Staff and Board
Staff
Mahwa Adoch
East African Youth Engagement Specialist
RISE, TORCH, Northfield Area Learning Center
507-494-8730
madoch@faribault.k12.mn.us
Mercedez Alpirez Ramon
Growing Up Healthy Community Organizer
mercedez@healthycommunityinitiative.org
Ashley Anderson
Director of Collaborative Health Projects
507-664-3527
ashley@healthycommunityinitiative.org
Odalis Ascencio Puga
Rice County ParentChild+ Early Learning Specialist
Growing Up Healthy
507-403-7979
odalis@healthycommunityinitiative.org
Laura Baltazar
Rice County ParentChild+ Early Learning Specialist
Growing Up Healthy
507-222-9084
laurabaltazar@healthycommunityinitiative.org
Jennyffer Barrientos
Growing Up Healthy Director
651-243-1331
jen@healthycommunityinitiative.org
Nadine Bartolo
TORCH Support Specialist, Northfield High School
nabartolo@northfieldschools.org
Austin Bauer
Director of Reporting & Analytics
austin@healthycommunityinitiative.org
Diego Calvario Bravo
Healthy Ways Coordinator
diego@healthycommunityinitiative.org
Gwen Daniels
Web Manager
gwen@healthycommunityinitiative.org
Meleah Follen
Youth Engagement Director
meleah@healthycommunityinitiative.org
Becky Ford
Rice County AmeriCorps Outreach & Support
becky@healthycommunityinitiative.org
Laura Garcia
Rice County ParentChild+ Early Learning Specialist
Growing Up Healthy
507-291-9633
lauragarcia@healthycommunityinitiative.org
Greg Gianopoulos
Project Manager, NCCC
greg@healthycommunityinitiative.org
Carrissa Glarner
Administrative Assistant
carrissa@healthycommunityinitiative.org
Candace Godfrey
Northfield Promise Alumni Coordinator
candace@healthycommunityinitiative.org
Tessa Kiesow
TORCH Director, Northfield High School
tkiesow@northfieldschools.org
Brian Kopack
Mobile Home Rehabilitation Coordinator
Growing Up Healthy
507-222-9032
brian@healthycommunityinitiative.org
Sarah Lee
Northfield Community College Collaborative Director
director@northfieldccc.org
Leslie Limón
Rice County ParentChild+ Director
Growing Up Healthy
507-400-4462
leslie@growinguphealthy.org
Amy Lunderby
Administrative Director
507-664-3531
amy@healthycommunityinitiative.org
Jodi Lundell
Senior Director
507-664-3504
jodi@healthycommunityinitiative.org
Martha Lundin
Youth Development Coordinator
martha@healthycommunityinitiative.org
Sandy Malecha
Senior Director
sandy@healthycommunityinitiative.org
Amy McBroom
Grants Coordinator
amcbroom@healthycommunityinitiative.org
Jessica Navarro
Growing Up Healthy Community Organizer
jessica@healthycommunityinitiative.org
Diana Perez Guzman
Rice County ParentChild+ Early Learning Specialist
Growing Up Healthy
507-291-5711
diana@healthycommunityinitiative.org
Juanita Picazo
RISE Coordinator, Faribault High School
jpicazo@faribault.k12.mn.us
Fatima Ponciano
Early Childhood Navigator
Growing Up Healthy
507-323-9663
fatima@healthycommunityinitiative.org
Zach Pruitt
Executive Director
507-664-3524
zach@healthycommunityinitiative.org
Angie Ramirez
RISE Coordinator, Faribault Middle School
507-330-0011
aramirez@faribault.k12.mn.us
Heidy Ramirez
Family Engagement Navigator, Greenvale Park Elementary
Growing Up Healthy
507-301-6464
hramirez@northfieldschools.org
Coral Ramos
TORCH Director, Northfield Middle School
cramos@northfieldschools.org
Joy Riggs
Communications Coordinator
joy@healthycommunityinitiative.org
Kathy Ripka
Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) Navigator
Growing Up Healthy
507-323-1413
kathy@healthycommunityinitiative.org
Mia M. Rocha
Early Childhood Navigator
Growing Up Healthy
507-301-6345
mia@healthycommunityinitiative.org
Terry Rydberg
Graphic Designer
marketing@healthycommunityinitiative.org
Cindy Santa
Family Engagement Navigator, Spring Creek Elementary and Bridgewater Elementary
Growing Up Healthy
612-405-8827
csanta@northfieldschools.org
Haley Sawatzke
Administrative Assistant
haley@healthycommunityinitiative.org
Zach Seehusen-Besky
Data Manager
zachsbesky@healthycommunityinitiative.org
Laura Turek
Northfield Promise Coordinator
laura@healthycommunityinitiative.org
Dalila Valencia Delfin
RISE Coordinator, Faribault High School
dvalencianadelfin@faribault.k12.mn.us
Board
Meeting Dates
HCI board meetings are typically held on the third Wednesday of every month from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. at the Northfield Community Resource Center (NCRC). If you would like to attend a meeting, contact one of the staff members listed above or write us via our contact form.
- April 20, 2022
- May 18, 2022
- June 15, 2022
- July 20, 2022
- August 17, 2022
- September 21, 2022
- October 19, 2022
- November 16, 2022
- December 21, 2022
- January 18, 2023
- February 15, 2023
- March 15, 2023
- April 19, 2023
- May 17, 2023
- June 21, 2023
Board Members
Jane Amunrud
Junior, Northfield High School
Keith Argabright (Co-Chair)
EVP/Chief Banking Officer, Minnwest Bank
Erin Bailey
Director, Northfield Public Schools Community Education
Claudia Bauer
Administrative Assistant, St. Dominic School
Carrie Duba
PreK-12 Systems and Instructional Coach, Northfield Public Schools
Kris Estenson
Community Volunteer
Natalie Ginter
Director of Community Engagement and Development, Allina Health
P.T. Haider
Deputy Chief of Police, Northfield
Amira Haileab (Co-Chair)
Senior, Northfield High School
Oden Hoff
Senior, Northfield High School
Ellen Iverson (Co-Vice Chair)
Director of Evaluation, Science Education Resource Center, Carleton
Katlyn Katra (Co-Vice Chair)
Junior, Faribault High School
Anna Kochevar
Arcadia Class of 2019 graduate
Alyssa Melby
Assistant Director of Academic Civic Engagement, St. Olaf
Kirk Muhlenbruck
Market President, Merchants Bank
Connie Nelson
Coach, Retired Teacher, Minnesota Reading Corps
Randy Olson
Senior Vice President, Chief Credit Officer, Community Resource Bank
Betsy Spethmann
Director of Communications, Northfield Hospital + Clinics
Laura Stelter
Executive Director, Arcadia Charter School
Linda Thornton (Treasurer)
Comptroller, Carleton College
HCI Committees 2021-2022
Executive Committee
Chairs: Keith Argabright & Amira Haileab
Vice Chairs: Ellen Iverson & Katlyn Katra
Treasurer: Linda Thornton
Northfield Hospital & Clinics Rep: Betsy Spethmann
Northfield Public Schools Rep: Erin Bailey