Fashion Week MN
Moderator & Panelist Bios
Roshini Rajkumar Bio Moderator
Roshini is a C-Suite strategist and crisis coach, mainstage speaker, and multimedia content creator. She hosted REAL Talk with Roshini on WCCO Radio for nine years and hosts Discover Minnesota with Roshini on Facebook.
Roshini is a licensed attorney and former TV reporter called upon by media across the US for commentary about crisis management, political strategy, and powerful presence. She is a legal analyst for Court TV; a political analyst for WJR Detroit and KNUS Denver; and a success coach for Twin Cities Live on KSTP-TV in Minneapolis. Roshini has conducted thousands of TV and radio interviews during 25 years in broadcasting.
Her book, Communicate That!, is in its third edition.
DIGITAL PLATFORMS
Web site: OwnYourWow.com
LinkedIN: Roshini Rajkumar
Twitter: @RoshiniR
Facebook: @RoshiniRajkumar
Instagram: @RoshiniRajkumar
Stephanie Johnson Bio
Stephanie Johnson is a Well-Being and Life Coach Practitioner with a background in fashion retail. In the last chapter of her 30-year career at Nordstrom, Stephanie opened and managed Nordstrom Ridgedale, where her investment in employee training made the store a regional leader in retail sales, customer satisfaction, and employee retention. For Stephanie, the most rewarding part of retail management was coaching individuals to find and grow their true potential. At 55, Stephanie left retail to launch her own business, earn her well-being and life coaching practitioner certification and focus on her passion full-time.
Her coaching practice is guided by two core beliefs. First, that any meaningful and positive change in life must come from a deeper understanding and awareness of self. Second, that fulfillment is found when a person’s values, unique strengths, and life passions align. Stephanie offers personal coaching for individuals as well as staff coaching and well-being programs for businesses.
Here are some fun facts about Stephanie:
She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education and has continued teaching ever since. Believe it or not, retail stores can make a great classroom!
A lover of travel, Stephanie has visited 20 countries and 30 U.S. states – but her favorite spots are anywhere she is with family and friends.
In her early days at Nordstrom, Stephanie was a regional Buyer, a position that helped spark her passions for travel, fashion, and helping others find their fit.
Her favorite forms of art are fashion, photography, and needlepoint.
Jennifer Cermak Bio
Jennifer Cermak is a Minneapolis-based boutique owner, and small business consultant with a passion for functional design within operations, products, and branding. Assisting companies in technical swimwear design, she consults for a handful of worldwide known brands enjoying knowing her expertise makes their product fit. Jennifer’s store Nani Nalu Beachwear Boutique has helped over two million women find a great fitting swimsuit they actually want to wear.
During the pandemic, SUITCASE was launched, a remote swimwear shopping experience available nationally (think stitch-fix for swimwear!).
Jennifer lives in a mid-century A-Frame in Golden Valley with her husband Grant and 2 daughters, Lily and Luna. She enjoys traveling the world with her daughters (9 & 6) to show them the beauty of different cultures, places, and ways of living. In her free time, Jennifer is found in a rainforest with howler monkeys or in the water with stingrays.
Carrie Fryman Bio
Carrie Fryman is the Director of Buying and Marketing at MartinPatrick 3, an internationally recognized specialty boutique and interior design studio in the North Loop. A long-time retail and fashion enthusiast, Carrie is able to carry her personal passion through her work. Her goal at MartinPatrick 3 is to deliver the best men’s, women’s, and home furnishings experience in the nation through an unparalleled assortment, best-in-class service, and sense of discovery every with every visit.
Carrie is passionate about supporting local businesses, investing in women-led ventures, mentoring students seeking a career in retail, and keeping art and culture thriving in the community.
Outside of MartinPatrick 3, she spends most of her time with family. Aaron, the bike-loving husband; Harry, a 4-year-old with limitless personality and blonde curls; Josephine, a one-year-old who loves her brother; and Felix, a discerning standard poodle. She loves cooking, traveling, reading, watching movies and shopping, of course!
Tameka Jones Bio
After being furloughed as a makeup artist due to the pandemic, Tameka Jones took control of her destiny, launching Lip Esteem— a complete line of plant-based lipstick to complement all skin tones. Starting out as a vendor at a local farmer’s market along Lake Street, Tameka was amazed at the interest and support of the community, especially since she assumed mask-wearing would deter demand for lipstick.
Lip Esteem is now one year old and has had amazing growth even behind the mask. Although Tameka has a minor in Business Management from Metropolitan State University she understood that she needed more understanding on how to be a better entrepreneur so she has participated in two cohorts since the pandemic. The knowledge and the networking that she intentionally sought out has led her to be interviewed with WCCO, Fox 9, The Spokesman-Recorder, the Star, and Tribune.
This fall Tameka and her journey with Lip Esteem will be featured on the Emmy nominated television Series The Small Business Revolution on HULU.
Lip Esteem can be found every weekend at the Minneapolis Farmers Market Annex, online at lipesteem.com, and soon will be in salons and boutiques around Minnesota.
