Board of Directors
Mitch Ringe
President
Laurie Moga
Secretary
Barb Peterson
Board Member
Blaine Stephens
Board Member/Former Board President
Kevin Walli
Board Member
Retired │Attorney │ Fryberger, Buchanan, Smith & Frederick, Retired
Affiliation: Community member
Mitch Ringe
President
Retired │Director of Research and Development │General Mills
Affiliation: Family member
Mitch retired in 2016 from a 31-year career with General Mills where he served as a Director of Research and Development. Mitch earned a PhD in food science at Iowa State University.
Mitch says Hammer & NER’s mission of providing support to individuals with a wide range of needs is made possible by a dedicated staff. He adds that the organization is always looking for more people in the community with the energy, passion, and resources to help fulfill the mission. There are a variety of ways to do so.
Mitch and his wife, Judy Marie, have two children. Their son, Chris, lives at a Hammer & NER home in Plymouth. Their daughter, Lauren, lives in Iowa City, and is a nurse practitioner at the University of Iowa Hospital. Mitch and Judy are involved in volunteering with Hammer & NER along with eQuality Pathways to Potential and Special Olympics MN. They enjoy cooking, traveling, and fly fishing. Transplants from the Pacific Northwest, Mitch and Judy Marie spend their summers fishing on the upper Mississippi from a western drift boat, one of only a dozen or so in Minnesota.
Laurie Moga
Secretary
Job Coach, Transition Program │Mahtomedi School District
Affiliation: Family member
Laurie has worked for the Mahtomedi School District for over 17 years in Special Education. For the last eight years she has served as a job coach for the district’s transition program where she says she loves being out on job sites teaching and guiding students with real life experiences.
Laurie earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing from the University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire.
Laurie worked at NER’s Respite home for 30 years, retiring from her role as a DSP in 2018. Her brother has been supported at a Hammer & NER home since 1994, which is what drew her to serving on the Board. She says she cares deeply for everyone served by Hammer & NER and she wants to help continue our mission.
Laurie and her husband, Doug, reside in Mahtomedi and have three grown sons and a daughter who are all married and have blessed them with nine grandchildren. They spend a lot of their time with family and traveling to fun places.
Somah Yarney
Board Member
Assistant County Attorney │Ramsey County Attorney’s Office
Affiliation: Community member
Somah has practiced criminal law as both a public defender and a prosecutor for 20 years. She currently works at the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office as a trial attorney where she specializes in domestic violence and criminal sexual conduct cases. Somah is a member of the Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers, the National Black Prosecutors Association, and the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee at the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office.
Somah graduated from Macalester College where she double majored in Pan-African studies and communication studies. She holds a J.D. from the University of St. Thomas Law School.
Providing safe and supportive housing environments for people with disabilities is important to Somah’s family as her sister, Eresi, has Down’s syndrome. Somah says Hammer & NER’s mission speaks directly to what she wants for her sister—to live her life to the fullest. Eresi has been a Special Olympics athlete for 40 years and participates in rhythmic gymnastics, bowling, and track. She has competed at two National games and the World games. Somah is her sister’s biggest fan. They have two Bichon Frise (mix) dogs at home.
Michelle Olson
Vice President
Retired │HealthEast Care System
Affiliation: Family member
Michelle retired in 2017 as the Director of Operating Rooms for St. Joseph’s, St. John’s, and Woodwinds Hospitals. Michelle earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Thomas Edison State University.
Michelle and her husband Steve have three daughters. Their oldest daughter, Tiffany, is supported by Hammer & NER and lives in a group home in White Bear Lake. Michelle says Tiffany has a strong bond with her housemates as well as the wonderful staff.
Michelle has enjoyed volunteering in various activities with NER and now with Hammer & NER. She feels volunteering is a great way to support the mission of Hammer & NER. She also enjoys Pilates, walking, movies, and spending time with her six grandchildren.
Barb Peterson
Board Member
Clinical Professor │University of Minnesota School of Nursing, Retired
Affiliation: Family member
During Barb’s career, she was a Clinical Professor at the University of Minnesota School of Nursing and the Specialty Coordinator for the Psychiatric Mental Health Doctor of Nursing Practice program. She is a Fellow in the National Academies of Practice.
Barb was a Psychiatric Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialist for 27 years and practiced in multiple psychiatric care settings, mostly serving at-risk children and families. Barb holds a bachelor’s in nursing from Minnesota State University Moorhead, a master’s in nursing from the University of Minnesota, and a PhD in nursing from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. Her research focus is mental health in children and adolescents, the effects of trauma and nightmares, and mental health needs of immigrant and refugee families.
Barb’s son, Micah, lives in a Hammer & NER group home in St. Anthony. Barb joined the Hammer NER Board after attending a Reach for Ralph event that confirmed for her that Hammer & NER gives disabled individuals like Micah a voice and recognizes the specialized knowledge, care, and heart that is needed to provide support and care for them.
