Staff

Meet our team!

Chris LaTondresse President and CEO

View the Senior Leadership Team

pronouns: he/him/his

Chris LaTondresse joins Beacon after serving as a Hennepin County Commissioner, during which time he passionately championed affordable housing, especially as Chair of the Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA). He played an instrumental role in securing unprecedented funding for housing stability, forging partnerships with mission-driven housing developers, and rallying advocates to cultivate political will for more affordable housing.

Chris has dedicated his leadership to growing coalitions, building cross-sector partnerships, and inspiring action for the common good. Chris served in President Obama’s Office of Faith Based and Community Initiatives at USAID. He was a senior leader at The Expectations Project (a national civil rights advocacy organization) and was vice-chair on the Hopkins school board. In 2022, the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal named Chris a “40 Under 40” honoree. He regularly speaks at events related to housing, democracy, and the role of advocacy in driving social change. Chris lives in Hopkins with his spouse, Ashley, their two boys (Walter and Hugo), and their spirited French bulldog (Cedar).

Babette Jamison-Varner Vice President of Supportive Housing

View the Supportive Housing Team

Ben Helvick Anderson Vice President of Policy and Organizing

View the Policy & Organizing Team

Contact Ben About:

  • Beacon’s Policy Agenda and Campaigns
  • Strategic Policy Partnerships

(651) 377-8141

Pronouns: he/him/his

Ben leads Beacon’s Policy and Organizing division to change public policy and create homes by engaging congregations and coalition partners in action. Ben is passionate about the power that everyday people have to transform our public policy so that all people may have a home.

Ben brings years of local, regional, and federal policy and community organizing experience to Beacon through his work on issues around family farmers, immigration, land conservation, and affordable housing. Ben holds a master’s degree in Social Philosophy from Loyola University Chicago. As a Minnesota native, Ben loves getting outside in all of Minnesota’s seasons with his wife and two step-daughters, doing many activities including biking, sailing, gardening, and cross country skiing.

Deqa Essa CFO/Vice President of Administration

View the Administrative, Finance & HR Teams

(651) 377-8186

Pronouns: she/her/hers

As CFO/ Vice President of Administration, Deqa is a key leader in guiding the strategic growth of Beacon, in business modeling and forecasting for financial resources, developing Beacon’s  human resources strategies and policies and developing the administrative processes to goals.   She is responsible for the development of the financial management and administrative strategies for Beacon, a complex, mission-driven organization with supportive housing developments that take several years to develop and a diverse funding stream for on-going operations. She provides financial information, multi-year projections and analysis to help staff and board members assess risk and make strategic decisions. In addition to financial matters, she is also responsible for the overall administrative functions, including strategic decision for all other support functions, such as technology, strategic office management and space management. She is viewed as a key strategic leader who is collaborative, strong visionary, and a partner in strategic future growth plans.

Deqa has over two decades of experience in finance, accounting, and human resources management within nonprofit organizations; prior to joining Beacon, she was VP of finance and Admin at Emerge Community development and Human Resources Director at Twin Cities for Habitat for Humanity.

Heidi Goldman-Gray Vice President of Advancement and Communications

View the Advancement & Communications Teams

Contact Heidi About:

  • Transformational philanthropic investment in Beacon
  • Strategic communications opportunities

(651) 377-8182

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Heidi provides strategic leadership in the areas of advancement (fundraising) and communications for Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative. She leads the teams that work diligently to raise the awareness and support necessary to achieve Beacon’s vision that “all people have a home.” Heidi is inspired by those who act according to their most deeply held values to support the creation of deeply affordable and equitable housing.

Heidi brings more than 20 years of leadership experience to Beacon through her past work in community-serving nonprofits, faith communities, and higher education. She holds a master’s degree in public affairs from the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs. She enjoys exploring the Twin Cities and the world, and lives with her family in St. Paul.

