Our Staff
Ann joined the Consensus Council in 2020 as the organization’s third executive director. She previously served as an editor at the State Historical Society of North Dakota, Be Magazine, and Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City, and as a reporter and community columnist at the Bismarck Tribune. She has worked as a freelance editor for the American Academy of Arts & Sciences and the American Political Science Association.
Ann first used the consensus model of decision-making as co-moderator of the National Network of Presbyterian College Women, affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA). She staffed national committees for PC(USA)’s Women’s Advocacy Office and later served as communications manager at Temple Israel Boston, a Reform synagogue. A Texas native, she holds degrees from Austin College in Sherman, Texas, and Emerson College in Boston.
A 2015 graduate of the Women’s Leadership Program at the Center for Technology and Business, Ann is a member of Centurion Toastmasters and volunteer with the Bridges of Hope mentorship program at the ND Youth Correctional Center. She is the current board vice chair of Humanities North Dakota and a strong proponent of civic engagement, civil discourse, and forming more just and equitable communities.
Contact: 701-224-0588 x101
Email: amelton@agree.org
Karla Buzick
Office and Technology Manager
Karla joined The Consensus Council Inc. in January 2013 as the Office and Technology Manager. She has a degree in Information Processing from Bismarck State College and is MOS certified in Microsoft Word, Excel and Powerpoint.
Karla is a 2011 graduate of the Bismarck-Mandan Leadership Program. She has been involved with a number of non-profits over the years, including Dakota OutRight from 2011-2017, the North Dakota Human Rights Coalition from 2011-2017, and the Bismarck Human Relations Committee from 2011-2012. She was a grant reviewer with the PFund Social Change grant committee and also has been a member of the statewide LGBTQ+ Advisory Committee through the ND Department of Health & the ND Women’s Network.
Contact: 701-224-0588 x 100
Email: kbuzick@agree.org
Scott Fry
Senior Program Director
Scott has experience in grassroots organizing, strategic planning, organizing assessments, legislative and public policy initiatives, campaign planning and evaluation, meeting facilitation and design, media outreach, and training and coaching. He received a degree in English from the University of Idaho.
Scott has past experience as a community organizer with Idaho Rural Council and Dakota Resource Council. He was responsible for multiple task forces and chapters of those organizations during his tenure. He has also managed a physical therapy clinic in Idaho and the Home Improvement Department at the Bismarck Sears.
Contact: 701-224-0588 x 106
Email: scottf@agree.org
Greg Gallagher
Deputy Director
Greg is the Deputy Director at the Consensus Council, providing program support for various Council activities. Greg has extensive experience in public policy analysis, program design and administration, group facilitation, legislative initiatives, data analysis, accountability reporting, program evaluation and improvement, grants management, and technical writing. Greg earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in human development from St. Mary’s College, Winona, MN. He earned his Master of Arts degree in religion and religious education from Fordham University, New York, NY.
Prior to joining the Council, Greg served 28 years with the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction, completing his service as Director of Assessment. During his tenure, Greg supervised the development and implementation of the state’s academic content and achievement standards, the state’s academic assessment program, and the state’s academic accountability reporting system, compliant with federal and state statute. Greg supervised the administration of several multi-million-dollar state grant programs, including professional development, innovation, and accountability initiatives. He served as director of the state’s interagency early childhood tracking system for children at-risk for developmental delays. Prior to his service to the state, Greg directed non-public education programs for the Diocese of Bismarck for 10 years. Greg has served on various regional and national education advisory committees and councils.
Contact: 701-224-0588 x 102
Email: ggallagher@agree.org