ABOUT AVODAH SERVICES

HISTORY OF AVODAH SERVICES

Avodah Services is an outgrowth of the Prayer and Care Ministry at Hosanna! Lutheran Church, Lakeville, MN, which began a program in 2000 of providing free weekly meals and other services to members of the community who are in need. One of the subsets of this weekly ministry was a no charge service of providing job coaching and counseling to assist those in need of finding a job. This evolved into another ministry in 2002, called Career Connections, which provides prayerful support and networking assistance to those unemployed or in job transition. This group currently has 102 members who provide mutual assistance to each other, and is led by volunteer church members. As an outgrowth of this career support ministry, a need to train unemployed workers and provide employment services was identified and, thus, Avodah Services was formed.

AVODAH STAFF

Thomas Brustad, Executive Director - Tom and his three children live in St.Paul.

Tom has spent the last four years teaching and running truck driver training schools. Prior to teaching, Tom drove trucks for 23 years both local and nationwide.

Tom has a real passion for helping people in job transition, and has spent a great deal of time learning about the process's and procedures for dislocated, unemployed and underemployed people.

Stacy Kerkow-Dohmen, Program Director - Stacy and her husband, Greg, have two children and are active members of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in New Prague, MN. For the past 16 years, Stacy has either been a member of the Congregational Council (and Past President), Personnel Team, Sunday School Supervisor, Child Care Team, participant in Bible Study opportunities or Vocalist for the Celebrate Worship Team. Stacy has over 15 years of experience as a Vocational Trainer and Placement Specialist, in Private Practice, at Rehabilitation Facilities and for Workers Compensation Case Management Firms throughout the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota. She continues to be employed as a Certified Trainer, offering workshops to childcare providers and families affected by Autism Spectrum Disorders.

Larry Fannon, Training Director -

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Howard Nelson, Chairman - Howie has over 25 years experience in agri-business development. He holds a B.S. from the University of Minnesota and is currently responsible for North American field sales for Envirologix, a Portland, ME biotechnology firm. He is the former Business Unit Manger for Foss North America, a Danish-based analytical instrumentation company, and held various field management positions with Garst Seed Company. In these leadership roles, he excelled in developing sales teams, marketing and sales management, corporate level selling, product management, and distribution channel management. Howie has been a member of Hosanna! Lutheran Church in Lakeville, MN since 1991 and is currently co-leader and founder of the Career Connections ministry. He serves on the motorcycle ministry leadership team, participates in several small groups. His wife, Mary, owns a communications consulting firm, is Vice President of the Hosanna congregation, and is a published Christian author. They have been married 27 years and have two adult children.

Thomas O'Malley, Treasurer - Tom is a man of strong faith in God and Jesus Christ and is married to a supportive, elementary schoolteacher. He is a family man with two adopted Korean children. As a business generalist, Tom is someone who sees the needs of the company and can allocate critical resources to get the business unit in a position to succeed. He has a strong Ag-business background and has spent the past 10 years spent in a self-employed entrepreneurial retail environment.

Gerald Potratz - Gerry has worked in the computer services industry for over 40 years. He has held executive management positions at Control Data Corp, Bell Atlantic Business Systems, AmeriData, and GE Capital. His most recent position was Vice President and General Manager at GE Capital IT Solutions. His primary responsibilities throughout his career have been in National Account Management, Business Development, and Service Delivery Operations. Gerry graduated from the North Dakota School of Sciences. Gerry and his wife Linda have two daughters, live in Prior Lake, MN, and have been members of Hosanna! for three years.

Jan Morten Buseth - Jan was educated in Europe and has a degree in retail management. After serving as a missionary in Europe, he emigrated to the U.S., where he started his own company. He is currently owner and president of Z-Sport, an export company of U.S. made athletic equipment to overseas markets. Jan also serves as a board member for other international companies, and as an advisor to mission organizations.

Pam Pech - Pam is the Senior Director of Franchise Operations for AmplifonUSA. She is responsible for Franchise Operations over Miracle Ear Franchising and National Hearing Centers Franchising. Pam has an undergraduate degree from Michigan State University in English, and an MBA from the University of Phoenix. Prior to joining Amplifon USA, Pam most recently was Regional Vice President for Randstad Minnesota, serving with that company (previously Firstaff ) for 11 years. She has over 20 years in the staffing industry having been in management with Kelly Services, Director of Corporate Development with Olsten (Milwaukee), and Vice President of Valley Staffing in Phoenix, Arizona. Pam is also on the Board of Directors for Miracle Ear Childrens Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing free hearing aids for hearing impaired children.

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