Executive Overview: Strengthening Governance at a Twin Cities Cultural Pillar
In a strategic move to fortify its long-term financial stability, broaden its community outreach, and elevate its administrative expertise, VocalEssence has officially named six prominent professionals to its Board of Directors. Announced on September 25, 2026, this major governance expansion comes as the renowned Minneapolis-based choral organization reaches its 58th year of operation.
The newly appointed board members—Sooki Jalali, Harry Miller, Bunny Robinson, Carolyn Sleeth, Sunita Vongharath-Evenson, and Karen Voracek—bring a diverse array of executive expertise spanning corporate leadership, medical device commercialization, high-level human resources management, philanthropic strategy, and cross-cultural entrepreneurship.
As ambassadors for the organization, the VocalEssence Board of Directors is tasked with steering major policy decisions, championing fiscal health, and amplifying the institution’s public mission across the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area and national arts networks. The influx of top-tier executive talent reflects a broader trend among premier non-profit performing arts organizations seeking to navigate evolving philanthropic landscapes, diversify audience engagement, and build resilient operational models in a post-pandemic cultural ecosystem.
Strategic Context: VocalEssence’s Institutional Evolution at 58 Years
Founded in 1969 by Artistic Director Philip Brunelle, VocalEssence has evolved from a local chamber choir into one of the nation’s premier choral arts organizations. Over nearly six decades, the non-profit has championed contemporary choral music, commissioned hundreds of new works, and established robust educational outreach programs that engage thousands of students and community members annually across Minnesota.
The institutional demands of managing a 58-year-old arts non-profit require a sophisticated governance structure capable of navigating complex economic conditions, shifting philanthropic behaviors, and dynamic demographic changes. Nonprofit boards must balance artistic integrity with fiscal discipline. By inducting leaders with proven track records in executive management, commercial scaling, strategic human resources, and community enterprise, VocalEssence is positioning itself to expand its regional footprint while maintaining financial resilience.
This recruitment initiative aligns with VocalEssence’s operational framework: pairing visionary artistic leadership with rigorous fiduciary oversight. The board’s role is critical not only in managing endowment growth and operational budgeting but also in fostering strategic partnerships across public, private, and philanthropic sectors.
Detailed Profiles: The New Class of Board Leadership
The incoming cohort of board members represents an intentional blend of corporate acumen, non-profit governance experience, and community advocacy. Each brings a unique operational background tailored to address specific facets of VocalEssence’s multi-year growth strategy.
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| Board Member | Key Professional Background | Core Competencies Added |
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| Sooki Jalali | Business Consultant, MEDA; Serial Entrepreneur | Economic inclusion, entrepreneurship |
| Harry Miller | Mentor/Volunteer, SCORE Twin Cities; Strategist | Business strategy, SCORE mentorship |
| Bunny Robinson | Executive Consultant, Navigate Forward; Principal | HR leadership, public arts governance |
| Carolyn Sleeth | Former Sr. VP & US GM, Insulet; Medtech Leader | Commercial scaling, P&L management |
| Sunita Vongharath-Evenson| HR Executive & Nonprofit Leader | Organizational culture, change mgmt |
| Karen Voracek | VP of Donor Experience & Strategy, Thrivent | Philanthropic strategy, marketing |
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Sooki Jalali: Cross-Cultural Entrepreneurship and Economic Development
Born in Seoul, South Korea, and relocating to Minnesota as a teenager, Sooki Jalali brings a deep commitment to enterprise building and multicultural integration. A graduate of the University of Minnesota with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Business, Jalali has founded three health, wellness, and business development enterprises.
Currently serving as a Business Consultant at the Metropolitan Economic Development Association (MEDA), Jalali specializes in helping minority business owners scale operations and navigate growth bottlenecks. Her extensive history of community service includes board and volunteer commitments with the Ebenezer Foundation, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Hunger Solutions, and the Alliance for a New Humanity. Trained as a certified yoga instructor under Dr. Deepak Chopra, Jalali brings a holistic perspective to leadership, health, and community empowerment—strengthening VocalEssence’s connections with diverse business networks and cultural communities across the Twin Cities.
Harry Miller: Four Decades of Organizational Strategy and Mentorship
With over 40 years of experience assisting corporate entities and mission-driven non-profits, Harry Miller joins the board as a veteran strategist in organizational development, partnership building, and executive leadership.
Miller’s executive trajectory has focused on guiding organizations through structural transformations and expansion phases. As an active volunteer and mentor with SCORE Twin Cities, he counsels entrepreneurs and small business leaders on long-term strategy, operational efficiency, and revenue generation. Within SCORE, Miller has also spearheaded fundraising, volunteer leadership, and governance initiatives. His appointment provides VocalEssence with seasoned insight into organizational risk management, structural efficiency, and long-range planning.
Bunny Robinson: Veteran Human Resources Executive and Arts Advocate
Bunny Robinson brings decades of high-level human resources leadership, executive search expertise, and extensive state and national arts governance experience to VocalEssence. Robinson currently serves as an executive consultant with Navigate Forward, specializing in executive career transitions, and is the principal consultant of Robinson-Robinson & Associates, a retained executive search firm focused on placing diverse talent in leadership positions.
Robinson’s commitment to arts governance includes past appointments on the Minnesota State Arts Board, Arts Midwest, and the State Programs Panel for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) in Washington, D.C. She also currently serves on the board of the Cultural Fluency Initiative and has previously supported United Way Minneapolis, the Conflict Resolution Center, Missions Inc. Programs, and the Women’s Association of the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities.
