2019 Judge Bios
Christy Barnett was involved with the Miss Minnesota Organization from 1996 until 2014 as a local performer, contestant, choreographer, contestant prep volunteer and director. She is currently the Executive Vice President of Clinical Services and Program Development for House of Hope, where she oversees seven residential and outpatient Substance Use Disorder treatment facilities in Southern MN. Christy is also the MARRCH (Minnesota Association of Resources for Recovery and Chemical Health) Region 7 Governor and the Education Director for Cornerstone United Methodist Church. Her favorite title however is "Mom" to Gavin (2) and Carter (6).
Doug Heinzen started trumpet at age 5 and was performing in clubs and recording by age 13. This adds up to nearly 50 years as a professional musician, 19 of them as a full time performer and studio musician. He was a trumpet major in college and became a degreed K – 12 music educator. He taught at jazz camps in the upper mid-west and judged student performances. As a business lead at firms such as Cisco Systems, AT&T, NCR and Bosch of Germany, he has done extensive international work in Western Europe, South Africa and the Pacific Rim.
Dan Larson has lived in the greater Minneapolis area for most of his life, and has always had a passion for two things: water and music. He first saw the ocean when he was two, and has since been passionate about anything involving oceans, rivers, or lakes. He also began playing piano at a young age, and later started playing trumpet, developing a passion for jazz music. Throughout high school and college, he played in various ensembles and still enjoys playing when there is time. He currently volunteers with the Stream Health Evaluation Team with Friends of the Mississippi River, and also works in a sales position at Culligan Water, where he helps residential and commercial customers find the best and personalized water solutions. This winter, he is applying to graduate school for Environmental Engineering, focusing on watershed sustainability.
Dr Kim Tsujimoto is currently the Global Technical Director of the Home Care Division, home of ScotchBrite™ kitchen sponges, at 3M Company in St. Paul, Minnesota. Kim received her B.S. in Chemistry from Harvey Mudd College in Claremont, CA in 1987, and her Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry at Stanford University in 1991. Immediately after graduating from Stanford, Kim moved to St. Paul, MN, to accept a job at 3M, in the Office Supplies Division, home of Post-it® notes and Scotch™ Tape. She has been with 3M for over 25 years, in various positions of product development, technical management, Six Sigma, business development and global technical leadership. Some of her most recent assignments were Laboratory Manager of the Command™ Products Laboratory, APAC R&D General Manager of the Consumer Business Group laboratories (based in Shanghai, China), Technical Director of Consumer Health Care Division (home of Nexcare™ bandages) and, most recently, Technical Director of Home Care Division. Kim is married to another 3M’er, and she and Kevin have two children, Kyle (age 14) and Mari (age 11). She is a member of the Harvey Mudd Alumni Board of Directors, a foundational member of the Mentoring Interest Group of 3M, and has previously been a board member of The Mentoring Partnership of Minnesota, which led the mentoring movement in MN to ensure youth and mentors have access to high-quality mentoring experiences.
Nancy Weatherup is a veteran of the Miss Minnesota/Miss America Scholarship Program having served as a past field director, chaperone to a former Miss Northwest and Miss MN, Laurie Saarinen, along with having directed and judged numerous local pageants throughout MN over the years. She has been very involved as a music director for community musical theater productions, piano teacher and the choir director and organist for her church. Nancy is a Regional Supervisory Principal for the largest independent Broker/Dealer in the country. Where Nancy is very passionate about the Miss America/Miss MN Scholarship Program, her favorite role is being grandma to Addie and Aiden. Nancy lives with her husband, Robert, in Minneapolis, MN.
Doug Heinzen started trumpet at age 5 and was performing in clubs and recording by age 13. This adds up to nearly 50 years as a professional musician, 19 of them as a full time performer and studio musician. He was a trumpet major in college and became a degreed K – 12 music educator. He taught at jazz camps in the upper mid-west and judged student performances. As a business lead at firms such as Cisco Systems, AT&T, NCR and Bosch of Germany, he has done extensive international work in Western Europe, South Africa and the Pacific Rim.
Dan Larson has lived in the greater Minneapolis area for most of his life, and has always had a passion for two things: water and music. He first saw the ocean when he was two, and has since been passionate about anything involving oceans, rivers, or lakes. He also began playing piano at a young age, and later started playing trumpet, developing a passion for jazz music. Throughout high school and college, he played in various ensembles and still enjoys playing when there is time. He currently volunteers with the Stream Health Evaluation Team with Friends of the Mississippi River, and also works in a sales position at Culligan Water, where he helps residential and commercial customers find the best and personalized water solutions. This winter, he is applying to graduate school for Environmental Engineering, focusing on watershed sustainability.
Dr Kim Tsujimoto is currently the Global Technical Director of the Home Care Division, home of ScotchBrite™ kitchen sponges, at 3M Company in St. Paul, Minnesota. Kim received her B.S. in Chemistry from Harvey Mudd College in Claremont, CA in 1987, and her Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry at Stanford University in 1991. Immediately after graduating from Stanford, Kim moved to St. Paul, MN, to accept a job at 3M, in the Office Supplies Division, home of Post-it® notes and Scotch™ Tape. She has been with 3M for over 25 years, in various positions of product development, technical management, Six Sigma, business development and global technical leadership. Some of her most recent assignments were Laboratory Manager of the Command™ Products Laboratory, APAC R&D General Manager of the Consumer Business Group laboratories (based in Shanghai, China), Technical Director of Consumer Health Care Division (home of Nexcare™ bandages) and, most recently, Technical Director of Home Care Division. Kim is married to another 3M’er, and she and Kevin have two children, Kyle (age 14) and Mari (age 11). She is a member of the Harvey Mudd Alumni Board of Directors, a foundational member of the Mentoring Interest Group of 3M, and has previously been a board member of The Mentoring Partnership of Minnesota, which led the mentoring movement in MN to ensure youth and mentors have access to high-quality mentoring experiences.
Nancy Weatherup is a veteran of the Miss Minnesota/Miss America Scholarship Program having served as a past field director, chaperone to a former Miss Northwest and Miss MN, Laurie Saarinen, along with having directed and judged numerous local pageants throughout MN over the years. She has been very involved as a music director for community musical theater productions, piano teacher and the choir director and organist for her church. Nancy is a Regional Supervisory Principal for the largest independent Broker/Dealer in the country. Where Nancy is very passionate about the Miss America/Miss MN Scholarship Program, her favorite role is being grandma to Addie and Aiden. Nancy lives with her husband, Robert, in Minneapolis, MN.