New employees

Alicia Thoj rejoined the League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust on June 2 as a senior workers’ compensation claims examiner. She previously worked for LMCIT from 2013 to 2020 before joining the City of St. Paul as a labor standards investigator, where she led investigations into earned sick and safe time, minimum wage, and wage theft.

John McCarthy joined the League of Minnesota Cities as chief financial officer on June 2. He comes to the League from the City of St. Paul, where he served as chief financial officer since 2019. McCarthy previously held roles with the city as budget director beginning in 2017 and chief budget analyst starting in 2013. In his role at the League, McCarthy will provide strategic oversight of the finance and facilities management departments. As a key member of the Leadership Team, he will help guide the development of organizational budgets, long-term operational and capital plans, and ensure the integrity of internal control systems.

Vera Barkosky has joined the League of Minnesota Cities as a 2025 summer law clerk. She earned bachelor’s degrees in political science and ethics and public policy from the University of Iowa and will begin her second year at the University of Minnesota Law School this fall. Barkosky previously worked as a research fellow and extern focused on disaster response, nonprofit governance, and legislative support for nonprofit clients.

Lucy Nifong has joined the League of Minnesota Cities as a 2025 summer law clerk. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in agricultural and consumer economics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and will begin her second year at the University of Minnesota Law School this fall. Nifong recently served as a Dunn Fellow in the Illinois Governor’s Office and has experience in volunteer coordination and science communication.

Tara Niebeling has joined the League of Minnesota Cities as a 2025 summer law clerk. She earned a bachelor’s degree in advertising and communications from the University of St. Thomas and will begin her second year at the St. Thomas School of Law this fall. Niebeling previously led strategic communications for the Minneapolis Mayor’s Office and worked in media relations at Weber Shandwick. She will continue with the League this fall as a litigation law clerk.