Jesse Bethke Gomez, MMA, is the President of Comunidades Latinas Unidas En Servicio (CLUES).  The agency is Minnesota’s   premier Latino behavioral health and human services provider.   CLUES has served Minnesota’s Latino community for over 25 years  through a continuum of six core services: Mental Health Services, Chemical Health Services, Family Services, Aging Well Services, Employment Services and Educational Services. A community   builder and catalyst for change, CLUES works to  holistically  advance and enhance the quality of life of Latinos in  Minnesota.

Jesse has over eleven years of strong leadership experience working for the betterment of the Twin Cities Latino community as president of CLUES.  His previous leadership experience includes the Minneapolis Chapter of the American Red Cross, the Twin Cities Greater United Way and the Metropolitan Economic Development Association.  He has worked tirelessly on issues, often in a leadership role, including:

• increasing healthcare access for Minnesota’s Latino community,

• helping people overcome barriers to work,

• advancing wealth creation for diverse communities, and

• promoting civic engagement as a means for advancing civility and the capacity of people to care for one another.

Jesse is frequently asked to speak on a range of topics, such as “Advancing a Civilized Society through the Dynamic Interaction between Democracy and Free Enterprise” and “The Requirements of Effective Leadership - the Deming Way”.  Jesse has raised over $40,000,000 in contributions during his professional career.

In 2006, Jesse received the Reconocimiento Ohtli from the Consulate of Mexico in St. Paul for his work in advancing the lives of Mexican nationals in the United States. Additionally in 2006, Jesse wrote the forward for the book titled Latinos in Minnesota. Jesse was the keynote speaker for the graduation ceremonies at Inver Hills Community College and the School of Public Health at the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill’s Emerging Leaders in Public Health program, of which he is an alumni and received a Certificate of Achievement as a Kellogg Fellow in 2004.

Jesse also serves as a member on the following Boards of Directors: Guthrie Theater, Minneapolis Foundation, Catholic Spirit Publishing Company, and Blue Cross Blue Shield Blue Plus of Minnesota. He is also a member of the Community Action Diversity Council for the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities. At the University of Minnesota, he is an Alumni of Notable Achievement in the College of Liberal Arts and also a member of the Dean’s Advisory Council for the College of Human Ecology.

In 2003, Jesse was appointed by Governor Tim Pawlenty to serve as a Panel Member on the Minnesota Citizens Forum Leadership Panel on Healthcare Costs, led by former U.S. Senator David Durenberger.  Jesse is a recipient of the prestigious Presidential Scholarship Award - presented by U.S. Senator Elizabeth Dole, then-President of the American National Red Cross. 

Jesse is a graduate of the Minnesota Executive Program for Advanced Strategic Leadership of the Carlson School of Management and holds a Master’s of Management and Administration degree, with an emphasis in strategic planning from Metropolitan State University.  He has trained with several prominent individuals including Dr. Edwards Deming and Dr. Stephen Covey. Jesse also has a Bachelors of Arts degree with double majors in Sociology and Chicanos Studies.

Jesse has strong interest in the arts and recently completed writing, composing, arranging and choreographing a full-length contemporary Latino opera and “dancical” set for Orchestra.  Jesse is also a professional musician.