staff bios

Many members of our firm have had substantive experience in public relations, public affairs and government. We not only understand how to effectively communicate with audiences, but, more importantly, how to engage and motivate audiences to take action. Himle Horner has contributed to dozens of success stories in effectively moving issues at the local, state and national levels.

Our Team

JOHN HIMLE
THOMAS HORNER
TODD RAPP
MARK SCHIFFMAN
ANNA YOUNGERMAN
KRISTIN FISCHER ROSEL
CHUCK TOMBARGE
JESSIE OSTLUND
COLIN COX
STEPHANIE DEVITT
SARA MONSON
MICHAEL MORIARITY
STEPHANIE BORNETUN

JOHN HIMLE
Co-Founder and Principal

Prior to the formation of Himle Horner, Himle was president of the public relations firm Himle & Associates, Inc. He formed the company in 1982 and expanded it into Himle Horner in partnership with Thomas Horner.

From 1978 to 1982, Himle was executive director of the Minnesota Agri-Growth Council, an agribusiness trade association in Minnesota. Before that, he was government relations assistant for Northwest Bancorporation, now Wells Fargo, a multi-bank and financial services company.

First elected in 1980, Himle served five terms as a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives and held leadership positions including assistant majority leader, floor leader and assistant minority leader. Appointed by Governor Carlson in 1991, Himle also served eight years as a member of the Metropolitan Airports Commission where he was responsible for overseeing the governmental approvals and construction program related to the $2.5 billion expansion of the country’s 10th largest hub airport at Minneapolis/St. Paul (MSP).

Raised in a southeastern Minnesota farming community, Himle graduated with a B.A. in Economics from Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota. Among his current outside activities, Himle is a corporate director of the Kraus Anderson Companies, a trustee of the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, vice chair of the Public Affairs Council in Washington, DC and a trustee of the Nature Conservancy, Minnesota Chapter.

Himle has received various recognitions for his service, including the "Government Affairs Service Award" from the Advertising Federation of Minnesota and the "First Decade Distinguished Alumni Award" from Gustavus Adolphus College.

THOMAS HORNER
Co-Founder and Principal

Prior to the formation of Himle Horner, Horner was vice president and general manager of the Minnesota office of Hill and Knowlton.

Horner formerly worked for former U.S. Senator Dave Durenberger (R-MN). He joined Durenberger as press secretary during Durenberger’s first campaign for the U.S. Senate (1978). After Durenberger’s election to the U.S. Senate, Horner served in Washington, DC, as the senator’s press secretary and chief of staff.

Earlier in his career, Horner was managing editor of Sun Newspapers, Inc., where he supervised the editorial content and production of 16 suburban newspapers.

Horner is a graduate of the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul. He teaches master's courses in corporate communications and public affairs at St. Thomas. Horner also is a public affairs commentator for Minnesota Public Radio and is a frequent public affairs analyst for other news media.

TODD RAPP
Principal

Prior to joining Himle Horner, Rapp served as Director of Minnesota Government Affairs for Xcel Energy (formerly Northern States Power Company). In this role, he developed and managed company strategies for legislative affairs in the areas of energy, environmental and tax policy. In the fall of 2000, Minnesota Law and Politics magazine included Rapp in their list of top lobbyists in Minnesota. While Himle Horner is not a lobbying firm, Rapp’s corporate experience in issues management, organizational strategy and crisis communications provide significant strategic value for clients with legislative, regulatory and public communications needs.

Previously, Rapp served in a number of key positions in Minnesota government and politics. As the Executive Director for former House Speaker and Majority Leader Phil Carruthers, Rapp served as Carruthers’ chief political advisor for four legislative sessions from 1994 through 1997. Rapp also worked as Campaign Director for Majority Leader Roger Moe and the Senate Majority Caucus in 1996, and as Political Director for the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party from 1990-93. Managing the research, media, voter identification and get-out-the-vote programs, Rapp played a critical role in the upset victories of Senator Paul Wellstone, Representatives Collin Peterson and David Minge and nearly two dozen state legislative challengers.

Rapp is a guest commentator on state and national public affairs for Minnesota Public Radio, and is often asked by the news media, private organizations and public entities to share perspectives on the current political environment in Minnesota and the United States.