Kevin Walker Vice President of Housing

View the Housing Development Team

Contact Kevin About:

  • Interest in investing or offering financing for Beacon projects
  • Architectural / design services
  • Property-related due diligence services
  • Site opportunities

(651) 377-8161

Pronouns: he/him/his

In his role as Vice President of Housing, Kevin oversees all aspects of Beacon’s housing development-related activity and cultivates and nurtures new service partnerships for Beacon supportive housing developments. Kevin appreciates the ways in which Beacon’s congregations’ involvement in our shelter work, housing development work, and policy work build a broader constituency for the day that ‘all people have a home’.

Kevin has a Master’s degree in City and Regional Planning and nearly twenty years’ experience in nonprofit and cooperative community development models, primarily in Minnesota. He and his wife, Rachel, enjoy long-distance running, hiking, and travel with their two teenagers.

Annie Leomporra Donor Engagement Officer

Contact Annie About:

  • The impact of your gift
  • Community Centric Fundraising
  • Legacy giving through your will and estate

(651) 377-8180

Pronouns: she/her/hers

As a Donor Engagement Officer, Annie works with donors to connect their values and passions to Beacon’s work. She is excited to cultivate new and expand on current donor relationships to move us closer to our vision that all people have a home. Annie believes that housing is a right and through education and relationship building, collectively, we can transform our communities in which all people have a home.

Annie has a master’s degree in Urban and Regional Policy and has worked on the issue of housing and homelessness for over eight years and spent the last five years in Washington D.C. as a Senior Policy Analyst. Annie is excited to be back in the Twin Cities and to start this new chapter in life.

Bethlehem Tsegaye Senior Accountant

(651) 789-6260
Pronouns: she/her/hers

Connor Beck Digital Communications Manager

Contact Connor About:  

  • Social media content and suggestions 
  • Email updates  
  • Website content and updates 

(651) 377-8145

Pronouns: he/him/his 

 As the Digital Communications Manager, Connor collaborates with team members across Beacon to develop and share the Beacon and “Bring It Home, Minnesota” brands. He also works to strengthen stakeholder engagement by managing, developing, and distributing content for social media, websites, and emails. As a Jesuit Volunteer, Connor witnessed the ways that fair and equitable housing transforms lives, which motivated him to join Beacon to share those stories and fuel the housing movement. Following his time as a Jesuit Volunteer, Connor entered the world of marketing as a writer and worked for several for-profit and non-profit organizations before landing at Beacon. In his free time, Connor enjoys brewing kombucha, baking sourdough, growing dinner in his garden, and hugging the occasional tree.

Craig Freeman Community Connection Manager

Contact Craig About:

  • Building tours
  • Speaking opportunities

(651) 377-8142

Pronouns: he/him/his

As Community Connection Manager, Craig shares Beacon’s vision that all people have a home, no exceptions, with both future and current Beacon leaders and supporters. By leading informational tours, presenting to congregations, civic organizations, or businesses, and representing Beacon in public, he works to increase the organization’s capacity to provide homes. Craig left a decade long career as a litigator in order to do this work because home is too important not to support with everything he’s got.

Craig received his B.A. and J.D. from the University of Iowa and has 15 years’ experience with public speaking. He lives in Roseville with his wife and son and can often be found attending live music shows, Minnesota United matches, or cheering on the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Davis Parker Public Grant / Program Evaluation Coordinator

Contact Davis About:

  • Grant administration
  • Coordination with public entities
  • Program funding structure

(651) 377-8144

Pronouns: he/him/his

Davis coordinates public funding for services and operations in Beacon’s housing and shelter programs and also tracks the impact of our programs on the lives of residents and shelter guests. Davis came to work at Beacon after attending a congregation that is a host of the Families Moving Forward emergency shelter and, as a young person, having peers experience homelessness.

Prior to working at Beacon, Davis worked for almost 10 years with grants and program administration in the service-learning and youth development field. You may see Davis riding his bike around town.

