Our Team

Meet the faces behind The Landing MN.

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  • Alex has worked with people experiencing homelessness in the Rochester community for nearly 15 years. He has a Masters degree in social work, and a passion for advocacy. As the Executive Director of The Landing MN Alex feels privileged and motivated to support the organization's remarkable staff in achieving their individual departmental missions, ensuring people in homelessness receive the best level of care while they are with The Landing MN and beyond. In his free time Alex shuttles kids to and from youth sports, and finds time to walk his Labrador (Odin) with his wife.

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  • Shawna spent 20 years in the dental field before becoming the Director of Operations at The Landing MN. She has always loved serving others and helping the underserved. Her desire is for each client to feel heard, supported, and valued. Her favorite part of her job is creating relationships with each client. In her free time she enjoys traveling, working out, and spending time with family and friends. 

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  • Stephanie earned her BSW from Winona State University in Rochester. For over 4 years she has been working with people experiencing homelessness in the Rochester area.  She really enjoys listening to people’s stories and advocating for them based on their unique needs. 

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  • Crystal started as a volunteer at The Landing MN which quickly turned into applying for employment. The Landing MN’s mission aligns perfectly with her commitment to helping those in need. For Crystal being able to connect individuals with essential healthcare and resources while making a meaningful impact is truly rewarding. 

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  • Erin has experience working with nonprofits and the homeless community before coming to The Landing MN. She is excited to capture the stories of the clients, through written word and photographs, and to share that with the community so that they can better understand homelessness. In her free time Erin enjoys spending time exercising, being musical, and being with her family. 

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  • Over a decade ago Tara turned her life around. She sought a life bigger than who she thought she had been. Tara enjoys creating unique relationships and building a safe and comforting space for each individual. Her passion lies in making all people feel loved and restoring a little happiness where there was no hope. Tara loves being a mother to 3 beautiful children. 

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  • Renae came to work at The Landing MN as a Client Advocate because her passion is to serve a community that is often overlooked. She wants to treat everyone with love, dignity, and respect, and wants to share hope and stand alongside people on their journey. 

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  • Jerry is originally from Winona, MN and drove truck for his family for 36 years. After losing his wife to cancer Jerry went through treatment and is now in recovery. He has always wanted to help others and is grateful that he now has the opportunity to do that through his work at The Landing MN. 

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  • After a month of volunteering, Jake decided to join the team because of the satisfaction they feel from playing a part in a client achieving a favorable outcome through the services at The Landing MN. Jake has a wide range of interests from gardening and listening to music to playing air-guitar and air-drums. 

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  • Chad’s desire to be more involved with assisting those less fortunate in our community led him to first volunteer and then become a staff member with The Landing MN. He enjoys getting to know the clients and making sure they feel safe and welcome. In his spare time Chad enjoys spending time with his family and getting out into nature. 

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  • Denise enjoys the success of the clients as they’re able to achieve stability and move on. Camping with family and friends, along with fishing and enjoying a fish fry, are interests that she enjoys.

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  • Ashely has a B.S. in Family Social Science from the University of Minnesota. She is dedicated to ensuring that any individual that walks through our doors feels seen, understood, and cared for. She loves having the opportunity to connect to so many people, and show them a bit of light each day.

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  • Andy Boysen is a storyteller, music-lover, and friend to all. Born and raised in Rochester, Minnesota, he’s passionate about using his skills in media, design, and community engagement to support The Landing MN and its mission to serve people experiencing homelessness. Andy believes in the power of connection and hopes to help bring more awareness, empathy, and support to those who need it most.

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  • Jane is a 40-year retired nurse who enjoys caring for all people in all walks of life. Jane is married and is a mother of two adult men. When she is not working or volunteering in our medical clinic she enjoys sewing, baseball, and traveling. 

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  • Taylor works full time at a dental office in addition to working part time at The Landing MN. She is currently in recovery from drugs and alcohol and was inspired to work at The Landing MN to help others struggling with life’s obstacles. Forming relationships with the clients has brought lots of joy and fun to her life. 

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  • Nora grew up in Rochester, left for years, and found her way back with deeper roots than before. The best parts of her job aren’t flashy- they’re found in choosing soap that smells like hope before visitation with kids, finding boots that can stand up to long shifts at a new job, and handing someone a suitcase so they don’t have to carry their life in a plastic bag. She splits her time between this work and raising her three living children. Both keep her fiercely rooted in the things that matter.

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  • Dena holds a degree in Religious Education and Theology and is passionate about serving others. She finds deep purpose in her work at The Landing MN, supporting individuals experiencing homelessness and mental health challenges. Committed to spreading hope, Dena believes in the power of connection and the possibility of change at any moment.

Join the Team!

Interested in being a part of The Landing MN team? Visit our Careers page to see openings.

See Openings