Board and Leadership Team
Board Members
Tamera Hagen, Chair
Tami has worked in the manufacturing, financial, and medical worlds, and has been at Medtronic for over 17 years. Seeing the impact Achieve participants have at Medtronic, Tami is an advocate for community-based employment.
Tami has worked in the manufacturing, financial and medical worlds, and has been at Medtronic for over 13 years. Seeing the impact Achieve participants have at Medtronic, Tami is an advocate for community-based employment.
Tami resides in North Branch but spends most of her free time at her lake home in Siren, Wisconsin. Besides enjoying time with her two children and three grandchildren, Tami enjoys home improvement projects, gardening, boating, and traveling.
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Kathy Svanda, Vice Chair
Kathy Svanda worked for the State of Minnesota for over 30 years in the environmental field at the Pollution Control Agency and the Department of Health.
She is retired and enjoys outdoor activities, especially fly fishing and skiing. Her daughter, Kristina, has participated in the Achieve program since 1979 and currently works in several community locations, including Medtronic. Ms. Svanda has been on Achieve’s board since 2004.
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Sandy Crawford, Secretary
Sandy Crawford joined the board in 2011, a year after her son, Jameson, became a participant of Achieve Services.
Sandy is the President of Mead Metals, a metal service center specializing in narrow width slitting of high-quality specialty metals in less than mill quantities. As Chief Operating Officer, she is in charge of daily operations at the production and distribution facility located in Shoreview, MN. She previously was Vice President of Asset Based Lending for M&I Marshall & Ilsley (M&I) Bank. In 2010 she left banking to work for Mead Metals, her longtime client.
After earning her Bachelor of Science degree with a double major in accounting and business management from the University of North Dakota in 1983, Sandy spent her early career years as a CPA before moving into the banking and finance world in 1997.
Currently Sandy serves on the advisory board of directors for Lubrication Technologies, Inc., the Midwest’s largest distributor, blender and packager of lubricants, fuels and related fluids. Other organizations she is involved in include: the Association of Women in Metals, the Metals Service Center Institute and The Precision Metalforming Association.
Jim Steffen, Treasurer
Jim Steffen is a Certified Financial Planner™, as well as the CEO and Founder of Trott Brook Financial, a Registered Investment Advisory firm located in Anoka, MN.
Jim has degrees in Business and Economics from the University of St. Thomas, and has been working in financial services for over three decades.
Jim is married to Lisa and they have two children, Lauren and Tommy. Jim enjoys the great outdoors, especially smallmouth bass fishing, pheasant hunting, hiking, kayaking and biking. Jim, Lisa and the dogs especially enjoy traveling the country in their RV. Three of their favorite travel destinations are the cabin in Sandstone, Minnesota, Full Circle Ranch in Cave Creek, Arizona, and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
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John Bennett
John Bennett has a long career in banking and currently serves as vice president of 21st Century Bank.
As Mr. Bennett continues his work “building on life’s resume,” he is dedicated to service as well as being a tireless fundraiser; he is associated with more than 15 community giving agencies including the St. Paul Winter Carnival, The St. Paul Port Authority, the Midway Chamber of Commerce in St. Paul. Mr. Bennett also works with the St, Paul Park Conservancy and is excited to work tirelessly at improving the parks throughout St. Paul. He works with the National Football League and the Players Association.
Mr. Bennett was recently recognized as Volunteer of the Year by the Midway Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Bennett has been assisting Achieve Services as a board member since 2013.
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Pam Deal
Past service includes serving on the boards at Mercy Hospital, Alexandra House, Anoka Ramsey Community College Foundation, and St. Stephen's Church.
Pam, and her husband, former Achieve Services board member Jim, are owners of PSD Holding, LLC and its subsidiaries. When not working or volunteering, the Deals enjoy family time with their six grown children, 19 grandchildren and 29 great grandchildren. They enjoy spending summertime at their lake home in Alexandria.
Denice Escate
Denice Escate has been working in the Retail and Technology industry for 30+ years.
Denice currently resides in Southern Minneapolis. She comes from a large family that she loves spending time with. Besides spending time with her family and friends, she loves to cook, try new cuisine from local restaurants, entertain and travel across the globe.
Clark Hjelmstad
Clark Hjelmstad leads the business development team at Marketing Architects, a national television advertising agency.
Previous to Marketing Architects, Clark was a public relations director at a small private college in South Dakota where he worked closely with both the development and fundraising teams.
