ELEVATE HOPE HOUSE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Melinda McDermott – Founder/President
Melinda@elevatehopehouse.org – 612.615.8824 (text/call)
Melinda McDermott founded Elevate Hope House in 2017 and is passionate about serving her community. She enjoys spending time with her family—fishing with her husband, attending her son’s baseball games, having tea parties with her daughters, and visiting her parents’ cabin in Wisconsin.
Melinda has been in leadership roles since high school, starting in retail and then working with metro area businesses and families. She earned her Business Management degree and MBA from Bethel University. During her MBA program, she discovered her calling to work with families and children, leading her to focus on ending homelessness in Anoka County. She also has 10 years of experience in the child care industry.
Her goal is to guide mothers toward self-sufficiency through faith-based support. In 2020, Melinda and the Leadership Team opened the first Elevate Hope House home for young homeless mothers and their children. In 2025, the organization partnered with Spring Lake Park High School to open a second affordable housing home. Melinda also cast the vision and launched alongside community leaders the Called Weekend Women’s Conference to build community among women across Minnesota.
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)
Wendy Thorson – Board Director (Finance)
wendy@elevatehopehouse.org
Wendy Thorson serves as Elevate Hope House’s Finance Director, bringing over 15 years of banking experience in strategic planning, budgeting, and data analysis from her time at a large U.S. financial institution. She is passionate about using her gifts to support Elevate’s mission of helping young, single mothers build stable, hope-filled futures. More than just a numbers expert, Wendy leads with heart, deeply rooted in faith and a desire to make a lasting impact.
Outside of Elevate, Wendy loves spending time with her husband, Josh, their two daughters, and their goldendoodle, Ben. She enjoys days at the lake or pool, serving in the children’s ministry at Andover Christian Church, and cheering from the sidelines at dance competitions. Wendy is a faith-filled, always-on-the-go mom who embraces the chaos, and the car snacks, that come with it.
Favorite Scripture:
“Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name… who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion…” Psalm 103
Shelby Ruppert – Board Director (Property Management)
Bio Coming Soon!
Renee Hanson – Board Director (Community Outreach)
renee@elevatehopehouse.org
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)
Pam@elevatehopehouse.org
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.
Nate Ruppert – Board Director (Build Projects)
With over 13 years at Lennar as a Construction Manager, Nate gained extensive experience leading teams, coordinating projects, and ensuring that every home met the highest standards of quality and care. In 2025, he brought that expertise to Elevate Hope House, where his leadership in managing people and processes translates directly into overseeing the build projects with the same dedication to excellence and safety. He takes pride in creating an environment where young mothers and their children can truly feel at home.
What inspires Nate most is the mission of Elevate Hope House. He is passionate about providing young moms not only with a safe and well-maintained home, but also with a place of stability where they can focus on building brighter futures. His wife and three children have also been a source of inspiration, reminding him daily of the importance of family, the need for support during life’s challenges, and the power of a nurturing environment to help children thrive. For him, combining his professional skills with a heart for service makes this work deeply fulfilling.
ELEVATE HOPE HOUSE STAFF
Mary Sufka – Family Advocate Coordinator
Mary@elevatehopehouse.org
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.
