From Ice Palaces to wool gathering, Deb knows how to create events in parks!
Deb Schaber joined the board in 2021 as an “at large” director. Her very successful tenure with the Saint Paul Heritage and Festival Foundation was just one highlight of a career spent creating events that take place in parks. Deb helped organize the 2018 Winter Carnival Ice Palace created for the Super Bowl, found a way to move the Winter Carnival to Kellogg Park when the Conservancy was rebuilding Rice Park, and expanded the Cinco de Mayo Festival. She faced unique challenges through the pandemic and created new events such as the 2021 Winter Carnival State Fair Drive Thru.
Deb also served as Executive Director of the Shepherd’s Harvest Festival in Lake Elmo, an opportunity for wool producers, consumers and artisans to come together and share the excitement of working with sheep and their fantastic product – wool. The Festival grew to include other fiber animals such as angora rabbits, alpacas, and goats.
Deb has served on many nonprofit boards including the Minnesota Festival & Event Association, The Twin Cities Tourism and Attraction Association, The Great Northern, and RiverSouth. She has a soft spot for the city of Saint Paul and enjoys spending time at local parks with her dog and on the golf course when possible.
The Conservancy is actively looking for dynamic board members to represent Ward 1 (Thomas-Dale, Frogtown, Summit-U), Ward 5 (North End, Como) and Ward 6 (Payne-Phalen, Greater East Side).
Contact us if you would like to learn more!
(Photo Credit: Katie Thering)