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Meet the team.

 
 
 

Staff Directory

To contact a staff member by phone, call 612.638.1000 and our front desk will be happy to transfer you.

A-L

Diana Amortegui
Assistant Director, Early Learning Center
dianaamortegui@urbanventures.org

Omar Arteaga
Custodial Manager
omararteagalanda@urbanventures.org

Tamara Bakke
Coach, Lake Street Works
tamarabakke@urbanventures.org

Matthew Bell
Maintenance
maintenance@urbanventures.org

Benjamin Braaten
Manager, Finance
benjaminbraaten@urbanventures.org

Franklin Briceño
Director, Siempre Padres
franklinbriceno@urbanventures.org

Mike Brooks
Instructor, Music Academy & Recording Studio
mikebrooks@urbanventures.org

Leeanne Brown
Teacher, Early Learning Center
Leeannebrown@urbanventures.org

Priscilla Brown, MA
Director, Pathway & Nehemiah
priscillabrown@urbanventures.org

Tianna Brumfield
Security Guard
tiannabrumfield@cpcrc.net

Sandi Castillo
Teacher, Early Learning Center
sandicastillo@urbanventures.org

Paul Clarkson
Data Analyst, Advancement
paulclarkson@urbanventures.org

Tanesha Clayton
Postsecondary Education Plan Coordinator
taneshaclayton@urbanventures.org

Jess Coykendall
Director, Lake Street Works
jesscoykendall@urbanventures.org

Samuel Ebute
Coach, Lake Street Works
samuelebute@urbanventures.org

Susana Espinosa de Sygulla
Director, Me & My Baby; Senior Consultant
susana@urbanventures.org

Nichol Flemister
Executive Assistant & Human Resource Manager
nicholflemister@urbanventures.org

Ella Forschen
Teacher, Early Learning Center
ellaforschen@urbanventures.org

Myrna Garcia
Family Support Specialist, Siempre Padres
myrnagarcia@urbanventures.org

Josh Gillespie
Director, Music & Arts
joshuagillespie@urbanventures.org

Moises Gomez
Male Support Lead, Siempre Padres
moisesgomez@urbanventures.org

Silvia Gochez
Program Assistant, Me & My Baby
silviagochez@urbanventures.org

Halima Hassan
Security Guard
halimahassan@urbanventures.org

Dave Hawn
President & CEO
davehawn@urbanventures.org

Billy Hawkins
Group Facilitator, Pathway
billyhawkins@urbanventures.org

Luis Jara
Custodian
luisjara@urbanventures.org

Kim Kokett
Lead Teacher, Early Learning Center
kimkokett@urbanventures.org

Andrew Le-Xiong
IT Support Technician
andrewle-xiong@cpcrc.net

Andrew Lonsbury
VP, Advancement
andrewlonsbury@urbanventures.org

Israel Lopez
Director, Youth Mentoring Program
israellopez@urbanventures.org

Nathalie Lopez
Program Assistant, Youth Mentoring
nathalielopez@urbanventures.org

Heriana Loreto
Teacher, Early Learning Center
herianaloreto@urbanventures.org

Mark-Peter Lundquist
Director, Food, Farm & Nutrition
markpeter@urbanventures.org

M-Z

Anabel Margalli Torrones
Aide, Early Learning Center
anabelmargalli@urbanventures.org

Kiara Martinez
Logistics Coordinator, Lake Street Works
kiaramartinez@urbanventures.org

Silvania Melgarejo
Custodian
maintenance@urbanventures.org

Greg Michael
Custodian
maintenance@urbanventures.org

Shalom Mui
Literacy Instructor, Literacy
shalommui@urbanventures.org

Andrena Murphy
Director of Teaching and Administration, Literacy
andrenamurphy@urbanventures.org

Luis Nava-Torres
Director, Security
security@cpcrc.net

Julia Otten
Educator, Nutrition
juliaotten@urbanventures.org

Ingrid Orejuela
Custodian
maintenance@urbanventures.org

Kendra Peterson
Senior Director, Academic Foundations
kendrapeterson@urbanventures.org

Mike Peterson
Literacy Instructor, Literacy
michaelpeterson@urbanventures.org

Tony Podtburg
Maintenance
maintenance@urbanventures.org

Edwin Quinon
Director, IT
edwinquinon@urbanventures.org

Pilezra Reed
Teacher, Early Learning Center
pilezrareed@urbanventures.org

Sue Rohland
Grant Writer
suerohland@urbanventures.org

Michelle Roll
Senior Director, Finance
michelleroll@urbanventures.org

Citlally Ruiz
Operation & Finance Admin
citlallyruiz@urbanventures.org

Erica Schimelpfenig
VP, Programming
ericaschimelpfenig@urbanventures.org

Renee Sherman
VP, Operations & Finance
reneesherman@urbanventures.org

Christopher Silva-Lagunas
Security Guard
christophersilva@cpcrc.net

Olivia Simons
Lead Teacher, Early Learning Center
oliviasimons@urbanventures.org

Jennifer Somercik
Director, Summer Ventures
Literacy Instructor, Literacy

jennifersomercik@urbanventures.org

Sarah Spiegle
Manager, Events & Volunteer
sarahspiegle@urbanventures.org 

Jason Thompson
Senior Director, Life & Career Skills
jasonthompson@urbanventures.org

Ariadna Torres Gutierrez
Teacher, Early Learning Center
ariadnatorres@urbanventures.org

Kyle Trouten
Senior Director, Operations
kyletrouten@urbanventures.org

Luke Trouten
Senior Director, Development
luketrouten@urbanventures.org 

Sandra Urgiles Loja
Aide, Early Learning Center
sandraurgiles@urbanventures.org

Ofelia Urzua Vazquez
Custodian
maintenance@urbanventures.org

Christina Vang
Accountant & Human Resource Coordinator
christinavang@urbanventures.org

Matt von Ende
General Manager, Facilities & IT
matthewvonende@urbanventures.org

Jen Whelan
Educational Director, Early Learning Center
jenwhelan@urbanventures.org

A.B. Willis
Custodian
maintenance@urbanventures.org

 
 

Board of Directors


Gaylen Knack, Secretary Partner Lathrop GPM

Gaylen Knack, Board Chair
Partner
Lathrop GPM

Roy Ferber, Treasurer President Drop Ship Express (Ret.)

Roy Ferber, Treasurer
President
Drop Ship Express (Ret.)

Shannon Foreman CEO, Founder Forethought Planning

Shannon Foreman
CEO, Founder
Forethought Planning

Kathryn Graves Unger
Vice President, Environment, Social and Governance
Boston Scientific

Dean Hager CEO Jamf

Dean Hager
CEO
Jamf

Dave Hawn, Ex Officio President and CEO Urban Ventures

Dave Hawn, Ex Officio
President and CEO
Urban Ventures

Tim Howe
Director, Ethics & Compliance
Cargill

Samantha Sommerness, DNP, APRN, CNM
Clinical Associate Professor
University of Minnesota School of Nursing

 
Shanequa Williams Human Resources Director Pentair

Shanequa Williams
Sr Director, Human Resources
Target

Jeremy Williamson M.A. Dean of Students North Central University

Jeremy Williamson M.A.
Dean of Students
North Central University

Derek Weatherford, CFP Managing Director BMO Wealth Management

Derek Weatherford, CFP
Managing Director
BMO Wealth Management

 
hands partnership.jpg
[Urban Ventures] is rediscovering holistic, pragmatic solutions. [They are] working at ground level, offering support to transform lives, motivating a sense of self-worth, surrounding participants with a circle of caring adults, and urging them that they can do better for themselves.
— Star Tribune