North St. Louis County Habitat for Humanity

Linda is a title and closing agent at Up North Title, which gives her direct knowledge of mortgage origination, home closing transactions, title searches, and business management.

She raises warmblood horses and corgis, enjoys dressage (a type of horse riding), and belongs to the Mesabi Humane Society and the United States Pony Club.

Linda said, “Having grown up a military brat and also in part of my adult life, to finally have a home that I could call my own was very satisfying; it gave me a sense of belonging.”

Rolf recently retired from selling maintenance equipment and services to Canadian railroads. “While I loved my career,” Rolf said, “I don’t miss airports and hotels.” Rolf is a regular build side volunteer and also brings to Habitat business management skills, experience with project teams, and knowledge of customer relationship management.

Rolf and his wife, Linda, love all the outdoor activities the East Range offers. Every season offers an activity he loves: biking, hiking, canoeing, sailing, skiing, snowshoeing, camping, and ice sailing.

“I grew up in a stable family with a nice home,” Rolf said. “For many years my mom and dad would volunteer to help with the Habitat 500 bike ride, and finally in 2018, I rode my first Habitat ride. I will never forget when I listened to a family one night tell their story of how their Habitat home helped their family and how the kids excelled in life and school once they had their own home. Now I know why my parents were so supportive of Habitat for Humanity.”

Don is the president and CEO of Virginia Co-op Credit Union whose financial analysis skills and underwriting experience are assets to the Habitat board. He is also on the board of the high school Nordic skiing and track booster clubs. He enjoys boating, fishing, and campfires.

Don said, “A home is a place for love, solitude, and a sense of belonging.”

Kris Clover, now retired, was the business manager for a local industrial distributor for 25 years. She began serving on the NSLCHFH board in 1999 and also volunteers for United Way of Northeastern Minnesota’s Buddy Backpack program and at her church. Kris especially enjoys being with her grandchildren. She lives with her husband and their black Lab.

“Although it is the end of all our projects, I love going to the home dedications,” Kris said. “It’s always a tear-jerker. I love to see the homeowner, along with their family, friends, and all the great volunteers who helped reach our goal of home ownership to those in need.”

Steve is an adjunct instructor in fire training and safety classes for Minnesota North College. He is a former fire chief and current volunteer firefighter and ambulance service member. He is also a part-time guide at the Soudan Underground Mine State Park. Steve is retired from full-time positions as a supervisor at Mesabi Nugget and Potlatch and as the NSLCHFH construction manager (2015–2017).

His employment background brings to the Habitat board a business perspective with an appreciation for lifelong learning and working for the common good. Steve’s hobbies include spending time with his grandchildren and friends, construction projects, and the outdoors.

Steve said, “I was able to build a new home for my family using energy-saving methods I learned while working for Habitat. I have had the enjoyment of providing affordable housing and seeing its impact.”

Jenna is a relationship banker at the Hibbing branch of Wells Fargo. Through her banking background, she has helped renters purchase their first home. She says she is dedicated to tasks she finds passion in and has a desire to keep learning and welcoming new opportunities.

Jenna has been an active volunteer with North St. Louis County Habitat for Humanity through the Wells Fargo Builds program. She has also worked with local families during the holiday season by volunteering with St. Louis County Toys4Tots and United Way of Northeastern Minnesota’s Buddy Backpacks program. Jenna’s hobbies include traveling, back country backpacking, and fishing.

Jenna, who bought her first home at age 21, said, “Being proud is an understatement when 15 years go by and you realize, ‘This is mine, I did this.’”

Carolyn is a retired clinical social worker with nearly 30 years of experience in community mental health. She has also worked as a medical social worker and a vocational rehabilitation counselor. Her experience with those experiencing poverty, disabilities, and vocational challenges give her skills that assist in Habitat’s work with partner families.

Carolyn has been a Habitat volunteer since 2013 and is in her ninth year as a board member. She has served on six nonprofit boards and several civic committees since her retirement. She currently serves on the boards of the Essentia Health-Virginia Regional Foundation and ReVive Virginia, and she is a Virginia Elks Lodge officer. Carolyn says community service was a strong value and commitment of her father’s.

Carolyn loves perennial flower gardening, reading mysteries, and thrift shopping (but she says she’s trying to downsize).

Carolyn said, “My parents bought older homes and renovated them for our family, and my husband and I bought distressed properties to renovate and rent to low- and middle-income folks. I have witnessed how impactful stable housing can be. Habitat is close to my heart for all the benefits it gives to so many families.”

