Board Members

Our Neighbors’ Place Board Members Profiles:  May 2012

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Day Center and Our Neighbors’ Place Director – Mary Joan Sutton

“I have been married for 31 years to Michael Sutton and have two sons, Steven and Larry and 4 grandsons. I have lived in River Falls, WI over 20 years. I have a background in Nursing, a Business Administration Degree, Training Specialization and Quality Management Certification from University of Wisconsin Stout. I am presently a Registered Representative with Primerica, Inc. I am a member of the Western WI Alzheimer’s Committee and the Optimist Club in River Falls. I enjoy my time at my cabin, fishing and my flower garden.”

 

Secretary – David Trechter

is a professor and chairperson of the department of agricultural economics at the University of Wisconsin at River Falls. He is also a statewide specialist with the University of Wisconsin Extension Service and works in the areas of cooperatives and rural development. He is director of the Survey Research Center (www.uwrf.edu/src). David and the three academic staff and 7 UWRF students who work in the Survey Research Center do 30 – 40 surveys each year for local governmental agencies, non-profits, cooperatives, and academics.

David received his doctorate in agricultural economics from Michigan State University, his master’s degree in food research from Stanford University and his bachelor’s degree in history and economics from the University of California at Davis.

David grew up in Colorado and northern California and has also lived in Washington, D.C. David has a number of international experiences. He has lived and done research in Cameroon, West Africa, was on sabbatical in Western Australia at the Muresk Institute of Agriculture from January to July 2002, and for 6 years conducted an annual two-day workshop on global agricultural issues for a German farm organization. His outside interests include reading, the performing arts (theater, dance, music), sports (baseball, biking), and spending time with his family. David is married (to Kris Allen, a native of Sydney, Australia) and has two sons (Colin (25) and Jeffrey (22)).

 

Treasurer – Missy Linaberry

Missy has been a resident of River Falls for almost two decades.  She met the love of her life – Scott “Floyd” Linaberry – while attending UW-River Falls.  Together they celebrated their 17th wedding anniversary in 2011 with the birth of their son Sagan Benjamin Earl Linaberry.  Missy earned a Bachelor of Science in Economics degree from UW-River Falls and minored in Music Performance as a flutist.  She is a member of the First Congregational United Church of Christ in River Falls where she enjoys serving with the church choir.  She has been a part-time, self-employed bookkeeper for almost ten years while at the same time working full time as a contracts manager and subsequently as a licensed chiropractic technician and nationally certified chiropractic coder.  She is a member of Soulspring Empowerment Groups for Women.  She is also a Reiki Master practitioner and enjoys working with friends and family to help them achieve balance and peace.  In addition to being a dedicated wife and mother, Missy loves gardening, swimming, Tai Chi, cooking, baking, cruising and camping. It is Missy’s distinct honor and pleasure to serve the community and its residents as a board member for Our Neighbors’ Place.

 

Shelter Support Team / Backpack Program / Jammer / Fundraising Committee- Brenda Yurs

“I moved to the area a little over three years ago from Greenville, IL which is located just east of St. Louis MO.  Joined the committee to form ONP the first meeting!   Serve on the board of ONP and the shelter support team for our homeless shelter. I am active in the United Methodist Church of River Falls and that I assist with the jam fundraiser that made a little over 800 jars of jam for ONP last year. I also clean and tweak the apartments as the families come and go in the shelter. I have two grown sons and 3 wonderful grandchildren.  My oldest son is Aaron Mason, the assistant director at Willow River State Park.  My second son is Garrett Bunyard and he is down in the Greenville area yet. I enjoy quilting, needlework, reading, traveling, gardening and flowers, and spending time with friends and family.”
Occupation:  Real Estate and Insurance sales.  25 years of real estate experience.  Agent with Edina Realty. Insurance agent for home, auto, life, health insurance with American National Insurance Company.

 

Vice President / Communications / Fundraising Committee – Sue Watters

Has been part of searching for solutions on how to help the homeless in our community since the first fact finding meeting between area Pastors and the City of River Falls. She is Office Manager for Career, Counseling and Student Health Services at UWRF, with 20 years of prior experience in providing family in-home childcare. Areas of community services have been; UWRF-Habitat for Humanity Trip Leader, River Falls Community Food Pantry, Feed My Starving Children, Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Ministry, Roadside Cleanup, Humanitarian Aid trip to Kenya-Africa and Monterrey, Mexico, and various involvements with her church family – 1st Covenant Church of River Falls. She and her husband Steve have a grown son and 2 daughters –all married, and four grandchildren, they all enjoy travel, photography, biking, hiking and family time.

