MN State Assembly Board of Directors
Lori Molus, CST, FAST, CRCST
President | October 2023 - October 2025
Lori Molus is the Operational Manager of the System Central Sterile Services Department at MHealth Fairview in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She has served as a Board of directors and Treasurer and is currently serving her first term as President of the Minnesota State Assembly of Surgical Technologists. Lori received the FAST award in 2017 and recognized this as a respected acknowledgment of her profession as a Surgical Technologist. She graduated from St. Cloud Technical College in 1985. Lori has had a career of 37 years of operating room scrubbing. She has had roles for nine-plus years as a surgical manager-coordinator of supplies, implants, and vendors, working closely with multiple disciplines within healthcare. Lori enjoys teaching, and she has held a position as an adjunct instructor for Rasmussen College. She holds a certification as a sterile processing technician (CRCST). She has served on the MSPA Board and continues to serve on the UMHE planning committee. Patient safety is what drives her passion. She will stand firm in advocating process improvement to minimize patient risk. She has held an elected position for eight years (2012-2020) on the local Minnesota Becker School Board. She and her husband, Greg, have been married for 35 years. They enjoy their three grown children, Matthew (Ellie), Luke (Krista), and Andrea. They love and adore their two grandchildren, Vincent (2021-2021) and Decklyn Jo.
Francine Quiguyan, CST/CSFA
Vice President | October 2023 - October 2025
Francine Jessie B. Quiguyan (key-goo-yan) is a Certified Surgical First Assistant (CSFA) and Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) with the NBSTSA. She graduated from the University of Alabama at Birmingham with an individually designed major and continued the training of her surgical service in Florida. For 5+ years, she has worked at several hospital systems, including the surgical department at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and is currently a traveler surgical technologist. As part of the MN State Assembly, she is a two-year board member participating with its leadership to advance its influence on the surgical technologist profession. She is working proactively to increase participation in legislative efforts requiring recognition, certification, and statewide promotion of this great profession. Francine grew up a TCK (third culture kid) and is a lifelong learner of people, cultures, and languages. She loves her family, supports her church family, orchestral movie soundtracks, and enjoys exploring the outdoors. For more information, connect with her on LinkedIN.
Naydeen Pollak, CST/CSFA, FAST
Treasurer | October 2023 - October 2025
Naydeen graduated in 1987 from the Surgical Technologists Program at Anoka-Hennepin Technical College. Her profession as a CST began with my employment at Abbott Northwestern Hospital (ANW) doing General, Colon, Peripheral Vascular, Urology, GYN, ENT, Thoracic, Open Hearts, and some orthopedics. In 1993, she went to work as a CST/CFA for Surgical Consultants, P.A., affiliated with Fairview Southdale in Edina. She assisted with General, Colon, Peripheral Vascular, and thoracic surgeries. In 1998, Naydeen returned to ANW Hospital to specialize in Open Heart surgeries. In April of 2005, she was a part of the new ANW Heart Hospital opening, where she worked doing Heart Bypass, Repair & Replacement of Heart Valves, Heart Transplants, and Thoracic and Peripheral/Endo Vascular surgeries. Naydeen worked for Summit Orthopedics from 2014 - 2019, where she worked in the clinic and as the first assistant in surgery for an Orthopedic Surgeon. Naydeen works part-time as an Adjunct Instructor for the Surgical Technology Program for Rasmussen University at the Hennepin/Anoka campus in Brooklyn Park, MN. Naydeen has been an active local, regional, and national member since 1993. She has served as past President, Vice President, and Board Member of Chapter 20; was the Region 5 Representative/Treasurer; previously served as Board of Director for 2 consecutive terms from 9-2004~9-2008 for the MN State Assembly and has attended some National Conferences as a Delegate since 1993. In her 32 years as a Surgical Technologist, she strongly believes in continuing education; increasing one's knowledge of the latest medical technologies and procedures makes one a valued employee and gives one the skills to better care for the patient; it shows pride in your profession. Naydeen challenges you to get involved in the MN State Assembly as an officer, Board of directors, a Delegate, on a committee, or helping plan the Fall and Spring meetings.
