Biography

Check out Senator Hoffman in the Minnesota Senate:  https://www.senate.mn/members/member_bio.html?mem_id=1205

Link to the Human Services Policy and Finance Committee:  https://www.senate.mn/committees/committee_bio.html?cmte_id=3126

Throughout my career, I have been afforded many opportunities to assume progressive management roles, which have allowed me to gain and implement a unique set of expertise. With more than 25 years’ successful experience in business, education, facilitation, and legislation across various industries as well as Local, State, and Federal I have developed a proven record of dedicated leadership. My professional experiences have also presented me with many opportunities to join forces with other community, local, state and National leaders to develop impactful and tactical strategies and solutions for individuals, groups, and the community at large.

As a State Senator of the great State of Minnesota, I practice and participate in the delivery of executive-level leadership to contribute to policy infrastructure initiatives at the Local, State, and National levels of government. I also hold an extensive background in educational program development, credit counseling services, and support services for individuals and families with special healthcare needs.

The following accomplishments demonstrate the value of my contributions:

• Recognized efforts for recommending workforce alternatives for individuals with disabilities.

• Successfully developed protocols and programs across academic and business organizations.

• Recommended, implemented and executed policy change programs to assist in community development initiatives.

I am asking for your continued support as your Senator. This role allows me to demonstrate my talents in consultation, project management, and policy development. It would also provide an opportunity to continue to gain, apply, and share my knowledge with others. 

There are two constituencies that we need to assure we operate in a collective and transparent way. The first, Minnesotans who are needing the servant leadership in order to get to self productive lives and to support those who are most vulnerable. 1 in 5 people in Minnesota live with a disability 1 in 10 have a chronic disability. They deserve leadership that is compassionate and can make the connections. The second constituency is the tax payer and deserve the attention to know that their investment for the betterment of people in Minnesota is done in a fiscally vigilant manner. For every dollar we put on the table, the federal government matches. We can do better and I have ideas on how to get that in place.

John Hoffman

Family

• Married, wife Yvette, and daughter Hope

Business and Employment

• Principal Hoffman Strategic Advisors 

• Former Executive Director for Begin Anew, a Recovery Community Organization.

• Former Marketing Director and Public Relations Director for ALLY People Solutions, a 501C3 organization that finds employment opportunities for adults with disabilities.

• Co-founder of Consumer Credit of Minnesota, as well as co founder and co director of Consumer Financial Management Inc.

• Federal Title V reviewer for HRSA (Health Resources and Services Administration) in the U.S Department of Health and Human Services.

• Worked at PACER Center, one of the nations oldest and most respected Parent and Training Information Centers, from 2001 through 2007. It is a national and international leader in providing information, support and skills as well as technical assistance. While there he coordinated PACER Center’s Early Childhood Project and coordinated PACER Center’s Partnership with the National Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center partnership at the University of North Carolina’s Frank Porter Graham Early Childhood Institute. In this capacity, he provided technical assistance to both local and state personnel as well individual families.

• Technical Assistant/Program manager from 1997-2001 with Iowa Department of Human Services, working with Interstate Compact Laws as well as in their development and response to the Infants and Toddlers Act of IDEA and served on the Technical Assistance Team for PART C of IDEA P.L 94-142 and P.L 99-457.

• Supervisor with the Department of Youth Services from 1992-1997 providing services to adjudicated youth.

Public Service

• Currently a Minnesota State Senator. Elected in 2012 and re-elected in 2016 and 2020 representing Coon Rapids, Champlin and Brooklyn Park Minnesota Senate District 36.

• Elected in 2005 and served as Vice Chair of the Anoka Hennepin School Board, which is the largest School District in the State of Minnesota.

• Served on the Board for directors for Family Voices of Minnesota.

• Member (2011 to 2020) of Midway Chamber of Commerce’s board of directors and served as the Co Director of its ambassador committee reaching out to local business and outreach.

• Served as Treasurer on the Board of the Metropolitan Educational Cooperative Service Unit (ECSU).

• Appointed in 2004 by Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty to the MN MCHB Health Advisory Task Force. Re-appointed by the Commissioner of Public Health in 2012.

• Appointed to a 3-year term in 2003 by Governor Tim Pawlenty to serve on the State Interagency Coordinating Council.

• Appointed in 2001 by United States Secretary of Education Rodney Paige to the Federal Interagency Coordinating Council, a federally mandated council that is charged with advising and assisting the Secretaries of Education, Health and Human Services, Defense, Interior, and Agriculture as well as the Social Security Commissioner in their response to services for Children and Families with disabilities ages birth to six.

• In 2000 served, by mayoral appointment, on the Northwest Hennepin Human Services Advisory Council.

• Served on the Iowa Governors Special Education Advisory Committee and was appointed by the State Senate to a Family Support Sub Committee. John’s areas of expertise included, Natural Environments/Inclusion/Least Restrictive Environments, Special Education Law, Parent Training, Early Childhood Education, and Juvenile Justice.

• Vice President Al Gore recognized for work with Iowaccess in partnership for reinventing government.

• Previously, from 1991-1997 worked for the Department of Youth Services for Polk County Iowa as a Supervisor of the Juvenile Detention Center.

National Presentations

• Interagency work with states involving families, National TAALLIANCE Conference, Washington D.C, January, 2002

• Policy Forum-Child Care and Young Children with Disabilities, Federal Interagency Coordinating Council, Washington D.C March 14, 2002.

• Early Intervention and Natural Learning Opportunities, National OSEP (Office of Special Education Programs) Early Childhood Conference, December 2003

• Part C and PTI involvement, National TAALLIANCE Conference, Washington D.C, January 2003

• “Why Natural Environments are important to our family,” National Inclusion Institute, Chapel Hill North Carolina, July 9, 2003.

• “Whose IFSP is this anyway?” presentation to the fourth Annual National Inclusion Institute, University of North Carolina, August 11, 2004.

• “Understanding Early Intervention” presentation to the National Down Syndrome Congress, Minneapolis, MN Aug 21, 2004.

• Project Forum, participation with the Office of Special Education Programs to look at barriers to inclusion in Preschool, Washington D.C. December 12-16, 2004.

• “What about Fathers?” presentation to the National Early Childhood Conference in Washington D.C in 2005 and the National Inclusion Institute in North Carolina in 2006.

• “School Board Accountability” presentation at the National School Boards Conventions 2005- 2008

For more information, please feel free to reach out to: John@johnhoffmanmn.com 763-200-1076