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Minnesota Public Radio Elects Dr. Patricia Simmons and Nancy Lyons to Board of Trustees

March 3, 2014

St. Paul, Minn. — Minnesota Public Radio today announced that Dr. Patricia Simmons of the Mayo Clinic and Nancy Lyons of Clockwork Active Media have been elected to MPR's Board of Trustees.

Dr. Simmons is a pediatrician and Professor of Pediatrics, chair of the Division of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology, and holds a joint appointment in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. In addition, Dr. Simmons serves as the Executive Medical Director for Health Policy and Chair and Chief Executive Officer of the Economic Development Corporation of the Destination Medical Center. In those roles, she oversees health care policy and community, government and business engagement on behalf of Mayo Clinic. Dr. Simmons is a Regent at the University of Minnesota and serves on the Board of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, and the Guthrie Theater. Previously she served on the on the Mayo Clinic Board of Trustees, the Board of Governors, and as Chair of Mayo Medical Ventures.

Lyons is the Co-founder, President and CEO of Clockwork Active Media, a leading digital agency specializing in designing and developing business solutions for web, mobile, and other digital environments. Nancy is a recipient of the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal's "40 Under 40" and "Women To Watch" awards. In 2012 the Star Tribune presented Nancy with a special leadership award in its annual "Top 100 Workplaces" edition. Also in 2012 Finance and Commerce Magazine included Nancy among its "Progress Minnesota" award recipients. In 2009 she and her company were featured in Working Mother Magazine's Top 25 Women Owned Businesses. Lyons is also co-founder of the Geek Girls Guide. Its mission is to make web technology accessible and exciting, and cultivate a movement of empowered women and men online through writing, workshops, and public speaking.

"We're delighted to welcome Patricia and Nancy to the Board," said Ian Friendly, Minnesota Public Radio board chair. "They each bring a passion for Minnesota Public Radio and respective expertise in health care and digital - two areas of focus for the organization."

An MPR Member since 1982, Simmons has been president of the North American Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology and served as Regent of the University of Minnesota (2003-2009) - where she was chair for a two-year term. Simmons also chaired the most recent search for a new University of Minnesota president. In addition, Simmons is a member of the Minnesota Women's Economic Roundtable and Minneapolis Saint Paul Magazine named her to a recent list of "100 Most Influentials."

Lyons has been an MPR member since 2003, and is deeply involved in the Twin Cities community. She's co-author of Interactive Project Management: Pixels, People, and Process (New Riders, 2012), serves on the National Board of Directors at The Family Equality Council, is a founding board member of Upper Mississippi Academy and is a captain/mentor at Project Skyway.

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