Saeteesh’ Bio
Saeteesh’ grew up in rural Wisconsin where being creative was a way of life. She learned to sew because it was a way to have the clothes seen on American Bandstand, Sonny & Cher, classic old movies, and award shows. Music and dance were and still are huge influences as well. “How you present yourself is your opening statement.” She always knew this.
Nurse, secretary, teacher were the acceptable vocational choices of the time, College #1. Then she became a mother and wife (in that order), College #2. And finally College #3, The Minneapolis College of Art & Design majoring in Fashion Design where she found her people both in the Twin Cities (the juncture when the change to a singular name came as a statement to belong to herself) and abroad when she spent a year in London studying and traveling for the first time to Paris. Finally realizing “wherever you go, there you are!”.
There have been magazine features, newspaper articles, inclusion in the Minnesota Women’s Yearbook. Fashion shows, and designing stage costumes for the international singing legend, Viola Wills Ashmun. A successful line of swimwear/resort-wear, designing custom couture for local notables as well as producing pieces for local retail shops. Exit design to be employed at Nordstrom MOA and Coral Gables, Florida in sales and management for 11 years.
After leaving Nordstrom she was asked to be part of fashion shows as a model for an event produced by Sarah Edwards called “I AM Fabulous” celebrating women age 65 and older. That was her resurgence into the Twin Cities fashion world over five years ago. Since then the self-proclaimed “age-inappropriate, vertically challenged” has signed with 3 local agencies, taken part in numerous fashion shoots, shows and promotions, and now is referred to as an “influencer”. Saeteesh’ will be walking in three shows during FashionWeekMN21: Golden Runway, The (RED)emption by Energy Gear, Evolve, and then on to The Walker Party In/The Garden as an influencer.
Recently Saeteesh’ has joined forces with MCAD alumnus Pam Kirton creating customized one-of-a-kind wearable art on customer-owned clothing @Get-Kirtonized continuing her mission to support, promote and celebrate each and every one of you.
Fashion Week MN Model Bios
Jennifer Prestrud Bio
Originally from Illinois (but NOT Chicago), I have lived in Eagan, MN for 25 years. My husband and I moved here from Memphis to raise our kids – now 27 and 25 - on his home turf. I have worked for Accenture for 32 years, first traveling the country as a consultant, and most recently doing systems work in global HR. My long days at the computer are balanced by my love of working out: I ride my scooter to the YMCA nearly every day, where I lift weights in Bodypump and dance Oula, a high-energy dance class to fabulous music. In my free time, I’m either walking our two Aussies with my hubby, reading books, eating out, or doing ANYTHING with girlfriends.
I get my energy from being physical and being social – preferably both together – and my best day is one where I can bike with friends to a restaurant, or dance in the morning with my Oula group and then jump in our pool with mimosas. I also love to travel and am currently looking forward to a rescheduled cruise with friends, our kids and their spouses/significant others, and a trip to Ireland next year (also with the kids). We can’t wait for retirement when we plan to visit National Parks while we are still young enough to hike, and hopefully even rent a villa in Tuscany for several months. We plan to stay in Minnesota for our friends, kids, grand-dogs, and future grand-babies, but exodus over the worst of the winter months…I hate the cold, and one can only cross country ski so many times!’
Kris Fortman Bio
Kristine “Kris” Fortman is CEO of Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation. She is a healthcare innovator who is responsible for shaping and delivering the organization’s mission and culture through strategic visioning. Expected to match money to mindset, Kris has led her team through key process improvements, growth in strategic investments, and major capital improvements. A few highlights under Kris’s leadership: funding for physician-initiated research doubled; MHIF launched two fully funded Science Centers; publications in top-tier peer-reviewed journals increased by 67%; clinical trials went from the red to a profitable operation; the MHIF operating reserve was created.
Her guidance of organizations is frequently at the intersection of business, healthcare, and philanthropy. Before leading MHIF, she played a lead role in taking Medtronic Philanthropy to a global level with the goal of ensuring a $100 million philanthropic budget was invested to increase access to chronic disease care for the underserved and leveraged as a tool by 85 thousand employees to increase and ensure engagement. During her tenure at Medtronic, Kris also managed a portfolio of clinical trials and associated research teams. Before her time at the top Fortune 500 company, Kris leveraged her Ph.D. skillset at HealthPartners Research Foundation across a variety of physician-initiated research.
Colleagues say Kris exhibits a positive mindset. Her team calls her a leader who brings people, programs, and purpose together around a productive vision. Her leadership style is influenced by global travel, her day-to-day work, and her board service. Kris is an intentional mentor who constantly thinks about the next generation of leaders.
Her experience in organizational governance and community service includes board positions with the American Red Cross for the Minnesota Region and the Abbott Northwestern Hospital Foundation. She is a member of the National Association of Corporate Directors, the Women’s Health Leadership TRUST, and the Minnesota Women’s Economic Roundtable. Past honors include Policy Fellow at the Humphrey School of Public Policy and Leadership Twin Cities.
