Jessica Parker Carlson, Management Analyst III
Jessie joined the Office of Planning & Analysis in 2012. Prior to joining Dakota County, Jessie worked as a program evaluator at the Minnesota Institute of Public Health and as a grant and collaborative coordinator with Anoka County’s Children and Family Council. Jessie earned a master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Minnesota-Duluth in 2000 and holds a bachelor's degree in Interdisciplinary Sciences from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.
Kurt Chatfield,
Planning Supervisor
Kurt has worked in the planning field for 20 years. While the majority of his career has been at Dakota County, Kurt has also worked for the city of Apple Valley and in the private sector for a survey and engineering firm. He has prepared many plans for transportation, parks, and the protection of the environment, including the County’s Farmland and Natural Area program developed in 2002. Recently, Kurt has led the update of the County’s Comprehensive Plan. Kurt holds a master's degree in Geography from the University of Minnesota.
Tel: 952-891-7022
Email:
kurt.chatfield@co.dakota.mn.us Ana Hernandez,
ICMA Management Fellow
Ana joined the Office of Planning and Analysis in June 2011 through the Local Government Management Fellows Program, a competitive post-graduate fellowship sponsored by the International City/County Management Association. Before joining OPA, Ana worked at Lower Gwynedd Township, a suburban community located in Spring House, Pa., and volunteered for nonprofits dedicated to the advancement of Latino youth in the United States. Ana holds a B.A. in Political Science (2009) and a master's degree in Public Administration (2011) from Villanova University.
Tel: 651-438-8391
Email:
ana.hernandez@co.dakota.mn.us Mary Jackson,
Senior Planner Mary has worked in research and planning related to environmental quality, regional growth, and parks for 15 years and joined Dakota County’s Office of Planning in 2001. Mary holds M.S. and M.L.A. degrees from the University of Minnesota’s College of Architecture and Landscape Architecture.
Tel: 952-891-7039
Email:
mary.jackson@co.dakota.mn.us Kristina Krull,
Management Analyst I Kristina joined the Office of Planning & Analysis in mid-2011. She earned her B.A. in Political Science and International Studies (2010) and her Master’s Degree in Public Affairs (2011) from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She has previously worked for the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection and the Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention.
Tel: 651-438-4496
Email:
kristina.krull@co.dakota.mn.us John Mertens, Senior Planner John is a long-time resident of Dakota County who was born, raised and still lives Inver Grove Heights. As a Dakota County planner for 16 years, John’s responsibilities have included providing Geographic Information System (GIS) analysis, developing and updating the Dakota County Transportation Model, providing support for the Farmland and Natural Area program and managing the Mississippi River Regional Trail plan. John is a graduate of St. Cloud State University with majors in Economics and Geography.
Tel: 952-891-7036
Email:
john.mertens@co.dakota.mn.us Debra Miller, Management Analyst SupervisorDebra has 10 years of experience in planning, research and analysis, and program evaluation. Debra came to the Office of Planning & Analysis in 2008, after serving in the County's Public Health Department for two years. Prior to Dakota County, Debra worked as a planner at the State of Minnesota and at a planning agency in south Hennepin County while completing her master's degree at the University of Minnesota.
Tel: 651-438-4579
Email:
debra.miller@co.dakota.mn.us Dan E. Patterson,
Planner II Dan has worked primarily on pedestrian and bicycling issues in the urban planning realm since joining Dakota County in 2006. A transplant from north central Illinois lured by Minnesota’s outdoors and culture, Dan’s previous occupations include newspaper editor and designer, grocery night manager, corn detasseler and firefighter. Dan has a B.S. degree in journalism and geography from Northern Illinois University and has earned his Master of Urban and Regional Planning degree from the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota.
Tel: 952- 891-7023
Email:
daniel.patterson@co.dakota.mn.us Hoang Ton, Management Analyst I
Hoang joined the Office of Planning & Analysis in July 2010. Hoang holds a B.A. in Mathematics from St. Olaf College (2007) and earned a master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute, University of Minnesota, in 2009.
Email:
hoang.ton@co.dakota.mn.us Jane Vanderpoel,
Management Analyst III
Jane moved to the OPED staff in October 2006 after serving for eight years as Dakota County's Communications Manager. Jane has worked for the state Legislature, several newspaper companies and public television, and has been active in public policy as a member of the Citizens League. Jane earned a master's in Public Administration from Hamline University in May 2005.
Tel: 651-438-4423
Email:
jane.vanderpoel@co.dakota.mn.us