Holding a BFA in Theatre from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership (MAOL) from St. Catherine University, Robinson blends creative insight with strategic personnel management and state-level policy experience.
Carolyn Sleeth: High-Stakes Commercial Scaling and Medtech Leadership
Carolyn Sleeth contributes over two decades of senior executive leadership within the medical device and technology sectors. Most recently, Sleeth served as Senior Vice President and U.S. General Manager at Insulet, where she commanded a 700-person commercial operation and consistently drove annual revenue growth above 20%. Her corporate career also includes an extensive tenure at Medtronic, where she spearheaded the aorta and venous vascular divisions and led strategic marketing within the cardiac disease unit.
Sleeth holds a Bachelor’s degree in History from Stanford University, a Master’s degree in Russian, and an MBA from the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business. A resident of the Minneapolis area for two decades, Sleeth’s background in commercial expansion, operational oversight, and financial management provides VocalEssence with strong corporate governance and fiscal growth capabilities.
Sunita Vongharath-Evenson: Organizational Culture and Strategic Human Capital
Sunita Vongharath-Evenson is an HR executive and non-profit advocate centered on workforce development, leadership alignment, and institutional culture. Throughout her corporate and non-profit tenure, she has guided executive teams through strategic realignments, cultural integration, and change management initiatives.
Vongharath-Evenson’s focus on the board will involve enhancing internal stakeholder engagement, supporting organizational wellness, and aligning human capital practices with VocalEssence’s community engagement goals. Her appointment reflects VocalEssence’s focus on building sustainable internal structures that support long-term creative output.
Karen Voracek: Philanthropic Strategy, Marketing, and Enterprise Leadership
Karen Voracek brings over 30 years of multidisciplinary leadership experience to the board, bridging corporate business transformation with modern philanthropic strategy. As Vice President of Donor Experience, Marketing & Strategy at Thrivent Charitable, Voracek oversees enterprise strategic planning, donor management, marketing, product operations, and service strategy.
Prior to her leadership at Thrivent Charitable, Voracek spent nearly three decades leading commercial marketing, strategy, and customer experience initiatives in the corporate sector. In addition to her executive responsibilities, she serves on the Board of Directors for the Sacred Ground Center for Spirituality. Voracek holds an MBA from the University of St. Thomas and a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations and German from Carroll University. A lifelong musician who plays clarinet and sings in local choirs, Voracek combines business strategy with a personal commitment to the choral arts.
Executive Statements: Aligning Vision with Community Impact
The leadership of VocalEssence expressed enthusiasm regarding the prospective impact of the new board class, highlighting both the professional diversity and personal passion each member brings to the 58-year-old institution.
Philip Brunelle, Artistic Director and Founder of VocalEssence, emphasized the role of board members as dynamic community bridges:
"I’m delighted to welcome our new board members to the organization. Our mission is to unite our community in song, and each one of our new board members creates an opportunity we deeply value—to connect with the new voices and new networks that are always growing in the place we’ve called home for more than half a century. Serving on our board is a generous contribution of time, skill, and spirit, and we know these incredible professionals have insights and perspectives that will enhance VocalEssence beyond measure."
Amy Jaine Wielunski, Executive Director of VocalEssence, focused on the functional expertise and mission alignment of the appointees:
"These new board members bring a powerful mix of executive leadership, HR, marketing, philanthropy, and arts governance experience to VocalEssence. I am thrilled to welcome them on board! Just as inspiring are their personal connections to our mission, from lifelong choral singers to newer enthusiasts, all united by the belief that singing has the power to bring people together. I am excited at the opportunity to work with each of them as we grow our impact across the Twin Cities and beyond."
Strategic Implications & Future Outlook
The addition of these six directors comes at a pivotal juncture for performing arts organizations across North America. Non-profits face an evolving fundraising landscape marked by shifts in corporate sponsorships, changing audience demographics, and competing digital media options. To maintain financial stability and artistic influence, organizations must cultivate governance bodies capable of driving innovation, diversifying revenue streams, and maintaining high operational standards.
Key Operational Priorities for the Expanded Board:
Strategic Philanthropy and Donor Engagement: Leveraging the expertise of leaders like Karen Voracek, VocalEssence aims to modernize its donor pipeline, optimize planned giving programs, and enhance long-term endowment strategies.
Corporate Partnerships and Commercial Growth: Through the operational insights of Carolyn Sleeth and Harry Miller, the organization can better navigate complex financial structures, explore new earned-revenue models, and forge high-impact corporate sponsorships.
Cross-Cultural Outreach and Diversity: Utilizing the expertise of Sooki Jalali and Bunny Robinson, VocalEssence is positioned to deepen its inclusion efforts, building authentic connections with historically underserved communities and artistic talent throughout the Upper Midwest.
Talent Retention and Institutional Governance: Guided by human resource executives Sunita Vongharath-Evenson and Bunny Robinson, the board will ensure internal organizational structures support staff performance, artist wellbeing, and sustainable administrative growth.
By assembling a board that integrates corporate management, commercial strategy, regional arts advocacy, and philanthropic innovation, VocalEssence reinforces its foundation as a major cultural institution. As the organization moves toward its 60th anniversary milestone, this enhanced governance structure positions VocalEssence to continue delivering world-class choral performances, expanding educational access, and advocating for the transformative power of group singing across Minnesota and around the world.
