Board of Directors and Staff

OFFICERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Doug Mering, President

Baraboo School District: Elementary Homeless Tutor Mentor, Guest Teacher,

Past 3rd Grade Virtual Teacher

Member of Wisconsin Public Education Network

Past Baraboo Board of Education Member

Bachelor of Science in Education and Chemical Engineering

Jackie Bodette, Vice President

Retired from ADRC of Central Wisconsin, Transportation and Volunteer Coordinator;

Former AODA Counselor and volunteer at St. Clare Hospital

Baraboo Kiwanis member

St. Clare Hospital Auxiliary member

Erica Reuber, Secretary

Social Worker, Sauk Prairie School District

Andrew (Andy) L. Hager, Treasurer

Private Wealth Advisor & Certified Financial Planner, Ameriprise

Treasurer, Baraboo Area Literacy Council

Board Member, Varigen

Owner, Acorn Hill Farm LLC

Gregg Steinhaus, Director

SVP, Fairway Independent Mortgage Corp.

Volunteer in several non-profit organizations

Bachelor of Science, UW-Madison

STAFF

Kristie Gander, Executive Director

Served children 25+ years, various organizations

Mother of children with mental health and literacy needs

Former computer programmer and support specialist, government and private sector

BS in Economics, UW-Madison

Mary Bowers, Education Coordinator

Former Elementary School Teacher, Green Bay, & St. Joseph Catholic School, Baraboo

Board Member & Co-founder, Sauk County Children's Giving Tree

Board Member, Reading Connections

BA cum laude in Elementary Education, Silver Lake College

Teresa Parker, Mental Wellness Coordinator

Specialist in childhood trauma and abuse; PTSD; depression; learning disabilities; cognitive-behavioral therapy

Retired Child and Family Therapist at Pathway Clinic and Pauquette Center

Former Clinical Director of Wisconsin State Mental Health Program, Mendota

Guest Psychologist for programs for autistic/neurologically impaired children, Stockholm, Sweden

Former Marriage and Family Therapist, inpatient and outpatient addiction and mental health treatment, St. Clare Center, SSM Health Services

Vanya Schroeder, Summer Camp Coordinator, Education Coordinator Assistant

Former children's teacher in Chicago, Portland, and Milwaukee

Former college English teacher

Writer, musician, and cultivator of love for the natural world

MFA, University of Memphis

BS in Psychology

Penny Johnson, Bookkeeper

Former Executive Director, Kids Ranch

Former Youth Services Teen Specialist & Volunteer Coordinator, Baraboo Public Library

Volunteer, Baraboo Public Schools

Former Member, Vice President, & President, Baraboo School District Board of Education

BGS in Management, emphasis on Organizational Effectiveness, Brigham Young University

April Ripp, Development Director - NEW!

Former Foundation Administrator, Recovery Foundation-Dane County

Former Administrative Coordinator, WAMD (Wisconsin Administration of Medical Directors)

Volunteer, Board of Directors, Lodi Volleyball Club

BS Education, University of Wisconsin

SUMMER CAMP STAFF

Valerie McPherson, Summer Camp Assistant-Mental Health

Amanda Wren, Summer Camp Assistant-Mental Health

Teri Fichter, Garden Assistant