Shannon Welch Strom graduated from the College of St. Benedict in 2000 with a double major in Spanish and Communication. Shannon is currently a Benefits Consultant at Kraus-Anderson Insurance, where she works with small businesses to establish benefit plans for their employees. She also serves as the President of the West Hennepin Chamber of Commerce.
Shannon has spent most of her career in the human relations field, where she strives to enact meaningful change for her clients, their employees, and her co-workers. She strongly values the relationships she builds and is often viewed as an extension of her clients’ teams—celebrating their professional successes, such as doubling the number of employees at their small business, as well as their personal joys. Shannon ensures that all employees are served, and served well, by being available to them and using her Spanish-language skills to remove language barriers whenever possible.
Shannon also works to create opportunities for growth within the companies she has served. Early in her career, she started afternoon lunches at Manpower with managers for whom English was a second language, giving them a supportive space to practice. Now, at Kraus-Anderson, she uses her advocacy skills to elevate women in a traditionally male-dominated field through her participation on a Women’s Leadership Committee and by mentoring other women.
Shannon’s dedication to service extends beyond her professional life. In fact, her very first job out of St. Ben’s was intentionally chosen to provide the resources she needed to volunteer abroad. She spent 16 months with Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos as a “housemom” to first- and second-grade boys in Mexico from low-income families seeking better educational and life opportunities. Today, in addition to her role as Chamber President, she remains active within her church and offers her translation skills for Seeds of Hope MN.
Shannon’s journey reflects the values of service, leadership, and community that are at the heart of Saint Ben’s. Whether she is mentoring women in her profession, supporting small businesses, or offering her time and skills to those in need, she embodies what it means to be a Bennie. Her commitment to building connections and creating opportunities leaves a lasting impact—on her colleagues, her community, and the next generation of women leaders.