About the Writers

This blog is a collective work that represents the thinking of the individual authors. While we strive to reflect the values of Growth & Justice in our posts, the Growth & Justice website is the official source for information about the organization, its policies and governance.

Dane Smith (email) is president of Growth & Justice. 

Dane came to Growth & Justice following a 30-year career as a journalist for the Star Tribune and the Pioneer Press, where he developed a solid reputation writing about state, local and federal government and politics for Minnesota's two largest newspapers.

Dane is co-author of the book, "Professor Wellstone Goes to Washington: The Inside Story of a Grassroots U.S. Senate Campaign", and he has served as an adjunct faculty member at Inver Hills Community College, as well as in the Master's program in advocacy and political leadership at the University of Minnesota Duluth. In 1989-90, Dane was the recipient of the John S. Knight Fellowship for Professional Journalists, providing a mid-career sabbatical and a year of study at Stanford University.

Tax fairness and the issues surrounding government's proper role in society were among Dane's favorite issues as a reporter, and he has particular expertise in these areas. He understands the importance of smart public-sector investment that can help all Minnesotans improve their lives and strengthen the state's economy.

 

Charlie Quimby (email) is a communications fellow at Growth & Justice.

He led Words At Work, the marketing communications firm he founded, from 1988 to 2005. During that period, his speechwriting and annual reports won national awards, and he co-authored books on urban planning, quality management, influencing defense policy and design education.

As a progressive who has been a business owner, a manager in a Fortune 100 company, a union member, an adjunct instructor and a leader of non-profit organizations, Charlie brings a broad and balanced perspective to issues facing Minnesota and its economy. Since late 2004, he has written a personal blog, Across the Great Divide.

 

Maureen Ramirez (email) is director of policy & research at Growth & Justice.

Prior to joining Growth & Justice, Maureen was the executive director of the CapitolRiver Council, the downtown neighborhood planning council for the city of St. Paul. She is a member of the University of Minnesota Board of Regents and chair of their Education Policy and Planning Committee where she has worked extensively on policies to reduce the attainment gap for communities of color. She attended Marquette University where she received a bachelor’s degree in writing-intensive English and Spanish and holds a Masters degree in Advocacy and Political Leadership from the University of Minnesota Duluth. Ramirez is well versed in the broad range of public policy issues facing Minnesota and is a former Growth & Justice board member and steering committee member for our Smart Investments^SM in Minnesota’s Students initiative.