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Officers & Trustees

FFN trustees are volunteers who serve three-year terms on a rotating basis.

Each member of the board serves on a committee dedicated to programs that fulfill the FFN mission. Committees include members of the Young Leaders Board and staff, and other volunteers.

The Board holds two business meetings annually, in the spring and fall. The spring meeting is held in a location where there is an FFN chapter, which gives the trustees and members an opportunity to get to know each other. The fall meeting is conducted via Zoom.

If you would like to reach a board member, please contact us. Your message will be attended to promptly.

Päivi Tetri

President

President Päivi has established citizenship in both the United States and Finland. She received an undergraduate degree in Biology from the University of Oregon and a Masters degree in Social Work from the University of Wisconsin Madison.

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Anne-Mari Paster

Treasurer

FFN Immediate Past President and current Treasurer Anne-Mari Paster has extensive experience in the finance and investment fields.

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Jacqueline L. Harjula

Secretary

Jacqueline L. Harjula has deeply ingrained personal connections to Finland and Finnish culture. Her paternal grandparents came to the United States at the turn of the century, started a dairy farm and raised 13 children. Some of her fondest childhood memories are of going to the “farm” every Friday for a sauna, and attending the Finnish American polio dances every year.

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Paul O. Halme

Executive Vice President

Paul Halme was born in Los Angeles, California, to Finnish immigrant parents, the late Rev. Omar G. and Saimi K. Halme. Rev. Halme was one of the founders of Finlandia Foundation.

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Trustees

Annika Ahonala

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Ellen Harju

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Jon K. Jurva

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Elaine M. Kumpula

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Katariina Lehtonen

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Peter Mäkilä

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Tim Nurvala

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Teuvo Pulkkinen

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David M. Rowe

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Kirsi St. Marie

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Dirk Schulbach

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Tarja Silverman

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Eeva Syvanen

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Michel Wendell

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FFN Trustees, staff and members of the Young Leaders Board met in Hancock in April 2024.

Trustees Emeriti

Richard Ahola
Dennis M. Anderson
Elissa Della Rocca
Jeanne Doty
Dan Haataja
Terttu Haronoja
Olavi Hiukka
Mervi Hjelmroos-Koski
Birgitta Kaanto
Marja Kaisla
John Laine
Juha O. Mäkipää
Satu Mikkola
Anja Miller

Armi Koskinen Nelson
Betsey Norgard
Marianne Parssinen
Rev. Rueben Perttula
Ossi Rahkonen
Jon Saari
Bert J. Salonen
Matti Sarkia
Anita Häkkilä Smiley
Marja Oksajärvi Snyder
John Suomela
Rita Vermala-Koski
Hilary-Joy Virtanen
Hanna Wagner

Past Presidents

1953-1962
1962-1983
1984-1989
1989-1991
1991-1993
1993-1995
1995-1999
1999-2001
2001-2003
2003-2009
2009-2013
2013-2020
2020-2024

Consul Y.A. Paloheimo
Vaino Hoover, Ph.D
Gertrude W. Kujala
Jorma L. Kaukonen
Juha O. Mäkipää
Carl W. Jarvie
Paul O. Halme
Inger Edwards
John Suomela
John Laine
Anita Häkkilä Smiley
Ossi Rahkonen
Anne-Mari Paster