Casda's Team
Staff
Attorney
Our attorney, Cynthia, has been a Casda attorney since 2016. Her focus is on assisting low-income Casda clients in navigating family court issues. Her clients are either victims of domestic abuse or sexual abuse, or have guardianship of children who are victims of domestic abuse (including neglect) or sexual abuse. Some Casda clients are eligible to be directly represented by her in court. Eligibility is based upon a legal screening process, which starts with a referral from Casda staff.
Cynthia has been a member of the State Bar of Wisconsin since 1999. Before working at Casda, Cynthia focused on civil litigation, including insurance defense, personal injury, federal environmental law cases, and class action mesothelioma cases.
Her prior practice took her to courtrooms all over the country, but now she is happy to exclusively practice law in Ashland, Bayfield, and Douglas counties.
Shelter Program Coordinator
Our Shelter Program Coordinator, Jo, started her journey with Casda as a volunteer, then as an intern, and eventually was hired as a shelter advocate in January 2013. From there, Jo retained enough experience working with shelter clients and was eventually promoted to Shelter Program Coordinator, where she provides direct services and case management to all shelter clients and crisis line callers.
She conducts structured one-on-one appointments with shelter clients on a weekly basis to facilitate advocacy and goal setting. She connects clients with appropriate resources and services while navigating the complexities of the social system. She serves as a liaison with area vendors and service agencies to ensure a safe and healthy living environment within the shelter program.
Jo provides information and education concerning domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse. She also facilitates three of our annual donation drives and participates in multiple committees, both inside and outside of Casda.
Community Engagement Coordinator
While the Community Engagement Coordinator, Mollie, occasionally works with clients, this individual’s main focus is engaging the broader community with Casda‘s mission by coordinating the efforts of interns and volunteers, assisting with fundraising activities, and overseeing Casda‘s Public Education and Internship Programs.
Mollie has over ten years of work experience in a variety of roles that align with her current position at Casda. These include: office administration, teaching special education, leading art courses, grant writing, fundraising, care counseling, and advocating for clients and communities with social, physical, and economic barriers.
Mollie utilizes her past work experience, natural creativity, and desire to motivate younger generations to help contribute to Casda‘s mission. Her ultimate goal is to consistently inspire volunteers, interns, and community members to cultivate a collective passion for making a difference.
Domestic Abuse Program Coordinator
Our Domestic Abuse Program Coordinator, Brenna, is our resident advocate on domestic violence, working with victims in one-on-one appointments and by co-facilitating our educational/support group. She also provides education and outreach to the community, assists clients in finding housing, and accompanies them in court.
A significant role of Brenna’s is to facilitate all the fundraising and awareness events during Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Not only does she have a work history of being a personal care assistant, but she also has a great love for humans and animals, which gives the work she does at Casda a meaningful and philanthropic drive.
Brenna brings her companion, Bruno, to work every day. He acts as an emotional support animal to clients during one-on-one appointments and events. The little four-legged friend brings comfort, ease, and humor – not only to staff, but most importantly, our clients and the community we serve.
Sexual Abuse Program Coordinator
Our Sexual Abuse Program Coordinator, Christine, is our resident expert on sexual assault, working with victims and survivors of sexual violence. She also works with community members and other local agencies to address the impact that sexual assault has on our community and make changes to prevent sexual assault from occurring.
Her mother was taken from her in December 1990 because of lifelong domestic violence. Since then, Christine has become dedicated to helping people in DV situations and vowed to someday work for Casda. That dream finally came true, and she was hired as a Fill-In Advocate in 2021.
In 2024, she was promoted to a full-time employee as Casda‘s new Sexual Assault Program Coordinator. She is doing what she has always wanted to: to help those suffering from abuse and offer them the hope of healing.
Children's Program Coordinator
The Children’s Program Coordinator, Jackie, provides supportive services to child and teen victims and witnesses of abuse. She provides safety planning assistance as well as help with healthy communication skills, setting boundaries, and improving self-esteem.
Jackie has been working in the field of mental health for many years. Throughout her personal life experiences and previous positions, she has made children’s safety her passion. She enjoys educating children and parents/guardians on how to stay safe to the best of their ability. At Casda, Jackie meets with children, does tabling events, visits schools, and works with the children in the shelter.
Housing First Program Coordinator
As the Housing First Program Coordinator, Denise coordinates housing-focused flexible funding and advocacy services for victims/survivors of domestic abuse in Casda‘s service area. The Housing First program focuses primarily on helping survivors who face multiple barriers secure and maintain stable, long-term housing. The Housing First strategy addresses homelessness first, making other challenges faced by survivors easier to manage. I then help them set up goals and find resources in the community to obtain those goals.
Denise has been with Casda for 9 years. During this time, she has been on the Douglas County Mental Health Community Collaboration Team, the Douglas County Drug Prevention team, the Elderly Abuse Committee, and the Multidisciplinary Team. She also presents at speaking engagements in the community on various subjects, including safety planning and trauma-informed care.
