CAER Staff and Board of Directors

 ...collaborating with other agencies and resources to link them with clients; setting and following CAER’s annual budget; and more—and develops strategic plans to continually grow CAER’s services and better serve people in need.

Heather started as a CAER volunteer while working for the Department of Health and Human Services and was excited to help continue to fill the need by joining CAER. What she enjoys most is working with the volunteers who donate their time. She also loves working with her family members, who volunteer with CAER. And Heather is passionate about spreading the word to make sure others know CAER is here to help. 

Beyond work, Heather enjoys traveling, hanging out by the pool or lake, and spending time with her family—especially her grandkids.

Each day is different, allowing Jessica to work with volunteers; help with event planning; handle communications, newsletters, and mailings; and more. 

As a decades-long Elk River resident, Jessica gathered plenty of experience through other local organizations before finding an opportunity for growth with CAER. She sees the nonprofit as an incredible community asset, where those who need support can find it in a welcoming environment and those who want to give back can find plenty of ways to do so.

Outside of work, Jessica loves to read, dance, go for walks, and try out new restaurants. She is also a group fitness instructor at the YMCA.

Casey got involved with CAER to give back to his community and help others—and he wanted something to do on the days he wasn’t fishing.

Over the years, Casey has seen CAER grow more and more, and he is especially touched by the thankfulness of those who pick up food. He is also fond of the staff members, whom he notes are great to work with.

When he’s not working, Casey enjoys fishing and spending time with his grandkids. 

She also helps with administrative duties as needed. Her favorite thing about CAER is all the people she meets; some of the volunteers, staff, and shoppers have made impressions that she’ll remember forever.

Emily got involved with CAER through her mother, who had a great connection with the nonprofit. When she’s not working, Emily can be found baking sourdough bread, playing with her kids, playing cribbage with her husband, or diving into a good murder mystery book.

For Jeremy, getting involved with CAER just made sense. He has always been passionate about investing his time and energy toward a positive and productive force in the world, and that’s what CAER is to him. He feels a sense of honor in serving the community he loves so much.

Outside of his CAER duties, Jeremy likes to travel and spend time with his wife and their four sons. He’s an avid disc golfer and enjoys metal detecting.

...overseeing outreach programs, assisting with the Kids Weekend CAER Package program and weekly food order delivery, food delivery and setup at senior living sites, and so much more. Her favorite thing about working at CAER is experiencing the excitement from clients and their children when they get to shop for and take home food they never expected. 

Retirement is what finally gave Rosie the time she needed to commit to CAER. She saw in her church bulletin that CAER needed volunteers. After her first shift, she was hooked on helping others because she could see the direct difference CAER made in their lives. Rosie cannot say enough about the enthusiasm and skills of CAER’s volunteers as well as the dedication of its staff and board.

When she’s not helping at CAER, Rosie spends time with her family and grandkids and enjoys gardening, reading, walking, and being at the lake.

She most enjoys working with CAER’s great volunteers and knowing that she’s helping community members in need.

Joan started as a CAER volunteer, working one day a week sorting dry goods in the warehouse. She was the lead volunteer when the KWCP program started and years later joined the staff, continuing with the KWCP program as well as warehouse organizational projects. She is honored to be a part of an organization that helps kids and families and serves the needs of the community.

Outside of work, Joan can be found gardening, enjoying lake life, and spending time in South Padre with her Texas friends.

The scope of assistance provided by CAER is one of the things Beth most enjoys about her work. And seeing the immediate, positive impact on the lives of those in the community is incredibly rewarding for her.

Beth’s experience with nonprofits made her a natural fit with CAER, where she volunteered for more than 10 years before joining the staff. She loves working for an organization that is wholly committed to tackling the issue of food insecurity.

When she’s not working, Beth can be found reading, often with a cat or two curled in her lap. She also enjoys doing arts-related activities and spends time at many of the art venues in the Twin Cities.

With a career dedicated to the nonprofit sector, she has helped drive initiatives that make lasting impacts.   

Pat lives in Otsego with her husband, Doug, and treasures time with their two grown children and two perfect grandchildren. In her spare time, she enjoys reading and creating unforgettable moments with family and friends.

He appreciates working among the friendly, cheerful, and amazing people at CAER.

After retiring, Don wanted to become involved with an organization that makes a difference for its community members, which is exactly how he describes CAER. He is both thankful for and amazed by the community’s support of CAER.

Don is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys golfing, fishing, hunting, and spending time in Northern Minnesota.

Working with CAER volunteers and Board members is one of the things he enjoys most. He became involved with the organization after hearing positive feedback about experiences from many of CAER’s volunteers and describes the opportunity as both enjoyable and rewarding.