Destiny Barron Supportive Housing Partnerships Manager

Contact Destiny About:

(651) 377-8146

Pronouns: she/her/hers

In her role as a Supportive Housing Partnerships Manager, Destiny works collaboratively with both Service and Property Management Partners to solve problems, increase occupancy, and ensure that overall revenue goals of her portfolio are being met. She also may recommend new or improved policies and procedures to address any problems that may arise. Destiny feels very connected to Affordable Housing for everyone and believes in Beacon’s mission of everyone having a home that they can afford within a community that welcomes all people.

Destiny has previous management experience in Public Housing and Tax Credit Housing programs and holds a degree in Computer Information Systems and Management. Destiny has been recognized in many of the housing organizations she’s worked for as a leader in creating and implementing new processes. She enjoys cooking and spending time with her 3 children and 1 dog and traveling around the U.S.

Dylan Novacek Content Specialist

Contact Dylan About:

  • Story leads and inquiries
  • Brand standards
  • Graphics and photography

(651) 377-8149

Pronouns: he/him/his

In his role as a Content Specialist, Dylan helps tell Beacon’s story. Whether it be writing articles, designing marketing materials, or curating our social media accounts Dylan is excited to spread Beacon’s message that all people have a home. Dylan values Beacon’s vision and believes in working hard at work worth doing.

Dylan holds a bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design with a minor in Marketing. He has experience working as a professional designer, photographer, and storyteller. Dylan also works as a music journalist for a local blog, and loves spending time with his dog Kody and his wife.

Elizabeth Tannen Donor Engagement Officer

Contact Elizabeth About:

  • The impact of your gift
  • Community Centric Fundraising
  • Legacy giving through your will and estate

(651) 377-8151

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Elizabeth works with leaders and clergy in St. Paul to act on their social justice values and engage their congregations with Beacon. Guided by the faith that more community and more interdependence are what will create a more just world, she believes in Beacon’s model of building power through interfaith collaboration. Elizabeth is a one-time public radio journalist who earned a Masters in Creative Writing and taught writing in prisons, colleges and elsewhere before pivoting toward racial and economic justice work. Elizabeth has organized with Jewish Community Action, the Poor People’s Campaign and Reclaim the Block. She is also a facilitator with ASDIC (Anti-Racism Study Dialogue Circles) and founded the 555 (Five Writers, Five Minutes, Five Watt) reading series.

Originally from New York, Elizabeth lives in a Catholic Worker community, where she finds time to walk her large pup, sometimes cook for others, and keep up a poetry practice.

Elodie Lee Director of Individual Giving

Contact Elodie About:

  • The impact of your gift
  • Community Centric Fundraising
  • Legacy giving through your will and estate

(651) 377-8152

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Elodie leads our Individual Giving fundraising team, connecting the passion and interests of supporters with the opportunity to give towards Beacon’s vision that all people have a home. Having been with Beacon since 2015, she is driven to tackle systemic issues with radical hospitality and transformational relationships that inspire giving.

Elodie has a degree in psychology and 10+ years of experience creatively connecting resources with community needs as a relationship builder, fundraiser, neighbor, and donor organizer. She lives in Minneapolis, serves on the Board of The American Swedish Institute, and enjoys everything about food; cooking it, eating it, growing it, sharing it, and talking about it.

Emily Goldthwaite Director of Congregational Organizing

Contact Emily About:

  • Training volunteers and leaders
  • Educating and engaging your congregation
  • Connecting faith with action
  • Advancing equity through policy and organizing

(651) 377-8153

Pronouns: she/her/hers

As Director of Congregational Organizing, Emily supports our team of organizers as they engage congregations in creating homes, hosting Families Moving Forward, and speaking out for just policies on housing and homelessness. She believes people of faith have a critical voice in communities striving toward the vision that all people have a home. 

A minister ordained in the United Church of Christ, Emily has served in both local churches and nonprofit service agencies in the Midwest and Palestine and Israel. Originally from Eugene, Oregon, Emily now lives in the Twin Cities and is the proud mom of a young dancer and gymnast and their Aussiedoodle, Puffin. 

