About Our
Neighbors’ Place

Shelly began at Our Neighbors’ Place in  April 2016 serving in the role of Program Coordinator.  In this role, Shelly successfully managed all programs including highly successful fundraising and community awareness building events.  When there was a vacancy in the Executive Director role, the ONP Board of Directors voted unanimously to name Shelly Smith the Executive Director.  Since assuming this role in May of 2018, Shelly has provided leadership in all aspects of Our Neighbors’ Place including highly successful grant writing work and beginning ONP’s first ever corporate giving campaign.  Shelly is passionate about both educating the community and providing assistance to anyone who is struggling.

Sara has been with Our Neighbors’ Place since February 2016. She works directly with guests needing help finding affordable, sustainable housing.  Her expertise and creative problem-solving are a valuable resource at Our Neighbors’ Place.

Sue is the first impression for guests as they arrive at the day center and directs them to the services we offer. She plans our events and applies her organizational skills to ongoing fundraising efforts.

Tanya Franta is a River Falls native, where she lives with her young family. She has been volunteering with ONP since 2014 and is our current board President. She has worked professionally as a nurse at the River Falls area hospital since 2013. When not working or volunteering she invests her time in friends, gardening, house remodeling projects, and running her family farm and store. 

Brian Manion has been a part of Our Neighbors’ Place Board since 2017 and currently serves as Vice Chair. Brian lives and works in River Falls where he has been with WESTconsin Credit Union for over 15 years and currently oversees the River Falls & Prescott Offices as Vice President. Brian chooses to assist Our Neighbors’ Place because helping those who may need some extra assistance is what everyone should strive to do and that’s exactly what Our Neighbors’ Place does. In down time, enjoying any adventure with his family is what he appreciates the most. 

Brock lives in River Falls and works in finance remotely for CarMax. He has a passion for helping others and has previously volunteered through different Backpack programs, Volunteer Tax Preparation services, international mission trips, and more. He is excited to serve the local community as a member of the Board and continue the mission of ONP – currently he is the treasurer. In his free time, Brock enjoys spending time with his wife and two young kids as well as playing and watching hockey. 

Amy joined the ONP Board fall 2023. She is delighted to serve an accomplished organization that provides such vital services to our community. In addition to ONP, she has been a member of the River Falls Rotary since 2021 and recently became a founding member of the St. Croix Valley Optimists Association. As the community development director for the City of River Falls, she helps lead the city through economic development, engineering, comprehensive city planning and building inspections and services. Amy lives in River Falls and enjoys gardening, biking, yoga, reading, forever learning and birdwatching.

Adam Axvig joined the Our Neighbor’s Place board in 2023. Adam has been involved in public policy in Minnesota for nearly 20 years and currently serves as President and CEO of the Minnesota Association of Farm Mutual Insurance Companies, a trade association that supports farm mutual insurance companies across the state of Minnesota. Adam lives in River Falls with his wife Amanda and daughter Molly. When he’s not working, he enjoys fishing, hunting, hiking, traveling, and spending time with his family.

Meet real estate expert, Jill McNamee, owner and founder of the McNamee Real Estate Team. With over 16 years serving homeowners, buyers, families, and business owners on both sides of the Minnesota, Wisconsin border you can say she’s successful through her dedication and passion for the people she works with and the properties she sells. 

Year in and year out, her commitment to excellence never waivers not only consistently earning her and her team a spot on the Top Selling Real Estate Teams in St. Croix County list but also professional advancements as both the Productivity Coach and Operating Principal of Keller Williams Realty Integrity WI/MN, Hudson. Her reputation amongst her peers and community members has earned her the title of trusted advisor and one of the most competent experts in her field. 

Her reputation is nothing less than a female changemaker and business leader for all. Jill’s passion to connect, educate, and empower other small business owners led her to create St. Croix Valley Girls – a 600 member strong networking group in 2009. Each month attendees come to share, support, and learn from one another with professional presentations and best practices. Her commitment to her community is one of passion; lifting up others, while demonstrating the best example of what the word neighbor really means. 

Jill’s excellent customer experience and special touch treatment along with her many collaborations throughout the city, fundraising events for local non-profits, and overall love for her hometown shines through, making the McNamee Real Estate Team the only team when it comes to all things real estate. 

Wes lives in River Falls with his wife Anna and their daughters Bella, Evie, and Charlotte. A professor of Shakespeare, Wes has been teaching literature and writing for over 20 years, while also serving in progressively higher leadership roles. An Iowa native, he spent most of his academic career at Augusta University in Georgia until July 2023, when he became Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at UW River Falls. Only a few weeks after moving to town, he began hearing about the impressive work of ONP and was delighted to join the board, which he has served on since October 2023. Wes is passionate about working with others to make River Falls a strong and thriving community where people work together for the betterment of all.

Rachel Sixberry joined the board in 2023 and is passionate about serving her community, currently also filling the role of board secretary. She is a Family Nurse Practitioner in River Falls, and also volunteers at the Pierce and St. Croix County Free Clinic. She has also previously worked serving her local community in Public Health and as a Sexual Assault Nurse. She is excited to support ONP in its mission to provide access to basic necessities for those in the community. In her free time she enjoys many outdoor activities,  including biking, hiking, snowboarding, swimming and camping with her family.

J.W. Matheson joined the Our Neighbor’s Place board in 2024.  J.W. has been a physical therapist for 28 years and is currently a Senior Manager at Twin Cities Orthopedics Hudson Therapy.  J.W. is a past president of the River Fall Rotary Club and a former Hudson Y Community Board member.  He is excited to support ONP’s efforts to help the community.  J.W. lives in River Falls with his wife Brittney, daughter Morgan, and rescued dogs Martha and Sanders. Their son Ben lives in Bozeman, MT, where the whole family loves to spend time hiking, mountain biking, skiing, and fly fishing. 

Paul served as an Our Neighbors’ Place Board member from 2017-2023 and is thrilled to be returning to the organization as a Board member in 2025.   Paul serves as the Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management for the Minnesota State system of colleges and universities headquartered in Saint Paul, MN.  In addition to his role at Minnesota State, Paul has served as an adjunct faculty member in graduate programs at the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse, University of Wisconsin – River Falls, and St. Cloud State University teaching higher education administration, student success, and leadership.  Paul is passionate about the mission of Our Neighbors’ Place and working collaboratively to maximize the positive impact the organization makes throughout the St. Croix Valley region.

Marissa lives in River Falls with her husband and two sons. Marissa grew up in Hudson and is passionate about supporting the community and the important resources that ONP provides. She currently works as a strategist for nonprofit clients supporting their fundraising efforts through direct response marketing at Streamworks. Prior to this role, she spent her career in healthcare philanthropy working in annual and major gifts at Mayo Clinic and Regions Hospital. She attended UW-Madison for Community and Nonprofit Leadership and is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE). In her free time, Marissa enjoys spending time with her husband and children, tending to her cut flower garden, reading and caring for her dogs and aquarium.