Open Arms of Minnesota

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Our Team

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Meet Our Team

Leadership

Leah Hébert Welles

Leah Hébert Welles

Chief Executive Officer

Favorite food: Pizza, chips & salsa

Leah has been leading Open Arms since 2013, after more than 20 years of nonprofit leadership positions. An Executive Director since 1999, Leah has worked in the arts, community education, and reproductive and community health care. She began her career out of college as a victim advocate at a battered women’s shelter – an experience that ignited a deep commitment to justice and access to resources for underserved and vulnerable populations. A mother herself at age 17, who had to ask for help, Leah is committed to ensuring that everyone who asks for help is treated with dignity and respect. She has served on a variety of boards of directors, steering committees, and community coalitions, and currently serves on the Advisory Board for the national Food is Medicine Coalition.

Natalie Obee

Natalie Obee, MBA

Chief Financial Officer

Favorite food: Tom Yum soup

Natalie has worked in various nonprofit organizations, from the arts to reproductive rights, choosing to work in organizations whose missions resonate with her. She brings over 15 years of nonprofit financial leadership experience to Open Arms, as well as 11 years of experience as a professional chef, owning and running a restaurant. She has a BA in American Literature and an MBA in Finance from Hamline University.

April Bogard

April K Bogard, MPH, RS/REHS

Senior Director of Programs

Favorite food: Bread and dumplings

April has 20 years of experience working in food safety and public health as a health inspector, epidemiologist, and food safety inspection program supervisor. She served as an epidemiologist with the Minnesota Department of Health and the Hawaii Department of Health, specializing in foodborne disease investigation, research and prevention. April is a registered Environmental Health Specialist/Sanitarian (REHS/RS) and holds an MPH from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

Danielle Brady

Danielle Brady

Senior Director of Volunteer Engagement & Hospitality

Favorite food: Sushi

Danielle brings over 20 years of experience working alongside and leading volunteers. In her experience, she says she has never experienced volunteers like at Open Arms! It inspires her every day. As a certified trainer for the Minnesota Alliance for Volunteer Advancement, she leads trainings throughout the metro area and state on volunteer engagement best practices, poverty, privilege and bridging gaps of understanding between differences. She is passionate about diversity, equity, inclusion and loves that there is always room for one more at the Open Arms table!

Lisa Lane

Lisa Lane

Senior Director of Capital Campaign & Policy

Favorite food: 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.

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Ethan Armstrong

Director of Communications

Favorite food: Any meal from Clover Grill

Ethan joined Open Arms in March of 2022 and brings him with a generalist’s breadth of experience to the role of Communications Director. 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.

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Stanley Hadiwibowo

Director of Food Services

Favorite food: Kimchi bokkeum bap with mayak eggs

Stan has been in the food industry for about 20 years on contract food service. He earned an associate's degree in Culinary Arts from the Arts Institute International Minnesota and double majored in Business Administration and Hotel Restaurant Management from Southwest Minnesota State University. Stan is passionate about food, culture, and the socio-economic and environmental impacts of food.

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Laura Strait, MS, RD, LD

Director of Nutrition Services

Favorite food: Pad Thai

Laura is a registered dietitian bringing ten years of experience in community nutrition, clinical nutrition, food service management to Open Arms. She completed her BS in Nutritional Sciences from the University of Wisconsin- Madison and her dietetic internship and MS in Nutrition and Wellness from Benedictine University. Laura has a strong commitment to providing equitable food access, particularly to members of underserved communities and those living with or at risk of chronic disease.

Andrew

Andrew Mendez

Director of Client Services

Favorite food: 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.

Charles

Charles J Abrahamson, MBA

Director of Strategic Partnerships

Favorite food: Roasted rosemary with lemon chicken

Charles joined Open Arms in 2021. He has a BA from St. Olaf College and a MBA from the University of St. Thomas. He brings over 30 years of health care leadership experience to his role at Open Arms, specifically focusing on enhancing existing partnerships and developing new collaborative partnerships. Charles' broad and creative background and his experience in developing value based partnership agreements which support clients and the people served by these agreements reflect his commitment to supporting the health of individuals and the community.

