Longtime Employees Bergen, Culver, Hanson are Class of 2026 Inductees
(DULUTH, MINN.) – Three of the longest-tenured employees in the history of Grandma’s Marathon – they’ve combined for 85 years of work experience with the race – were fittingly on stage together as they each received the event’s highest honor.
Laura Bergen, Sarah Culver, and Linda Hanson make up the Class of 2026 and were officially inducted last week into the Grandma’s Marathon Hall of Fame.
“The trajectory of the race and our whole organization would look entirely different if these three women aren’t involved,” Executive Director Shane Bauer said. “To have their talents and work ethic with us for decades has certainly helped Grandma’s Marathon, but they’re all such good people on top of that, as well. We really owe them a lot.”
Bergen, Culver, and Hanson were officially inducted during a dinner and ceremony on Wednesday, May 20 at the St. Louis County Depot in Duluth.
LINDA HANSON
Hanson, who was raised in West Duluth and graduated from Duluth Denfeld High School, started with Grandma’s Marathon in 1987 and worked nearly four decades as the organization’s Finance & Operations Director.
In addition to handling the event’s multi-million-dollar annual budget, Hanson played an instrumental role in the event’s race operations as well as the annual spaghetti dinner and race weekend entertainment.
“Everything I ever did at Grandma’s Marathon was super fun,” Hanson said. “They say that if you love your job, you’ll never work a day in your life, and they’re right. I was extremely fortunate to have one of the absolute best jobs on the planet, and it was truly an honor to be part of this organization.”
SARAH CULVER
Culver first moved to Duluth after graduating from Central Michigan University and worked for nine years in the hospitality industry, after which she was hired as the marathon’s Administrative Assistant in 2000. In 2014, she became the Hospitality and Elite Athlete Director and will continue in that role until her planned retirement in September 2026.
“I’m so fortunate to have worked in the running industry, and especially at Grandma’s Marathon, for most of my career,” Culver said. “I’ve had the pleasure to work with so many incredible coworkers and community members who all come together to put on one of the best marathons in the country.”
LAURA BERGEN
After graduating from the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) in 1999, Bergen first started with the marathon as an intern before accepting her first full-time job as Public Relations Director in 2000. She became the Director of Event & Program Development in 2006 before leaving the race in 2011, only to return four years later, in 2015, as the Registration & Expo Director.
Bergen was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and passed away in October 2025. Through her entire 3.5-year battle, which was extremely physically and emotionally taxing, Bergen continued to show up and work for the marathon – it was one place she could feel some normalcy, she often said.
“The marathon really just become part of who I am, and it’s hard to imagine not being involved in some capacity,” Bergen said in November 2023. “I’m so proud to be part of this great event in a city that I love. There’s nothing else like it in the world.”
GRANDMA’S MARATHON HALL OF FAME
Class of 2026
Laura Bergen Longtime Employee
Sarah Culver Longtime Employee
Linda Hanson Longtime Employee
Class of 2025
Dave Malban Board of Directors
Dominic Ondoro Elite Runner
Class of 2024
Greg Helgeson Start Line Volunteer
Paul Iversen Start Line Volunteer
Bob Larkin Start Line Volunteer
Class of 2023
Elisha Barno Elite Runner
Dan Dock Finish Line Volunteer
Barb Korte Board of Directors
Class of 2022
Glenn Evavold Board of Directors
Jim Greenfield Media Vehicle Driver
Monica Halligan Finish Line Balloons
Deb Pawlowicz Bus Transportation Dispatcher
Rick Recker Race Referee
Dick Skogg Heatsheets
Class of 2019
Kevin Peterson Board of Directors
Class of 2018
Jeff Frey Race Photographer
Lizette Mitchell Water Station Volunteer
Deanna Nordeen Water Station Volunteer
Class of 2017
Adele Hartwick Board of Directors
Amanda McGrory Elite Wheelchair Athlete
Doug Nelson Race Communications
Class of 2016
Joe Hietala Activity Lot Construction Crew
Erik Nelson Activity Lot Construction Crew
Kraig Rudstrom Activity Lot Construction Crew
Class of 2015
Tim Hollis Start Line
John Kessler Start Line
Class of 2014
Scott Keenan Founding Executive Director
Class of 2013
Carol Gallinger Hospitality Committee
Mike Krois Bus Transportation Coordinator
Rudy Lundahl Bus Transportation Coordinator
Saul Mendoza Elite Wheelchair Athlete
Class of 2012
City of Duluth Host City
City of Two Harbors Host City
Class of 2011
Ron Francisco Auxiliary Police Officer
Steve Harrington Medical Director
Ed Hermel Longtime Participant
GB Leighton Postrace Music Headliner
Chelly Townsend Volunteer
Class of 2010
477th Medical Company Medical Team
Chuck & Sally Hegg Water Station Volunteers
John Leppi Founder
Bill & Nancy Olsen Water Station Volunteers
Kevin Pates Newspaper Reporter
Class of 2009
John Docter Media Vehicle Driver
Steve Greenfield Media Vehicle Driver
Kellie Luedloff Water Station Volunteer
Bill Wenmark Longtime Participant
Class of 2008
Sharon Buchanan Volunteer
Jerry Frederick Race Communications Director
Jeno Paulucci Sponsor
Mary Spiering Volunteer
Class of 2007
Neil Franz Longtime Participant
Greg Haynes Volunteer
Dale Kusnierek Board of Directors
Class of 2006
North Shore Striders Founding Organization
Class of 2005
Candy Furo Board of Directors
Taire (Lind) Suliin Water Station Volunteer
Class of 2004
Don Fennessy Board of Directors
Gino & Kathy Goedel Start Line Directors
Michael Pinocci Race Announcer
Class of 2003
Candace Cable Elite Wheelchair Athlete
Ken & Mona Rae Cich Volunteers
John Kulick Sports Massage Therapist
Class of 2002
Rick Jackson 25-Year Participant
Joe Johnson 25-Year Participant
John Naslund 25-Year Participant
James Nowak 25-Year Participant
Class of 2001
Brian Daugherty Founder
Jan Ettle Elite Runner
Brian Larsen Founding Volunteer
Paul Van Winkel Elite Wheelchair Athlete
Class of 2000
Joan Dahlstrom Volunteer
Herb Dillon Medical Team
Cindy Nelson Race Packet Coordinator
Mac Welles Finish Area Coordinator
Class of 1999
David Eckstrom Elite Wheelchair Athlete
Doug Kurtis Elite Runner
Lorraine Moller Elite Runner
Tami Oothoudt Elite Wheelchair Athlete
Class of 1998
Dick Beardsley Elite Runner
Peter Graves Race Announcer
Barney & Janis Klecker Elite Runners
Wen Shi Yu Elite Runner
Class of 1997
Gerald Church Start Line Director
Class of 1996
Andy Borg Founding Sponsor
Garry Bjorklund Elite Runner
George Fink Founder
John Foschi Board of Directors
Mickey Paulucci Founding Sponsor
Alex Ratelle Elite Runner
Dorothy Spencer Founder