Denise trains new hires in Advocacy Training and Tech Training, and also facilitates Casda‘s bi-weekly support group. She is also a Certified Life Skills Coach, which assists our clients in reaching goals such as budgeting, time management, and boundaries.
Denise states, “This job is not just a job, it’s a journey for me that clients allow me to partner with them in helping them reach their goals and for them to know that they are not alone.”
Triage Advocate
The Triage Advocate, Dakotah, is the first face clients, staff, and community members see when they walk through our doors. She provides direct services to assist callers on the help line and walk-ins, in accordance with Casda‘s mission and philosophy. Dakotah networks with various community professionals to expand supportive services to clients. She also triages requests for help, provides peer counseling and referrals, and participates in facilitating our bi-weekly support group.
Dakotah started at Casda back in 2022 as an intern under our Outreach Program. After a year of gaining experience as an advocate in outreach, she was hired as a Fill-In Advocate at the shelter.
Dakotah has recently been promoted to the newest Triage Advocate, effective early 2025. Dakotah’s passion is to work with victims of sexual assault and domestic abuse, as her college studies in human services, her own lived experience, and the reward in helping others have been the ultimate motivators that are displayed in her strong advocacy work.
Shelter Overnight Advocate
Our Overnight Advocate, Kim, provides advocacy and supportive services to victims and survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse residing within the shelter and answers the 24-hour help line. This role is very important as having solid support every hour of the night only provides further peace of mind and a sense of safety at any time.
Our Overnight Advocate has been with Casda for over 11 years, starting as a part-time advocate and moving on to being full-time. She says she is passionate about being a part of a mission that does not tolerate domestic violence and sexual assault in our community and beyond. Kim enjoys and has over a decade of experience being a voice for people who have yet to find the confidence and advocate for themselves. Not only that, but Kim comes to work every day with the drive that someday we will see the barriers victims face disappear from our society.
Shelter House Manager
Our Shelter House Manager, Ruth, provides direct services to all clients residing in the shelter and supports victims’ decisions and aids them in finding the necessary resources to regain control of their own lives, including housing opportunities. Ruth offers empathetic listening, peer counseling, referrals, and conflict resolution amongst clients. While doing so, the House Manager is also responsible for client files, statistical logs, and other documentation that is required to keep shelter clients safe, heard, and prepared for a successful healing.
On top of Ruth’s multiple duties, such as storeroom maintenance, grocery shopping for shelter, and ensuring the safety of the facility, she conducts a weekly “Dinner and Conversation” gathering that plays a vital role in the sense of community Casda can offer while clients are staying with us. Ruth prepares a home-cooked meal in the shelter kitchen, and clients are encouraged to join to eat, share stories, and bond with one another in a time of struggle. Developing healthy and supportive relationships in a shelter helps with emotional healing and gaining confidence when taking the right steps to move forward. Ruth provides this opportunity with a warm heart and a home-cooked meal.
Ruth started with Casda as a volunteer back in 2011. After six months, she became a fill-in advocate. Having shown her dedication to the mission and her compassion for the shelter clients, she was soon promoted to the House Manager position in 2013. She loves working in the shelter as it has proven to be incredibly fulfilling work, especially when she gets to see a client walk out our doors to move on and start an incredible new journey.
Board of Directors
Board President
Chris Stenberg
Director of Alliance Services for the Upper Midwest Alliance of YMCAs
A lifelong Superior resident and graduate of Superior High School and the University of Wisconsin-Superior, Chris is the Director of Alliance Services for the Upper Midwest Alliance of YMCAs. In his role, Chris directly supports the staff and volunteers of 18 YMCA Associations in Minnesota in strategic planning, board development, advocacy, and operational support. He had previously served four years as the CEO of the Superior Douglas County Family YMCA. Before his YMCA employment, Chris was a volunteer board member of the YMCA and other nonprofits, including the Jaycees, Challenge Center, and Kiwanis.
Chris enjoys spending time with friends and especially his family. His other hobbies include almost anything outdoors, exercising, reading, and cooking.
Board Vice President
Rebecca Scherf
Chief of Staff to the Mayor of Superior
Becky was born and raised in Superior, WI. After graduating from Superior High School in 2004, Scherf attended the University of Minnesota Duluth, where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and Psychology. After college, Scherf moved to both Washington state and Tennessee, where she worked in corrections until returning home to Superior as a 911 dispatcher and working in medical claims.
Scherf currently works in the Mayor’s Office as Chief of Staff and is the founder and President of a local non-profit, the Border Town Betties. She is passionate about local history, having served as President of the Historical Society for several years. She is a single mom of four and is obtaining her Master’s degree in Public Administration through Hamline University in St. Paul.
