BG Innovations is committed to providing the highest quality training and support.  Our passion is education and it is evident in everything we do.  Please take a moment to get to know our team.

Christopher Butler
	Responding to an increased interest in education due to the arrival of his children and a knack for technology, Chris co founded BG Innovations in 2003. Prior to BGI, Chris developed the Mercury Free Zone program for the State of Minnesota (responsible for removing 2 tons of mercury from Minnesota schools).  Chris also worked for a number of years in the fishing industry in Oregon and Alaska, initially as a scientist, but later as a crab and salmon fisherman on the Bering Sea. Chris is active in his children's schools - volunteering in his sons' classes and serving as President for his local ECFE advisory board.
Rick Ellingson
	Rick Ellingson has been a trainer for BG Innovations since April, 2007. Rick retired from the Wayzata, MN school district in June, 2006 after 38 years as a teacher, tech coordinator, and media specialist. He currently is active in professional development activities using graphics, video, and interactive systems. Rick is extremely handy with instructional technology and knows how to draw real connections between technology and the classroom learning experience.
Pamela Gipe
	Co founder of BG Innovations - Pam enjoys the combination of technology and teaching. She has been in education for 16 years - ever since teaching Mathematics for the U.S. Peace Corps in the small country of Malawi in Eastern Africa. Recently Pam has been teaching courses for the University of Minnesota, Duluth, as an adjunct instructor. Pam also has worked in the field of Environmental Science, working with organizations like the State of Oregon, the South Saint Louis Soil and Water Conservation District,and the University of Minnesota Sea Grant. Pam's interest in teaching stems not only from her experience in education, but also from her experiences in the environmental field.
Jamie Schnack
	Jamie is a math teacher who also does training for BG Innovations.
Christopher Morgan
Barb Kotzer
	Barb Kotzer has been in education since 1977 teaching in Spring Lake Park, Waconia, and Edina. Through this career she has taught in grades 1-6, all subject areas. Other jobs included Gifted Resource Teacher, Mentor to new teachers and Coordinator for the Elementary Math Curriculum. Recently she has been the Technology Integration Specialist for Edina Public Schools. This role included teaching teachers how to integrate technology into the classroom. Projector use, unitedstreaming, VBrick, ICUE, and NWEA, electronic report cards and grade books, Blogs and Wikkis and Interwrite Products.  All of these were included in the District Staff Development plans. Now as a retired teacher, she is teaching an online math class for teachers for Bemidji State and supervising student teachers. Teaching teachers remains her focus.
Partners:
Romane Roach, Universal Communications Technology Romane is an experienced installer that has done some impressive installation work for us