Staff Directory
To contact a staff member by phone, call 612.638.1000 and our front desk will be happy to transfer you.
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Diana Amortegui
Assistant Director, Early Learning Center
dianaamortegui@urbanventures.org
Omar Arteaga
Custodian
omararteagalanda@urbanventures.org
Tamara Bakke
Coach, Lake Street Works
tamarabakke@urbanventures.org
Matthew Bell
Maintenance
maintenance@urbanventures.org
Steve Bergman
Specialist, IT
stevebergman@urbanventures.org
Payton Bowdry
Director, Wellness & Athletics
paytonbowdry@urbanventures.org
Benjamin Braaten
Manager, Finance
benjaminbraaten@urbanventures.org
Franklin Briceño
Director, Siempre Padres
franklinbriceno@urbanventures.org
Mike Brooks
Director, 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
Andrae Buckingham-Lott
Gym Instructor, Wellness & Athletics
andraebuckingham@urbanventures.org
Sandi Castillo
Teacher, Early Learning Center
sandicastillo@urbanventures.org
Shania Castillo
Program Assistant, Act Six
shaniacastillo@urbanventures.org
Karina Castro
Teacher, Early Learning Center
karinacastro@urbanventures.org
Paul Clarkson
Data Analyst, Advancement
paulclarkson@urbanventures.org
Tanesha Clayton
Director, Innovation Center
taneshaclayton@urbanventures.org
Dominique Coffey
Youth Program Facilitator, Innovation Center
dominiquecoffey@urbanventures.org
Jess Coykendall
Director, Lake Street Works
jesscoykendall@urbanventures.org
Megan Crawford
Academic Support Instructor, After School
megancrawford@urbanventures.org
Cecilia Cruz Pena
Aide, Early Learning Center
ceciliacruz@urbanventures.org
Korey Dismuke
Security Guard
koreydismuke@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, Act Six
joshuagillespie@urbanventures.org
Moises Gomez
Male Support Lead, Siempre Padres
moisesgomez@urbanventures.org
Silvia Gochez
Program Assistant, Me & My Baby
silviagochez@urbanventures.org
Alexander Hands
Coach, Lake Street Works
alexanderhands@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
Michael Landers
Assistant Director, Athletics
luisjara@urbanventures.org
Michael Lark
Athletics Instructor
michaellark@urbanventures.org
Andrew Le-Xiong
IT Support Technician
andrewle-xiong@cpcrc.net
Sophie Liautaud
Teacher, Early Learning Center
sophieliautaud@urbanventures.org
Andrew Lonsbury
VP, Advancement
andrewlonsbury@urbanventures.org
Israel Lopez
Director, Youth Mentoring Program
israellopez@urbanventures.org
Nathalie Lopez
Assistant, Youth Mentoring & Me & My Baby
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
Family Support Specialist
kiaramartinez@urbanventures.org
Gericel Massiani De Gomez
Teacher, Early Learning Center
gericelgomez@urbanventures.org
Silvania Melgarejo
Custodian
maintenance@urbanventures.org
Ana Medina
Lead Teacher, Early Learning Center
anamedina@urbanventures.org
Greg Michael
Custodial Supervisor and PM Maintenance
maintenance@urbanventures.org
Shalom Mui
Literacy Instructor, Literacy
shalommui@urbanventures.org
Andrena Murphy
Literacy Instructor, Literacy
andrenamurphy@urbanventures.org
Luis Nava-Torres
Director, Security
security@cpcrc.net
Maurice O’Bannon
Program Manager, Pathway
mauriceobannon@urbanventures.org
Julia Otten
Educator, Nutrition
juliaotten@urbanventures.org
Ingrid Orejuela
Custodian
maintenance@urbanventures.org
Kendra Peterson
Director, Literacy
kendrapeterson@urbanventures.org
Mike Peterson
Literacy Instructor, Literacy
michaelpeterson@urbanventures.org
Tony Podtburg
Maintenance
maintenance@urbanventures.org
Henry Puchuela
Specialist, IT
henrypuchuela@urbanventures.org
Edwin Quinon
IT Director
edwinquinon@urbanventures.org
Armida Ramos Cruz
Aide, Early Learning Center
armidacruz@urbanventures.org
Pilezra Reed
Aide, Early Learning Center
pilezrareed@urbanventures.org
Hannah Riddle
Contractor, Early Learning Center
hannahriddle@urbanventures.org
Sue Rohland
Grant Writer
suerohland@urbanventures.org
Michelle Roll
Manager, Finance
michelleroll@urbanventures.org
Gary Ross
Manager, Farm
garyross@urbanventures.org
Citlally Ruiz
Operation & Finance Admin
citlallyruiz@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
Director, Coffee Company & Career Development
jasonthompson@urbanventures.org
Ariadna Torres Gutierrez
Teacher, Early Learning Center
ariadnatorres@urbanventures.org
Kyle Trouten
Manager, Operations
kyletrouten@urbanventures.org
Luke Trouten
Director of Development
luketrouten@urbanventures.org
Sandra Urgiles Loja
Aide, Early Learning Center
sandraurgiles@urbanventures.org
Ofelia Urzua Vazquez
Custodian
maintenance@urbanventures.org
Olutimilehin Olusanya
Youth Program Facilitator
olutimilehinolusanya@urbanventures.org
Christina Vang
Accountant & Human Resource Coordinator
christinavang@urbanventures.org
Valeria Valdes
Aide, Early Learning Center
valerievaldes@urbanventures.org
Matt von Ende
Facilities & IT
matthewvonende@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
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
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.
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