MVC Officers
The MVC Alumni Executive Committee was established in 2006. The MVC Alumni's purpose is to provide support to the current MVC, to maintain the friendships that our members established during their tenure with the MVC, and to support the Minnesota Vikings organization.
2016 - 2018 Executive Committee
Director of Women's Initiatives and Strategic Development – Tami Hedrick
Tami Hedrick is the Director of Women's Initiatives and Strategic Development for the Minnesota Vikings, as well as the Head Coach and Director of the Minnesota Vikings Cheerleaders. Tami has coached professionally for over 17 years, in the NFL and for the NLL. Before Tami took the leadership position as Head Coach, she proudly cheered as a Minnesota Vikings Cheerleader for the 1997-1998 season. Tami's career path led her to roles as Vice President in Marketing, to a Director level role in Sales, and as founder of several startup companies/groups in the Midwest. Tami has also appeared in multiple national pageants, was a television host for ShopNBC, and has been a judge and choreographer for International, college and high school teams. Tami is proudest of her role as mother of her four children.
President – Catherine Loose
Catherine began her career with the Minnesota Vikings Cheerleaders in 1997 after graduating from Drake University with a degree in Public Relations. In 1998, she worked for the Minnesota Vikings as the Plaza Manager where she coordinated all events outside of the Metrodome for each home game which included; booking bands, hiring food vendors and entertainment, and hosting corporate hospitality parties. Although she truly enjoyed working for the organization, Catherine missed cheerleading and returned to the MVC the following season in 1999. Some of her favorite memories include her first pre-game practice on the field, volunteering at charity events, and the sheer thrill of standing in the tunnel with her fellow cheerleaders at the start of game as the huge Vikings ship inflated and the crowd roared.
Catherine's career is in Public Relations and Branding in the Consumer Goods and Services industries. She loves all that the Twin Cities have to offer and is often exploring new parks, restaurants and entertainment. Catherine lives with her husband, Rick and their two children in Eden Prairie. Her daughter loves to dance and looks forward to football season each year and being a part of the Junior MVC program. Catherine cherishes the opportunity to be able to give back to the MVC through the Executive Committee and believes being a part of the committee at its inception is a true honor. She was inducted in to the Hall of Fame for the Minnesota Vikings Cheerleaders in 2012.
Secretary - Sherry Hood
Sherry was a Minnesota Vikings Cheerleader during the 1990-1991 season. Prior to her time as a MVC, she was a studio dancer, traveling and competing nationally for nearly a decade. Sherry became passionate about dance while participating in dance-line and cheerleading throughout junior high and high school. This passion and love of dance continues; she joined an adult dance class with fellow MVC Alumni and continues to be active and involved in all things dance! Sherry's favorite memories as a MVC include running out of the tunnel on game day, meeting fans and participating in charity events and appearances.
Sherry graduated with an Associates of Applied Science in the Legal Secretary Program in 1993 from Anoka Ramsey Community College. Part of her career was in private law; recently making a seamless transition into similar roles with larger corporations, starting with Target, and now working as an Executive Administrative Assistant with Land O'Lakes. She enjoys her work and looks forward to the challenges that her work provides.
Sherry and her husband, Jon, reside in Ramsey with their two daughters, Addison and Ava. Both girls are in dance and are excited about their second year participating in the Junior MVC Program. It is incredible to watch them grow up and take part in the legacy their mom has left for them.
Sherry is very involved with the MVC Alumni and has performed at all the Alumni half-time shows – never missing one! Sherry cherishes the friendships she has made throughout the years and feels blessed to be surrounded by such talented, genuine women. Reflecting on her time with MVC Alumni, Sherry stated that she is "truly honored" to have the opportunity to serve the Alumni Executive Committee as Secretary.
VP of Alumni Development - Heather Pilakowski
Heather cheered for the MVC for 5 seasons, from 1998-1999 & 2001-2003. She was selected as a Team Captain her final year on the team and went on to become an Assistant Coach for 2 years, Game Day Staff member for 5 years and A*Team (Alumni Team) founder and co-coach for 6 years. She was also honored as a MVC Hall of Fame member in 2008, of which she is very humbled and proud.
Heather's favorite memories as a MVC include running out of the tunnel for the first time, cheering at the 1999 NFC Championship home game, traveling to NYC with her teammates, volunteering at various community charity events and making life-long friends. In fact, many of Heather's best friends are former MVCs and have been in each other's weddings and now have regular playdates with each other's kids!
Heather joined the Alumni Executive Committee in 2013 as VP of Alumni Development to help engage alumni old and new through social and performance opportunities.
Heather and her husband, Kent, own a business and reside in Minnetrista with their three children, Alex, Lucas, and (future MVC) Mia-Noelle. In her spare time, Heather enjoys traveling, shopping, and hanging out with friends and family.
VP of Alumni Recruitment - Alissa Staloch
Alissa cheered for the MVC for four seasons in 2010-2013. She was honored to be selected to represent the team for military tours to Kuwait and Africa and to military base visits in Fargo and Seattle. Alissa was a member of the MVC Training Program in 2009 and attributes a large part of her success on the MVC to that program.
