director at Accenture, he partners with clients to design sustainable solutions for long-term success. Beyond his professional expertise, Mike is a proud Minneapolis Public Schools parent who believes deeply in public education as the foundation of equity and opportunity. 

Steve Montgomery – Vice President of R&D, Cargill Bioindustrial
Steve Montgomery leads innovation at Cargill Bioindustrial, where his team transforms renewable agricultural feedstocks into high-performance, sustainable products. With a career that began as a process chemist at GE Plastics and grew through leadership roles at Dow Chemical, Steve has dedicated his work to advancing science that delivers both reliability and environmental responsibility. 

Ginny Richardson – Vice President of IT, Apogee Enterprises
Ginny Richardson directs IT strategies that power business applications and workplace productivity at Apogee Enterprises. She brings a diverse career in technology leadership, including many years at Cargill and most recently as CIO of board game giant Asmodee. Ginny is passionate about career readiness and believes that equipping young people with the right tools and inspiration is one of the most impactful investments we can make.

Steve Silvers – Executive Vice President and Senior Audit Director, U.S. Bank
With extensive experience in accounting, finance and auditing, Steve Silvers provides trusted leadership at U.S. Bank. His career has also included roles at KPMG and Honeywell. Outside of work, Steve is deeply engaged in professional and community service, from serving as annual giving chair for the Carlson School of Management alumni board to his role as regional director for the Professional Risk Managers’ International Association.

Please join us in celebrating Jackie, Meaghan, Mike, Steve, Ginny and Steve as they step into their new roles with Achieve. We’re grateful for their leadership and look forward to the impact we’ll make together—expanding opportunities, strengthening career and college readiness, and ensuring that planning truly meets possibility for all Twin Cities students.

Photo from left to right: Steven Silvers, Steven Montgomery, Meaghan Carpenter, MPS Superintendent Dr. Lisa Sayles Adams, Ginny Richardson, Achieve president and CEO Danielle Grant, Jackie Boyd, Mike Eliason

Learn more about the Achieve board of directors