Rapp is currently President of the Minnesota Taxpayers Association, which provides non-partisan research on the impact fiscal policies in Minnesota, as well as the Advisory Committee for the Minnesota Urban Debate League. Rapp also has presented at state and national conferences on the topics of strategic communications, grassroots strategies and ethics in government.

MARK SCHIFFMAN
Senior Director

Prior to joining Himle Horner, Schiffman worked in marketing for the hospitality industry. Schiffman provides counsel and strategy in public affairs, media relations, marketing, corporate communications, grassroots, community relations, coalition development, issues management, marketing and crisis communications.

He has helped guide strategic public relations, public affairs and marketing communications for such clients as Target Corporation, Laborers International Union of North America, AAA, Comcast, Potlatch Corporation, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, Waste Management, the National Solid Wastes Management Association, Schering Corporation, Upsher-Smith Laboratories, Ridgeview Medical Center, the Coalition of Minnesota Businesses and Xcel Energy.

Schiffman is also mayor of the City of Waconia, a fast growing Twin Cities suburb.  Before being elected mayor, Schiffman served eight years on the Waconia City Council and the Waconia Planning Commission.

Schiffman serves on the Executive Committee for the Regional Council of Mayors, the Urban Land Institute and Ridgeview Medical Center Foundation. He is a member of the Metropolitan Council Land Use Advisory Committee and previously served on the Met Council’s Livable Communities and Nominating Committees.

Other civic and community involvement includes membership on the Board of Directors for Ridgeview Medical Center and the Minnesota Twins Community Fund. He is a former chair of the Carver County Community Health Services and the Carver County Mental Health Advisory Boards, and a former member of the Carver County Water, Environmental and Natural Resources Planning Committee.

Schiffman earned a B.A. in political science from the University of Minnesota-Duluth and an M.A. in public administration from Hamline University. He also earned a certificate of public relations from the University of St. Thomas Graduate School of Business.

ANNA YOUNGERMAN
Director

Prior to joining Himle Horner, Youngerman spent several years with the Minnesota House of Representatives DFL Caucus in legislative and campaign capacities. Most recently, she was the campaign director for the caucus. In this role, she administered the caucus’ media and direct mail communication, assisted in the production and analysis of public opinion research and served as spokesperson. During the 2001 and 2002 legislative sessions, Youngerman was the redistricting analyst for the DFL House.

Previously, Youngerman served as a statewide field director and regional field coordinator, overseeing large grassroots campaign efforts. She also spent time in the St. Paul capitol pressroom as legislative assistant to the Twin Cities NBC affiliate KARE 11’s capitol reporter.

Youngerman graduated from Lake Forest College in Illinois with a B.A. in English.

KRISTIN FISCHER ROSEL
Account Supervisor

Prior to joining Himle Horner, Fischer Rosel spent several years working in television news. Most recently, she was the political producer for KSTP-TV in St. Paul where she wrote and produced stories about the Minnesota Legislature and governor, as well as assisted in developing stories for At Issue With Tom Hauser, KSTP’s weekly political and public affairs program. Fischer Rosel joined KSTP as an investigative assistant producer and researcher where she worked on long-form segments about business, consumer, political and crime issues. She has also worked for Dateline NBC as a researcher and FOX News as a reporter and producer of investigative and consumer news.

Previously, Fischer Rosel worked for the University of St. Thomas Office of Undergraduate Admissions in St. Paul as a communications projects manager. She oversaw the creation, design and implementation of large-scale web site projects, as well as events planning and personal counseling related to recruitment.

Fischer Rosel earned B.A.s in broadcast journalism, telecommunication and vocal music performance from the University of St. Thomas.

CHUCK TOMBARGE
Senior Account Executive

Prior to joining Himle Horner, Tombarge served as communications specialist for the Minnesota Judicial Branch where he managed and expanded the judiciary’s efforts to build public trust and confidence through outreach and education. He also served as Judicial Branch spokesperson and assisted the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals and District Courts statewide with media relations, speechwriting, legislative efforts, and other internal and external communications initiatives.

Previously, Tombarge worked as news reporter for the Rochester, Minn. Post-Bulletin and the Austin, Minn. Daily Herald from 1995-2000. He wrote about city government, railroad issues, law enforcement, the court system, education and general assignment news. In 1999, he received the Frank Premack Public Affairs Journalism Award for his work on a team-reported series about domestic violence.

