OUR TEAM
Avenues Staff
Our dedicated staff are here to support youth. If you are looking for a staff member not listed below, call 612-522-1690 or email info@avenuesforyouth.org.
Alyssa/Toast Woodard, Youth Advocate & Engagement Specialist
(they/them), awoodard@avenuesforyouth.org | 612-245-1365
Anika Tol, Data Compliance Coordinator
atol@avenuesforyouth.org
Chas Kennedy, Human Resources Manager
(he/him), hr@avenuesforyouth.org
Cynthia Fifer, Youth Advocate and Engagement Specialist
(she/her), cfifer@avenuesforyouth.org
Dee Loyd, Facilities Specialist
dloyd@avenuesforyouth.org
Ezra Bates, Youth Advocate & Engagement Specialist
(he/him), ebates@avenuesforyouth.org | 612-968-1672
Iesha Gosa, Family Advocate & Engagement Specialist
(she/her), igosa@avenuesforyouth.org | 612-759-7921
Karesia Coley, Director of Programs
kcoley@avenuesforyouth.org | 612-844-2001
Katherine Meerse, Executive Director
(she/her), kmeerse@avenuesforyouth.org | 612-844-2002
Kevin Kjonaas, Associate Director of Development & Communications
(he/him) kkjonaas@avenuesforyouth.org | 612-834-7080
Kunta, Young Families Program Manager
kharris@avenuesforyouth.org | 612-718-2401
LaReina Dominick, Education and Career Specialist
ldominick@avenuesforyouth.org | 612-554-8897
Makeda, Program Manager, Brooklyn Avenues
mlacking@avenuesforyouth.org | 612-750-9727
Marissa Bartels, Family Advocate & Engagement Specialist
(she/her) mbartels@avenuesforyouth.org | 612-790-3942
Melissa Cuff, Director of Development & Communications
mcuff@avenuesforyouth.org | 612-844-2005
Rachel Hatch, Associate Executive Director
(she/her), rhatch@avenuesforyouth.org | 612-804-3025
Rosie Irons, Youth Advocate and Engagement Specialist
rirons@avenuesforyouth.org | 612-968-0848
Ryan Berg, ConneQT Program Manager
(he/him), rberg@avenuesforyouth.org | 612-345-8445
Sarah Williams, Communications Manager
(she/her), swilliams@avenuesforyouth.org
Sheena Jimmick, Database Manager
(she/her), sjimmick@avenuesforyouth.org | 612-844-2006
Teresa Howell Saxton, Campaign Specialist
(she/her), tsaxton@avenuesforyouth.org
Tom Bond, Development Specialist
(he/him), tbond@avenuesforyouth.org
Trevor Burns, Associate Director of Operations
(he/him) tburns@avenuesforyouth.org | 612-844-2004
Avenues Board of Directors
Avenues' Board of Directors is a dedicated group of volunteers who provide strategic insight, governance, and fiduciary responsibility of the organization.
Officers
Paul Blom, President
(he/him), Owner/CEO, Right at Home
Shawn Sorrell, Vice President
(he/him), Manager, Department of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Hennepin County
Rachelle Haroldson, PhD, Secretary
(she/her), Instructional Designer, U of WI – River Falls
Andy Sybilrud, Treasurer
(he/him), Vice President Commercial Banking, Bremer Bank
Members
Alfred Walking Bull
(he/they), Development Director, Tending the Soil
Amy Moser
(she/her), Consultant, Amy Moser Consulting and Collective Action Lab
Corey Falls
(he/him), Senior Business Technology Consultant, Mytech Partners
Jenna Shermoen
(she/her), Relationship Manager, Riverbridge Partners
Jennifer Speagle
(she/her) Registered Nurse, Regency Home Health Care & Volunteer Nurse, Hennepin County Medical Reserve Corps.
Jesse Ross
(he/him), Principal Consultant, Mr. Jesse Ross, LLC
John Saunders
(he/him), Attorney, Nokomis Legal PLLC
Kristin Gaarder
(she/her), Chief Human Resources Officer, Perforce Software
Ruben Vazquez
(he/him), Senior Director Operations & Administration, Community Action Partnership of Ramsey & Washington Counties
Russ Heilbrun
(he/him), Vice President of eCommerce, Covetrus
Sam Blackwell
(he/they), Director of Strategic Communications, Minnesota Interfaith Power & Light
Sheri Johnson
(she/her), Associate Vice President Billing & Enrollment, UCare