The group that produces the St. Paul Winter Carnival has a new leader.
The Saint Paul Festival and Heritage Foundation announced Monday that Lisa Jacobson has been hired as its new president and CEO. Jacobson ran for mayor of Brooklyn Park in a special election last week, and won the position by one vote. There will be a recount of the votes on Thursday. She has been a member of the Brooklyn Park City Council since 2016 and owns Lilac Boutique, which her daughter operates, in Champlin.
She has already begun her position as CEO of the Saint Paul Festival and Heritage Foundation, according to a news release. The foundation produces the St. Paul Winter Carnival and Cinco de Mayo West Side Saint Paul.
According to her Linked In profile, Jacobson is a certified fund raising executive. Her experience includes director of development for DinoMights youth hockey and corporate director of development for the Hills Youth and Family Services in Duluth.
The festival and heritage foundation news release says Jacobson has been a fan of festivals and events her whole life, and her favorites are Whiz Bang Days, Tater Daze and the Crystal Frolics. “She also has fond memories of the St. Paul Winter Carnival from the 1980s when she attended the University of St. Thomas.”
Lisa Jacobson is married to John Jacobson, sports director and anchor for CCX Media in the northwest suburbs.
In an interview Monday afternoon, Lisa Jacobson said the Winter Carnival is looking forward to bringing back Carnival traditions and favorites like the Torchlight Parade and adding some “new, interesting twists” after COVID-19 restricted many of the events in the 2021 Carnival. The 136th St. Paul Winter Carnival, is scheduled for Jan. 28 to Feb. 8, 2022.
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