John Garry 

President & CEO

John oversees all programs and operations of the Development Corporation of Austin. He has had this position since 2007. 

John is the primary contact for Austin with the State of Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development on expansion and marketing projects. He provides ongoing coordination with economic development partners. 

John has a BA from the University of St. Thomas, an MA from the Manhattan College (Riverdale, NY), and an MPA in Nonprofit Management from the University of Minnesota - Humphrey Institute. He is a native of Austin.  

Email: jkgarry@austindca.org

Nick Novotny 

Director of Community Engagement & Enhancement Impact Austin

Nick joined DCA and Impact Austin in April of 2024. His work is focused on getting the people engaged in impactful projects that enhance Austin. 

As a native of the Chicagoland area, transplanted into SE MN, he has worked with a wide range of organizations in education, healthcare, and arts and culture fields, as well as a technical background in IT, audio and video engineering, and most recently worked as a GABF medal winning Brewer. 

He is also a co-owner of My Town My Music, and Festival Director of The Rochester Thaw Music Festival. His work in music in Minnesota has been recognized in the publications Twin Cities Business, Canvas Rebel, and he was named a Community Champion by Experience Rochester in May of 2024. He is an active gigging musician as a member of Clay Fulton & the Lost 40 and Teeth.

Nick holds a BA from Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

Email: Nick@AustinDCA.org

Lindsey Hernandez 

Marketing & Membership Coordinator

Lindsey began working at the DCA in early 2024 and serves as the Marketing and Membership Coordinator as well as overseeing bookkeeping and administrative duties. 

Prior to joining the DCA, Lindsey served as the coordinator for Impact Austin and is passionate about helping her community thrive from a quality of life perspective.  She also worked at Hormel Foods Corporation for 11 years, primarily in Sales Strategy and Consumer Insights roles.  

Lindsey is originally from a small town in northern Wisconsin and received her BA in Accounting from the University of Wisconsin- La Crosse.  

Email: Lindsey@AustinDCA.org

Aaron Keenan 

Principal Consultant

Aaron Keenan is a consultant providing services for various organizations and non-profits. He is currently contracted with the following non-profits: The Development Corporation of Austin and Austin Community Growth Ventures helping businesses improve all aspects of their operations. 

Aaron has founded and grown multiple companies and has years of experience working in manufacturing, healthcare, and the medical device industry. He has a wide range of skills including General Business, Health Care, Market Research, Business Plan Development, Financials, Scaling a Business, Business Operational Assessments and Capital Investments. 

Beside Aaron’s practical business experience, he has a B.S. degree from the University of the State of New York and an M.B.A. from New York Institute of Technology. 

Email: apkeenan@austindca.org

Wendy Anderson 

SBDC - Consultant

Wendy serves as a marketing consultant at the Small Business Development Center (SBDC), where she leverages her background in marketing and communications to guide clients. She offers a broad array of services, including crafting comprehensive business plans and enhancing social media strategies. As an entrepreneur herself, Wendy brings a experience and an understanding of the challenges and opportunities that business owners face.

Email: wmanderson@austindca.org

Juan Molina 

SBDC - Consultant 

Juan Molina works as an independent consultant with the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) office with the Development Corporation of Austin. He is a tax professional. In his SBDC role, he helps new and existing businesses with a variety of needs including business plans, payroll, taxes and accounting, human resources, project management, and is bilingual in English and Spanish. 

Juan graduated from Avila University in Kansas City, MO with a bachelor's degree in Science with a major in Accounting.

Email: juan.molina@austindca.org

Herve Idjidina 

Outreach SMIF Equitable Communities

Herve A. Idjidina is an independent consultant at the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) where he provides guidance and support in areas such as Accounting, Business Planning, Financial Analysis, Cash Flow Management, Loan Preparations and General Start Up Assistance. 

Herve holds a Mini MBA in Non-Profit Management from the University of St. Thomas (MN), and a B.S degree in Business Management from the University of Benin (West Africa). 

Email: gsib@gsib01.com