Our Team
Leadership
Leah Hébert Welles
Leah Hébert Welles
Pizza, chips & salsa
Leah has been leading Open Arms since 2013, bringing over 20 years of experience in nonprofit leadership. An Executive Director since 1999, Leah has worked in the arts, community education, and reproductive and community health care. She began her career after college as a victim advocate at a battered women’s shelter—an experience that ignited her deep commitment to justice and ensuring access to resources for underserved and vulnerable populations.
A mother herself at age 17, Leah understands the importance of asking for help and is dedicated to ensuring that everyone who does so is treated with dignity and respect. She has served on numerous boards of directors and community coalitions and currently sits on the Advisory Board for the Food Is Medicine Coalition (FIMC) as well as the Advisory Board for Second Harvest’s Make Hunger History Campaign.
Shelley Calvert
Shelley Calvert
Anything Pasta
After working for many years in the private sector, Shelley moved to the nonprofit sector in 2007, while pursuing a master’s degree in nonprofit management. Her first nonprofit job at the Northwest Area Foundation introduced her to the concept of cross-sector collaborations to improve the lives of disadvantaged people, and she was hooked! Subsequent positions in the nonprofit and public sectors include Can Do Canines, the City of Inver Grove Heights (during which time she completed a master’s degree in public administration), Sustainable Resources Center, St. Croix Valley Foundation, and Literacy Minnesota.
Her work history includes everything from long-term care insurance and retail accounting (in the private sector) to finance/accounting, IT oversight, process improvements, volunteer management, events, grants/contracts, facilities/fleet management, human resources, budgeting, strategic planning, program management, etc.…i.e., many typical behind-the-scenes types of work to support direct service/program and fundraising activities in the nonprofit and public sectors.
Shelley was drawn to the mission of Open Arms because the mission is in close alignment with “improving the lives of disadvantaged people.”
Cristina Marie Cintron Rolon, JD
Cristina Marie Cintron Rolon, JD
Mofongo and Soup Dumplings
Cristina joined Open Arms in 2017 as the first dedicated HR professional in a department of one. Since that time, Cristina has worked in collaboration with the CEO to support Open Arms’ growth, by bringing amazing talent to support the organization’s operations, and by strengthening policies and processes. In her current role as Chief of Staff, she works closely with the Executive Team to ensure that we are leveraging our most important resource to best fulfill our mission and serve our clients: our people’s talents. Cristina brings a strategic and practical approach when dealing with workplace challenges, while ensuring that Open Arms’ mission and values are exemplified in everything we do. Cristina has a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Puerto Rico Law School. She started her career in Human Resources in the corporate sector but soon realized that she wanted to contribute her talents to an organization that provides such a needed service to the community. Cristina is originally from Puerto Rico and relocated to Minnesota almost a decade ago. Although she sometimes misses the all-year-round sunshine and tropical temperatures of her Island home, she enjoys Minnesota’s fall and its beautiful colors.
Lisa Lane
Lisa Lane
Cake donuts
Lisa Lane has worked in the nonprofit sector since 1997, primarily in social and human services. She has held a variety of roles including development, community relations, communications and program development. Lisa served as the Development Director & VP of Resource Development for the Jewish Community Relations Council, Neighborhood House and Hennepin Theatre Trust; as the Foundation Director for The Phillips Eye Institute; and as Director of Advancement for United Family Medicine. She received her B.A. in Journalism from the University of Iowa.
Andrew Mendez
Andrew Mendez
Steak
Across the last 10 years, Andrew has held various management positions in Behavioral Healthcare. Most recently, he was the Chief Operating Officer of a 3-state, 150-bed outpatient addiction treatment center for 3 years. Andrew has also served as a consultant for a number of behavioral healthcare facilities, with a focus on client programming and advocacy. Andrew himself is also a survivor of Soft Tissue Cell Sarcoma and is deeply patient about helping improve the lives of those who suffer with any illness. Andrew relocated from Florida to Minnesota in October of 2020 of hopes of beginning work within the nonprofit sector to help those most in need.
