6.2 sr MFAC Staff Report Memorandum
Item: 6.2
To: Multipurpose Facility Advisory Commission
From: Assistant City Administrator Joe Stremcha
Date: August 12, 2024
Subject: Multipurpose Facility Advisory Commission Staff Report
This report is a monthly highlight of department activities related to recent collaborations, strategic planning,
staff changes/developments, and operations.
Staffing Changes
Community Event Center Manager - Pending
Assistant Manager – Jennifer Katke (External Hire)
o We went to market to fill the assistant manager position for the Furniture and Things
Community Event Center. We received 45 applications and offered interviews to six candidates.
Following second interviews, references, and background checks, we recommend Jennifer Katke
for the position. Ms. Katke holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing with a minor in Hospitality
and Resort Management and a master’s degree in hospitality and Resort Management. She grew
up in Minnesota, but her career took her to Pennsylvania as a guest services manager for
DoubleTree Resort by Hilton, a general manager for Hampton Inn & Suites, and then became a
regional general manager for Hampton Inn & Suites. She is excited about returning to Minnesota.
Ms. Katke will start at step A of pay grade 8E. All pay and benefits will be consistent with policy.
Concessionaire Supervisor – Ja’Nea Dart (External Hire)
o The position of concessions supervisor was created as part of the staff reorganization of the
Furniture and Things Community Event Center. We went to market to fill this position and
received 18 applications. Following interviews, references, and background checks, we
recommend Ja'Nea Dart for this position. Ms. Dart has worked in the food industry for more
than 20 years, including 10 years as the general manager for Sparky's Cafe in Anoka. As general
manager, she was responsible for the bookwork, ordering, serving, cooking/prep, staffing, and
scheduling for the café. She selected and programmed the point-of-sale system for Sparky's and
set it up to be user-friendly. Ms. Dart also worked for Chow Grill, helping with catering for large
parties and events. Most recently, she's been the lead server for D's Smokehouse in Zimmerman.
Ms. Dart will start at step A of pay grade 8E. All pay and benefits will be consistent with policy.
Maintenance Supervisor – Tony Seibert (Internal Hire)
Administrative Assistant – Laura Estby (Internal Hire)
Building Supervisor(s) - Pending
Customer Service Associate(s) – Rebecca Cich, Julia Cyr-Pobuda, Kathy Hagglund, Mary Madson, Dawn
Martie, Sarah Merkling, ReAnna Newman, Frank Ysais. (Internal Hires)
July Budget to Actual 2023 vs 2024
As of July month end, revenues increased $42,908 and expense decreased by $33,743 year-over-year. The facility
is nearly at break even midway through the year in 2024. August will be another challenging month, but
September through December will see significant revenues to offset expenses.
Cornerstone Arena Dry Floor Events
Ice out for Cornerstone Arena and prep for dry floor events began last week. Staff struggled to remove the
tempered glass as each panel was 400 pounds, but were able to accomplish the task with a loaned tool from the
City of Alexandria and help from Sentence to Serve. We will transition those to acrylic when put back into
service. We will sell tempered glass with proceeds to be used for replacement acrylic as it is less expensive,
lighter, and will not change the game day experience. We did break one pane, but there were no injuries.