Board Treasurer
Kathryn Guimond
Director, University of Wisconsin-Superior Center for Continuing Education
Kathryn serves as the Center for Continuing Education Director at the University of Wisconsin-Superior. Kathryn has an ongoing passion for accessible lifelong learning experiences. She believes that educational programs must be relevant to the learner and grounded in the principle that there are multiple ways of making learning meaningful. Core to her teaching philosophy is that the learning process is equally important as the product of the learning experience.
Kathryn holds a Bachelor’s degree in Geology from the College of Charleston and a Master’s of Education in Science and Mathematics from the University of Charleston. Kathryn was born in South Range, Wisconsin, where she returned in 2017 and considers her true home. Her hobbies include enjoying the 80 acres of land surrounding the house her father built, her sweet dogs, and getting out to lakes, streams, and forests. Equally important is spending quality time with her husband and family, volunteering time to Casda, as well as learning as much as possible about the changing social, political, and economic climate of Superior.
Board Secretary
Kathy Wilson
Planner 2, City of Duluth
Kathy was born and raised in New England and wandered around the Pacific Northwest before settling in Duluth over a decade ago. As a survivor of domestic violence, they are grateful to be able to support Casda’s mission.
Kathy loves sea smoke sunrises over Lake Superior in the winter and hiking in every season with their partner Ryan and dog Mei. Kathy enjoys painting with bright colors and wearing outfits that include several different (possibly clashing) patterns at once. They have spent their career working for nonprofits and in the public sector and are currently a community planner for the City of Duluth.
Board Member
Sunja Bennett
Teller, Superior Choice Credit Union
Sunja has lived most of her life in Douglas County and has been working with people with disabilities for almost 30 years. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Superior with a Bachelor of Science in Social Work and has spent most of her career working with nonprofits in case management, operations, Medicaid/Medicare, and employment services.
She enjoys traveling, volunteering with various organizations, and spending time with family. Sunja believes in Casda’s mission and is proud to serve on our board.
Board Member
Joseph Eickman
Chief of Police, University of Wisconsin-Superior
Joe grew up in Central North Dakota and, in high school, enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. After receiving an Honorable Discharge as a Sergeant, Eickman attended the University of North Dakota for one year before transferring to the University of Minnesota-Duluth. In 2005, Eickman earned his Bachelor of Arts in Criminology with a minor in Psychology. Eickman also attended the Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College and received an Associate of Arts and an Associate of Science in Law Enforcement.
Eickman began his law enforcement career with the Duluth Police Department in 2007 and was hired by the University of Wisconsin-Superior in 2009. In February of 2020, Eickman was promoted to Police Sergeant and named Interim Director of Public Safety on July 1, 2020.
During his time as Interim Director, Eickman transitioned the Public Safety Department from a security department to a police department and was named Chief of Police in May of 2021.
Board Member
Kat Proveaux
Mental Health Therapist, MAP Behavioral Health
Kat is a dedicated Mental Health Therapist with a rich background in social work. As a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW), Kat has a wealth of experience supporting and empowering individuals across various settings, including end-of-life care, emergency care, homelessness, employment assistance, and crisis situations. Kat’s professional journey includes a short tenure at Casda during her undergraduate studies in social work, where she honed her skills in advocacy and support.
Her commitment to helping others extends beyond her professional roles; she has been actively involved in community-focused initiatives, such as organizing fundraisers and events, and running an annual supply drive for the homeless in Duluth in memory of her father. Her volunteer work history includes providing hospital advocacy for victims of sexual assault, facilitating critical incident stress debriefings, and distributing food to those in need. showcasing her broad experience in crisis support and community engagement.
Having transitioned to private practice, Kat realized her deep-seated passion for community outreach and advocacy. Returning to Casda represents a meaningful opportunity for her to reconnect with her roots in community service and continue making a tangible impact.
Board Member
Katie Trianoski
Staff Accountant, Scott Wallin CPA
Katie grew up in southern Minnesota and moved to the Twin Ports to attend the College of St. Scholastica. She graduated with degrees in accounting and finance and has obtained her CPA. She also serves as Treasurer on the board for the Beautiful Strength Project, another local nonprofit.
She loves spending time with her family and friends in her free time. She has a husband, 2 dogs, and a new baby boy.
Interested in Casda's Board?
Casda’s Board of Directors is made up of individuals who bring valuable professional and personal experience in areas such as finance, fund development, planning, personnel, policy, nonprofit management, legal issues, abuse prevention, and marketing. Board terms are three years.
We welcome individuals who are passionate about our mission to provide supportive services to those impacted by domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse, while working toward a community free from violence. We also recognize the importance of diverse perspectives and encourage individuals with lived experience, including those who have used Casda’s services or have been personally affected by abuse, to consider joining our board.
To learn more about board opportunities, please contact Dominique at nik@casda.org.