"Keeping traditions from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden since 1937"
About the Board
Our Board of Directors is a dedicated team comprising nine key members who play pivotal roles in guiding the Scandinavian Club of Columbus. The board is composed of four distinguished positions:
Co-Presidents: Leading the club's strategic initiatives and fostering a sense of community.
Executive Assistant: Providing crucial support and organisation to ensure smooth operations.
Treasurer: Managing the club's finances with prudence and transparency.
Secretary: Keeping comprehensive records and facilitating effective communication.
Our board convenes monthly, with the majority of meetings held virtually to accommodate our dynamic operations. Together, we focus on discussions that steer the club in accordance with our bylaws, which were thoughtfully voted on and approved by our membership in 2022. You can review the by laws here. This framework forms the basis of our club's constitution and helps us maintain a strong sense of purpose and unity.
Ingrid White (SE), President "I grew up attending Scandi Club with my parents, Carl and Linda Eriksson, and served as Lucia in 1984/85. After moving away in 1993, I returned to Columbus in 2018 with my husband, Gary, and our sons, Garrison and Ethan. As a child we spent 3–4 weeks in Sweden each summer, often at our family’s summer house in Fredros near the Norwegian border. I studied abroad at the University of Stockholm and minored in Scandinavian Studies at Ohio State, and I’m eager to visit all the Nordic countries more in the future." |
Board Members
Michael Lindner (SE) |
Ruth Briland (SE) |
Åke Hellstrom (SE) A longtime member and former board officer, Åke is known for rolling up his sleeves—especially on the club’s booths at the Columbus International Festival, where he led design and construction. Born in Norrköping, Sweden, he moved to Columbus in 1969 to join Industrial Nucleonics (later ABB) after earning an M.Sc. in Applied Physics from Chalmers University of Technology in Göteborg. Retired as Principal Engineer in 2009, he continued consulting and contributing to patents and products. Åke brings the same hands-on, innovation-minded approach to ScandiClub: dig in where it matters and get it done. |
Dane Kirk (DK), Treasurer Dane Kirk joined the club in 2024, continuing his pride in Danish heritage and love for Scandinavian culture. His grandparents emigrated from Jutland after WWII, and he has visited Denmark multiple times, including a summer studying architecture in Copenhagen. Dane works as a city planner for Columbus and holds degrees in architecture, public administration, and Slavic studies from Ohio State. In addition to his involvement with the club, Dane enjoys bonsai, archery, historical reenactment, and gardening. |
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Bette Madson |
Harry Parsons (SE), advisor to the board
His Swedish roots—his grandparents immigrated in 1895—and long ties to Sweden through his work with Emhart Glass (which operates plants in Sundsvall) fuel his passion for Swedish and broader Scandinavian culture. He serves on the Membership and Nominating Committees and is a caller for club events. Harry values the club’s welcoming hospitality and encourages newcomers to get involved—join a committee, lend a hand, and enjoy connecting over our shared Scandinavian heritage. |
Erik Nielsen, (NO) Member Since 2023 Erik Nielsen is an active member of the Scandinavian Club and is honored to join the Board. Originally from Cleveland Heights, Ohio, he studied Chemistry at the College of Wooster and later pursued Nuclear Engineering at Penn State. He has worked with multiple nuclear utility companies and is a licensed Professional Engineer in Ohio. A longtime member of Sons of Norway, Erik now lives in Columbus. His heritage includes Finnish, Swedish, German, Irish, and English roots. |
Matt Soucie (DK, SE), Systems Administrator Member since 2021 Matt joined the club in 2021 after returning to Columbus. Previously, he served as cabin crew for Norwegian Air, traveling throughout Scandinavia—especially Copenhagen, where he fell in love with Danish culture. He has been studying Danish since 2021. |
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