Former State Auditor Rebecca Otto Joins MnFIRE Team

We’re thrilled to announce that former Minnesota State Auditor Rebecca Otto has joined MnFIRE as our first-ever Director of Business Affairs. Rebecca brings nearly four decades of public, private and nonprofit experience, deep financial expertise and strong relationships across the state to the MnFIRE team.

A well-known and well-respected leader, Rebecca served as Minnesota State Auditor from 2007 to 2019, where she led fiscal/legal compliance oversight of $50 billion in local government spending. Most recently, Rebecca served as executive director of the Ernest C. Oberholtzer Foundation, a conservation-minded nonprofit in Northern Minnesota. She also has experience as a state representative, teacher and small business owner.

“From Ada to Zumbrota, firefighters play an incredibly important role in every Minnesota community, and I am honored to be able to help MnFIRE strengthen its mission, build an even stronger and sustainable foundation and support these hometown heroes into the future,” Rebecca said.

“Rebecca has been a supporter of Minnesota’s fire service her entire career, and has built strong relationships with firefighters, legislators and community leaders all across the state,” said MnFIRE Board President George Esbensen. “As the health and wellness resources MnFIRE provides to firefighters and their families become more and more critical, Rebecca’s expertise and passion for the fire service will help our organization become even more effective and further elevate our important mission.”

You can reach her at rotto@mnfireinitiative.com. Please join us in welcoming Rebecca to the team!

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Meet Jen Elleraas: a dedicated MnFIRE peer supporter who you can hear from at the Firefighter Health Forum on Jan. 23-24!

In her session, Jen will share what it means to be serve as a peer supporter and how peer support strengthens mental health and resilience among firefighters. Learn how you can access this confidential, statewide network, receive support from trained peers and build meaningful connections that promote wellness across the fire service.

We want to see you at the Firefighter Health Forum – save your spot today! www.eventbrite.com/e/2026-firefighter-health-forum-registration-1964377725657?aff=social
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We’re grateful to all of the firefighters keeping our communities safe over the holidays, and MnFIRE is always on call if you’re in need of support during the holiday season and beyond. Warm wishes from all of us at MnFIRE! ❄️ ... See MoreSee Less

We’re grateful to all of the firefighters keeping our communities safe over the holidays, and MnFIRE is always on call if you’re in need of support during the holiday season and beyond. Warm wishes from all of us at MnFIRE! ❄️

Danielle Thornton of NAMI Minnesota will lead a CALM Conversations workshop at the Firefighter Health Forum Jan. 23-24. Join us to learn how to recognize and respond to suicide risk, and how to talk with someone who might be having suicidal thoughts in a collaborative, non-judgmental and supportive manner.

The Firefighter Health Forum gives you access to information that could be life-saving. Register here: www.eventbrite.com/e/2026-firefighter-health-forum-registration-1964377725657?aff=social
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Did you know that the Firefighter Health Forum isn't just for firefighters? All firefighter spouses and partners are welcome and encouraged to attend!

In Dr. Michelle D. Sherman's sessions, firefighter spouses and partners will:

🔴 co-create a “Top 10 List” of what you’d like your firefighter to know about your experience as their spouse or partner
🔴 explore typical versus concerning responses to trauma and how to support your firefighter loved one while also taking care of yourself

Gain this valuable knowledge and much more at the Firefighter Health Forum Jan. 23-24. Sign up here: www.eventbrite.com/e/2026-firefighter-health-forum-registration-1964377725657?aff=social
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