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Megan White

Director of Development

Favorite food: Ratatouille with fresh-baked bread and salted butter

Megan has cultivated institutional partnerships as a member of the Development Team since 2020 and transitioned into a departmental leadership role as Director of Development in 2022. Before joining Open Arms, Megan gained over a decade of experience in grants management, partnership development, event planning, and donor stewardship working within and consulting for various community-based organizations in Boston, MA, and Chicago, IL. In every stage of her life, service has continued to be a foundational pillar for Megan. She is perpetually inspired by the whole-hearted dedication and collective energy of the Open Arms community. Megan earned her BA at the University of Michigan and Master of Nonprofit Management at DePaul University.

shirl

Shirl Chouinard

Director of Facilities

Favorite food: Cake or pie

Shirl is a true Minnesota native and lives in Cambridge, MN, with her husband David Lilley and dog Gus. She has dedicated herself to nonprofit facilities management for many years. Shirl is pleased to join Open Arms by supporting the organization to provide food as medicine to nourish clients and build community. Currently, she is working towards her Ph.D. from Northcentral University for Organizational Leadership. Her research focuses on encouraging more women into facilities leadership roles.

Staff

Client Services

  • Anna Irmiter, Client and Community Outreach Manager
  • Channing Bendtsen, Client Services Associate
  • Dayna Adams, Contract Manager & Reporting Specialist
  • Emily Szeliga, Client Advocate
  • Isabella Hembre Conditt, Client Services Associate
  • LaKandis Neal, Client Services Database Coordinator
  • Miranda Yang, Client Services Associate
  • Nicola Lowry, Client Services Associate
  • Sam Ruiz-Zavala, Onboarding Specialist
  • Sarah Cohen, Nutrition & Compliance Associate

Communications

  • Carson Kaskel, Communications Manager
  • Maggie Craig, Communications Design Manager

Delivery & Logistics

  • Abbey Dibble, Logistics Manager
  • Casey Finkenbine, Delivery Driver & Logistics Associate
  • Esther Young, Delivery Driver & Logistics Associate
  • Griffen Tull, Delivery Driver & Logistics Associate
  • Pierre Tay, Packaging Associate
  • Tony Lusian, Shipping & Logistics Coordinator
  • Zaria Hill, Packaging Associate

Development

  • Dana Kuehn, Institutional Giving Coordinator
  • Samuel Truhler, Development Database Coordinator

HR & Administration

  • Ana Guzman, Human Resources Manager
  • Jenny Burr, Office & Admin Coordinator
  • Jenny L. Castillo, Human Resources Coordinator
  • Liz Jensen, Executive Assistant & Office Coordinator

Kitchen

  • Andy Ramcharan, Dishwasher
  • Ann Ibarra, Food Services Manager
  • Jian Smith, Chef & Volunteer Ambassador
  • John Murphy, Chef & Volunteer Ambassador
  • Katie Ralph, Inventory Associate
  • Kari Goodwin, Bakery Manager
  • Kevin Saliger, Packaging Assistant
  • Maria Johnson, Chef & Volunteer Ambassador
  • Ryan Gracie, Chef & Volunteer Ambassador
  • Terric McKenzie, Dishwasher
  • Tony DeMarco, Chef & Volunteer Ambassador
  • Tracie Dahl, Dishwasher
  • Tyree A. Walker, Chef & Volunteer Ambassador

Kitchen of Opportunities (off-site)

  • Andrea Weber, Production Manager
  • Ani Loizzo, Chef & Volunteer Ambassador
  • Antoine Simon, Chef & Volunteer Ambassador
  • Desiree Johnson, Lead Kitchen Assistant
  • Kenneth Thornton, Kitchen Assistant
  • Lucia Campoverde, Chef & Volunteer Ambassador
  • Marc Flowers, Dishwasher
  • Michael Baillie, Logistics & Delivery Associate
  • Nataniel Rayman, Food Services Manager

Nutrition & Farm

  • Ashley Kidd, MS, RD, LD, Registered Dietitian
  • Kalley Meyer, RD, LD, Registered Dietitian
  • Kelly Wilson, Open Farms Manager
  • Maddie Holm, MPH, RD, LD, Menu Specialist
  • Yia Yang, Culturally Specific Meal Project Manager

Volunteer Engagement

  • Antony Gortarez, Volunteer Engagement Intern/Service-Learning
  • Jimmy Geary, Volunteer Engagement Coordinator
  • Julie Huffcutt, Volunteer Engagement & Groups Coordinator
  • Kateri Thooft, Volunteer Engagement & Groups Coordinator
  • Michael McKay, Manager of Volunteer Engagement
  • Nate Wingo, Volunteer Engagement & Delivery/Satellite Coordinator
  • Sarah Vivian, Volunteer Engagement & Administrator Coordinator

Capital Campaign

  • Porsche Hurley, St. Paul Outreach Manager

Facilities

  • Mike Mach, Building & Grounds Coordinator

Client Services

Communications

Delivery & Logistics

Development

HR & Administration

Kitchen

Kitchen of Opportunities (off-site)

Nutrition & Farm

Volunteer Engagement

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