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Highlights
Where Everybody Belongs
At St. David's Center, inclusion is not a practice or an educational strategy, it is a value. Learn how preschool children, like Jonathan, benefit when they have opportunities to play and learn side-by-side with children of all abilities. Watch video.

Play for All
St. David's Center opened the first toddler playground in Minnesota combining inclusive and natural play elements in September 2010. Learn more.
Importance of Early Intervention
Learn how preschool children with developmental challenges, like Joey and Drew, make gains faster thanks to intensive, targeted intervention early in life. Watch video.
Give Smart
St. David's Center proudly meets all of the Charity Review Council's Accountability Standards for non-profits. Charities that meet all standards are granted the use of the Council's "Meets Standards" seal which gives donors indication of a charity's commitment to accountable and ethical practices. Learn more.

What is St. David's Center?
With a 50-year history, St. David's Center has grown and changed based on community need. Learn more about the organization today and our goals for the future in this video overview. 


St. David's Center Leadership
Executive Leadership Team
Julie Sjordal
Executive Director
Julie brings more than 21 years of experience to her role as executive director. Most recently managing director of programs, she oversaw the approximately 30 programs at St. David's Center and has been instrumental in co-developing some of the most innovative programs and collaborative partnerships.
Julie earned her elementary education degree and special education certification from the University of Minnesota. Julie, her husband, Dan, and two children reside in Golden Valley.
John Patrikus
Director of Finance & Operations
As director of Finance & Operations, John is responsible for the finance department, enterprise risk management, facilities, information technology and administrative support. He has nearly 25 years of experience in the accounting field, with about half of it at nonprofits.
John has an accounting degree from Augsburg College. He currently lives in Northfield with his wife, Lora, and three children: Mitch, Eli and Kiley.
Maureen Walsh
Director of Community Relations & Development
As director of Community Relations & Development, Maureen leads the fundraising, communications and marketing activities of St. David's Center to advance the mission and achieve the goals of the strategic plan. With a strong program and planning background, she brings 20 years of leadership experience in direct service and nonprofit roles to the organization. Most recently, Maureen was a contractor for St. David's Center for nearly four years as part of the Community Relations & Development team.
Maureen has Bachelor's and Master's degrees in social work from the University of Wisconsin - Madison. She currently lives in Deephaven with her husband, John and their three children.
Stephanie Combey
Director of Center-based & Clinical Programs
Stephanie is responsible for overseeing the leadership, operations, funding, budgeting and financial performance of the Center-based & Clinical Programs at St. David's Center. She has been a licensed independent clinical social worker since 1994, working in a wide range of settings, including psychiatric hospital care, outpatient and county social work. She has worked with adolescents and children with severe psychological diagnoses and severe trauma as a result of physical and sexual abuse and families.
Stephanie has a Master's in social work from the University of Nebraska - Omaha. She currently lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two children.

Erica Tennessen
Director of Community Special Needs Support Services
As director of Community Special Needs Services at St. David's Center, Erica is responsible for services provided through Personal Care Assistance, Waivered Services, Therapeutic Recreation, Autism Spectrum Disorder Support Services, Group Homes, Therapeutic Foster Care and Respite Foster Care programs. Since joining the organization in 1997, she has worked in several program leadership positions providing direction to programs serving individuals with enduring special needs. Prior to St. David's Center, Erica worked with at-risk populations including adults with mental illness and children who have been victims of abuse or neglect.
Erica graduated from Providence College with a Bachelor's degree in psychology. She currently resides in Eagan with her husband, Nate and their three children.
St. David's Center Board of Directors
Executive Committee:
Stacey Crosby
Board Chair
Community volunteer
Sheila Folkestad
Vice Chair, Finance and Risk Management Committee
Community volunteer
Jeryn Konezny
Vice Chair, Program Oversight Committee
Community volunteer; attorney

Karen Richard
Past Chair
Chief HR and Strategy Officer,
Select Comfort Corporation
Rachel Roen
Vice Chair, Governance Committee
Vice President, Human Resources,
Cargill

Julz Schwingler, CFA
Vice Chair, Organization Advancement Committee
Vice President,
BlackRock
Members at Large:
Yasmin Akhtar
Board Member
Community volunteer
Jill Bollettieri
Board Member
Assistant General Counsel,
General Mills, Inc.
Betsy Collins
Board Member
Director of Sales,
United Parcel Services (UPS)

Angie Dahlof
Board Member
Office Manager,
Wieden & Kennedy

Anne Edwards, MD
Board Member
Chair of Pediatrics,
Park Nicollet Services

Lars Erdahl
Board Member
Education Director,
Minnesota Zoo

Jeff Erickson
Board Member
President/Owner,
Master Craft Labels, Inc.

Richard Justman, MD
Board Member
National Medical Director,
United Health Care
Hugh Kirsch
Board Member
Community volunteer
Connie Linder
Board Member
Community volunteer

Candace Randle
Board Member
Community volunteer
Tom Suk
Board Member
Vice President, Information Technology,
Enclarity
St. David's Center for Child & Family Development | 3395 Plymouth Road Minnetonka, MN 55305 | (952) 939-0396
Serving Minneapolis and the Greater Twin Cities Metro

