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Christine Pierson, Executive Director
Christine Pierson is the part-time executive director of Northern Hills Sources of Support (SOS). She has been involved with SOS since 2015 and was hired in 2019. Christine grew up in Pennsylvania and attended Syracuse University and the College of Environmental Science and Forestry. She and her husband, Paul, moved to South Dakota in 2009 and have two kids. When Christine is not working or shuffling the kids around, she enjoys baking, camping, reading, running, and traveling. Barbara Donat, Board President
Barbara J. Donat, grew up in Plankinton, SD. She has lived in Spearfish for 22 years. She is a two time graduate of BHSU for Business, Computer Programming and Computer Applications in 2003 and Psychology in 2008. Barb is self-employed as a Divorce/Custody Mediator at Mediation Matters in Spearfish. She previously served as a Board Member for NHCASA for 9 years, and has been a CASA Advocate for 10 years and still actively takes cases. Barb has done 3 trips to Guatemala through Sharing the Dream and 1 mission trip to Nicaragua. She has two boys that keep her busy. She travels as often as possible and attends concerts and has passed that on to her children who enjoy it as much as she does. She and her sons spend a lot of time at the lake in the summer and she stays active with her many "side-hustles." Jayna Frederickson, Board Vice-President
Jayna Frederickson lives west of Spearfish on a cattle ranch, with her husband, Nate and two boys, Teegan and Tiernan. They operate a seedstock business and host an annual bull sale in December. Jayna was a probation officer for 20 years, starting her career in Gillette, Wyoming, as a juvenile probation officer. When she married in 2004, she moved to the Spearfish area and was a probation officer until a year ago. Jayna was involved in many different aspects of the criminal justice system including a local Safety Team, coordinating a yearly Defense Training to fellow probation officers. While in probation, she was a standard probation officer, meaning she took on felony adult and juvenile cases. Jayna was an intensive juvenile officer as well as an adult intensive officer in the Northern Hills Drug Court. She has seen and dealt with poverty first hand in the Northern Hills and what drug addiction does to families and communities. Her heart has always been on serving the disadvantaged population and helping them to be their best. However, after 20 years, Jayna felt it was time to focus on her family and their expanding ranching operation. Aside from her career, she have been involved in the Good Shepherd Clinic as a volunteer and coordinator. Jayna has been on the Northern Hills Drug and Alcohol Board and the Northern Hills CASA Board. She is a member of Our Saviors Lutheran Church, where she was a board member for 3 years and have served on several committees as a member in our church. Scott McKirdy, Secretary
Raised in multiple corners of North and South Dakota, Scott McKirdy is the pastor of Spearfish United Methodist Church. He is married to Colleen, and together they have two daughters and two grandchildren. He has a love of community involvement and has been a part of the NHSOS board since its inception. Kate Kelley
Kate has been the executive director of the Northern Hills Area CASA program since 2012. She formerly served as the development director for three years. She currently serves on the board for Prairie Hills Child Care Center and is on the State of South Dakota Court Improvement and Children’s Justice committees. Kate graduated with a BA in English with an Emphasis on Creative Writing from the University of Kansas. She’s worked as a newspaper writer/editor and a bids/proposals writer. A native of Redfield, South Dakota, she and her husband John settled in Spearfish in 2005 after moving more than 20 times during John’s army career. Kate and John have three grown children and six grandchildren. Hans Nelson
Hans Nelson, a Spearfish, SD born native and Belle Fourche, SD graduate, is the Director for the Center for Hospitality & Business at Black Hills State University. His role at the University is to strategically expand the Tourism & Hospitality Management program in the Black Hills and South Dakota, while creating work-force centered trainings to support the variety of industry needs in Western South Dakota. Prior to moving home in September of 2017 Hans lived in Minneapolis, MN working as the assistant director of English programs at Xperitas, a nonprofit education organization promoting global immersion experiences around the world. Prior to that he was a customer service manager and camp director at Endless Horizons, a network of businesses, promoting personal and organizational development, in Harrisburg, VA. Hans is a certified elementary teacher who served as head teacher at a Montessori International School in Bonn, Germany from 2013-2014. After graduating from the University of South Dakota in 2007 he traveled for five years around the world as a program director through a global education program known as Up with People based out of Denver, CO. Hans has a passion for big ideas and being the catalyst for change. Most of the roles he has held were positions created specifically to fit his unique skill set in relationship building, program development and influential enthusiasm. Ida Marie Snorteland
Ida Marie (Norton) Snorteland grew up on a farm northwest of Vermillion, SD. She attended Vermillion High School and the university of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD graduating with a BA in Home Economics. Ida Marie started her career with SDSU Cooperative Extension Service, working as an Area Extension Home Economics Agent in 6 counties in central SD. She transferred to the Rosebud Indian Reservation where she served as a Home Economics Agent and as a Housing Education Educator working with 12 Housing Program Assistants. In 1972, she transferred to a position serving Perkins and Ziebach Counties, serving as a Home Economics Agent there until 1980 when her responsibilities were shifted to Harding County. In 1985, Ida Marie transferred to Lawrence County and completed her Extension Career in Lawrence County. Ida Marie retired from Extension in 2002 and immediately started work as the Spearfish Tobacco Education Coordinator for the next 18 months. In 2006 she was offered the position as Senior Health Information and Insurance Education(SHIINE) coordinator for western SD; Ida Marie was employed by the Center for Active Generation, Sioux Falls SD. Currently she serves as a volunteer with SHIINE. Ida Marie currently serves on the Board of Directors for Western SD Community Action Agency, serving on the Executive Board. She is a member of Zonta, Meals on Wheels advisory board, and past member of the Spearfish Community Coalition. Ida Marie and her husband, Don, have one daughter, Alice who lives in Minneapolis, MN Carrie Swanson
Carrie Swanson grew up on a ranch northwest of Spearfish. She attended Dakota Wesleyan which continued to foster her passion for service and where she graduated with degrees in English and Religion/Philosphy. Carrie is a special education paraprofessional where she works with the early-intervention preschool for the Spearfish School District. She also works in the nursery at the Spearfish United Methodist where she also volunteers with the middle and high school youth programs. Carrie also enjoys crafting, reading, and hanging out with her three nieces. |