Mary's Record of Community Service

Local Community Involvement

Big Lake Red Cross Volunteer
Reporter for local newspaper
Big Lake Community Education Advisory Board
Big Lake Spudfest Coloring Contest Organizer
Big Lake Adult Sunday School teacher and Church Summer Children’s Bible Week
Taught bread making to Advanced Home Economics Class in Big Lake for 15 years
Precinct Caucus guest speaker at Big Lake High School
Held numerous volunteer positions in Big Lake community organizations

Education/Business

Graduated Pierz High School 1964
Graduated Saint Gabriel’s School of Nursing in Little Falls
Registered nurse 1967
President of Kiffmeyer Consulting Company

Personal

Oldest of 14 children, grew up in Pierz, Minnesota (Morrison County)
Married to Ralph for 40 years
4 children and 14 grandchildren
Attends Riverside Alliance Church
Lived in Big Lake Township for over 28 years

Current Board Positions

Member, board of the Elk River YMCA
Member, Hope for the City board
Member, Cradle of Hope board
Member, Minnesota Excellence in Public Service Series Board
Member, Sherburne County History Center Fundraising Committee

Previous Local Positions

Minnesota Secretary of State 1999-2006
Member, Minnesota State Executive Committee
Member, Minnesota State Board of  Investments
Chair, Minnesota Electronic Real Estate Recording Task Force
Ad hoc member, Minnesota Historical Society board of directors
Honorary co-chair, Kids Voting Minnesota
Monticello-Big Lake Community Hospital board member and treasurer, 1995-98
Sherburne County History Center Capital Honorary Campaign Chair

Previous National Positions

President, National Association of Secretaries of State 2004
Chair, Business Services Committee, National Association of Secretaries of State
Member, Election Assistance Commission Standards Board
Member, Federal GSA Intergovernmental Advisory Board
Member, Heartland Institute Legislative Advisory Board
Member, Close-Up Foundation National Board of Advisers
President and Secretary/Treasurer, National Electronic Commerce Coordinating Council Board

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Awards

Kids Voting USA: Lee Ann Elliot Elections Excellence Award
Minnesota Certificate of Commendation from Governor Ventura
National Electronic Commerce Coordinating council Chair’s Special Leadership Award
In the Arena Award from the Center for Digital Government
Minnesota Women of Today Outstanding Woman in Government Award for 2003
Department of Defense Federal Voter Assistance Section: Award for Commitment to Absentee Voting for the Military
2006 Received Governor awards for two major Technology accomplishments

Legislative Accomplishments in the Office of Secretary of State

Military Equal Access
Student Equal Access
Rural voter Equity
Uniform Recount Standards
Annual review of election laws
Blind Voter Independent Access
Disabled Voter Equal Access
Voter’s Bill of Rights
Safe At Home address confidentiality program for victims of domestic violence
Uniform Commercial Code false filing correction procedure
Uniform Commercial Code false filing criminalization

Secretary of State Office Accomplishments

Headed Electronic Real Estate Recording Task Force to implement the electronic filing of real estate documents at the county level
Created Statewide Uniform Commercial Code Management System with county satellites
Preserved paper ballots for all Minnesota Elections
Online Notary Application developed and implemented
Electronic Notary System implemented and moved from the Dept. of Commerce
Online filings with e-check as payment method
Secured UCC filings online
Annual business registration filings online
Corporate registered offices filings online
Converted 11,000,000 business records into electronic images
Consolidated all business operational functions to one location
All business forms available online
Distribution of Central Notification System monthly reports electronically
Reduced business services operational workforce by increasing efficiencies
Expanded capabilities of access to the office through increased website options
Created state-of-the-art web-based precinct polling place finder
Created state-of-the-art online election reporting to the precinct level
Created Nationally recognized statewide voter registration system software using in-house technology staff of the Secretary of State Office which cost many millions less with higher quality and more components.
Started and implemented the Election Judge Trainee Program for teenage students
Created 19 new brochures to help educate citizens on elections and business services

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