Tim Benz, President: Tim came to MINNDEPENDENT in January, 2014, as Associate President and became president of on July 1, 2014. His professional background and passion for private and independent education make him the ideal person to lead MINNDEPENDENT. As president, Tim leads the organization’s advocacy, strategic planning, development, finance, member relations and assists in evaluating MINNDEPENDENT’s programs and services. Tim served in marketing and fundraising roles at the College of Saint Benedict, Catholic Charities of St. Paul and Minneapolis, Cretin-Derham Hall, and the Catholic Diocese of Sioux Falls. Tim is a board member at Cretin-Derham Hall, a member of the development and marketing committee for the Catholic Community Foundation and past chair of the Minnesota Nonpublic Education Council. Tim is a frequent presenter at conferences and gatherings of private and independent school associations. Tim attended private schools through grade 12 and his two sons attended MINNDEPENDENT member schools. Tim was recognized as the Outstanding Professional Fundraiser in 2016 by the Minnesota Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. He has a bachelor’s degree in marketing from the University of St. Thomas.
Lisa Vosbeek, Director of Development and Programs:
Hello! I’m Lisa Vosbeek, and I have had the privilege of serving as MINNDEPENDENT’s Director of Development and Programs since June 2018. I joined the organization with more than 16 years of experience in development, training, and program management across Minnesota’s nonprofit community, and it has been deeply meaningful to put that background to work on behalf of our member schools.
At MINNDEPENDENT, I oversee the STEM Program, annual campaign, professional development initiatives, grant writing, sponsorships, and donor relations. I value the variety of this role and the opportunity it provides to collaborate with educators, school leaders, and partners who are committed to strengthening private and independent education across the state.
Private and independent schools have also played an important role in my own life. My family has long-standing connections with several MINNDEPENDENT member schools, including St. Mary’s School in Owatonna, St. Odilia, Cretin-Derham Hall, and the Academy of Holy Angels. That personal connection inspires and grounds my work every day.
I hold a bachelor’s degree in business administration and human resources from the University of St. Thomas, and I am continually motivated by the relationships, innovation, and mission-driven spirit that define the MINNDEPENDENT community.
I am grateful for the opportunity to support our schools and look forward to continuing to advance our mission together.
Jennifer Renstrom, Administrative Assistant:
I joined MINNDEPENDENT as the new administrative assistant in December 2025. I perform all administrative functions as well as managing our database, website, and newsletter.
Private school education has been an important part of my life. I attended St. Luke’s (now St. Thomas More) for K-4th and later Visitation from 5th-12th grades, and my own children attended Nativity of Mary in Bloomington. My husband and I live in Bloomington with our dog, while our son is a junior at UMD and our daughter is a freshman at UND. In my spare time, I enjoy cooking, traveling, and taking community education fitness classes. I have been to 30 countries and in October 2025, I took a bucket-list trip to Italy, Croatia, and Montenegro with my parents and sister-in-law. I can’t wait for my next adventure!
I began my career in the events department at Mall of America, spending 16 years there and ultimately serving as Director of Events and Marketing Operations. Most recently, I spent nine years at Annunciation Catholic School, where I started as the front desk receptionist and then transitioned to office manager, handling enrollment, admissions, tuition and billing, communications, school events, and much more. Fun fact: I was hired by Jennifer Cassidy—then the principal and now a MINNDEPENDENT board member and associate member. I loved working in a school community and am excited to support private and independent schools in a new way.
Beth Murphy Ph.D., STEM Program Manager: Beth is a science and STEM education consultant, with expertise in teacher professional development, program evaluation and project management. As STEM Program Manager for MINNDEPENDENT, Beth is responsible for the STEM Grant program, MINNDEPENDENT’s annual STEM Education Conference, and STEM-related community partnerships. Beth holds a PhD in physics from the University of Rochester and has experience working in college level, K-12 and out-of-school educational settings. In addition to working with MINNDEPENDENT and other clients, Beth is the field editor for Connected Science Learning, an online journal of the National Science Teaching Association and the Association of Science-Technology Centers. She currently serves on the board of directors of Science from Scientists and SciMathMN.