foundation@dubuquefightingsaints.com
The idea for the Saint 4 Life Foundation grew from conversations with former Fighting Saintsplayers. Over the years players have shared their love for their experience in Dubuque and adesire to give back to the city and organization that were so impactful and influential for them at such an important time in their lives.
Northern Lights Hockey (the ownership group of the Fighting Saints) saw an opportunity to bring former players, coaches, staff and families together to reconnect and develop a way to enhance the experience of the current team, create a support network of past players, improve the Arena and benefit the City of Dubuque.
The Saint 4 Life Foundation exists to promote amateur ice hockey in Dubuque by building a vibrant alumni network that will partner with the community to focus on education, mentoring and community events.
The Foundation seeks to build upon the strong connection of former players to the Saints Organization by creating a platform of mutual support and engagement.
The Foundation’s mission also includes the improvement of public ice hockey facilities within the City of Dubuque.
If you’ve played or worked for the Dubuque Fighting Saints Ice Hockey Team you are a Saint 4 Life
Brian Granger
President
I am a member of the inaugural 80-81 National Championship Saints team and the 81-82 team. I have lived in Eden Prairie Minnesota for the past 25 years with my wife Christine. We have four adult children that played youth hockey and soccer which provided me the opportunity to coach and mentor many youth involved in sports. I have held various leadership positions in the financial services industry over the past 35 years. Currently I am a VP in the corporate finance department of Ameriprise Financial, Inc.
Susan Farber
Vice President
Overview
Susan Farber, of 1755 Overview Ct., was elected to the Dubuque City Council in a special election in March 2021 and reelected in November 2021 to represent the city’s First Ward.
Background
Susan holds an undergraduate degree from Georgetown University, a master’s degree in business administration from George Washington University, and graduated from the AMP Executive MBA Program at Harvard Business School. Susan and her husband, Dr. Bernie Saks, own Magoo’s Pizza in Dubuque. Susan’s previous professional experience includes multiple executive roles at national and international telecommunication companies. Susan and Bernie live at home with their dog, Mr. Magoo.
Civic Involvement
Susan is a Dubuque native and serves as a board member for Greater Dubuque Development Corporation, Dubuque Initiatives, UnityPoint Finley Hospital, Heritage Works, and the University of Dubuque.
Brooks Bertsch
Secretary/Treasurer
Brooks Bertsch is originally from Dubuque, IA. He grew up playing youth hockey locally and later was a member of the 2010-2011 Dubuque Fighting Saints Clark Cup Championship team.
He played four years for the St. Cloud State Men’s Hockey program and graduated in 2015 with a Bachelor’s degree in Finance.
Brooks spent the past 6 years working in professional hockey which included one season with the Iowa Wild (AHL) as Video Coach and the next five seasons for the Los Angeles Kings (NHL) as Video Coach and Amateur Scout.
He and his wife Amy are proud parents to their 4 month old son, Brody and dog Cooper. After spending the past 11 years living in California and Minnesota, Brooks and his family are looking forward to relocating back to their hometown of Dubuque this spring where he will pursue a new career in wealth management.
Patti Swartz
Board Member
I have been a season ticket holder since 1980, the beginning of Junior Hockey in Dubuque. In 2003-2021, I started housing players. In 2010, when the Saints returned, I became the housing coordinator for the next 8 years.
I have lived in Dubuque my entire life. I am a retired RN, a mom of 2 great kids, Andrea and Brian and a grandmother of 5 awesome grandkids, Zachary, Andrew, Cole, Jake and Addison.
I am a widow, lost my husband in 1994.
I am honored to be asked to sit on the Board of Directors, excited for this inaugural year of the Saint for Life Foundation.
Maggie Blaser
Board Member
I have lived in the Dubuque area all my life; however, I fell in love with Saints hockey after my children took an interest in both hockey and the team. I am the owner of Dubuque Fire Equipment, a family-run small business that provides fire safety equipment to both residential and commercial customers. I have three children: Tim and Allie are both University of Northern Iowa graduates and now work at Dubuque Fire Equipment. Billy, the youngest, is also a graduate of UNI but is now finishing up his college degrees at Texas State. My relationship with the Saints organization began when I helped provide employment to a few of the players during their time with the organization and has continued to flourish throughout the years leading me to sponsor the Saints since 2012. I was more than thrilled and honored when asked if I would like to sit on the first Board of Directors, thus allowing me to continue to grow my relationship with the organization and community that helps support me and my business.
