Our Board of Directors makes crucial governance decisions regarding Face to Face’s vision and mission. In selecting board members, we strive to create a diverse group of decision-makers that share our values and reflect the communities that we serve. You can learn more about the background of our current board leadership below.
Sofia Ali
Sofia is a Family Physician with over 20 years of experience in community clinics and community medicine in the Twin Cities, including serving briefly as Medical Director at Face to Face in 1997. In addition to her clinical work, Sofia holds a Master of Public Health degree. She believes the understanding of public health is imperative and provides a different lens through which to view health care. Sofia is passionate about working with patients to promote health rather than just treating illness and disease. She has clinical experience with Health Partners, United Family Medical Community Clinic, Eagan Child and Family Care Clinic, Boynton Health Service at University of Minnesota, West Side Community Health Center and Health Start School-Based Clinic. She has also worked as a consultant on several clinic systems change projects in clinics in and beyond Minnesota. Her public health experience has included serving as a consulting physician for the Asthma Program at the Minnesota Department of Health, Statewide Health Improvement Program, (Hennepin and Ramsey Counties) and the Controlling Asthma in American Cities Project of the American Lung Association. Sofia received her BS from the American University (Washington DC), MD from the Medical College of Pennsylvania and MPH from the University of Minnesota. She did her residency at the St. Paul-Ramsey Medical Center and West Side Community Health Center.
Jeremy Ellison
Jeremy joined the Face to Face Board of Directors in September of 2021. He has 22 years of experience with the Saint Paul Police Department. He currently serves as an Assistant Chief of Police and is very passionate about service to the community and providing help to those in need. Jeremy has a Master of Arts degree in Educational Leadership and Administration from the University of St. Thomas. He has extensive experience in building strong relationships with community members, centering on pedestrian and traffic safety.
Madeline Gragg
Madeline has held a variety of marketing and business roles at 3M Company over the last 19 years, developing skills in strategic planning, marketing, change management and process improvement. She currently serves as a Global Commercial Operations Leader for 3M’s Safety and Industrial Business Group. Prior to joining 3M, Madeline served as a high school special education teacher, assisting students with disabilities to develop the life and vocational skills needed to be successful as members of the community. She later honed her understanding of adult education as an educational consultant in Japan and as a residence hall director at the University of Michigan. Madeline has a Master of Business Administration from Washington University in St. Louis, as well as a Master of Arts in Education and Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Truman State University.
Jannine He’bert
Jannine He’bert has been a member of the Board of Directors since the summer of 2019. She is a psychologist who has worked in the area of sexual violence prevention for more than 25 years, and has worked across various settings (outpatient, inpatient, prison and civil commitment) with adults and adolescents who have sexually perpetrated, as well as those directly impacted by sexual abuse. She is currently the Executive Clinical Director of the Minnesota Sex Offender Program at the Department of Human Services. She is interested in restorative justice practices and creative prevention interventions at all levels. Jannine will be a member of the short-term Strategic Planning Committee as well as the HR/Governance Committee.
Laverne McCartney Knighton
Laverne is Area Director for UNCF (United Negro College Fund Inc.), the nation’s largest and most effective minority education organization. Laverne is an External Advisor to Governor Tim Walz’s Community Resiliency and Recovery work group to address racial inequalities and disparities due to COVID-19, and to look at policymaking and other opportunities to help communities of color. Originally from Texas, Laverne was recruited to Minnesota in 1978 to start her career in retail fashion merchandising with Dayton Hudson Corporation. Laverne spent seven years as Public Information and Education Manager for Tubman Family Alliance, a domestic violence organization, and 13 years at Target Corporation in Community Relations/Corporate Social Responsibility. In 2019 Laverne was recognized as a Woman of Excellence at the Celebrating the Sistas Award Ceremony in recognition of her outstanding leadership, contributions, and commitment to the Twin Cities community. Laverne believes that service equals an authentic and deep connection to community. She is an expert connector and collaborator, a passionate ally and advocate for community building and engagement. Laverne has been married to her wonderful husband, Russell Knighton for 23 years and has three bonus children–Jason, Kymba, and Jaraux, and is a proud Nana to Boston, Kayli, Jalen, Jordan, and Mayes. She and Russell reside in St. Paul and attend Camphor Memorial United Methodist Church.
Tom Kottke
Tom has been a member of the Board of Directors since January of 2019 and is a member of the Development and External Relations Committee. He is a Health Partners cardiologist and epidemiologist and Medical Director for Well-being. Tom was the recipient of the 2018 President’s Award from the Minnesota Medical Association. This award recognizes physicians who have worked on behalf of public health. His work has improved health in our community by promoting public health measures that include: Tobacco cessation, Teen pregnancy prevention, bike safety, and gun violence prevention.
