Chris Tholkes brings over 20 years experience working in the public and nonprofit sectors. She is currently Assistant Division Director of the Office of Statewide Health Improvement Initiatives at the Minnesota Department of Health, which includes the Statewide Health Improvement Program (SHIP). Previous experience includes serving as a Program Officer for Otto Bremer Foundation, a staff lobbyist and Senior Policy Manager for ClearWay Minnesota, as Executive Director of Minnesota’s youth, anti-tobacco industry organization, Target Market and as the Director of Tobacco Control for the American Lung Association of Minnesota.  She has additional experience working in county and state public health departments, in tobacco control and HIV/AIDS prevention. She holds a bachelors in community health education and a masters in public administration.