ELEVATE HOPE HOUSE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Melinda McDermott – Founder/President
[email protected] – 612.615.8824 (text/call)
Melinda is the Founder of Elevate Hope House. She spends a great deal of time with her family, whether it’s fishing with her husband, attending her son’s baseball games, having tea parties with her two girls, or traveling to her parents in Wisconsin with the whole family to enjoy cabin/lake life. She has a variety of interests, but none more important than serving others in her community!
Since her Senior year of High School, Melinda has been on a career path of leadership. Initially, in retail management, then working with businesses and families throughout the metro area. She earned both her undergrad in Business Management & her MBA from Bethel University. At the end of her MBA program, she realized that her heart truly resided with families and children, and she has spent the last several years working with organizations in Anoka County on the fight to end homelessness – specifically focusing on families.
In addition to her work with Elevate in the non-profit world, Melinda is the Vice President of Operations for New Creations Child Care & Learning Center. The combination of leadership experience and career experience in both business and early childhood education has given her a unique perspective to cast vision for our organization. While leadership is a priority, Melinda’s overwhelming desire is to help guide the moms we work with on a path of self-sufficiency through Christ. “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” (I John 3:16-18, NLT)
Caryn Buxengard – Finance Director
[email protected]
Caryn joined Elevate’s Board of Directors in 2018. She is an active wife and mom. Caryn works for Mimecast as a Sr. Revenue Operations Analyst is very active in her church. She loves to be outdoors and you will find her with her family in the spring, summer, and fall camping and enjoying God’s creation! Caryn has a B.S in Speech and Hearing Sciences with a minor in Psychology. This education laid a foundation for her life and has supported her strong desire to help children and families be strong and healthy.
Caryn has a passion for Elevate Hope House “because I believe that every human being has value and so often young moms in our community are looked down on or unsupported when they need the support the most. I believe God has called us to support those in need and to be part of helping them break the generational cycles to be self-sufficient for not only themselves, but their children, and to come to know and love God in the process.”
Renee Hanson – Engagement Director – Oak Haven Church
[email protected]
Renee Hanson has been part of the Board of Directors since 2023, and we are incredibly thankful for the joyful, servant heart she shares with our leadership, mamas, kiddos, volunteers, and community every day! She has been married for 51 years, blessed with 3 children, and 5 grandchildren. Her home church is Oak Haven Church in Ham Lake, MN and she has been attending since 1978. From serving in children’s ministry to hospitality to women’s ministry to quilting and more – Renee has a heart to serve where she feels called. Prior to retirement and joining Elevate Hope House, her career was in retail and then dentistry. At the end of the day, everything she does and has done is about building relationships with the people God brings into her life. Her hobbies include gardening, reading, crafting, and in the summers you will often find her and her husband in their ’69 Camaro at car shows.
When asked why Elevate means to her, she shared “I want to be part of giving a hand up to a young family in need. Being a part of offering them hope and a future. I had those who stepped in and stood beside me when I was young and uncertain of my future. My favorite part of being on the Elevate Team is that God is first in all things. We are his hands and feet.”
Pam Rassatt – Board Director (Volunteer Experience)
[email protected]
Pam Rassatt grew up in Ham Lake and Anoka and has resided in Ramsey with her husband Ryan and 4 children for the past 21 years (Madison-5, Murphy-9, Marshal-18, Morgan-21). She has been a member of Northgate since they opened volunteering in many roles, teams and small groups over the years. She has a passion for working with families and children. Her family has been a “host family” and “family friend” through other organizations that support single moms, and she has served as a board member in the past with local MOMS clubs doing a variety of service projects. She has been a stay-at-home mom, had an in-home childcare, and very recently acquired her LPN diploma so is now working as a substitute school nurse at elementary schools within the district and for PACT. Pam and her family enjoy camping or “glamping” as they call it, at their seasonal spot at a family friendly campground. She also enjoys dabbling in fairy gardening, home improvement/DIY projects, and thrift shopping.
Robin Kirk- Board Director (Secretary)
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Robin, who has been educated and worked in industry for 30+ years, now uses those planning, management and presentation skills in volunteering. Retirement is really just a time where she can do what she really wants to do. Serving others through one on one encouragement, leading groups, planning events, prayer and meditation all to the glory of God is her life now. Involvement in areas that serve and support others is important, but she also loves spending time with her husband and grandchildren, biking and walking in nature.
ELEVATE HOPE HOUSE STAFF
Mary Sufka – Family Advocate Coordinator
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Mary has been a part of Elevate Hope House since 2019. She has worn a lot of hats within the organization, but most recently became Elevate’s Family Advocate Coordinator for our Ham Lake Families. As one of our first Family Advocates with Elevate Hope House, Mary has learned through hands-on experience what it takes to be a Family Advocate within Elevate Hope House. These Advocates are currently volunteers, and it takes the right person to be willing to walk alongside a young mom in crisis and choose to stay resilient, committed, and showing Christ’s love in all circumstances.
In addition to working with Elevate, Mary is a full-time nurse, mom of two, and wife to a servant-hearted, Christ-following husband. They also have a family dog that keeps them busy! Her family enjoys the outdoors and is often road tripping whenever they get a chance outside of school and work schedules. Mary’s heart for the Lord is overflowing, and we are beyond blessed to have her on our team.
Stephanie Eastes – System Administrator
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Stephanie has a passion for serving others. She worked as an accountant at non-profits providing affordable housing for over 7 years. In 2018, she shifted careers to a Direct Support Professional with Breaking Barriers, a company that provides support to those with disabilities. This change was brought on by her desire to have a more direct impact supporting people. However, she missed spreadsheets, so soon began helping with billing as well. She joined the Elevate Hope House team in 2024. In her role as System Administrator, she combines her compassion for others, strong belief in Elevate’s mission and professional skills.
