Tracy Lundeen
Cathy Kates
Cathy Kates has wanted to entertain for as long as she can remember. She was able to fulfill her dream and remain living in the Northland by being a radio on-air personality for nearly 21 years. After retiring from that beloved profession she continued her love of serving her community by working in our local school system. Both of those jobs have given her the insight to assist students with the same passion she had to achieve their full potential and fulfill their dreams with the help of the Blue Bird Foundation.
Kynze Lundeen
Austan Lundeen
Ted Smart
Walt Aplin
Walt Aplin has spent the past 40 years in the sales & hospitality business including co-owning some of the most successful events today including the Bayfront Country Jam, Taste of Duluth and City On the Hill Music Festival.
He has worked in management positions for MJP Club Management, Red Lobster, Minnesota (Timber Lodge) Steakhouse and Shell’s Seafood with locations throughout Florida. He has also managed a car dealership with average sales of over 300 cars per month.
He founded TwinPortsNightLife.com in 2006 and has since promoted and produced over 250 events throughout the northland.
“I am proud, and humbled, to be serving on the board of such a worthwhile and noble cause!” said Aplin.
When he isn’t working, which is seldom – he enjoys reading, playing bocce ball and hanging out with good friends.
Rose Carpenter
Rose Carpenter was once a Bluebird scholarship recipient before joining the board of directors. Rose was awarded the 2018 Audrey Lundeen Scholarship for her participation and dedication in music throughout high school, instrumentally and chorally. She also had 13 years of dance instruction at Stephanie’s Dance Shoppe in Hibbing, MN and was involved in community theatre in Grand Rapids, MN. After graduating from Greenway High School, she began her post-secondary education at The College of Saint Scholastica. She will be entering her second year as a Saint this upcoming fall (fall 2020) with a major in Communication Media Studies.
In early 2020 at only 19 years old, Rose was invited to join the board of directors and happily became a part of the Bluebird team. Rose continues to engage in musical opportunities as a member of the CSS Concert Choir and CSS Concert Band. She will also be joining the UMD Bulldog Marching Band in the fall. Outside of music, she works as a Campus Representative for CSS and will be starting a new position as a Dignitas Mentor Teaching Assistant this upcoming school year. In her free time, she enjoys visiting historical mansions, attending concerts, singing to Taylor Swift songs in her car, and traveling.