Tombarge earned B.A.s in print journalism and public relations from the University of St. Thomas.

JESSIE OSTLUND
Senior Account Executive

Prior to joining Himle Horner, Ostlund spent two years working in the Office of Governor Tim Pawlenty in policy research and communications capacities. Most recently, she was the health care communications specialist and public events communications coordinator. In this role, she assisted in the development of communications strategies for the Governor’s Health Cabinet, the Governor’s Fitness Initiative and reviewed all communications materials from the departments of Health and Human Services. She also produced the governor’s weekly radio show, "Good Morning, Minnesota," on WCCO-AM and administered advance for all Governor’s Office public events.

Previously, Ostlund served as a research analyst for the Office of Strategic Planning and Results Management where she conducted policy research for the governor’s initiatives. Prior to joining the Governor’s Office, Ostlund worked at the Minnesota Department of Public Safety and as a freelance writer in the Twin Cities.

Ostlund earned a B.A. in English from Holy Cross College in Worcester, MA.

COLIN COX
Account Executive

Prior to joining Himle Horner, Cox spent over six years overseeing the development of print and online resources for finding and understanding affordable housing, managing print and online communication, presenting at conferences and workshops, and serving as liaison to policymakers and media. He also has been involved with the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits, including presenting at several conferences and co-founding a monthly communication series.

Previously, Cox worked at the Minnesota House of Representatives and for the House DFL caucus. In addition, he taught high school public speaking in Illinois and writing at the University of Minnesota. 

Cox earned a B.A. in communication studies and education from Marquette University in Milwaukee, WI and has completed graduate course work in communication studies at the University of Minnesota.

STEPHANIE DEVITT
Account Executive

Prior to joining Himle Horner, Devitt was a consultant with M+R Strategic Services, an issue campaign consulting firm. At M+R, Devitt provided strategic planning, campaign management and technical assistance to local-level coalitions advocating for smoke-free policies in Minnesota. Devitt also oversaw the creation of online constituent management and advocacy technologies for local issue campaigns, and provided tailored training for effective online and grassroots communication.

Previously, Devitt worked as Special Projects Manager at ServeMinnesota, administrator of Minnesota’s AmeriCorps program. She managed the organization’s outreach to the Minnesota State Legislature and the state’s Congressional Delegation, and oversaw communications and grant writing.  

Devitt began her career as an aide to U.S. Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle.  She worked as an outreach coordinator in his state office and oversaw regional communications.  Devitt also managed all community projects, including appropriations outreach, and planned and executed the Senator’s events for a 14-county territory. 

Devitt earned a Bachelor of Science in Sociology from the University of Minnesota. She also earned a Masters of Public Policy from the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota, and was a recipient of the first Humphrey Institute Advisory Council tuition scholarship for future public affairs leaders.

SARA MONSON
Account Executive

Prior to joining Himle Horner, Monson spent several years working in the retail and travel industries. For Carlson Companies, she managed a crisis help team and coordinated group travel events for clients.

Monson has extensive experience in research, database maintenance and project management. She has strong skills in website development, online advocacy, and media relations.

Monson earned a B.A. in Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences from Moorhead State University. She also spent a semester at City University in London studying the development of speech communication.

MICHAEL MORIARITY
Assistant Account Executive

Prior to joining Himle Horner, Moriarity interned at Franchise Times Corporation, a Minneapolis-based publisher of franchise, restaurant finance and foodservice industry magazines. In his position, he wrote editorial content and conducted research for all three publications.

Previously, Moriarity worked in the University Relations office as a student editor of the university’s daily bulletin and quarterly magazine. He also held an internship in the WCCO-AM Radio newsroom where he interviewed public and private leaders, wrote news scripts and assisted reporters in the field.

Moriarity earned a B.A. in print journalism from the University of St. Thomas.

STEPHANIE BORNETUN
Assistant Account Executive

Prior to joining Himle Horner, Bornetun interned at U.S. Senator Norm Coleman’s legislative office in St. Paul. In her position, she wrote editorial content and grant announcements. Bornetun also assisted with media relations for the senator’s statewide community events. 

Previously, Bornetun held a marketing and public relations internship at Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Twin Cities. Bornetun assisted with outreach campaigns and the development of communications materials, and managed several creative projects.

Bornetun earned a B.A. in public relations and political science from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.