West Central Initiative welcomes Ben Schierer as Director of Civic Partnerships and Griffin Peck as Climate Resilience Officer, bolstering the organization’s regional development work. Schierer will engage with government entities, communities, and organizations to foster strong public-sector partnerships and advocate for regional needs at legislative levels. Peck will spearhead efforts to help communities adapt to climate change by sharing resources, building capacity, and providing technical assistance. 

Ben Schierer brings a wealth of experience in government and civic engagement, with 16 years as an elected official. He is the Mayor of Fergus Falls, a 2020-2021 Bush Fellow, and a 2023 Presidential Leadership Scholar. Prior to becoming mayor, Schierer served on the Fergus Falls City Council for two terms. Schierer joined West Central Initiative as a consultant for its Rural Democracy program in 2023 and now will expand his work to create a positive civic culture in rural Minnesota. 

“As a regional development organization, much of our work is focused on the public sector,” said West Central Initiative President Anna Wasescha. “And a significant amount of the resources we attract to our region are public dollars. This new position will allow us to deepen our partnerships with units of government, elected officials, and the state legislature. We count ourselves lucky to have Ben Schierer join our staff as the Director of Civic Partnerships.” 

As the Director of Civic Partnerships, Schierer will engage with representatives from all units of government and communities, universities, tribal nations, nonprofits, schools, and more to help ensure a durable, meaningful partnership exists between the public sector and public leadership.  

“I’m excited to work alongside people who value neighborliness and generosity,” said Schierer. “I was drawn to West Central Initiative and President Wasescha’s vision. She’s dedicated to ensuring that everyone in our region thrives, and she’s willing to be bold to show people a future that embraces progress while acknowledging the values that make the cities and towns of west central Minnesota special.” 

Griffin Peck brings a unique expertise in climate resilience planning. Most recently, Peck was the Sustainability Project Coordinator and Morris Model Coordinator for the City of Morris. The Morris Model is an award-winning group made up of partner organizations working together toward a shared vision of advancing a sustainable community. Peck has a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies with a focus on sustainability from the University of Minnesota Morris.  

“Griffin represents a new generation of recent college graduates who are dedicating their careers to climate work,” said Wasescha. “By joining West Central Initiative, Griffin can share what they learned in Morris across our entire region.” 

As the Climate Resilience Officer, Peck will work with communities and organizations to adapt to extreme weather and the changing climate through resource sharing, capacity building, and technical assistance. Peck’s role is a joint appointment with the University of Minnesota’s Climate Adaptation Partnership (MCAP). In this role, they will be a direct connection to the research and technical assistance that MCAP is designed to provide. 

“I look forward to helping our region capitalize on the immense funding available for climate adaptation and community resilience,” Peck said. “Successful communities are ones that are adaptable and prepared for the future.” 

Peck is a new resident of Battle Lake and enjoys live music, biking and hiking around Minnesota, and learning about sustainability projects and initiatives outside of work.