Barb enjoys spending her free time reading, hiking, boating, and enjoying the Minnesota summers.
Richard Stoebe
Treasurer
Retired │3M
Affiliation: Community member
Now retired, Rich enjoyed a career in marketing and general management that included a variety of assignments with 3M (and Imation) and Jostens. He has extensive marketing, communications, and public relations experience and reputation management. Prior to retirement, Rich spent the encore segment of his career advocating for people with all abilities. He applied his marketing experience to help launch the new Living Well Disability Services brand. He also served as Chief Marketing Officer and Interim CEO for The Arc Minnesota.
Rich earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota, Morris.
Rich, Anne, and daughter April enjoy being outdoors, traveling, and spending time with extended family. The Stoebe family live in Woodbury and are active with their church, the Washington County Parents Housing Group, and their local “Blazing Stars” Special Olympics team.
Kevin Walli
Board Member
Retired │Attorney │ Fryberger, Buchanan, Smith & Frederick, Retired
Affiliation: Community member
Kevin was in private practice with the law firm of Fryberger, Buchanan, Smith & Frederick for 30 years. He retired in 2019. His practice was focused on representing clients in the legislative process in Washington, D.C. and St. Paul. He also had an administrative law practice focused on securing permits for energy projects. Prior to joining the Fryberger law firm, Kevin worked with various city, county and state governmental entities in an administrative capacity and supported their legislative efforts.
Kevin received his J.D. from William Mitchell College of Law and his bachelor’s degree from Gustavus Adolphus College.
Kevin was first asked to serve on the NER Board by a friend from church whose son was (and remains) supported by NER. Kevin believes Hammer & NER’s mission is God’s work—showing a concern for others with a level of kindness that is so needed these days and providing people with the opportunity to be connected to their community.
Kevin and his wife, Tani Maruyama, live in St. Paul. They have two daughters and two grandchildren. Kevin says he likes to golf even though he considers himself “a bad golfer.”
Robert Lockwood
Board Member
Retired │Cardinal
Affiliation: Family member
Bob has been involved with his daughters’ (Stacy and Dru) community-based services since they moved into a group home in 1985. They moved to NER homes in 2017, and Bob became involved to help maintain their ability to “live life to its fullest.” Since 2016 Bob has been concerned with staffing our programs.
Bob is widowed and lives with his sister, Sally, in New Brighton. His oldest daughter, Stacy, passed away in 2020. For 60 years, Bob has volunteered with many agencies serving people with developmental disabilities and other needs, including MARC (predecessor to ARC), Opportunity Workshop, and Merrick. He has also traveled around the state to promote legislation that supports people with disabilities. Bob had a long career in computer engineering and executive management. He helps Hammer & NER with problems faced in today’s cultural and economic climate.
Blaine Stephens
Board Member/Former Board President
Retired │Customer Success Manager │Perforce Software
Affiliation: Community member
Blaine has 30 years’ experience in the software industry and technology field, working with people to solve business problems that can be addressed with technology. Prior to retiring in April 2025, he worked with mobile and web application testing teams of enterprise-level companies in the banking, financial services, insurance, health care, and telecommunications industries. He served in leadership roles during his career and enjoyed being a trusted advisor to his customers. Earlier in his career, Blaine was a high school teacher and theater professional.
Blaine earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts and bachelor’s degree in education from Emporia State University and a master’s in theater from the University of Denver.
Blaine served on the NER Board and joined the Hammer & NER Board when the two organizations merged. He served as Board President from 2023-2024. He enjoys getting to know the people served by Hammer & NER and the staff who support them. Although he does not have any family members with special needs, Blaine is drawn to Hammer & NER’s mission because he sees the need for community support.
Blaine lives in New Brighton with his wife, Julia. They have two adult children, Cameron and Dan, a dog named Edie, and a cat named Penny. Newly retired, Blaine is pursuing his creative interests and volunteering for nonprofit organizations. His hobbies include walking, reading, traveling, and lifelong learning.
Nancy Wurm
Board Member
Director of Donor Engagement and Community Outreach │SAVE–Suicide Awareness Voices of Education
Affiliation: Community member
Nancy has worked in sales for over 20 years. She grew up in Anoka, MN and attended St. Cloud University where she earned a bachelor’s degree in speech communications with a minor in mass communications and an emphasis in public relations. Being active in the community was instilled in her at a young age through involvement in 4-H, school, and church.
Nancy believes in the reward of giving back and being a servant leader to others: she feels she can learn from others on the Board as well as those we serve. Nancy says if you can put a smile on someone’s face you have made a huge connection. Her experience in having worked for a nonprofit organization, along with her sales background and ability to listen to all sides of a situation, aid her in being a critical and objective thinker.
Nancy is a former North Wind Princess for the St. Paul Winter Carnival. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, decorating her newly remodeled home, traveling, reading, and doing dance aerobics.