Life verses for me come from the Evangelist Luke “For everyone to whom much is given, of him shall much be required.” –Luke 12:48 and “Give and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” Luke 6:38

 

Fundraising Committee Chairperson / Shelter Support Team - Carole Mottaz

is a lifelong educator with a variety of teaching experiences; London – England, Minnesota, River Falls, WI at Westside Elementary School, Meyer Middle School and the Renaissance Charter Alternative Academy, University of St. Thomas-MN, currently an instructor with the University of Wisconsin-River Falls and Chair of the Ethics in Research Board at Capella University.

Her education background starting with her most recent degree;

  • Administrative License/ Ed.D. in Educational Leadership, University St. Thomas, St. Paul, Minnesota
  • Statistics and the Supervision and Administration of Special Education, U of M, Minneapolis, Minnesota
  • MST in Reading and teaching children with Learning Disabilities, UWRF
  • Bachelor of Science in Social Studies, Physical Education and Coaching, UWRF
  • BA Elementary Education, Sociology and Physical Education, University of Lancaster, Lancaster, England

Areas of interests and community involvement; Rotary International, River Falls Leadership Conference, River Falls Hospital Auxiliary, Local Arbor Day participant, River Falls Area Ambulance Service, CPR/First Aid Instructor, RFAH Building Committee Speakers Bureau, numerous professional affiliations, served on various River Falls School District committees over the years.

 

Shelter Support Team – Derek Gilde

“I currently serve as an assistant to the Shelter Support Team, a team of dedicated volunteers who offer direct support, resources, and oversight of the ongoing affairs of the Our Neighbors’ Place Emergency Shelter. In growing up and being a life-long resident of this community, I am overwhelmed with gratitude and pride to be part of a community of people that offers such positive regard for our neighbors. I came to be a part of Our Neighbors’ Place back in 2009 as a result of my walk in my Christian faith and have been blessed to see what an asset this organization has become to our community and surrounding area.”
Background:

  • Currently employed as a county Social Worker in the area of adult mental health
  • Actively involved at Ezekiel Lutheran Church
  • Graduated with a Master’s of Social Work at Augsburg College in 2008
  • Graduated with a Bachelor’s of Social Work at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls in 2003

 

The Closet Coordinator – Nancy Peters

Has retired from Jacob’s Ladder Pre -School where she served as a teacher and director for over twenty years. Currently she is involved with the V.I.P.(Volunteers in Partnership) at the River Falls Hospital, Stepping Up Program, Retired Educators, University Women’s Club and Hope Lutheran Church. She is married to David Peters, has three children and six grandchildren. Tending grandchildren brings real joy. She loves travel, bridge, reading and dinners with friends.

 

Transportation Committee Chair – Morris Marsolek

“I am76 years old, somewhat retired, but still active in community and caring activities. After college and then the Marine Corps, I spent 30 years with Pennzoil, mostly in research, the last 20 years as Manager of Product Development in their mining division. My research work allowed me to at one time or another, to direct work at 17 different universities from UCLA, to BYU to U. of Florida.  I still do some consulting, but my passion is advocating for the poor, both in third world countries and in our community. Thru CFCA (Christian Foundation for Children and Ageing), we sponsor and write to poor kids in Bolivia, Guatemala and Haiti, and I have been to all 3 countries, where I have visited those poor. For many years, I have been on the City of RF Housing Committee and Board of Appeals, and served 9 years on the Habitat Board and 2 years as Grand Knight of the K of C’s. I have worked on Habitat builds in; Poland, New Zealand, Bolivia, Guatemala as well as the US. My wife Judy and I were married 47 years ago, have 5 well matured college graduate children, of which 3 are engineers 1 works in health care, 1 is a college professor. They continue the role of assisting the poor thru their work areas.”

 

Neighborhood Relations – Joel Larimore

Is an Attorney, married with two young children.