Meet Our Board
Theresa Backowski – Vice Chair
Theresa was born and raised in Ironton, MN. After high school she studied a bit, volunteered full time for the Catholic Church for 3 years, then returned to MN to finish her degree. She then studied psychology at UMD. During her time in Duluth she met and married her husband John. Theresa and her husband spent nearly 12 years in western MN where they raised 5 children and owned a small hobby farm. She managed a small community center, ran after school programs and summer programs for school aged kids. John and Theresa returned to the area in 2018 and have a farm in Deerwood, own a short-term rental in Ironton, and have enjoyed getting to know the area again.
What I love most about Ironton: I have always loved the history of this area. I love hearing the stories. I love the old buildings, specifically the Spina building, City Hall, and the old Ironton School (no longer there). I absolutely LOVE that people are flocking to this area and appreciating the breathtaking beauty that is here.
Jeremy Grabrian – Secretary
Jeremy and his family moved from the Twin Cities recently (2020), looking for a place to set down roots. After finding that place in Ironton, he has enjoyed mountain biking, hiking, the incredible mine lakes, and neighborhood community that can only come from a place like Ironton, MN. He has worked in the not-for-profit sector for 20 years with a focus on the church market and is excited to find ways to put his skills and experience to work to serve the Ironton, MN community! Jeremy bridges the gap between business processes, requirements, and IT needs with decades of IT consulting and customer service experience. And comes to Ironton Hospitality, Inc having started a previous not-for-profit dedicated to managing IT and communication services (including satellite) for other not-for-profits and NGOs overseas and was a business partner in an IT consulting and training company.
