C.A.S.T. Leadership

PRESIDENT | FOUNDER

Executive Committee, Finance Committee, Awareness Committee

John has been a resident of Washington County since 1979. Along with his wife, Ruth Ann, they raised their family here, invested in a variety leadership positions, and volunteered in local city government and the business community. John’s passion for ending exploitation emerged after numerous conversations with a Washington County Attorney and other law enforcement agencies. John’s optimism is fueled by the enthusiastic response from the citizens of the East Metro. John is the founder and President of C.A.S.T.

AWARENESS CHAIR | FOUNDER

Chair of Awareness Committee

Ruth Ann has lived and raised a family, along with her husband John, in the East Metro Area of Saint Paul. Ruth Ann spent her life teaching in public schools, establishing a private piano studio and conducting leadership coaching. These endeavors were a natural extension of her desire to encourage people to learn, grow and reach their full potential. In recent years, she has been inspired to partner with local community forces and C.A.S.T. to raise awareness and provide education that can create a culture free of sexual exploitation.

VOLUNTEER CHAIR

Chair of Volunteer Committee, Fundraising Committee

Shelby is delighted to be involved in C.A.S.T. as volunteer coordinator and helping with fundraising events. Her educational background includes Social Work where she holds a MSW from Augsburg College. A resident of Maplewood, she loves traveling, interior design and following Minnesota sports teams, especially the Twins.

FUNDRAISING CHAIR

Finance Committee, Chair of Fundraising Committee

Mel holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin, River Falls. Mel worked at the University of Minnesota for 36 years in the department of Human Resources. While Mel held various positions at the University, his primary role was that of internal consultant to both staff and faculty. Volunteering has always been a part of Mel’s life, and serving C.A.S.T. in fundraising initiatives is another step toward helping bring awareness of this issue to the forefront.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Ashley has her Master’s degree in International Criminology with an emphasis in Restorative Justice from the University of Sheffield in the UK and has her Nonprofit Financial Management Certification from Cornell University. She has worked as a caseworker for survivors of sex trafficking in Austria, England, and the United States, and has partnered with law enforcement on freedom flight and sting operations. Additionally, Ashley has helped build 4 nonprofit programs from the ground up and is passionate about bringing a nonprofit mission to life. She is dedicated to serving and empowering victims of exploitation as well as equipping the community with the knowledge they need to end sex trafficking and exploitation before they begin.

BOARD MEMBER

Bob and his wife Lynn raised 5 busy kids living in Maplewood. They are now living in Lake Elmo, enjoying retirement and serving the community in various roles. Bob’s professional experience includes 35 years in financial services, and 5 years as an executive at a large Twin Cities non-profit. He is an executive coach, offering career counseling, leadership development and fundraising advice to local nonprofits. Bob is committed to helping CAST achieve sustainable impact by preventing trafficking and exploitation in our community.

BOARD MEMBER

Mark has worked in nonprofit fundraising for nearly two decades, having led programs at Carleton College, Greater Twin Cities United Way, and Hamline University. He currently provides fundraising consulting for nonprofits through Itasca Partners LLC. Mark is a long-time leader and volunteer with Apra, the association for fundraising intelligence professionals, where he has served on the board of directors as well as the organization’s president. One of Mark’s professional and avocational goals is to continually work to improve the human condition. When he’s not busy with that, however, he enjoys spending time with his wife and two children (which usually involves soccer somehow…).

TREASURER

Derrick holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Hastings College and has over 18 years of experience in Human Resources. Derrick helps organizations achieve their goals by developing strategic and innovative strategies to help organizations run more efficiently. Derrick has a heart for service and works to end food insecurity as well as exploitation in our community. He finds joy in helping both businesses and nonprofits celebrate people’s talents to make positive change. When he is not working or volunteering, Derrick enjoys traveling with his family.