Citizens League is proud and excited to welcome two new prominent civic and community leaders to its Board of Directors this year.
Mike Karbo is the regional director of the Midwest region for the American Petroleum Institute (API). Prior to API, he worked for a decade at the Minnesota Grocers Association as the vice president government affairs and for five years at the Minnesota Senate in various capacities. He served as president at the Minnesota Governmental Relations Council (MGRC), which represents the lobbying community in Minnesota. He was a Policy Fellow at the University of Minnesota Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs and served on the Humbert H. Humphrey Policy Fellows Alumni Board of Directors. He also was selected to the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce’s Leaders Lab program, which develops business leaders in the state. He participated in a delegation of emerging political leaders to Hungary, Romania, and Croatia that was sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and the American Council of Young Political Leaders in 2024. Born and raised in Minnesota, Mike went to the University of Minnesota and received a double major in history and political science. He studied abroad in France, Germany, and Mexico. Mike lives in Minneapolis with his wife Cristina, their daughter Amelia, and golden retriever Luca and he enjoys traveling, hiking, and biking with them.
Rima Kawas is the CEO and Founder of The Connectors Group, a consulting firm specializing in democracy and governance, organizational transformation, and executive leadership development. She brings more than 20 years of experience across the nonprofit, government, and corporate sectors and is an adjunct faculty member at the University of Minnesota Humphrey School of Public Affairs.
Rima has held senior leadership roles in the international democracy and governance field, overseeing multimillion-dollar portfolios, leading global teams, and advising leaders ranging from members of parliament to civil society organizations. She has also led a public policy portfolio at a Fortune 50 company and served as Senior Policy Advisor to a former Governor of Minnesota. Rima has represented the United States on four international delegations and is a published contributor to Diplomatic Courier and Modern Diplomacy.
Known for her commitment to inclusive and constructive dialogue, she focuses on creating spaces that foster mutual respect, understanding, and meaningful engagement.
Citizens League’s Board represents a variety of backgrounds, political views, ideologies, and professional expertise, with the shared goal of engaging diverse perspectives in civic life and public policy to make Minnesota a better place to live and work for everyone.