Board of Directors
Russell S. King
Russell King is President of King Capital Corporation, a privately held investment firm located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. King Capital Corporation is a private investment management firm with both active and passive investments in a variety of public and private companies. Russell has also been an active investor in several Twin Cities based private companies in a variety of industries including medical device, communications technology and community banking. Prior to joining King Capital in 2006, Russell spent almost 20 years within the Minneapolis investment banking community.
Russell serves as Chairman and President of the Peter J. King Family Foundation. He formerly served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of United Hospital Foundation, a foundation supporting United Hospital in St. Paul, and as Chairman of the twin cities Advisory Board of the Salvation Army. He also serves on the Board of Directors of CORVEX Connected Worker, a digital platform improving workplace safety, quality and productivity. He has also served on the boards of NimbeLink, Corp, and Totino Grace High School in Fridley, Minnesota, his alma mater.
Russell holds a Master’s of Science in Management with a concentration in Finance from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
James A. Weichert
Jim Weichert is the general manager of JAWCO, LLC, a private consulting firm and real estate investor. The real estate is primarily multi-family housing. Jim has a number of entrepreneurial business activities that are in various stages of development. Prior to forming JAWCO, LLC, Jim spent 39 years at Deloitte Tax, LLP where he retired as a tax partner.
Jim serves as a board member of the Peter J. King Family Foundation as well as two privately held Minnesota Based companies. Jim had also served on the boards of Micro Grants and Our Fair Carousel and was past Chairman of the Salvation Army of the Twin Cities and Minnesota Diversified Industries.
Jim graduated from the University of Saint Mary’s in Winona, Minnesota with a BA in accounting.
Stephen D. Higgins
Stephen Higgins is the retired CEO of Stephen D. Higgins, Ltd., a CPA firm that specialized in tax consulting for larger family owned businesses. Prior to forming his own firm, he was with Touche Ross & Co, the predecessor to Deloitte, an international accounting firm.
Stephen serves as Secretary and Director of the Peter J. King Family Foundation. He also serves as a director and trustee for a number of private companies and trusts and as a financial advisor for a public foundation.
Stephen attended the University of Minnesota with a minor in electrical engineering and a major in business.
James C. Teal
Jim Teal is the President & Chief Operating Officer of Hitachi Capital America Vendor Services. HCAVS is the vendor leasing and finance division of Hitachi Capital America Corp. and focuses on providing custom finance programs for manufacturers and resellers. HCAVS acquired Creekridge Capital in 2016 where Jim has served since 2007. Prior to that, Jim was the EVP – Finance & Operations for Sunrise International Leasing Corporation. He started his career at Arthur Andersen & Co.
Jim serves as a Director of the Peter J. King Family Foundation. Jim also serves on the boards of other non-profit organizations.
Jim graduated from the University of South Dakota with a BS in Accounting.
Eric L. Fotsch
Eric Fotsch is the Director of Field Experiences at Metropolitan State University, School of Urban Education. At the School of Urban Education, along with teaching 5 courses, Eric places all student teachers and assigns placements for practicum and observation hours. Within his role at Metropolitan State University Eric is also the licensure officer. Prior to Eric’s Field Director position he was a 4th grade homeroom teacher for 13 years in the St. Paul Public School District. Eric is an outdoor enthusiast, educator and coach. His other activities include enjoying time with his three adventurous daughters, boating, running, biking, camping, basketball, exercise and coaching many sports at all levels.
In 2004, Eric founded the King Leadership Camp (KLC), an outdoor leadership development program for urban youth in partnership with YMCA Camp St. Croix and the Peter J. King Family Foundation. In 2017 the KLC merged with YMCA BOLD & GOLD (Boys Outdoor Leadership Development and Girls Outdoor Leadership Development).
Eric has served on the board of YMCA Camp St. Croix and is presently on the BOLD & GOLD board.
Eric graduated with a B.A. in Communications and Secondary Education from DePauw University, Greencastle Indiana and holds a M.S. in Elementary Education from the University of Wisconsin, River Falls.