Lori Newman, CST, FAST
Secretary | October 2022 - October 2024
Lori has been a Surgical Technologist since 1992. She began her career at Fairview Southdale in Edina from 1992-1995, primarily working on the eye team. She then moved back near her hometown of Kimball and joined the staff at the St. Cloud Hospital, where she worked until 2007. Lori also has a Bachelor of Science degree in Education (2004) and a Master of Arts degree in Curriculum and Instruction (2013). Since 2006, she has been an educator in Surgical Technology and is the Program Director and faculty at St. Cloud Technical & Community College. Lori has served in several roles on the Minnesota State Assembly beginning in 2016, including Delegate, Director, Secretary, Vice President, and President. She also serves on The AST National State Assembly Leadership Committee. Lori looks forward to promoting the involvement in professional growth activities by surgical technologists in Minnesota and increasing knowledge and respect for the profession.
Mark Johnson, CST
Director | October 2022 - October 2024
Mark Johnson graduated in 1991 from the Surgical Technologist program at Anoka Hennepin County Technical College in Minnesota. Soon after graduating, Mark worked part-time as a Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) in and around Minneapolis/St. Paul area. As Mark gained more experience, he moved into a full-time occupation as a CST. He worked as a travel CST for eight staff nursing agencies until May 2008. During this time, he gained valuable work and skill experience in the CST role of Open Heart, Vascular, Thoracic, General Surgery, Orthopedics, Plastics, Ophthalmology, and Organ Harvesting and Transplants. In 2008, Mark joined the St. Cloud VA Medical Center as a CST Lead in Surgical Processing Services (SPS) as a preceptor and educator. In 2010, Mark joined the new Ambulatory Surgery Department at the St. Cloud VA. Here he worked as a CST until he retired in 2021. In 2022, Mark was asked to return to his role as a CST at St. Cloud VA to train and precept new employees. Mark is a veteran of the US Air Force.
Brenda Pask, CST
Director | March 2023 - October 2024
Brenda graduated in 1997 from Anoka Hennepin Technical College. She has been employed by Alina Health-Mercy Hospital since graduation. She is a tier 2 senior technologist and a lead preceptor for new employees and students. Brenda enjoys the challenges that each case brings and loves teaching. She is interested in advancing the role of the technologist in the OR and pursuing legislation for the profession. When not working Brenda enjoys being at the cabin, scouting, crafting, and being with friends and family.
Jennifer Mason, B.A. CST, CRCST
Director | October 2023 - October 2025
Jennifer Mason graduated in 2003 from the Surgical Technologist program at Anoka Technical College. Since graduation, she has worked for Park Nicollet Surgical Services. From 2016-2022 she worked as an Adjunct Instructor for the Surgical Technology program at Anoka Technical College. During that time, she obtained her Certified Registered Central Service Technician Certificate. Jennifer then completed her Bachelor of Science degree in Adult Education and Health Science Technology from Metro State University (2022). In 2023 she accepted a new position as a Surgical Technology Training and Education Specialist. Her passion continues to be teaching and supporting Surgical Technologists in the operating room. She is excited to be a part of the MN State Assembly Board and to be able to support the profession on a larger scale.
Sonia Knutson, CST
Director | October 2023 - October 2025
Sonia Knutson graduated from Northland College in Thief River Falls with her Surgical Technologist degree. She then obtained her bachelor’s degree from NDSU in Fargo, ND. She is currently employed as a Surgical Technologist and an Instructor at Lakewood Health in Staples, MN. She enjoys her work as a Surgical Technologist and has an interest in staying on the leading edge with new and improved surgical techniques and equipment. Sonia was born and raised near Red Lake Falls, MN on a hobby farm and attended Crookston High School. She met her husband during clinical in Fargo, ND, and two years later (2017) they got married. They bought a farmstead in Wadena, MN, where they currently raise about 80 beef cattle. Together they have 3 wonderful children who are 4, 3, and 1 year old. The hobbies she enjoys are running, volleyball, camping, hiking, and of course, playing with her kiddos.