Shamsur Mahmud (Ramond)
Shamsur has a professional career spanning almost 20 years in finance and information technology. Working at various fortune 100 for profit and non-profit organizations in health care as financial analyst and consultant roles, he crossed over to information technology side working for 3M Data Analytics where he grew a keen interest on data and systems security as a Product Manager. Shamsur has a bachelor degree in Business Administration and Management Information System from Winona State University and an executive MBA degree focusing on Finance from Saint Mary’s University.
Shamsur originally hails from Bangladesh. He came to the United States of America as a student when he was 19. He has spent more than half of his life in the US and now calls Minnesota his home, living with his wife and two kids. Shamsur hopes to help Face to Face in any capacity for the betterment of the under-served youth of Ramsey County in Minnesota.
Eugene (Gene) M. Nichols
Gene has more than 30 years of health care experience as a Manager for the Health Care Division of 3M Corporation, now retired. Gene is currently Board Chair at Rainbow Research, and a member of the board at ANSR (Association for Nonsmokers). Gene is a Human Right Commissioner for the City of Shoreview Minnesota where he resides. In addition Gene is a member of the Minnesota Department of Health Maternal and Child Health Task Force, and continues his work with Clearway Minnesota and MSFG coalition (Minnesotans for a Smoke Free Generation). Gene was born and raised in Yonkers, New York, and earned his Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Pittsburgh.
Meagan Phillips
Meagan has over 15 years of experience in the financial services industry in actuarial and risk management positions. She joined Securian Financial in 2005 where she led major risk and product development projects within Securian’s individual annuity product line before transitioning to their corporate actuarial team. In 2017, Meagan was promoted to director and actuary, overseeing Securian’s asset liability management and product risk areas. In 2018, she was named Assistant Chief Risk Officer, where she managed Securian’s financial risk, asset liability management, enterprise risk reporting and capital management areas. She was promoted to her current position as Second Vice President and Chief Risk Officer in 2022 and is responsible for leading the enterprise risk management program which includes managing financial risk and capital as well as operational, strategic and third-party risks. She is a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries (FSA), Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®) and Member of the American Academy of Actuaries (MAAA®). Meagan resides in St. Paul and received her bachelor’s degree in mathematics and economics from Gustavus Adolphus College.
William Reynaga
William is currently an attorney at the Minnesota Judicial Branch and a proud Eastsider. He has a B.S. from Portland State University and a J.D. from the University of St. Thomas School of Law. Before becoming an attorney, he worked at two Twin Cities nonprofits in workforce development. During law school, he worked for the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office and in private practice helping students obtain special education services from their school districts. He also participated in the law school’s appellate immigration clinic where they assisted individuals obtaining refugee status in the United States. After law school, he worked at the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office under Attorney General Keith Ellison. William shares the values of Face to Face and is excited to advance Face to Face’s mission of providing Minnesota’s youth the support they need to succeed and live a life of dignity.
Peter Scott
Peter joined Face to Face’s Board of Directors in 2021, and has been serving on the 50th Anniversary committee previous to joining the board. He spent his career leading physician education and medical writing programs at medical device companies Medtronic and Guidant. Peter has served on Boards which provide medical care, counseling, affordable housing options, and supportive services to adults living with HIV/Aids. He is also a member of The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra’s Board of Governors. Peter excels developing goals and objectives to drive the organization forward and then creating messaging and plans to reach those goals.
Bob Siegfried
Bob became a member of the board of Directors in 2019 and is currently the Treasurer and Chair of the Finance and Audit Committee. He is the retired Director of Finance, Humanitarian Services for the American Red Cross. Bob had financial responsibilities for the national organization in the Mid-Atlantic region. Prior to joining The American Red Cross, Bob worked at Medtronic, Inc., Thomson Reuters, and Advanced Bio-Surfaces, Inc. in various financial roles. Bob has a bachelor’s degree from the University of St. Thomas in accounting. In the past, Bob served on Boards focused on providing education and job placement services to unemployed and underemployed adults and medical care and housing to adults with HIV/Aids.
Rev. Dr. Ed Treat
Ed Treat has been in long-term recovery from addiction for 36 years. He received his Master of Divinity and a Doctor of Ministry from Luther Seminary. From 1994-2019, he was a parish pastor, serving congregations in rural Nebraska and around the Twin Cities including a mission start. Treat helped develop the Fellowship of Recovering Lutheran Clergy (FRLC) in 1990, a non-profit effort between pastors of the Missouri Synod of the Lutheran Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. In 2001, Treat became the director of the FRLC and remains such today.
Through the FRLC and with some collaboration with the Recovery Ministries of the Episcopal Church (RMEC), Treat launched the Addiction & Faith Conference in 2018 to educate, inspire and equip congregations in addiction ministry. In 2020, Treat founded The Center of Addiction & Faith, as a 501©3 nonprofit. He sits on the boards of the FRLC, the RMEC, the Center of Addiction & Faith, Minnesota Mental Health Connect, and serves on the PAC of Minnesota Recovery Connection.
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