Now that he’s retired, Loren revels in spending time with his spouse, children, and grandchildren. He also loves the outdoors and is passionate about fishing, hunting, and golf.

After retirement, she began packing groceries for clients as a CAER volunteer and became familiar with the scope of need within the community. 

She applied for the Secretary position on the Board so that she could be more involved and give back to the community she has lived in for so long. Theresa believes that people should serve others, and this is her way of doing just that while following in the footsteps of her grandmother, who was a CAER volunteer. She notes that those who work and volunteer at CAER really do care and want to make decisions on spending and planning that will best benefit the clients.

Theresa and her husband also volunteer distributing food with Senior Outreach once a month. They both enjoy boating and spending summers on the St. Croix River. Theresa likes to travel, do Pilates, and paint watercolors, and she loves spending time with her family.

He was drawn to CAER to get involved with an organization that provides a needed service, and the idea of working alongside good people with similar values was very appealing to him. 

CAER’s efficient management, great staff, and selfless volunteers continue to impress Dirk, and he enjoys being part of a Board that shares his passion for helping others in need.

Some of Dirk’s hobbies include music, being outdoors, and spending time with his family.

While working as a public health nurse, Barbara became aware of the challenges some families face regarding food insecurity and got involved with CAER to help ensure the community has a service that provides nutritious food for those in need. 

She enjoys serving her community in a way that makes a noticeable difference and is continually impressed by the support CAER receives from the community. 

Barbara’s hobbies include gardening, walking, knitting/crocheting, reading, and her pets.

Some of her favorite things about being involved with CAER are helping to provide a needed service to the community and working alongside a like-minded team. She finds joy in helping clients who often have difficulty asking for help and showing them the kindness, warmth, and respect they both deserve and appreciate.

As CAER continues to be a vital part of the community, Jennifer relishes being a service to those in need and partnering with others to try to stamp out hunger, one family at a time.

Away from her Board duties, Jennifer likes to garden, travel to and explore new places, watch sports, paint, and spend time with family and friends.

His passion for CAER stems from his Christian faith and the belief that we are called upon to help those in need.

In the early 1980s, John was a food shelf client himself. That experience shaped his desire to give back and support others facing similar challenges. He encourages community involvement, whether through volunteering or leadership.

Outside of CAER, John is the Vice President of Customer Growth and Experience at Logicblock, Inc., an Atlanta-based technology company. He and his wife, Michelle, enjoy traveling, with favorite destinations including Alaska, Nova Scotia, and NASCAR™ and lndyCar® races.

John believes CAER is a vital institution, not just for the community but for every individual who walks through its doors.

With the IT Committee, he attends quarterly meetings and assists with technical issues as needed. He got involved with CAER through Don Horvath, who encouraged Derrick to apply for what felt like a good and natural fit.

Outside of CAER Board duties, Derrick officiates high school wrestling and enjoys spending time at the lake with his family. He recently got into metal detecting, which he had wanted to try since he was a kid.

The Board’s strength lies in its willingness to be actively engaged and involved in providing what’s best for staffers and those served by CAER. What she enjoys most is the difference CAER makes in the lives of others.

As a teenager, Julia’s family experienced food insecurity. So, as an adult, she wanted to give back to ensure those in the community receive the help they need. When she’s not involved with CAER activities, Julia coordinates volunteerism and donation efforts for The Bank of Elk River, a community bank that aligns with her values of giving back and investing locally.

Serving on CAER’s Board has been an honor and a privilege for Julia, who notes that donors, volunteers, and future board members are always welcome. She encourages those who are interested—and those who may be experiencing hunger or homelessness—to reach out to CAER.

One of his favorite things about CAER is that it serves those in the community whose needs are often hidden from their neighbors, providing food, resources, and housing opportunities as needed.

After not winning a local election, J. Brian was looking for another way to serve his community and found that through CAER. Opportunities to serve are everywhere, and CAER accepts all who are willing to help. 

Beyond his Board duties, J. Brian is a Sales Manager at Beaudry Oil and Propane and serves as a family life pastor at his church, alongside his wife, Renae, who is the church’s lead pastor. He also was elected to the Elk River City Council, Ward 2, in November 2024.

As a pastor, J. Brian is honored to represent a connection to CAER’s initial roots, as it was started by 12 local churches. He sees considerable reward in being part of a collaborative team that values one another as equally important to the greater good.

She also serves as a Board member, working alongside others to provide strategic, financial, and legal support to ensure CAER can continue serving the community. What she loves most about her involvement are the amazing people she gets to work with. 

After volunteering with CAER, she was humbled by the generous donations, outpouring of love, and level of involvement from the community toward helping others. She got involved with CAER to better understand the struggle with food insecurity and find ways to help those in need.

Some of Margie’s hobbies include cooking, spending time with family and friends, listening to music, and attending local concerts.