Over the last two years, the City of Becker has lost two community development directors in Kelli Neu (Bourgeois) and Theresa Haffner to new employment.

 

In March, just before Haffner was to move on to another position with another city, Becker hired Marie Pflipsen of Sauk Rapids to be their community Development coordinator under Haffner.

Within days — three actually — Haffner departed and Pflipsen found herself tasked with leading the community development department at city hall.

 

Pflipsen, 24, has since got her feet wet enforcing the city’s zoning ordinances, helping residents and landowners through development stages and ensuring the development occurs in compliance with the city’s comprehensive plan. Pflipsen also uses her skills and talents to implement and pursue the goals of the CP while monitoring and compiling demographic information — all the while she works on short and long range planning activities.

 

It’s also her job to promote the development of the city, especially the industrial park.

 

“Julie (Blesi) and Marilyn (Danielson), along with Greg Pruszinske, have been so helpful in getting me ready and prepared to do this job,” Marie said. “Julie has been great with helping the permitting process, Marilyn with the history of properties and Greg with everything else.”

 

Pflipsen graduated from St. Cloud State University in 2015 with a BA in planning and community development, all the while she was working as the director of the Lake City EDA and director of the Benton County Agricultural Society. She has also worked as a customer service representative with Liberty Bank for seven months and is a treasurer with the Minden Twp. board since 2013.

 

Pflipsen comes from a family of auto mechanics and her father, Chad, owns Chad’s Repair in Sauk Rapids. Marie lives at home with her folks on their hobby farm where they raise beef cattle. She says she loves the lifestyle of being around family and on the farm and gloats about her two goats, who she treasures.

 

“I love being in the country and being around animals and being in that environment,” she said. “I also like scrapbooking and card-making.”

 

In Pflipsen’s day-to-day duties with the city, she is assigned to help with the latest relaunch of the city website, field phone calls about development, permitting and relocating, answering questions about building permits, working with the EDA to lure businesses to the area and setting up meetings with current businesses as part of the city’s retention program.

 

While in high school, Marie was involved as a treasurer for DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America) and was one of the top five students in FFA (future Farmers of America). She was also involved in the ambassador program at school and was a princess at Sauk Rapids-Rice where she was given the opportunity to tour city hall.

 

“That’s where it all started,” she said. “When I saw what went on in city business and development, I knew that’s the kind of job I wanted to do someday.”

 

From September to December of 2012, Marie worked with four team members to design three access routes to link downtown Elk River with a newly-acquired public park.

 

“I presented my design to the park and recreation board for further consideration,” Marie said.

 

Pflipsen says that through the first few days in her new job and the following weeks, she has grown more and more comfortable and confident in her duties with the city. She also has big plans to bolster her credentials.

 

“I’m definitely thinking about maybe going back to school to get my masters,” Pflipsen said. “It would only help me in my career and give me something else to pursue.”

 

Pflipsen is eternally grateful for the opportunity at Becker and is determined to use her education, her experience and her skillset to better promote and grow Becker to the best of her ability.

 

“This is an opportunity for me to use my community planning, economic development and transportation skills that I have a passion for,” she said. “I love collaborating with others and being an advocate for the City of Becker.”

 

Marie can be reached at city hall by phone at 763-200-4246 or by email at: mpflipsen@ci.becker.mn.us