Ethan Armstrong
Ethan Armstrong
A Red Pepper Grinder
Ethan joined Open Arms in March of 2022 and brings him with a generalist’s breadth of experience to the role of Director of Communications. A Minnesota native, Ethan began his career in athletics communications at Gustavus Adolphus College. In 2015, he relocated his life to Chicago where he pivoted to nonprofit work, serving in multiple development, project management, marketing, operations, and event management capacities at places such as the Pat Tillman Foundation, Strides for Peace, and America SCORES Chicago. Ethan has a passion for service, relationship building, and storytelling, and is drawn to organizations that impact communities at the grassroots level. He earned a BA in communication studies from Gustavus and an MA in sport management from Minnesota State University, Mankato.
Emily Essert
Emily Essert
Spaghetti Bolognese
Emily Essert is a recovering academic (PhD in English Literature) who escaped the ivory tower a decade ago to help foster inclusive communities in the Twin Cities through mission advancement. She had the privilege of working in institutional fundraising at The Arc Minnesota during its merger into a statewide organization, and at The Guthrie Theater during its pandemic closures and rebuilding. She is thrilled to bring her relationship-focused approach to corporate fundraising at Open Arms, because she comes from a family where food is love and has experienced firsthand how food is medicine. When not working, she enjoys running, yoga, reading, cooking with her husband, and spending time at the playground with her twin girls.
Anna Irmiter
Anna Irmiter
Peanut Butter
Anna began her career in education, teaching various grades in multiple countries. She joined Open Arms in 2020 in an outreach role and has always enjoyed connecting with clients, referral partners, volunteers, and other community members. In her current role as Director of Programs, Anna oversees the client services and nutrition teams and supports all aspects of new program development. Born and raised in Minnesota, Anna is delighted to be back in her home state and working for such an impactful organization!
Mary Beth Iverson
Mary Beth Iverson
Pad Thai
Mary Beth Iverson joins Open Arms as its Director of Individual and Major Gifts. In her role, Mary Beth will partner with volunteers and donors to result in the financial resources needed to provide services to Open Arms clients. A lifelong resident of the Twin Cities, Mary Beth previously served as the Director of Annual Giving at her alma mater, St. Catherine University, and has spent most of career doing fundraising and development related work. She was drawn to the mission as it aligns closely with her personal values “when those in our community are struggling, bringing them nutritious food that nourishes them can make them feel better.”
Ken Koegler
Ken Koegler
Tacos Al Pastor
Ken Koegler joins Open Arms of Minnesota as its Director of Operations. A seasoned nutrition services leader with extensive experience in both healthcare and educational settings, Ken’s career is marked by a clear communication style, conflict resolution skills, and the ability to improve operational efficiency. In his role at Open Arms, Ken develops, implements, and oversees quality assurance and food safety efforts across the organization’s food and kitchen operations. Prior to joining Open Arms, Ken served as the Director of Nutrition Services for the North Branch School District K-12. He holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota – Duluth and possesses certifications from the Minnesota Department of Health (Certified Minnesota Food Manager), National Restaurant Association (ServSafe Certified), Lean Six Sigma, and OSHA 10.
Shawanda Steffen
Shawanda Steffen
Mexican/Tex Mex (preferably from Arizona)
Shawanda Steffen brings more than 14 years of experience in Human Resources to Open Arms as its Director of Human Resources, with a background that encompasses HR management, policy development and documentation, benefits administration, life-cycle recruitment, HRIS, disability management, worker’s compensation, training and development, and payroll processing, Shawanda spearheads and oversees the day-to-day functions of the HR department at Open Arms. She danced in the NFL for three seasons for the Arizona Cardinals, and in 2021, she was Miss Minneapolis America. Her love for dance helped her create a dance and cheer program for the John R. Grubb YMCA in Des Moines, IA. The program focused not only on cheerleading and dancing but also on anti-bullying. Shawanda has gained valuable experience at notable organizations such as Hy-Vee, Prudential, Global Solutions, the Arizona Cardinals, and Universal Technical Institute before dedicating her expertise to the nonprofit sector.
