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Gwen Walz is the First Lady of Minnesota, a former English teacher and lifelong Minnesotan. She is a passionate advocate for educating Minnesota’s children and has spent her life working to build a more just and equitable world. From teaching at prisons and promoting criminal justice reform to advocating for the LGBTQ movement, Gwen’s desire to learn from and work with others to advance meaningful change is her guiding principle. She looks forward to bringing this unparalleled perspective and influence to the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games.

Lonnie Snyder is sharing his wealth of experience with the leadership team, including 28 years of nonprofit IT innovation, 8 years with Special Olympics International. He served as the Chief Information Officer for the USA Games in 2022, and is now ready to knock it out of the park once again in 2026!

Nick Engbloom is the Senior Director of Development for Community Partnerships at the University of Minnesota Foundation, where he has dedicated 13 years to securing over $100 million in community support for key health priorities. His success stems from his ability to connect with high-wealth donors, professional athletes, corporate partners, and the hospitality industry. Nick’s expertise in creating impactful benefit events has established vital community pillars, highlighting his commitment to transformative philanthropy.

Jenna has been a Special Olympics athlete for more than 9 years. She currently participates in basketball, bowling, bocce and snowshoeing, and is entering her second year at Bethel University in their BUILD program. Jenna has participated in several Special Olympics leadership conferences and was a member of the Special Olympics Minnesota Student Board of Directors.

A recognizable powerhouse in the creative industry and highly sought-after public speaker, Amanda Brinkman is the CEO/Chief Creative Officer of Sunshine Studios, well known for her “Do Well By Doing Good” philosophy. As a strong advocate for the many benefits of volunteering, she has supported Special Olympics Minnesota for over 20 years. Amanda is in awe of the tenacity and positivity the athletes exemplify and finds cheering them on incredibly energizing. She has introduced her leadership teams to the joy of volunteering, in addition to her sister, and has now made this a tradition that she shares with her daughter.

Minnesota native Brock Faber was named a finalist for the 2024 Calder Trophy given to the NHL rookie of the year after finishing tied for second among rookies with 47 points (eight goals, 39 assists) in 82 games while leading first-year players in average (24:58) and total (2,047:53) time on ice. He signed an eight-year, $68 million contract with the Minnesota Wild on July 29, 2024, which begins in the 2025-26 season.