Don is a vice president at Northern State Bank of Virginia focusing on mortgage lending. His knowledge of credit analysis and the criteria around people’s ability to repay mortgages, for example, relates directly to how Habitat selects and works alongside homeowners. He also enjoys being outdoors.

“My best friend growing up parent’s home had a positive impact in my life,” Don said. “It was always a safe place to be for myself and other friends. His parents were always so gracious and made sure we were fed and didn’t get in too much trouble.”

Paul is retired from a career in human resources and business consulting. He and his wife, Carol, are the owners of The Knuti Farm in Embarrass. Paul’s contributions to the Habitat board are aided by his knowledge of strategic planning, board governance, human resources, and business administration.

He serves on the Patient and Family Advisory Council for Essentia Health and the Finnish Council of America, as well as the boards of the Embarrass Region Fair Association, Sisu Heritage Inc., the Ely Area Community Foundation, and the St. Louis County Historical Society board. Paul is a trustee emeritus of Finlandia University.

Paul enjoys raising cattle and working ranch horses, as well as participating in team penning events with friends and family. He is active in the Evangelical Free Church of Embarrass.

Paul said, “It is a privilege to help my neighbors on the Iron Range build and affordably buy a well-built, sustainable home.”

Judy first worked with NSLCHFH when she was secretary of Trinity Lutheran Church in Cook. She has held administrative and ministerial positions at Evangelical Lutheran Church in America congregations, including Our Savior’s in Hibbing, Messiah in Mountain Iron, and First in Buhl. Judy sold home interiors and worked for Fingerhut before attending the ELCA Northeastern Minnesota Synod’s School of Lay Ministry program.

Judy is heavily involved in her home congregation, Our Savior’s Lutheran in Virginia, where she serves on the congregation council, Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (WELCA), and the stewardship committee; she is also the church’s liaison to Boy Scout Troop 129. She is experienced in public speaking, organization, fundraising, and cooking, all of which will benefit Habitat for Humanity.

Judy and her husband, Dan, built their rural home in 1978. “A home, one of the basic human resources, is the one place where a person can survive the turmoil and stresses of daily life,” she said. “Whether one likes to sit and unwind or work remotely, a home of your own provides the autonomy and dignity that every person needs.”

Jackie has been the executive director of the Hibbing Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) for 10 years. She also has private sector housing experience and has insight on the area’s housing needs. She has served on several committees, including the Minnesota Family Homeless Prevention and Assistance Program (FHPAP), the Continuum of Care (CoC) program, and Community Development Block Grant program.

Jackie also hosts Lead for America, a national service program building the next generation of leaders for our communities. In her free time, she enjoys the outdoors, physical fitness, and reading.

“We have had several residents move on from our [HRA] housing into homeownership through Habitat,” Jackie said, “so it is exciting to see the pride and excitement of homeownership, especially for people who didn’t believe it could happen for them!”

Debra Warner is a licensed psychologist who spent her career as a counselor, university instructor, dean of two colleges, and owner of the management consulting firm Peak Performance. Debra describes herself as approachable, empathetic, flexible, organized, cooperative, and self-motivated; she is a problem-solver with strong communication skills.

She is a founding member of the Iron Range Rotary Club and served as District Governor in 2017-2018. She is active in Rotary International and served as an International Training Assembly leader. Debra also serves on the boards of her condo association in Duluth and Volunteers in Education (VinE), and she belongs to the American Association of University Women (AAUW). She loves anything to do with the outdoors, such as skiing, kayaking, and gardening, and she is learning Spanish, which will enhance her experience volunteering in Guatemala on Rotary projects.

“I feel blessed that I have a home where I feel happy and safe,” Debra said. “It is my honor to serve on a board for an organization that does that for other people.”

Mark has worked in the legal profession since 1982. He has years of experience dealing with all matters pertaining to real estate and real estate transactions.

He has lived with his wife (of almost 50 years) in Britt since 1976, but he spends a lot of his time at hid hideaway called Shiloh in Embarrass. (“Shiloh” is Hebrew for “place of peace.”) Mark’s hobbies and various community involvements have changed over time, he said, due to age and changing interests.

“I first saw some homeless people in Las Cruces, New Mexico, in 1999 while visiting my son at college,” Mark said. “They were sleeping next to the south facing wall of an old, abandoned gas station hoping, I suspect, to catch the warmth of the early morning sun (it gets cold in Las Cruces, too, in November). I realized then how lucky I have always been to have a warm, comfortable, and safe place to live. So I do what I can, with my limited abilities, to make it so for others.”