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
Operational Co Director, Early Learning Center
dianaamortegui@urbanventures.org
Carmen Ascencio
Teacher, Early Learning Center
dianaamortegui@urbanventures.org
Omar Arteaga
Supervisor, Custodial
omararteagalanda@urbanventures.org
Tamara Bakke
Coach, Lake Street Works
tamarabakke@urbanventures.org
Matthew Bell
Maintenance
maintenance@urbanventures.org
Benjamin Braaten
Senior Accountant, Finance
benjaminbraaten@urbanventures.org
Franklin Briceño
Director, Siempre Padres
franklinbriceno@urbanventures.org
Leeanne Brown
Teacher, Early Learning Center
Leeannebrown@urbanventures.org
Demont Brown
Gym Supervisor & Coach, Wellness & Athletics
demontbrown@urbanventures.org
Priscilla Brown, MA
Director, Pathway
priscillabrown@urbanventures.org
Tianna Brumfield
Security Guard
tiannabrumfield@cpcrc.net
Aaron Buchanan
Director, Wellness & Athletics
aaronbuchanan@urbanventures.org
Demontea Burnette
Security Guard
demonteaburnette@cpcrc.net
Nathan Call
IT Support Tech
nathancall@cpcrc.net
Sandi Castillo
Teacher, Early Learning Center
sandicastillo@urbanventures.org
Zayda Cardoso
Operations Admin
zaydacardoso@urbanventures.org
Jafet Cay Bonilla
Coach, Lake Street Works
jafetcay@urbanventures.org
Paul Clarkson
Data Specialist, Advancement
paulclarkson@urbanventures.org
Tanesha Clayton
Postsecondary Education Plan Coordinator
taneshaclayton@urbanventures.org
Jess Coykendall
Director, Lake Street Works
jesscoykendall@urbanventures.org
Micaela Daney
Literacy Instructor
micaeladaney@urbanventures.org
Ashley DuBose
Music & Arts Coordinator
ashleydubose@urbanventures.org
Teagan Duarte
Gym Instructor, Wellness & Athletics
teaganduarte@urbanventures.org
Remy Eisendrath
Manager, Food, Farm & Nutrition
remyeisendrath@urbanventures.org
Josphat Eiton
Accountant, Finance
josphateiton@urbanventures.org
Samuel Ebute
Coach, Lake Street Works
samuelebute@urbanventures.org
Susana Espinosa de Sygulla
Director, Me & My Baby; Senior Program Director
susana@urbanventures.org
Nichol Flemister
Manager, Human Resources
nicholflemister@urbanventures.org
Ella Forschen
Teacher, Early Learning Center
ellaforschen@urbanventures.org
Myrna Garcia
Family Support Specialist, Siempre Padres
myrnagarcia@urbanventures.org
Silvia Gochez
Program Assistant, Me & My Baby
silviagochez@urbanventures.org
Billy Hawkins
Group Facilitator, Pathway
billyhawkins@urbanventures.org
Luis Jara
Custodian
luisjara@urbanventures.org
Atlas Klus
Coach, Lake Street Works
Atlasklus@urbanventures.org
Kim Kokett
Lead Teacher, Early Learning Center
kimkokett@urbanventures.org
Andrena Kumordzie
Director, Reading Plus
andrenakumordzie@urbanventures.org
Jessye Lewis
Gym Instructor, Wellness & Athletics
jessyelewis@urbanventures.org
Andrew Le-Xiong
IT Support Technician
andrewle-xiong@cpcrc.net
Andrew Lonsbury
Senior Advisor
andrewlonsbury@urbanventures.org
Israel Lopez
Director, Youth Mentoring
israellopez@urbanventures.org
Heriana Loreto
Teacher, Early Learning Center
herianaloreto@urbanventures.org
Melaine Lund
Grant Writer, Advancement
melanielund@urbanventures.org
Mark-Peter Lundquist
Director, Food, Farm & Nutrition
markpeter@urbanventures.org
M-Z
Anabel Margalli Torrones
Teacher, Early Learning Center
anabelmargalli@urbanventures.org
Silvania Melgarejo
Custodian
maintenance@urbanventures.org
Greg Michael
Custodian
maintenance@urbanventures.org
Maria Montes
Teacher, Early Learning Center
mariamontes@urbanventures.org
Dolores Montes Zarco
Teacher, Early Learning Center
doloresmontes@urbanventures.org
Luis Nava-Torres
Director, Security
security@cpcrc.net
Maria Olson
Lead Teacher, Early Learning Center
mariaolson@urbanventures.org
Julia Otten
Assistant Director, Food, Farm & Nutrition
juliaotten@urbanventures.org
Ingrid Orejuela
Custodian
maintenance@urbanventures.org
Mike Peterson
Literacy Instructor, Reading Plus
michaelpeterson@urbanventures.org
Tony Podtburg
Maintenance
maintenance@urbanventures.org
Edwin Quinon
Manager, IT
edwinquinon@urbanventures.org
Pilezra Reed
Teacher, Early Learning Center
pilezrareed@urbanventures.org
Sue Rohland
Grant Writer, Advancement
suerohland@urbanventures.org
Michelle Roll
Controller & Senior Director, Finance
michelleroll@urbanventures.org
Ryan Risch
Security Guard
ryanrisch@urbanventures.org
Citlally Ruiz
Operations Admin
citlallyruiz@urbanventures.org
Erica Schimelpfenig
President & CEO; VP, Adult Programs
ericaschimelpfenig@urbanventures.org
Renee Sherman
Chief Operating Officer
reneesherman@urbanventures.org
Christopher Silva-Lagunas
Security Guard
christophersilva@cpcrc.net
Olivia Simons
Lead Teacher, Early Learning Center
oliviasimons@urbanventures.org
Jennifer Salazar Sanchez
Director, Summer Ventures; Literacy Instructor, Reading Plus
jennifersomercik@urbanventures.org
Sarah Spiegle
Manager, Events & Volunteer
sarahspiegle@urbanventures.org
Arale Tapia
Teacher, Early Learning Center
aralecuautle@urbanventures.org
Maria Tapia
Custodian
maintenance@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
Head of Marketing & Communications
luketrouten@urbanventures.org
Sandra Urgiles Loja
Aide, Early Learning Center
sandraurgiles@urbanventures.org
Ofelia Urzua Vazquez
Custodian
maintenance@urbanventures.org
Dalia Valero
Family Support Specialist, Early Learning Center
daliavalero@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, Board Chair
Partner
Lathrop GPM
Roy Ferber, Treasurer
President
Drop Ship Express (Ret.)
Shannon Foreman
CEO, Founder
Forethought Planning
Kathryn Graves Unger
Vice President, Environment, Social and Governance
Boston Scientific
Dean Hager
CEO
Jamf
Tim Howe
Director, Ethics & Compliance
Cargill
Samantha Sommerness, DNP, APRN, CNM
Clinical Associate Professor
University of Minnesota School of Nursing
Shanequa Williams
Sr Director, Human Resources
Target
Jeremy Williamson M.A.
Dean of Students
North Central University
Derek Weatherford, CFP
Managing Director
BMO Wealth Management
“[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.”