Emily Huemann Xiong Institutional Giving Officer

Contact Emily About:

  • Grant opportunities
  • Making a gift from your congregation or workplace
  • Deepening the relationship between Beacon and your congregation or workplace

(651) 377-8188

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Emily engages institutions as partners in creating homes and advancing equitable housing. Her work includes seeking grant funding and working with donors who are congregations, businesses, foundations, corporations, and other community groups. Emily is passionate about including and equipping others in the lifelong work of cultivating communities where everyone has a home, where race is not a predictor of life outcomes, and where safety is created through belonging and adequate resources. Emily has experience as a grant writer, communicator, community organizer, and social-justice educator in non-profit, movement, and faith-based spaces. Emily’s favorite ways to rest and play include rock climbing, gaming, and enjoying a slow meal with loved ones.

Fritz Bimberg Congregational Organizer

Contact Fritz About:

  • Joining faith with action
  • One-to-one conversations over drinks
  • Engaging your congregation with Beacon’s work
  • Beacon initiatives in Saint Paul and the East Metro

(651) 377-8170

Pronouns: he/they

As Congregational Organizer, Fritz supports faith communities in their efforts to transform their values into action. Their goal is to help congregations bring their dream communities to life. Fritz has long cherished the value of safe and stable housing for everyone, no conditions or strings attached, and is excited to move his own values into action.

Fritz has years of experience both serving as a leader for various clubs and organizations and working with homeless populations. He recently graduated with their BA in political science from the University of Minnesota Duluth and is thrilled to continue his work at Beacon.

In their spare time, Fritz loves planning vacations he doesn’t have the time or money to take, sewing and decorating clothing, and adding to their growing clown collection.

Harrison Bullard Campaign & Congregational Organizer

Contact Harrison About:

  • The Beacon Book Club
  • Collaborating with minority congregations
  • Learn about Faith in the Workplace

(651) 377 -8185

Pronouns: he/him/his

As a Congregational Organizer Harrison will primarily focus on Minority congregations and community organizations. His goal is to make the leadership and the efforts reflect those who are most in need. Harrison will be collaborating with multiple congregations, organizations, and community leaders to achieve this goal throughout the state.

It is Harrison’s deep faith in God and his belief “it is not our fault, but it is our responsibility to help all God’s people,” that has brought Harrison to Beacon.

Harrison brings 20 years organizing experience from labor and community organizing, he is also the Central Region President of SEIU’s African American caucus and has been instrumental in the development of African American leadership in labor and community.

Harrison is a history buff and in his spare time enjoys reading, cooking, football, and has been known to be a great dancer.

Jeremiah Miller Property Maintenance Manager

Contact Jeremiah About:

  • Building maintenance

Pronouns: he/him/his

In his role as Property Maintenance Manager, Jeremiah ensures that Beacon properties remain high quality homes.  Due to personal experience, Jeremiah values Beacon’s commitment to providing deeply affordable housing to underserved populations.

Jeremiah has more than 15 years of experience helping to provide formerly homeless individuals and families with permanent supportive housing. Outside of work, he enjoys music and spending time with family.

Jim Barnes Senior Housing Development Project Manager

Contact Jim About:

  • Current housing developments in process/under construction

(651) 377-8183

Pronouns: he/him/his

In his role as Senior Project Manager, Jim manages all aspects in implementing Beacon’s multifamily development projects.  Jim has over 20 years of experience working in affordable housing including development and construction of both single and multifamily homes, including project finance and budgeting, site acquisition, community engagement, construction management and property management.  Jim spent the last 20 years as the Housing and Redevelopment Manager for a western suburb, and prior to that he worked at the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency.  The desire to make a difference prompted Jim to seek a new opportunity with Beacon.

In his free time Jim enjoys cooking, dining out, spending time outdoors (particularly on the water) and is in the process of renovating a recently purchased home with his wife Deb.

Joan Bennett Sr Housing Development Project Manager

Contact Joan About:

  • Multifamily projects under development

(651) 377-8157

Pronouns: she/her/hers

As a Project Manager on the New Projects team, Joan is involved with various aspects of the development of new Beacon multifamily projects. She values being a part of a team that expands access to affordable housing by developing properties that residents and neighbors can take pride in.