Clark recently spent 6 years on the Congregation Council for Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Maple Grove, including two years as president.
Clark and his wife, Heather, have three boys – Drew, Casey, and Jonathan.
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Susan Holden
Susan Holden is a former chair of Achieve Service’s Board of Directors and has served on the board since 2006.
Susan is a partner and shareholder in the law firm of SiebenCarey, PA. where she has spent more than 35 years representing clients in a variety of complex personal injury and wrongful death claims. She focuses her practice in cases involving trucking and automobile accidents, product defects, construction accidents, and medical malpractice.
She is certified as a Civil Trial Specialist by the Minnesota State Bar Association. She served as President of the Minnesota Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates in 2018, Chair of the Special Master Panel in the specially created compensation process for survivors of the I-35W bridge collapse in 2008, President of the Minnesota State Bar Association in 2005-2006, President of the Hennepin County Bar Association in 1999-2000, and has received numerous professional awards and distinctions. She has extensive experience serving on boards of non-profits and in leadership of professional associations.
Susan lives in Blaine, MN with her husband, Brian.
Brenda Kratsch
Brenda Kratsch is a graduate of Centennial High School in 1983 and attended Anoka Ramsey Community College, receiving an AA degree in 1985.
She worked the next year to save money to attend the University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management and graduated in December of 1988.
Brenda worked for Deluxe while in college and full-time from January 1989 until September of 2001 in customer service, management and online technology.
She married her high school sweetheart, Charlie, on October 12, 1991 and is the mother of two boys, Ian (27) and Sean (25).
Brenda has been a resident of Ham Lake for 25 years this coming September. Her older son currently lives with her and her husband, and their younger son lives in Phoenix with his fiancé Jessica and are getting married in December.
She spent many years as a volunteer at McKinley Elementary, Roosevelt Middle School and Blaine High School, and also served on the Mercy Foundation.
Brenda enjoys golf, books and travel. She recently visited Alaska and is super excited to be in Arizona more this winter!
Patty Krieger
Patty has over 35 years of experience in the IT industry, beginning with developing the Government/GSA Department for Northgate Computers in 1987 and continuing through to delivering complete IT solutions to clients across a wide range of industries.
A strong believer in collaboration and leadership development, Patty founded a national peer group within the technology sector to encourage knowledge-sharing and alignment at all levels of an organization. Mentoring and coaching have always been central to her approach, and this peer group served as a powerful platform for fostering both.
Patty was the founder and CEO of Netrix IT, a Managed Service Provider (MSP) known for its focus on security, account management, and building trusted client partnerships. Under her leadership, Netrix IT earned a reputation for innovation, reliability, and a deep commitment to client success. In 2023, Netrix IT was acquired by IT Partners+, expanding the reach and impact of both organizations. The merger brought together two cultures rooted in strong core values and a shared commitment to employee growth and client service. IT Partners+ continues to thrive under values like Do Great Work, Make it Fun, and Think Big—principles that align with Patty’s leadership philosophy.
Now retired from IT Partners+, Patty is channeling her time and energy into nonprofit and charitable work. She remains passionate about purpose-driven leadership and is focused on making a meaningful difference in the communities she serves.
Outside of her professional life, Patty is a proud wife of 42 years, mother of four, and grandmother of four. She loves to garden, support her professional networks, and spend quality time with family and friends.
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Tara Kuker
Tara Kuker is a dynamic entrepreneur and dedicated community leader with a lifelong passion for teamwork and growth.
Alongside her husband, she has successfully owned and operated multiple businesses, blending business savvy with a strong commitment to family and local impact.
Beyond the business world, Tara has spent years coaching youth sports, where she’s inspired countless young athletes to build confidence, character, and resilience - values she holds close to heart.
Tara and her husband, Matt, have 2 children, Ben and Beth. In their free time they like spend time at the cabin with family and friends.
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John LeTourneau
John LeTourneau, father of a son with disabilities and executive leadership coach with CO2 Coaching, brings a dual perspective to the Achieve board.
As a father, John sees this position as an opportunity to advocate for people with disabilities. In addition, his business acumen is a benefit as Achieve moves forward in strategic plans for the future. John has a BS degree in management and finance St. Cloud State University. John understands challenges and how to create opportunities from those challenges. He is married to wife, Patti. They have two sons, Miles and Mitchell.
Achieve Senior Staff
Rob Lane
Brooke Jensen
Lindsey Johnson
Jim Rooker
Cassie Derner
Joe Loskota
