OUR TEAM

Everything we do is built on Five Promises

Please feel free to reach out to any of our team members with questions about our programs and services.

OUR STAFF.

Executive Director

Kathryn Engelhardt-Cronk

Kathryn has dedicated her career to two impactful industries. Initially, she played a key role as a social service provider, founder, and executive in the nonprofit sector. Later, she transitioned to become the founder and CEO of Community TechKnowledge/CTK, a case management software company. CTK, focused on supporting social change for nonprofits and charities with public funding, achieved significant success, serving over 18,000 organizations across four continents in five languages. In 2017, the company was successfully sold to an equity partnership. Now, as the Executive Director of Youth First Community of Promise, Kathryn is thrilled to bring her expertise back to the nonprofit sector.

Email: kec@youthfirst.net

Youth Program Coordinator

Julia Mantey

Julia is the staff serving at Anoka Middle School at both the Washington and Fred Moore campuses. She holds a bachelor's degree in History and Political Science from Augsburg University. She has spent a lot of time with various youth programs including time as a mentor for History Day Minnesota, a substitute teacher for the Anoka Hennepin School District, and coaching volleyball at Anoka High School. In her free time, she enjoys reading, art, and being outdoors. Julia will be completing her MAE from Augsburg University in May 2025.

Email: jmantey@youthfirst.net

OUR BOARD.

Youth First was established and is led by the active collaboration of the Northwestern Anoka County Community Consortium (NWACCC). The entities that comprise this award winning model include: the cities of Andover, Coon Rapids, and Ramsey, Anoka County, and the Anoka Hennepin School District.

The Joint Powers Agreement reflects the first time in Minnesota history that five units of government collaborated to impact young people’s lives and were awarded the National Association of Counties Award for its replicable and effective programming with at-risk youth and families.

Executive Board

Board Chair: Michelle Anderson

612-508-2957 Email

Vice Chair: Jim Dickinson

763-767-5110 Email

Secretary: Ryan Gunderson

763-767-6513 Email

Ramsey

Michelle Anderson

Matt Woestehoff

Nick Dahlberg

Dan Specht (Alternate)

Andover

Jim Dickinson

Stephanie Wallin

Anoka County

Gayle Alexander

Bill Jacobson

Julie Jeppson

Erik Thorson

Julie Braastad (Alternate)

Coon Rapids

Ryan Gunderson

Kari Rehrauer

Anoka Hennepin Schools

Michelle Trelstad