Board Officers
Chris Stenberg – Board President – Director of Alliance Services-Minnesota Upper Midwest Alliance of YMCA’s
A lifelong Superior resident and graduate of SHS and UW-Superior, Chris currently serves as the Director of Alliance Services for the Upper Midwest Alliance of YMCAs. In his role, Chris provides direct support to the staff and volunteers of 18 YMCA Associations in Minnesota in the areas of strategic planning, board development, advocacy, and operational support. He had previously served four years as the CEO of the Superior Douglas County Family YMCA. Prior to his Y employment, Chris was a volunteer board member of the Y, as well as other nonprofits including the Jaycees, Challenge Center, and Kiwanis. Chris enjoys spending time with family and friends, especially his wife Terra and their children Mason (18) and Maggie (15). His additional hobbies include almost anything in the out- doors, exercising, reading, and cooking.
Rebecca Scherf – Board Vice President – Chief of Staff to the Mayor of Superior
Becky was born and raised in Superior, WI. After graduating Superior High School in 2004, Scherf attended UMD 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 and spent some time 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. Scherf is passionate about local history, having served as President of the historical society for several years. She is a single mom of 4 and is currently obtaining her Master’s degree in Public Administration through Hamline University in St. Paul.
Kathryn Guimond – Board Treasurer – Director for UW-S Center for Continuing Education
Kathryn serves as the Director for the Center for Continuing Education 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 with the principle that there are multiple ways of making learning meaningful. Core to her teaching philosophy is that the process of learning 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 Masters of Education in Science and Mathematics from the University of Charleston. Kathryn was born in South Range, Wisconsin, where she returned to 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.
Kathy Wilson – Board Secretary – Planner 2 for the City of Duluth
Kathy Wilson (they/she) was born and raised in New England and spent some time wandering around the Pacific Northwest before settling in Duluth about 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. She has spent her career working for nonprofits and in the public
sector and is currently a community planner for the City of Duluth.
Board Members
Sunja Bennett – Board Member – teller at 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. Sunja is a graduate of UW-Superior with a B.S. 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 is a believer in CASDA’s mission and is proud to serve on our board.
Joseph Eickman – Board Member – Chief of Police for University of Wisconsin- Superior
Joe grew up in Central North Dakota and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in high school. 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.
Joel Markon – Board Member – retired Police Officer with the Superior Police Department
Joel is a Douglas County resident and 20-year veteran of the Superior Police Department, currently serving as a detective. A lifetime student of human behavior with a background in biology, he is always looking to enhance the lives of the people he serves. An FBI trained Crisis Negotiator, shooting range owner, magician and Girl Scout leader, Joel spends as much time as he can outdoors, but his favorite pastime is being a dad. He takes pride and personal satisfaction with the opportunity to help people in need, especially those in domestic situations and the mentally ill.
Kat Proveaux – Board Member – Mental Health Therapist with MAP Behavioral Health
Kat Proveaux is a dedicated mental health therapist with a rich background in social work. As a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW), Kat brings a wealth of experience in 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.
Katie Trianoski – Board Member – Staff Accountant for Scott Wallin, CPA
Katie grew up in southern Minnesota and made her way up to the Twin Ports to attend St. Scholastica. She graduated with degrees in accounting and finance and has obtained her CPA. Katie works at Scott Wallin CPA, SC in Superior. She also sits as the Treasurer on the board for the Beautiful Strength Project, another local nonprofit. In her free time, she loves spending time with
her family and friends. She has a husband, 2 dogs, and a new baby boy.
Donald J. Odermann – Board Member – Emeritus Board Member
Don is retired from Lakehead Constructors, Inc., where he worked for 31 years. When Don retired he was part owner of the company and was the President & CEO. He worked in the Construction Industry for 34 years and graduated from Mt. Scenario College with a B.S. in Business Administration. He is also a Retired Engineer Military Officer retiring at the rank of Colonel in the Wisconsin National Guard after 29 years of service.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SERVE ON CASDA’S BOARD OF DIRECTORS?
Board members bring professional and/or personal experience in areas such as finance, fund development, planning, personnel, policy, non-profit management, legal issues, abuse issues, and marketing. A board term lasts three years.
Prospective board members must be committed to our mission of providing supportive services to individuals hurt by domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse while we advocate for a community effort to end violence. We also value diversity on our board, and we hope that individuals who have utilized CASDA’s services in the past or whose lives have been personally affected by abuse will consider applying.
To inquire about board positions and learn more, please contact [email protected].