Our all-volunteer Board of Directors meets monthly to ensure the organization is operating smoothly. We are grateful for the expertise they share with Open Your Heart to the Hungry and Homeless!
Appreciation goes to Ed Retka, Board Members Emeritus: Nancy Berg, Eugene Bryskin, Susan Christian, Daniel DuHamel, Michael Fratto, Jessica Koenig, Susan Milnar, Kate Moen, Amy Olson, Matt Pellowski, Paul Peters, Jake Peterson, Chris Pinkerton, Lynn Sando, Don Sundt, Katy Tripp, Chris Yates, and Katherine Vo. We thank them for their years of service with Open Your Heart to the Hungry and Homeless.

Sabrina
yates
President
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Sabrina recently joined the board of Open Your Heart to the Hungry and Homeless in December of 2018. Sabrina is committed to serving her community in a meaningful and tangible way and is excited to pursue that passion in partnership with OYH. Sabrina obtained her BA in Political Science from Seattle Pacific University and went on to earn her J.D. from William Mitchell College of Law in 2011. She currently works as an attorney at the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office.

Matt
Traynor
Vice President
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Deanna
Ekholm
Secretary
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Deanna Ekholm joined the Board of Directors in January 2021 and is excited to serve as a Board Member to support the incredible mission of OYH. With a background in Human Resources and Operations, she currently serves as the Chief HR and Diversity Officer for the American Academy of Neurology. Deanna’s career has spanned both corporate and non-profit sectors and she has spent time volunteering with organizations that focus on hunger and homelessness. Deanna holds a BA in Business Administration from Metropolitan State University and a MA in Human Development from St. Mary’s University. She, her family and chocolate lab “Echo” live in Richfield, MN.

Roger
Henry
treasurer
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Nicole
Bailey
Member
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Katie Barrett
Kramer
Member
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Mary
Bjork
Member
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Donald
Gault
Member
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Robert
Gould
Member
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Mary
Hartmann
Member
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Derek
Holt
member
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Derek joined the Open Your Heart to the Hungry and Homeless (OYH) Board of Directors in February of 2015 and enjoys working with an amazing organization that shares his vision for the community. He became familiar with OYH while working at Our Saviour’s Community Services, an organization that serves homeless adults in Hennepin County. Currently, he is a Homeless Programs Coordinator at the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs.
Derek holds a BA from University Of North Dakota with concentrations in Political Science, Nonprofit Leadership and Philosophy, MA in Psychology and MA in Project Management. He brings a strong passion and a moral belief that communities must ensure everyone has fair access to housing and food.
Derek and his wife Lindsay live in Southwest Minneapolis.

Abbie
Hugunin
Member
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Abbie works within human resources for Hennepin County. She received her BS in Business Management from the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse in 2012. Since graduation she has worked in volunteer and donor management for a local nonprofit and now Hennepin County until transitioning to a human resources role in 2019. She has enjoyed being on two young professional boards for Big Brothers Big Sisters and Ronald McDonald House Charities and was excited for the opportunity to join the board for Open Your Heart. She enjoys traveling domestically and abroad, volunteering, playing with her dog Wally, and checking out new breweries and restaurants within Minneapolis.

Rahfat
Hussain
Member
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Jodi
Schoh
Member
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Jodi Schoh is the Controller for Culligan Soft Water Service Company in Minnetonka, MN. Jodi received her B. A. in Accounting and Finance from Winona State University and has a MBA from the University of Minnesota. After serving 10 years on the Board of Directors at OYH, Jodi is excited to return for her second board term to serve the mission that everyone is free from hunger and homelessness.

Jennifer
Sheda
Member
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Michael
Shepard
Member
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Miriam
Steaurt
Member
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Join OYH’S Board of Directors
Open Your Heart has two staff members and a board of 13-21 members. This is a working board where all board members are engaged in the agency’s work in order to accomplish the mission. The board is not solely focused on agency governance. Board members attend bi-monthly board and committee meetings, dedicating at least 5 hours per month.