A Message of Gratitude from Andi Arnold

As Andi Arnold prepares to leave her role as Executive Director of Sustainable Stillwater MN (SSMN), she reflects on a year and a half of growth, meaningful partnerships, and exciting progress across the St. Croix Valley.

From our most successful Valley Eco Fair yet to the launch of Valley Climate Action Week, Andi helped lead an incredible chapter for SSMN. But as she shares in her farewell message, it’s the people who made this journey truly special.

We are so grateful to have had Andi as our Executive Director and deeply appreciate everything she has done for our organization and the St. Croix Valley. Her leadership, dedication, and commitment to our mission have helped build a strong foundation for the future, and we are thankful for the lasting impact she leaves behind. 💚

Thank you, Andi, for everything. You will be missed!

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Dear Partners and Friends,

As I prepare to leave my role as Executive Director of SSMN, I feel deeply proud of what we have accomplished together. Most of all, I find myself deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve the St. Croix Valley.

In the last year and a half, the SSMN team has more than quadrupled our programming in the community. We had the most successful Valley Eco Fair ever, with over 1,200 visitors, the first-ever Valley Climate Action Week, with nearly 1,000 participants, and countless other programs in Stillwater and beyond. We significantly improved our focus on meaningful programming and helped advance work in sustainable business, transportation, land and water conservation, bird habitats, rain gardens, and more. It has been, without a doubt, the beginning of something special!

I also leave the organization on its strongest financial footing ever, with a surplus, substantial reserves, and a stronger foundation for the work ahead. During my tenure, we more than doubled annual grant revenue and strengthened our ability to turn community support into meaningful action. One of the changes I am most proud of is moving our fundraising approach toward targeted grants and a more personal, donor-centered model and away from reliance on a large gala. The goal was to make supporting sustainability more inclusive and to create more ways for people to participate, build relationships, and contribute at a level that feels meaningful to them.

I also worked with our staff to strengthen SSMN, helping us grow from an informal network of volunteers into a coordinated, professional team. That growth has allowed us to take on more work, operate more effectively, and advance our mission like never before.

In all, we have laid important groundwork for that approach to continue growing. But the most rewarding part of this role has been the people.

I have had the privilege of building meaningful relationships with community members doing extraordinary things throughout the St. Croix Valley, including city and county officials, our local chamber, generous businesses and sponsors, nonprofit partners, churches, law enforcement, dedicated volunteers, educators, and students. These relationships have reminded me how much is possible when people bring their different skills and perspectives to a shared purpose.

Most of all, I am grateful for the team I worked alongside. Their creativity, commitment, and willingness to show up for this community made our progress possible. Supporting this team has been an opportunity to connect people, support their ideas, and help turn their dedication into results.

THANK YOU, Kelsey, Leslie, Allison, Gaby, and Mariah. I will truly miss working with you every week!

And to everyone: Thank you for the opportunity to lead, to learn, and to serve. I leave with lasting relationships, tremendous gratitude, and confidence in the work this community can do together.

With an abundance of gratitude,

Andi Arnold

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