Vanessa grew up skating in Minnesota, passing her Gold Moves in the Field and Freestyle tests before competing for Dartmouth College for four years, where she helped her team win two Intercollegiate National titles as well as a silver and a bronze. Today, Vanessa is an attorney at Dorsey & Whitney, LLP, but she still finds time to skate regularly and is a gold level judge.

- Three Rivers FSC, - Founding member, currently Board

- Member - Ice Contract and Membership Chairperson.

- U.S. Figure Skating Official – Gold Singles & Pairs Test Judge

- Currently serving as vice president of TCFSA

- Delegate at US Figure Skating Governing Council – 25 years

- Director and Treasurer – Minnesota Skating Scholarship - Fund

- Treasurer FSC of Mpls, 1994 – 1995

- President – Brooklyn Park FSC, 1999 – 2002

- PSA member, 1997 – Present

- Accounting Chairperson, 2001-2002 MN State Competition.

- Vendor Liaison, 2010 Synchro Nationals

- Parent of Skater and PSA Master Rated Coach, Patti Itzin

- Manufacturing Operations Manager, Graco Inc, retired.

- Founder & Director of SportQuest Skating Academy

- PSA Master Rated, Level VI International Coach

- USFS Gold Medalist in Figures and Freestyle 

- Principal Understudy and Corps de Ballet Ice Capades

- A.B. Dartmouth College Psychology and Education

- Coach for 40+ years

Gwen Larson became a member on the Board of Directors for the Minnesota Skating Scholarship Fund in 2020 while also serving on the Twin Cities Figure Skating Association Board of Directors, which she has done continuously for more than 15 years. She currently holds the office of Assistant Secretary on the TCFSA Board. Gwen fell in love with the sport of figure skating at the age of five while attending her first professional ice show, developing her skill by skating on her schoolyard’s ice rink every winter. As a mother, Gwen inspired in both of her children the love for figure skating. They each learned to skate at Bloomington Ice Gardens. Her youngest became an avid skater at the age of four, soon becoming an accomplished skater in both freestyle and synchronized skating which she continued through high school where she represented Team USA. Along with her daughter’s journey, Gwen held various club volunteer positions including Team Mom, Test Chair, Club Board Member, and Club Delegate to the TCFSA. Now more than a decade after her children graduated from high school, Gwen maintains her commitment to the sport of figure skating through her continued involvement and volunteerism so that she can help inspire future generations of skaters throughout Minnesota.

Kathleen has been coaching in the Twin Cities area since 1984 and has been involved with the Minnesota Skating Scholarship since 1991. Kathleen is the Co-Head Professional at the Braemar-City of Lakes FSC and also directs the Braemar Skate School. She has coached skaters of all levels including International, National, and Sectional competitive levels. Before Kathleen started coaching as a career, she skated in Stars on Ice and Disney on Ice. Kathleen is married to Bob and has 3 boys. “For skaters to make it to the highest level of figure skating takes many hours of training and years of development. It’s a huge commitment in both time and cost for these families. I love to help find ways to financially support these skaters.”

Loni has been coaching in Minnesota for over 30 years. She is the Co-Head Professional at Braemar City of Lakes Figure Skating Club and also coaches at the Burnsville-Minnesota Figure Skating Club. She has coached numerous skaters to gold medals in figure, freestyle, and moves. She skated precision for several years and, later, coached synchro teams. Loni is a member of PSA. She has directed and produced numerous local ice shows for the past 30 years. In addition, Loni assisted in opening and closing ceremonies of the 1991 Nationals, coordinated the skating on the Ice Plaza during 1998 Worlds, and was a skating advisor and committee member for the 2000 world synchronized Skating Championships. Loni resides in Edina with her husband, Darren. “I love that we have an organization that helps deserving hard working skaters to pursue their dreams and accomplishments!”

Julie is a registered dietitian and Vice President of Wellness, Nutrition at Midwest Dairy in St. Paul.  She comes from figure skating family and is the second of three generations active in the Minnesota figure skating community.  Her mother, Janet Mattson, Rochester FSC, was us USFS judge for over 35 years and hold Emeritus status.  Her daughter Emily is a Gold Medalist in Moves in the Field, a National Theater on Ice competitor, sectional collegiate synchronized skating competitor and former coach.  Julie, Rochester FSC, is a Gold Singles and Pairs judge and currently serves on the boards of TCFSA and MN Skating Scholarship Fund. 

Ken began skating at the age of 4 when his family moved to Minnesota from Texas. As a singles competitor, he represented the Braemar City of Lakes FSC at numerous Upper Great Lakes Regional championships from 1987 to 1996 and at the Midwestern Sectional Championships in 1993 and 1996. He earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in Computer Science and, after a long career in the software industry, currently teaches computer science-related topics at the University of Minnesota. He also enjoys flying as a corporate pilot for several companies based in the Twin Cities area. He remains active as a skater and currently serves as a technical specialist, data entry operator, and judge for US Figure Skating.