Joan’s previous experience includes affordable housing asset management and development, commercial real estate, work within Minneapolis neighborhood organizations and housing-based youth programming. She holds master’s degrees in Urban Planning and Social Work. Her main hobbies include playing team sports for aging athletes, running, cooking and following celebrity cats on Instagram. She lives with her wife and pets in South Minneapolis.

Julie Huck Donor Engagement Officer

Contact Julie About:

  • The impact of your gift
  • Community Centric Fundraising
  • Legacy giving through your will and estate

(651) 377-8159

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Julie connects the passions and interests of supporters with the opportunity to invest treasure, time and talent in Beacon’s vision that all people have a home. She is motivated to cultivate multigenerational giving in support of a more inclusive and vibrant community where basic needs are met and everyone thrives.

Julie has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in psychology and has 20+ years of program and volunteer management and resource development experience with housing and family support organizations (including Project for Pride in Living and Habitat for Humanity) in Minneapolis, Boston and Oakland. She finds Beacon’s culture of “joyful urgency” and interfaith collaboration ideal for building relationships with supporters.

Julie lives in South Minneapolis with her teenagers and corgi and loves to row, kayak, write poetry, and volunteer for her faith communities. She is always looking for fellow singers/musicians for music gatherings!

Kate Taber Congregational Organizer

Contact Kate About:

  • Beacon initiatives, campaigns, and projects in Minneapolis
  • Connecting spiritual values and housing issues
  • Engaging Minneapolis congregations with Beacon’s work
  • Deepening the relational depth of our justice efforts

(651) 377-8184

Pronouns: she/her/hers

As Congregational Organizer, Kate nurtures the leadership of people and communities of faith in the city of Minneapolis to collaboratively transform our society into one where all people have a home. She offers support and training for leaders to mobilize their congregation to support developing deeply affordable housing and advocating for just and equitable housing policies. She is motivated by Beacon’s antiracist values and vision, the satisfaction of more deeply aligning her spiritual commitments with her work in the world, and the opportunity to invite others to do the same.

An ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA), Kate has spent her career helping people connect their faith and spiritual values with action and advocacy, from pastoring at a downtown urban congregation to serving her denomination in Israel/Palestine to working as a college chaplain. Her favorite moments usually involve exploring the outdoors with her husband and two young children, trying new recipes, and gathering with friends and family.

Kynda K. Stull Director of Supportive Housing Partnerships

Contact Kynda About: 

  • Service partnerships
  • Supportive housing program models
  • New initiatives for increasing the positive impact of service programs

(651) 377-8163

Pronouns: she/her/hers

As Director of Supportive Housing Partnerships, Kynda engages service providers, public systems, and community partners in the effort to maximize the positive impact of supportive housing in the current and growing portfolio of Beacon projects. She values Beacon’s commitment to service, organizational, and policy practices that are equitable, data-driven, and bold in the effort to achieve housing for all Minnesotans.

Kynda holds an MSW/LGSW and 20 years of experience directing and developing supportive housing programs for people who have experienced homelessness and disabilities in Minnesota and Alaska. She believes in the power of supportive housing to transform lives, neighborhoods, and our wider community.

Lisa Zellmer Director of Institutional Giving

Contact Lisa About:

  • Corporate and Foundation Investments
  • Major and Planned Gifts
  • The Impact of Your Gift

(651) 377-8156

Pronouns: she/her/hers

In her role as Director of Advancement, Lisa oversees Beacon’s institutional, major and annual giving that supports Beacon’s work in affordable and supportive housing.  She helps craft strategy that compels donors to invest in Beacon’s mission and helps them understand the impact of their gift.  Lisa values Beacon’s interfaith approach to ensuring that everyone has a home.

