Staff

Kate Bitney

Kate Bitney, Metro Regional Manager, joined Hearth Connection in May 2008. Prior to joining Hearth Connection, Kate had been working in the field of direct service since 2001, doing street outreach, case management, and advocacy work. She has also done supervisory work at a local family shelter, and served on various committees and community groups in the East Metro. Kate holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Justice and Peace Studies from the University of St. Thomas.

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Amy Brix

Amy Brix, Communications Coordinator, joined Hearth Connection in December 2009. Before joining the team, Amy provided marketing and technical support to a nonprofit serving people with developmental disabilities. She served as an Americorps volunteer at Hearth Connection from 2009-2010 and currently volunteers at a residence for chronically homeless individuals. Amy has a Bachelor's degree in English and Communications from Hamline University in St. Paul.

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Warren Duncan

Warren Duncan, Southern Regional Manager of Hearth Connection. As a native of Des Moines, Iowa, he graduated from Iowa State University with a B.A. in Sociology. Over the past decade, Warren has been committed to working with homeless and marginal populations. He began his career as a volunteer at a soup kitchen and delivered meals to the homeless on the streets of Des Moines. Warren has worked with homeless children in an emergency shelter, worked with at-risk adolescents at an alternative high school, supervised a group home in the southern metro, and served as a Case Manager for the chronically homeless of the Twin Cities. Warren also has experience in the financial industry, as he spent a year as a Financial Representative for a local firm. Warren currently volunteers in the homeless community and has been a guest lecturer at the University of Minnesota on housing and homelessness in the Twin Cities Metro Area. As a result of these experiences, Warren brings a unique perspective to his work and is passionate about his mission to end homelessness.

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Kelby Grovender

Kelby Grovender, Program Director, joined Hearth Connection in August 2010. Kelby has worked with people experiencing homelessness for 23 years in both the Twin Cities and Los Angeles, and he has served on the boards of several homeless advocacy groups. He was most recently the Director of Housing Operations for Mental Health Resources, Inc. of St. Paul, MN. Previously he spent 12 years with the American Indian Community Development Corporation (AICDC) where he developed Anishinabe Wakiagun, a culturally specific supportive housing program targeting chronically homeless American Indian adults. As Director of Chemical Health at AICDC, Kelby also oversaw the Kola Health Outreach Project and the AICDC Detoxification Services. He has made numerous presentations about Anishinabe Wakiagun and harm reduction strategies in the United States and Canada, in addition to consulting and training in the areas of harm reduction, supportive housing, and Housing First. Kelby has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology and Philosophy from the University of Minnesota and a Master of Divinity degree with a concentration in cross-cultural studies from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, CA.

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Patti Hague

Patti Hague, Operations Director, joined Hearth Connection in July of 2008. Previously she has held the positions of Vice President of Programs for Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Twin Cities (2 ½ years), Director of Community Relations for HealthPartners (10 years), and Director of Health and Community Services for the Greater Minneapolis Chapter of the American Red Cross (10 years). Prior to that she spent 8 years in the field of disability advocacy. Patti has served on the board of several organizations, including the Minnesota Council on Foundations, HealthPartners, Minnesota Environmental Fund, and Philanthrofund Foundation. Patti has a Master's degree from George Washington University and a BA degree from Carleton College.

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Richard Hooks Wayman

Richard Hooks Wayman is the Executive Director of Hearth Connection. Rich joined the organization’s efforts to end homelessness in June 2010 with passion and experience from years of work in homeless advocacy. Rich began his professional career representing low income families, youth, and adults at the Legal Aid Society of Minneapolis,and later became the Collaborative Director of StreetWorks, a nonprofit offering street-based outreach to homeless and runaway youth. In 2006, Rich became the Public Policy Campaign Director of the Minnesota Youth Service Association and authored the Minnesota Runaway and Homeless Youth Act. For the past four years, Rich influenced federal programs regarding youth homelessness as the Senior Youth Policy Analyst at the National Alliance to End Homelessnessin Washington, DC. Rich received his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Iowa College of Law and currently serves on the board of the American Bar Association’s Commission on Homelessness and Poverty.

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Julie Jones

Julie Jones, Office Manager, joined the Hearth Connection team in October 2008. Julie has a degree in Business Administration and has extensive experience working in this field. She worked as Office Manager at African American Family Services where she supervised and managed the support services team. After 8 years with AAFS, Julie took her skills to Transformation House where she supervised program assistants, secretaries, and oversaw all medication services. She also worked directly alongside the Executive Director, assisting in daily operations.

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David OLeary

David O’Leary, Northeast Regional Manager, has been with Hearth Connection since October of 2008. Previously, David was Director of Human Services for the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. David brings with him eight years experience working with disenfranchised and at-risk populations of all ages and demographics in a variety of both faith-based and secular settings. David studied at Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary in Winona, Minnesota, Saint John Vianney Theological Seminary in Denver, Colorado, and earned his bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. A native of Duluth, Minnesota, David is an enrolled member of the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa.

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Max Schaefer

Max Schaefer, Rental Assistance Manager, joined Hearth Connection in December 2007. Prior to joining the organization, Max worked as a DataSite Assistant Project Manager at Merrill Corporation providing Executive Technical Support and Training for Mergers and Acquisitions deals. In addition, he has studied Philosophy, Urban and Regional Studies, and Cultural Studies and Comparative Literature at both the University of Minnesota and Minnesota State University, Mankato.

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Ben Van Hunnik

Ben Van Hunnik, joined Hearth Connection as the Director of Information, Research and Evaluation in May 2009. Over the last ten years, he held the positions of Marketing Manager and Research Coordinator at HousingLink, Case Manager with People Incorporated’s Project SAIL, and Research Specialist with the University of Colorado’s Project Safe. His experience in Colorado also included a year of volunteer work as a Public Relations Coordinator with the Women’s Bean Project. Ben holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN.

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Karen Vnuk

Karen Vnuk, Finance and Administration Director, joined the organization in September 2010. Karen brings 11 years of experience in nonprofit finance and accounting, and several years of nonprofit human resources experience. Karen’s previous nonprofit experience includes working with agencies that provide support to homeless youth, shelter for battered women, and affordable housing and crisis assistance to families experiencing poverty. Experience outside of the nonprofit sector includes accounting and finance for Target Stores, and working in the investment industry in Minnesota and California. Karen has an MBA with a concentration in Finance from the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota. Her undergraduate degree is in Mass Communications from Minnesota State University, Mankato. Karen has volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, Big Brothers and Sisters, the City of Roseville Human Rights Commission, Paint-A-Thon, and other organizations.

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Dave White

Dave White, Information & Evaluation Manager, joined Hearth Connection in September 2008. Prior to joining Hearth Connection, Dave had been providing database, network, and programming services at other Twin Cities social service nonprofits since 1998, and working with Habitat for Humanity in affordable housing construction prior to that. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Urban Studies and Geography from Macalester College.

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