Jeff Wenninger
Board Member
I am originally from Ohio and played for the Fighting Saints during the 1984-‘85 season. I was fortunate enough to earn a hockey scholarship to Western Michigan University, where I played during the 1985-‘86 season. I completed my collegiate hockey career at Kent State University.
I am retired after a 30 year law enforcement career (LAPD) and have returned to Ohio to raise my 10 year-old son as a single father.
I spend time overseeing philanthropic endeavors, wherein I established endowments for higher education, community development and animal welfare.
The year I spent in Dubuque proved to be instrumental in my development as a young man. I look forward to giving back to the organization and community that was so pivotal in my life.
Alex Dixon
Board Member
President & Chief Executive Officer
Q Casino & Dubuque Racing Association
A former investment banker with Goldman Sachs and seasoned executive in the gaming industry, Alex brings more than eighteen years’ experience in mergers and acquisitions, restructuring and hospitality development to his role as President and CEO of the Q Casino and Dubuque Racing Association. A 2003 graduate of Howard University in Washington, DC, Dixon started at Goldman as an analyst, where he worked on the $638M IPO of Jackson Hewitt as well as Disney’s $7.5B acquisition of Pixar before leaving Goldman to join Silver Pacific Advisors, LLC, a boutique investment firm in the gaming and real estate space. Within two years, he was tapped by Caesars Entertainment to join the resort side of the industry.
As a gaming executive, Alex progressed to increasingly responsible roles at MGM and Caesars Entertainment. Along the way, he has employed innovative strategies to build high performing teams, grow revenue and drive efficiencies. In 2019, he was brought in as President and COO to shepherd the $825M sale of Circus Circus Hotel & Resort, the 11th largest resort & casino in North America.
Prior to Circus Circus, Dixon was the opening General Manager of MGM Springfield Casino Resort & Spa in Springfield, Massachusetts, where he was responsible for the day-to-day operations at the $950M resort. Additionally, Alex served as the opening Assistant General Manager for Horseshoe Baltimore Casino. Prior to his current role, Alex led West Coast operations for PureStar, a unified family of commercial laundry companies spanning three countries and twenty-five U.S. markets across North America. Alex also serves as an advisory board member for Mogul Hospitality.
As a volunteer, Dixon’s experience is quite extensive. In March of 2020, he was tapped by Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak to serve as one of only eight Nevadans on The Nevada COVID-19 Response, Relief and Recovery Task Force, a public-private partnership to lead the state’s recovery efforts and headed by former MGM Resorts International CEO Jim Murren. Additional volunteer experience includes Executive Committee of the Greater Dubuque Development Corporation, former Chair-Elect of the Vegas Chamber of Commerce, former trustee American International College, former President of the Las Vegas Urban League Young Professionals and member of Black Men Coalition Dubuque Chapter and Young Presidents Organization (YPO) Iowa Chapter.
While his career has spanned New York, London, Los Angeles, Baltimore, Springfield and Las Vegas, Dixon resides in Dubuque, Iowa, where he is the husband of Yindra Dixon and proud father of Alex, Jr. who attends Dubuque Senior and twins, Parker and Peyton who attend George Washington Middle School.
Recognized as the following:
“25 Leaders to watch in Gaming” in 2022 by Global Gaming Business
Rolling on the River – GGB Magazine
40 Under 40 in Springfield, Massachusetts
Alex Dixon – BusinessWest
40 Under 40 in Baltimore, Maryland
40 Under 40: Alex Dixon – Baltimore Business Journal (bizjournals.com)
100 List: THE MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE IN LAS VEGAS, WHO ARE SHAPING THE CITY ON THE STRIP AND OFF THE STRIP
Alex Dixon, President West Region, PureStar – Off The Strip
Contact us if you would like to become a Saint 4 Life Partner