Some of Alissa's favorite MVC memories include being on the team that traveled to London in 2013, auditions, military and breast cancer tribute games, dancing with her identical twin on the sidelines and getting the opportunity to work for the role models within the MVC organization. Some of her achievements when she was on the team include making the Power Team, Semi-Finals Top 10, team voted to receive the Fight, Row Charge award, Glamour Captain, and selling 500 calendars. Although, none of those amazing opportunities or accomplishments compare to the relationships formed which ended up making the memories so great. Alissa currently supports Alumni Recruitment for continued development, involvement, success for alumni events and networking. She is also the training program alumni liaison. Outside of the MVCA, Alissa works as a Project Manager for Chial Executive Coaching & Consulting and is also a certified Barre instructor. She and her husband, Joe, reside in Plymouth with their daughter, Sylvia, and son, Sullivan. She looks forward to seeing you at the next MVCA event!
VP of Communication - Amber Lenhardt
Amber began her career with the Minnesota Vikings Cheerleaders in 2007 after spending a year on the inaugural Minnesota Vikings Cheerleaders Training Program. Some of her favorite memories include running out of the tunnel for her first game, volunteering at Susan G Komen race for the cure, visiting the troops at Ft Lewis in Seattle, and the amazing women she was surrounded by during her time on the team and still to this day.
Amber currently works for a major cosmetics brand in Minneapolis as a Senior Category Analyst. She graduated with her MBA from Capella University in 2004, and has enjoyed working in the Consumer Products industry ever since. Amber is happily married with 3 beautiful children. In her spare time, Amber has a passion for running, her family, and spending time with her friends. She feels very blessed to have the opportunity to be able to give back to the MVC through the Executive Committee and is honored to still be active in the MVC community: "Once an MVC, always and MVC".
VP of Marketing – Jackie Grandstrand
Jackie was a Minnesota Vikings Cheerleader during the 1999-2000 season. During tryouts, she was a full-time student at UW-Eau Claire, but moved to Minneapolis after making the team and transferred to the University of Minnesota where she later earned a bachelor's degree in Public Relations.
Jackie began dancing at the age of 3 and fulfilled a life-long goal of being a professional cheerleader. She especially enjoyed meeting the fans, doing charity events and performing in front of 64,000 people at the Metrodome. Jackie continued her professional dance career as a member of the Minnesota Swarm (NLL) Performance Team during the 2005, 2006, and 2008 seasons.
As VP Marketing, Jackie manages the content of the MVC Alumni website, and manages the email communications. She is currently employed as project manager for an interactive marketing agency in downtown Minneapolis. Jackie and her husband, Kirk, live in Edina and enjoy spending their free time with their two young children, Grace & Charlie.
VP of Special Events - Kaylee Lundblad
Kaylee began her career with the Minnesota Vikings Cheerleaders in 2009 when she was named "Rookie of the Year." She went on to cheer for 6 seasons (2009-2014). During that time she was selected to lead as Glamour Captain (2011) and a Team Captain (2012, 2013, & 2014). In her final season, she was honored to be named the 2015 Pro Bowl Cheerleader. Kaylee's other accomplishments included Semi-Finals Top 10 (2012, 2013, & 2014), Sports Illustrated Cheerleader of the Week, MVC Calendar Cover Model (2014), and Most Valuable Cheerleader (2014). Kaylee was privileged to represent the Minnesota Vikings during military tours to Iraq, Kuwait, Diego Garcia, Okinawa, and California. In addition, she traveled with the Minnesota Vikings to perform at home games in Detroit (2010) and London (2013). Kaylee's unique opportunities make her one of the only cheerleaders in the NFL to cheer for the same team in 5 different stadiums.
Outside of the MVCA, Kaylee is a Registered Nurse. She graduated with honors from Gustavus Adolphus College with her Bachelors Degree. She currently works as a Licensed School Nurse serving students of all ages. Her proudest moment was welcoming her first child in 2015. She is now enjoying lots of family life with her husband and son. In addition, she loves running, Minnesota cabin life, and spending as much time with her MVC sisters as possible!
VP of Public Relations – Lissa Steffe
Lissa cheered for the MVC for 4 seasons in 2005, and 2008-2010. She was honored to be selected to represent the team on goodwill military entertainment tours in Kuwait and Iraq on two separate occasions. Lissa also had a chance to travel with the MVC to Mexico City for NFL Mexico.
Some of Lissa's favorite MVC memories include the unforgettable 2009 season where we did not lose a game at home, cabin trips with her small team in 2010, performing her first endzone routine, and the NFC Championship game in 2008 when confetti came down from the roof of the Metrodome. The dozens of wonderful women she's connected with in her time with the organization is one of the things Lissa cherishes most.
Lissa currently supports the social media needs of the current team and the alumni. Outside of the MVCA, Lissa works in talent acquisition management. She lives in Uptown Minneapolis with her husband Dixon, son Granton, and two french bulldogs Mohammed Ali and Bella.
The members of the inaugural 2006 MVC Alumni Executive Committee included; Allison Drusch, Maren Hoffman, Tami Krause, Catherine Loose, Kara Schlieman, Anne Sumangil and Jenae Vieregge.