Kris earned her Master of Health Communication and her Interdisciplinary PhD from Washington State University and her undergraduate degree from St. Benedict’s.
Kris enjoys outdoor activities and chilling with her husband and three sons.
If she had a tag line: “Committed to learning, listening, and leading.”
Lisa Silkey Bio
Over the past two years, it has become critically clear, I WON the lottery. I am the BABY of the family. I have two older brothers and one older sister and two loving parents. I was born into amazing circumstances that I clearly can see do not happen to every child! I will always be grateful for every moment of support from my siblings and parents!
I am a mother of two fantastic adult children who still like to spend time with me! I socialize with my kids most weekends, and they’re my best friends. I can trust them and confide in them on just about anything. But I also have to be prepared to face their criticism, because they have their own opinions and will tell me if they disagree with something I’ve said or done. We keep in touch almost daily. The beauty of social media allows us to share embarrassing moments through a text, or send one another Snap Chats of ourselves and more importantly, our dogs.
As adults, we have mutual respect for one another. I’m proud of them for being resilient, self-sufficient people, while they appreciate my ability to actually speak to a human being on the phone, rather than send a text. I really do love being a parent to my adult children. Despite the occasional argument, we are a close bunch. Because of them, I enjoy listening to podcasts, exploring dog parks, and swimming in any lake we can find. And I’m damn proud of it.
I've been grateful to work in a mix of healthcare firms my entire career, enabling people to live their healthiest life! My co-workers have become lifelong friends, and I've met all sorts of strong women across the USA and Canada through my work.
Being active is my DNA. I grew up playing sports. I played college tennis. I refereed girls’ hockey. I coached my kids in every sport they played. Over the past five years, with more time on my hands, I've had the opportunity to teach underserved kids how to skate, jumped back on the snowy hill to teach kids how to ski, and this past year was involved in coaching a U 10 girls hockey team. My activity this past year included fat tire biking, playing women's hockey, all types of skiing, racket sports, and a bit of fly fishing.
My parents are my role model and have remained active and vibrant throughout their 90 years of living. They showed me the value of relationships and taught me to give back to the community. When my kids moved on to college, I spent five years as a Guardian Ad Litem through Hennepin County. Currently, I volunteer my time to the WHAM Hockey Association as a board member. We have over 1500 women playing in our league. This summer I coordinated a hockey training development camp for almost 100 new women hockey players.
I am proud to say that I have a new roommate, she is everything I aspire to be. She is 90 years old and she is my MOM. I am helping her live gracefully in this phase of her life! Looking at her motivates me, as I can see I still have 40 some great years ahead of me! Flourishing over 50 seems easy. My mom does it at 90!
Susan A. Meyer Bio
Widow, Age 75
Retired Legal Professional
Born and raised in Minneapolis where I enjoyed swimming and sailing on all of the lakes in Minnesota. Always struggling with a weight problem, I learned to sew. I created some beautiful clothes for myself that I couldn’t find in the shops. This was the beginning of my love for fashion. As school approached each year my sister and I got to choose one pair of school shoes. Much to my mother’s chagrin, I would choose Danskin ballet flats or something equally impractical for those Minnesota winters. For me, it was all about the “look.”
Lived and worked in Milwaukee WI for several years where I discovered yoga in a book I purchased at a used book store. I began practicing the asanas and fell in love with the practice. I became a vegetarian and quit drinking alcohol. I also continued swimming and sailing in Milwaukee.
Moved to Washington DC with my husband where we lived in Georgetown for 25 years. I continued my yoga practice and met my “guru” there. He encouraged me to take a month-long training in the Bahamas and the rest is history. I’ve been practicing and teaching ever since. In Washington DC I also took sculling lessons on the Potomac River which introduced me to a very beautiful yet difficult sport.
Living in Washington DC fostered my passion for politics. I became a regular on the Mall and marching to the Capitol for abortion rights, and freedom of speech. Gloria Steinem was our fearless leader.
With Washington DC as my base, I frequently traveled to the East Coast and particularly NYC. I ❤ New York. I also traveled to Japan where I fell in love with the culture, the food, and the fashion.
Retired back to Minneapolis in 2007 to be near family. Once we were settled I continued teaching yoga and am currently at TaraNa Yoga and Yoga Center Retreat. I also joined the Minneapolis Rowing Club where I am one of only 4 members over the age of 75. In retirement, I’ve become an avid reader of non-fiction. I also live with my beloved black and white Cockapoo named Taj, which means “crown” in Sanskrit.
Babs Capece Bio
What makes me feel good and flourish in my 50s? Most important my faith in God and developing it with daily Bible reading. I am able to flourish based on the truth in the Bible and it empowers me to love and serve others. Additionally, I love to run several times a week with my dog Bruno & lift weights.
I love working at Covered Uptown because I get to do what I love and love what I do: empower women to feel good about themselves with the best fashion in town!!!