Board of Directors
Barb Peterson
Board Member
Kevin Walli
Board Member
Mitch Ringe
President
Retired, General Mills
Affiliation:
Family Member
Following completing a Ph.D in Food Science at Iowa State University, Mitch spent 31 years with General Mills. He retired as athe Director of Research and Development in 2016. During that time he and his wife Judy Marie raised a wonderful family. Their youngest son, Christopher is lives in a Hammer & NER group home in Plymouth. Mitch and Judy are involved in volunteering with eQuality Pathways to Potential, Hammer & NER, and Special Olympics MN. In their spare time, they enjoy cooking, travel and fly fishing.
Laurie Moga
Secretary
Mahtomedi School District
Affiliation:
Family Member
Laurie has worked at the Respite home for 30 years, retiring in 2018. She has a brother that lives in a Hammer & NER group home.
Laurie has worked the past 13 years for the Mahtomedi School District and currently works at the schools transition program as a Job Coach. She resides in Mahtomedi with her husband Doug. She has three sons and a daughter. Two sons are married and she has three grandchildren. Laurie enjoys spending time with her growing family, going on walksand bike rides, out to dinner with friends and reading a good book.
Somah Yarney
Board Member
Assistant Ramsey County Attorney
Affiliation:
Community Member
Michelle Olson
Vice President
Minnesota State Offices Employment and Economic Development Department
Affiliation:
Family Member
Michelle and her husband Steve have three daughters. Tiffany, their oldest daughter has been supported by NER’s respite and extended day programs. Tiffany now lives in a Hammer & NER group home.
Michelle is a retired RN. Her daughter Chrissie is also a RN and her youngest daughter Nikki is a cosmetologist. Michelle’s hobbies include yoga, walking, going to movies and spending time with her five beautiful grandchildren.
Barb Peterson
Board Member
Clinical Professor, University of Minnesota School of Nursing
Affiliation:
Family Member
Barb is a Clinical Professor at the University of Minnesota School of Nursing and am the Specialty Coordinator for the Psychiatric Mental Health Doctor of Nursing Practice program. She is also the Director of Diversity, Inclusion and Equity for the School of Nursing. She is also a Fellow in the National Academies of Practice.
She has been a Psychiatric Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialist for about 25 years and have practiced in multiple psychiatric care settings, mostly serving at-risk children and families. Her current practice is at Community University Health Center (CUHCC) in Minneapolis. Barb holds a Bachelor in Nursing from Minnesota State University Moorhead, a Masters 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. She has also coordinated global learning experiences for nursing students to Kenya, Brazil, Iceland, and Cuba.
Barb’s son, Micah, lives in a Hammer & NER group home in St. Anthony.
Richard Stoebe
Treasurer
Retired, Community Volunteer
Affiliation:
Community Member
Rich, Anne, and daughter April enjoy being outdoors, traveling, and spending time with extended family. The Stoebe family lives in Woodbury and are active with their local Blazing Stars Special Olympics Team.
Now retired, Rich enjoyed a career in marketing and general management that included a variety of assignments with 3M. Prior to retirement, he spent the encore segment of his career in advocating for people with all abilities. He applied his marketing experience to help launch the new Living Well Disability Services brand and also served as Chief Marketing Officer and Interim CEO for The Arc Minnesota.
Rich has a BA degree from the University of Minnesota, Morris.
Kevin Walli
Board Member
Fryberger, Buchanan, Smith & Frederick, Retired
Affiliation:
Community Member
Kevin Walli has been in private practice with the law firm of Fryberger, Buchanan, Smith & Frederick for 30 years. His primary focus has been representing clients in the legislative process in Washington, D.C. and St. Paul. He also has an Administrative Law Practice which is 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 supporting their legislative efforts.
Kevin received his J.D. Degree from William Mitchell College of Law and his Bachelor of Arts Degree from Gustavus Adolphus College. Kevin and his wife Tani Maruyama live in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Robert Lockwood
Board Member
Retired, Cardinal
Affiliation:
Family Member
Bob stays involved and keeps active in the community. His daughter Dru is supported by NER. Bob’s Oldest daughter Stacy, also supported by Hammer & NER, and passed away in 2020.
Bob is widowed and lives with his sister Sally in New Brighton. For 60 years he has been a volunteer in many agencies serving people with developmental disabilities and other needs. He 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
Perforce
Affiliation:
Community Member
Blaine Stephens is married to Julia and has a daughter, Claire, and a son, Dan. Blaine works for Perform, and has a background in cost reduction for businesses and nonprofit organizations. Blaine’s hobbies include walking, reading, traveling and dining.
Nancy Wurm
Board Member
Affiliation:
Community Member
Nancy grew up in Anoka, MN and attended St. Cloud University where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Speech Communications with a minor in Mass Communications with an emphasis in Public Relations. She has worked in sales for over 20 years. Being active in the community was instilled in her at young age through involvement in 4-H, school, and church. 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 dance aerobics.
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 residents. She believes if you can put a smile on someone’s face you have made a huge connection. Nancy believes her knowledge of having worked in a nonprofit organization will help her along with her sales background and ability to listen to all sides of a situation and be a critical and objective thinker.