General E-Mail Box | Main Office Phone: (651) 645-9149
Daniel Huff
Executive Director
Daniel Huff has over 25 years of high-level leadership experience in public health, education, and environmental stewardship. Previous to MMCD, Huff was Assistant Commissioner for the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) where he served four years overseeing the Environmental Health Division, Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Prevention and Control Division, and the Public Health Laboratory during the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Prior to MDH, Daniel was the Director of Environmental Health for the city of Minneapolis. Huff started his career as a high school science teacher.
Huff received his Bachelor of Arts in Biology from the University of North Carolina Greensboro and his Master of Public Affairs from the University of Minnesota.
Maria Mancilla-Diaz
Business Administrator
A proud native of Las Vegas, Nevada, Maria balances a dedicated professional life with the rewarding, busy task of raising her three children alongside her husband of 18 years.
Her career is founded on a deep commitment to lifelong learning and versatility. She has successfully navigated a wide range of organizations, from the scale of a Fortune 500 company to the structure of the public sector and the agility of private organizations.
With a strong educational background that includes degrees in Administration and a Juris Doctor (J.D.), her professional expertise is both broad and deep. She has cultivated hands-on experience in critical business functions such as HR, Finance, and Administration. Her legal background is not merely academic; she actively puts it to use by supporting communities through pro bono matters.
Jon Peterson
Assistant Director
Jon Peterson has been with MMCD since 2001, dedicating the majority of his career to the District’s field operations. He has served as both a Field Operations Supervisor and a Regional Operations Manager at two facilities. In his current role as Assistant Director, Jon oversees all District Field Operations, ensuring collaboration and program effectiveness.
Jon holds a degree in Biology with minors in Chemistry and Psychology from the University of St. Thomas.
Alex Carlson
Public Affairs Manager
Alex Carlson has been the Public Affairs Manager for MMCD since 2019 and he enjoys every opportunity to talk about mosquitoes. In his role, he oversees communications for the District including presentations, public events, social media, local news outreach, and the website. Each year Alex helps facilitate the delivery of more than 40 presentations at local schools and dozens of events throughout the Twin Cities including the Minnesota State Fair, Grand Old Day, County Fairs, safety camps, and much more. Alex also supervises the front desk at MMCD which is the first point of contact for resident calls.
Scott Larson
District Entomologist
Scott Larson is the District Entomologist in charge of the Entomology Laboratory at MMCD which focuses on surveillance and identification of mosquitoes, ticks, and black flies. He graduated with a PhD in Entomology from UW-Madison and obtained a Master's degree in Geography. He has presented at numerous conferences and published many scientific articles on both mosquitoes and ticks.
Jennifer Macchia
Business Office Manager
Jennifer Macchia joined MMCD in 2018 as an Accounting Technician and was promoted to HR/Accounting Coordinator. In 2025, Jennifer advanced to her current role, where she oversees both Human Resources and Accounting operations.
Before joining MMCD, Jennifer worked in long-term care for and home health for 12 years. She values the opportunity to support both seasonal and full-time employees, and she is strongly committed to public service. Jennifer takes pride in ensuring her responsibilities are carried out with excellence and professionalism.