Valley Community Center

06/16/2026

Welcome to the Board, Rick Robbins! Recently Retired Executive Director of The Partnership Plan, Rick brings 47 years of marketing, sales, and fundraising experience to the VCC board. He had leaderships rolls in small private businesses to international publicly traded corporations, including the non-profit sector. His entrepreneurial spirit also resulted in owning 3 different businesses.

Previously, Rick was the Director of Job Services, Development, Community Relations at ESR/Rise, Inc. and the Director of Marketing and Community Relations with the Lakeview Health System. He earned a broadcast communications degree from Bemidji State University and has broadcast sporting events all over the state.

Rick has lived in the St. Croix valley since 1995 and currently resides in Bayport with wife Carol. He enjoys participating in golf, tennis, cycling and a variety of other athletic endeavors that include watching and running his four grandchildren to a variety of activities. He’s a former board member of the Valley Athletic Association (VAA) and the Greater Stillwater Chamber of Commerce. He’s currently the Assistant Treasurer of the Stillwater Sunrise Rotary Club.

Rick believes a community center would become a major focal point of the area. Such a facility will enhance the value of everyone living here.

06/11/2026

Welcome to the Board, Hannes Egbers! Hannes is Group Vice President for Guidewire Software, bringing 20 years of Go-To-Market leadership experience, having served at technology firms including Guidewire, Datadog, and Oracle, as well as an investor in Minnesota-based businesses. An Industrial Engineering graduate of Iowa State University, he walked-on to the football team before earning a scholarship and starting at left tackle. Hannes and his wife, Lori, completed their MBAs at University of St. Thomas — beginning the program as a couple and graduating with two children (and a third on the way). As a resident and parent, Hannes is passionate about uniting the St. Croix Valley to realize the vision of a premier facility. He is committed to ensuring the Valley Community Center becomes a local epicenter where positive core memories are created across generations.

Interested in joining our board? Learn more about our leadership at https://thevalleycenter.org/board

06/10/2026

Our board is growing! Welcome Lisa Salazar, Chief Operating Officer at Bridgewater Bank. A 30-year resident of Lake Elmo, Lisa raised her children in the Stillwater Area School District and has a deep appreciation for the role strong community connections play in overall well-being. She is a passionate advocate for the development of a community center that will provide opportunities for social connection, accessible programming, and the promotion of physical and mental health for residents of all ages.

Thank you, Lisa, for your commitment to the St. Croix Valley community and contributions to developing

Learn more about the Board here: https://thevalleycenter.org/board

05/07/2026

Great visiting friends in Minneapolis today at Thank you Malik and Erika; it was great connecting and learning from you!

05/05/2026

What a great morning at the Toast & Topics: State of the Cities 2026 event. We are fortunate to live in the St. Croix Valley where we have forward-thinking, congenial leadership at this level. Valley Community Center Parters truly appreciates the support all four mayors of Lake Elmo, Bayport, Oak Park Heights and Stillwater who voiced enthusiasm in working together for a community hub.

We heard from all four Mayors and City Administrators that a shared goal remains on developing community in the region. Our goal is a central hub that brings people together, delivers multiple public services efficiently, and supports the health and wellness of residents across all generations in the region. We are excited to work with our leaders to make this community-driven vision a reality!

Thank you to Robin, Stacie and the Doughertys for producing an excellent event at the lovely Water Street Inn.

05/04/2026

Had so much fun w friends at the Bridgewater In Bloom event tonight. 💐

04/24/2026

Congratulations to our friends at Washington County’s Family Resource Connections, who have opened their first dedicated home base at the Cottage Grove Service Center! Thank you to this team of compassionate leaders for your hard work in our community, serving families to ultimately prevent child abuse and neglect. We are rooting for you.

It would be amazing to one day have Family Resource Connections as part of the Community Center hub: a safe space for caregivers to come and connect with one another, be able to drop kids off in child care and receive the support they need. ❤️

03/31/2026

Celebrating our milestones 🏊‍♀️🧘🏽‍♀️🤸🏽‍♀️🏓🌱🌈🏀🏐🤿🛝🏋🏽⛹🏻‍♀️🎧☕️

Exciting Momentum for the Future Community Center We are thrilled to share an important milestone in the journey toward bringing our community hub to life. At the March 17 Lake Elmo City Council meeting, Valley Community Center Partners representatives presented plans for the proposed facility an

03/31/2026

We're excited about this! It's all about partnerships, connections and space for community in the St. Croix Valley. This is a huge economic opportunity that will supercharge Washington County as an asset to residents, as well as a regional destination, creating many year-round full and part-time jobs for residents, not to mention a gathering place that promotes mental health and physical wellness benefitting Valley residents for generations to come.

The City of Lake Elmo expressed its support for the proposed Valley Community Center facility that would occupy the current Lake Elmo Elementary grounds and offer resources to the greater