Saint Paul -- Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced the reappointment of Neil Eckles, Louis Hohlfeld, and Daniel Reardon to the Center for Rural Policy and Development.

Neil Eckles, of Blue Earth, currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Blue Earth Valley Communications (BEVCOMM). He served as President and CEO of BEVCOMM from 1982-2002. Eckles sits on a number of business, nonprofit, and community boards, including service as a member of the Economic Development Agency for the County of Faribault. He is a graduate of Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa and previously served in the U.S. Marine Corps. Eckles is appointed to a board position for a representative of business. He was first appointed to the Center's board in 1997, and is reappointed to a six-year term ending January 4, 2010.

Louis Hohlfeld, of Minneapolis, currently serves as a Program Officer at the McKnight Foundation in Minneapolis. He is appointed to a board position for a representative of a private foundation with a demonstrated commitment to rural issues. Hohlfeld was first appointed to the Center's board in 1997, and is reappointed to a six-year term ending January 4, 2010.

Daniel Reardon, of Eagan, currently serves as a Trustee of the Otto Bremer Foundation in St. Paul. Reardon also currently serves as an Officer and Director of Bremer Financial Corp. in St. Paul. He is appointed to a board position for a representative of a private foundation with a demonstrated commitment to rural issues. Reardon was first appointed to the Center's board in 1997, and is reappointed to a six-year term ending January 4, 2010. Reardon currently serves as the board's chairperson.

The Center for Rural Policy and Development, based in St. Peter, Minn., is a non-partisan, not-for-profit policy research organization focused on rural issues. The Center's board is made up of 20 members, including twelve members appointed by the Governor.