Shelley Erickson – President

Shelley is the woman behind the Sweet Eats by Shelley home bakery. Over a decade ago, she discovered that selling home-baked goods from home was illegal in Minnesota and set about changing the law. In 2015 the law was amended, and since then Shelley has continued to work for the success of all cottage food producers. Shelley may be reached at serickson@mncfpa.org

Jennifer Carriveau – Vice President

Jen acquired her passion for food from her great-grandma Zella, and began to work with Shelley Erickson in 2014 to change the law allowing individuals to legally sell home-baked creations. In her spare time Jen enjoys gardening, reading, going to the lake, and being with her family. Jen may be reached at jcarriveau@mncfpa.org

Christine Myhre – Treasurer

Christine has been in the food business her entire working life. Over 25 years ago she started selling pies and quick breads out of her parents roadside produce stand to help earn extra money for college and to help support her four children. That all ended when Christine moved to Minnesota 25 years ago and worked in the corporate world for many years at various different restaurants.  When she found out that Minnesota had passed the Cottage Food Law in 2015, Christine decided to go back to her passion for baking, and opened Desserts First Bakery. Christine may be reached at cmyhre@mncfpa.org

Jamie Zuis – Secretary (picture to come)

Jaime is the founder of Spider Monkey’s Bake Shoppe, which launched in 2016 but gained momentum in the fall of 2019. With a passion for baking, she turned her hobby into a business after receiving encouragement to sell her cinnamon rolls and baked goods. Jaime actively participates in local farmers markets and teaches cookie decorating classes. In March 2023, she became the secretary of MNCFPA, furthering her commitment to the cottage food community. Jamie may be reached at spidermonkeysbakeshoppe@gmail.com

Karen Peterson – Member at Large

In 2013, wanting to bake and sell from her home Karen found out that direct sales were not allowed. She reached to Shelley Erickson and worked to get the law changed. Now Karen is actively involved in cottage food and operates Confections by Karen in Blooming Prairie, MN. Karen may be reached at kpeterson@mncfpa.org

Tom Nechodomu – Member at Large

Tom became a member of the MNCFPA in 2020 when he was starting his home-based microbakery, Behind the Breadbox. He hadn’t heard of cottage food laws before so was excited to join a community of cottage food producers with whom he could network, learn from, and become friends with. He’s passionate about helping other cottage food producers learn, grow, and be successful in their businesses. Tom can be reached at tnechodumu@mncfpa.org

Muriel Kingery – Member at Large

Muriel began her cottage food business, Sundog Handmade, in Bemidji early in 2021, but she’s been baking since she was old enough to use the oven. She primarily bakes decorated sugar cookies and drop cookies, and likes to explore all of the other areas of baking as she bakes her way through cookbooks. Muriel can be reached at mkingery@mncfpa.org

Founding Board Members

Virginia Louden (past treasurer) – Virginia is a food enthusiast and founder of Ginny Bites home bakery and more. Virginia fills her time with family (mother of 5!), friends, foods, music, creating art of all kinds and her Minnesota based non-profit Food With Love, Inc. Virginia may be reached at vlouden@mncfpa.org