JAN 27, 2015 PROGRAM:
The Coolist Celebration on Earth!
In 1885, a New York reporter wrote that Saint Paul was, "another Siberia, unfit for human habitation" in winter. Offended by this attack on their city, the Saint Paul Chamber of Commerce decided to prove not only that Saint Paul was habitable but that its citizens were very much alive during winter, their most dominant season. Thus was born the Saint Paul Winter Carnival.
The Winter Carnival maintains traditions but it also continues to evolve. Rosanne Bump, Executive Director of St. Paul Winter Carnival, and Keith Leblanc, former Boreas, will talk about what’s new in the Carnival. The Winter Carnival will have a Royal Courtyard this year and would like to offer an ice structure in 2016 and 2017 with an Ice Palace in 2018. Rosanne and Keith can give you an insider’s perspective on creating these interactive ice events.
Rosanne Bump joined the Saint Paul Festival and Heritage Foundation in January 2013 as their President and CEO. The SPFHF is the proud producer of the Saint Paul Winter Carnival, a 10-festival in January/early February and Cinco de Mayo West Side Saint Paul, a 1-day festival in May.
For the 9 years prior to that she was the President/CEO of the River Falls Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Bureau in River Falls Wisconsin. She has also worked at Big Brothers Big Sisters and Healthy Communities.
Keith LeBlanc, grew up in St. Paul and moved to White Bear Lake in the 4th grade. He became an Eagle Scout, is a graduate of Hill Murray and the University of MN. After graduation from the U of M he entered the military and is a Vietnam Vet.
After returning home from the service he worked for Ecolab. Then off to New York for 10 years working for Sterling Drug as a Marketing Executive. In 1980, he returned to White Bear Lake and was employed by Turnquist Paper and became the Executive VP. Later the company was sold to UniSource, where he was the VP for the Upper Midwest until he retired.
LeBlanc was Boreas Rex in 2011, is now a board member of both the St. Paul Festival and Heritage Foundation and Ice Cold Events, LLC.