Lisa holds a Master of Arts in Public Affairs and has more than 20 years of experience in nonprofit management and building revenue and capacity building initiatives. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with family and friends trying new restaurants, going to movies and traveling whenever possible. She never gets tired of walking around Twin Cities lakes or better yet, the lakes and trails up north.

Maeve Olson Lead Campaign Organizer

Contact Maeve About:

  • Any questions, information, or engagement related to the Bring It Home, Minnesota campaign
  • Collaboration with Beacon’s Policy Team

(651) 377-8148

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Maeve works as the main contact and lead organizer for the statewide issue-based campaign, Bring It Home, Minnesota. Rent subsidies are proven to be effective in curbing homelessness and future related costs, but only 1 in 4 Minnesotans who apply and qualify for a rent voucher actually receive one. A multi-year campaign, Bring It Home pushes for state funding to cover the remaining costs of any local Housing Choice Vouchers, beyond the very little (only 25% of approved Minnesotans) which is currently covered by federal government funds. The Bring It Home Coalition brings education and advocacy to this issue, because we know that we all do better when we all have a home.

Maeve values social justice minded grassroots community development work and believes that working with interfaith communities can create powerful movements for positive community and social change. She has an undergrad degree in Urban Studies and a graduate certificate in Strategic Leadership, alongside a decade of work with various nonprofit advocacy organizations, higher education institutions, and political campaigns. She enjoys meeting new people, traveling to and learning about new places, and volunteering with various communities in her free time.

Matt Soucek Senior Project Manager

Contact Matt About:

  • Projects currently under development

(651) 377-8168

Pronouns: he/him/his

In his role as Senior Project Manager, Matt manages all aspects involved in implementing Beacon’s new multifamily development projects.  Matt has over 20 years of experience with the development and construction of affordable housing, including  project finance and budgeting, site planning and acquisition, architectural design, community representation, and construction management.  Matt previously worked for Project for Pride in Living (PPL) in Minneapolis as a Senior Project Manager, and prior to that at Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity as Land Development Project Manager.  A strong desire to see an end to homelessness in our communities drives Matt’s commitment to his work.

Matt also serves on the Land Use Committee of the Minnesota Parks and Trails Council and is an avid mountain biker.  In his free time Matt enjoys cycling, camping and playing guitar.  Matt lives in South Minneapolis.

Melanie Wilbur Advancement Operations Manager

Contact Melanie About:

  • Making a donation
  • Requesting an acknowledgement

(651) 377-8169

Pronouns: she/her/hers

In her role as the Advancement Operations Manager, Melanie supervises and oversees data entry and integrity across the organization, as well as the implementation and maintenance of donor relations systems.

The work that Beacon does and the compassion and generosity of others to build homes for those most in need moves Melanie each and every day.

For the past twenty years, Melanie has been working for local nonprofit organizations that serve the most vulnerable populations, focusing on their respective data and administrative needs.

Melanie also enjoys spending her time helping small business entrepreneurs create and develop their brand identities through her graphic design business since 2005.

Mindy Mader Human Resources Associate

Contact Mindy About:

  • Employee payroll
  • Company benefits
  • General Human Resources questions

(651) 377-8154

Pronouns: she/her/hers

In her role as Human Resources Associate, Mindy is responsible for assisting in the administration of Beacon’s human resources policies, practices, and programs with an emphasis on payroll and benefits administration.

Mindy has several years of HR experience and enjoys working in non-profit organizations. She is excited to partner with a company whose vision aligns with her own personal values. She believes that every life is valuable and is honored to be part of a company that works to foster equity, inclusion and diversity throughout the organization. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, fitness, camping, playing guitar, reading and spending time with her family and black lab puppy, Loona.

Mohamed Jama Congregational Organizer

(651) 377-8160

Pronouns: he/him/his

Rev. Nancy Nord Bence Public Policy Manager

Contact Nancy about:

  • Data on supportive housing
  • Bills and ordinances related to supportive housing

(651) 377-8150

Pronouns: she/her/hers

In her role as Public Policy Manager, Nancy is responsible for researching housing policy, advocating on behalf of Beacon at the state and local levels, and representing Beacon in the Homes For All coalition. She loves being able to live out her call to ordained ministry in the public sphere.

