The Red River Regional Council (RRRC) has recently added three new members to its team, Angelle French, Lule Naas, and Lisa Rotvold. Each is leading specific initiatives, projects, or programs to address needs in rural Region 4, which includes Grand Forks, Nelson, Pembina, and Walsh counties.

Angelle French

Angelle French has been hired as the Pembina County Job Development Authority (JDA) Director. The JDA was formally established in 1991 and has contracted for professional staff services with the RRRC since its inception.

In early 2023, the Pembina County JDA hired French as its first full-time director. She had previously served as the Walsh County JDA director.

French holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Minnesota-Crookston and a Master of Business Administration from the University of North Dakota. French currently serves as the President of the Rendezvous Region Tourism Council and an ex officio for the Pembina Gorge Foundation.

French resides near Hamilton, ND with her husband and young son.

Lule Naas

Florija “Lule” Naas has been hired as the Destination Red River Project Manager and the Nelson County Job Development Authority (JDA) Director. The Destination Northeast ND Project is a four-county initiative focused on rural tourism and visitor attraction. Lule joined the Regional Council in December of 2022 on a part-time basis but has served as a volunteer on this initiative since September of 2021.

Lule has been an active Nelson County JDA board member since 2020 and recently resigned that position to move into the Director role. This position is contracted through the RRRC.  

Naas holds a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Safety & Environmental Health from the University of North Dakota, and a Master of Science in Emergency Management from North Dakota State University. Lule is a Community Champion for Find the Good Life North Dakota, serves on a volunteer committee for Arts Across the Prairie, and actively volunteers for numerous community organizations and events in her community and county.

Naas resides in McVille, ND with her husband, a fourth-generation crop farmer, and their daughter.

Lisa Rotvold

Lisa Rotvold has been hired to lead the Red River Community Housing Development Organization (Red River CHDO), a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization started by the RRRC in 1996. The organization was established to help address affordable housing needs in the region. After a period of inactivity, Red River CHDO is ramping up operations to help spark new housing development in the region. Rotvold joins us with 28 years of experience in the affordable housing industry resulting in more than 1,000 housing units across North Dakota .

She holds bachelor’s degrees in environmental science and architecture from North Dakota State University. She is certified as a Housing Development Financial Professional, and a Housing Credit Certified Professional. Rotvold also earned a non-profit management certificate from Minnesota State University Moorhead.

Rotvold lives in Hillsboro, ND with her husband and has two adult children.

“We are delighted to have these professionals join our energetic and passionate team focused on a rural transformation in northeastern North Dakota,” said Dawn Mandt, Executive Director.  “Each bring areas of expertise that will increase our collaborative impact.”