Nancy has a Masters of Divinity and 20+ years’ experience in congregational ministry. She’s also served as Executive Director of three non-profit advocacy organizations. She’s married and has two adult children and a very spoiled Jack Russell Terrier. In her free time, she’s writing a novel.

Nicole Harvey Supportive Housing Partnership Manager

Rebekah Schneider Service Contract Manager

Contact Rebekah About:

  • Service Provider Contract Monitoring and Updates
  • Service Program Outcomes
  • Subgrantee Monitoring

(651) 377-8190

Pronouns: she/her/hers

As the Service Contract Manager, Rebekah collaborates with our service provider partners at each of our supportive housing sites to gather and analyze service program outcomes. She also monitors service budgets and contracts to make sure that they are up to date. Prior to this position, Rebekah worked with Beacon’s shelter program, Families Moving Forward, for 7+ years. Rebekah loves working on a team that is dedicated to ending homelessness and believes that housing is a human right. In her free time, Rebekah enjoys traveling (she’s always planning for the next trip), reading, trying new restaurants in the cities, and spending every moment of the summer outdoors.

Salim Hussain Controller

(651) 377-8167

Pronouns: he/him/his 

Susan Dayton Human Resources Manager

Contact Susan About:

  • Employment opportunities
  • Human Resources questions

(651) 377-8174

Pronouns: she/her/hers

In her role as Human Resources Manager, Susan develops and implements Beacon’s HR policies and practices, and oversees HR operations.  Keeping Beacon’s values at center, she is dedicated to Beacon’s talent strategy and maintaining optimal employee and union relations. She is committed to ensuring that Beacon fosters a welcoming, collaborative, and inclusive workplace, and finds great reward in providing the consistent HR framework that in turn helps Beacon staff execute the broader vision in our community that all people have a home.

 

Susan has an MA in HR Management, a BA in philosophy and over two decades of experience in non-profit work including HR, administration, and direct service. She values lifelong learning and holds particular interest in the intrinsic motivations that draw individuals into meaningful and impactful work.  Susan enjoys spending time with her family, reading poetry, and values time in nature with friends. Contact Susan about employment opportunities or anything HR-related at Beacon.

Susan McKenzie Accounting and Office Assistant

Contact Susan About:

  • Accounts Payable
  • Accounts Receivable
  • Office Equipment

(651) 377-8173

In her role as Accounting and Office Assistant, Susan is responsible for processing accounts payable and receivable, asset management support, maintaining office equipment and general administrative support. She values the opportunity to work with Beacon’s dedicated staff to achieve a home for all.

Susan holds a BS from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities and has over 15 years’ experience supporting local nonprofits, focusing on financial and administrative need to accomplish their mission. In her spare time, Susan loves gardening, reading and cooking.

Vanessa Allmon Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Contact Vanessa About:

  • DEI programming and policies
  • DEI data

(651) 377-8165

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Vanessa Allmon leads all aspects of diversity, equity, and inclusion at Beacon Interfaith. An accomplished DEI leader possessing 10+ years’ experience, she has led DEI at large non-profits, as well as at organizations in the public and private sectors. Vanessa’s DEI leadership spans multiple industries such as the legal services, banking/financial services, and healthcare, to name a few. She joins Beacon Interfaith after a nearly two-year stint in Seattle, Washington, where she received an award for her dynamic, innovative, and successful approaches to DEI work from the Washington State Chapter of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Vanessa lived in the Twin Cities from 2015-2021 before moving to the Pacific Northwest. A native of Chicago, she earned her Master’s degree in public policy and administration from Northwestern University.  Her graduate thesis focused on family public housing reforms, primarily at the municipal level.  She is a public service enthusiast and enjoys finding ways to serve the public interest through her DEI work and a myriad of other ways.  A goal-getter, Vanessa aspires to be featured on C-SPAN discussing the virtues of DEI innovation and excellence in organizations and society.