About Us
"I believe the two greatest benefits we gained from the Circle of Fire meetings were a greater cohesiveness among the social workers and a much-needed opportunity for reflection, renewal and mutual support for the difficult work we face each day." |
Retreat StaffMEET THE YOUTH FRONTIERS RETREAT STAFF Joe BeckmanRetreat Director
My favorite part of the retreats has to be giving talks. I like speaking to the students about what it was like for me when I was their age and talk to them about things I wish someone would have talked to me about. My favorite hobby is playing football. If I could be an animal I would be a cheetah - because they are cool. Nicolle BergRetreat Staff
Rita BoersmaRetreat Staff
Tara CarrollRetreat Manager/Designer
Jean CulpRetreat Staff
Debra GrahnRetreat Staff
Todd HansenRetreat Director & Event Producer
Todd's favorite part about retreats is encouraging young people find their voice and watching them share it, courageously, in front of their entire class. He also loves traveling to the small towns of America - so he can read about the town's history in the hotel brochures and on the back of diner menus. Deb HarleyHonor Retreat Staff
Prior to Youth Frontiers she was an adolescent chemical dependence counselor for 10 years. Deb is a peace activist, travel nut and a student of Inca tradition shamanics, she has been married 26 years and is the mother of 2 daughters ages 18 and 20. Her Youth Frontiers nickname is "new age sage." Jon HerchertRetreat Staff
Jessica JohnsonRetreat Staff
Chris KarkiRetreat Director
Rob KesselringDirector of Faculty Workshops
Kesiah KolbowRetreat Staff
Rachael KroogRetreat Staff
Megan Lee-EricksonRetreat Director
Jane LeydenHonor Retreat Staff
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Hi my name is Joe Beckman and this is my bio:
After 5 years of youth work for the University of Minnesota and Minnetonka Public Schools, Nicolle is delighted to return to her roots of being a speech geek. She once dreamed of having a job that included public speaking, travelling, working with youth, singing and high energy. After a very long search in 17 countries around the world she finally found YF. If she is not out on retreat, you will probably find her frolicking in a forest (she loves the outdoors) or spending time with her family. 
Rita's extensive experience riding in vans, being excited, high-fiving, and helping young people find new and effective levels of awesomeness, combined with her ability to lift 50 pounds, has made her a perfect fit for the YF team. When not on retreat, she can be found performing for ComedySportz, Mean Sisters Productions, Neutrino Video Project and more. She also teaches improv and theatre for teens. Lastly, and most importantly, Rita seriously enjoys mashed potatoes...more than any person should. She's working on getting this included in the YF job description.
Tara has enjoyed being a part of the Youth Frontiers staff in a variety of ways over the last few years - a musician on retreats, manager, graphic designer. She is also a painter and enjoys making, viewing and participating in art, eating good food, and geeking around on her Mac.
Jean (a.k.a. The Culp-rit) is in her second year with Youth Frontiers. Last year she worked as an apprentice learning about what makes YF tick. Hard work paid off and she was hired as a full-time retreat staff! When she is not rolling on the floor, jumping off the walls, and hanging from the ceiling on retreats, you can find her playing outside. She loves soccer and hockey and her new absolute favorite summer sport wake surfing! 
Debra G. has been working for Youth Frontiers since 2001 as a retreat staff/musician. Being a singer/songwriter and being slightly alternative in look and in style has been a huge asset to her connection with youth and educators. Debra G. thrives on encouraging young people and adults to believe in themselves and strive for the best, in character and in life. 
Todd has a Masters of Fine Arts in Acting from the University of Southern California, and has acted in, and produced, several shows in Los Angeles. He left a stage and commercial acting career of 20 years to join Youth Frontiers. As an ex-camp counselor and a stay-at-home father, spending time with young people talking about character values seemed a perfect fit.
Deb Harley is a 13-year veteran of Youth Frontiers. She has been a professional singer/songwriter for over 25 years and is currently working on her fourth CD.
After ten years of retreats, Jon Herchert is a certified Youth Frontierian. As a retreat staff/musician, Jon enjoys the challenge of teaching students about character. When he's not on retreat Jon can be found hanging out with his 2 sons and beautiful wife, while also staying involved in many music projects (performing/recording/producing/writing) with many local and national artists.
Jess is really excited to join the Youth Frontiers team for her first year as an apprentice! She recently graduated from the University of Minnesota with a bachelors degree in Communication Studies. When she isn't singing with her band 8 Switch Assembly, or helping to direct a show with Youth Performing Arts in Forest Lake, you can probably find her hangin' out with her friends and fam, watching Lost, or creating something tasty in the kitchen. 
Chris couldn't be more delighted to be a part of the Youth Frontiers staff! A licensed English and theatre arts teacher, Chris has worked extensively in the fields of teaching, curriculum development and education management. Chris has had a life-long passion for theatre and has worked as a theatre professional for over 10 years Ð most often acting on stage but also as a freelance director and teacher. Working with Youth Frontiers is an amazing opportunity to blend her zeal for entertaining with her enthusiasm for educating youth. When not working, Chris loves to travel, play games, immerse herself in the wonderful world of pop culture and hang out with her husband, family, friends and chocolate lab.
Rob is the director of Youth Frontier faculty programs and has been with the company since 1994. His 18 year background as a teacher, his Master's in Confluent Education and his passion for arctic adventure blend together to create a refreshing and innovative leadership style. He is at the forefront in helping schools build professional learning communities and his presentations have received nationwide acclaim. 
Five years ago Kesiah participated in the Respect Retreat at her high school. Having enjoyed learning about herself and getting to know her classmates better, she decided that she would aspire to work for Youth Frontiers one day. The rest is history. Apparently, dreams really do come true. In her free time, Kesiah enjoys running around Lake Calhoun, BBQ-ing with friends, watching the Food Network, reading, playing scrabble, singing, and performing. Her all-time favorite activity is hanging out at her parents' house with her family. Her favorite foods include her mothers enchiladas, her mother's meatloaf, her very own stir fry, anything spicy, and saltine crackers (which she eats every morning for breakfast). Kesiah feels incredibly lucky to be working with such a wonderful organization. She is also excited to have a job where she can laugh heartily, sing, dance, and be merry. 
Rachael is thrilled to be part of the few, the proud, the official, Youth Frontierians, having worked for YF for over 10 years! When she's not doing "The Kindness Rap" with elementary students during one of her Kindness Assemblies, she loves to pretend she's a cross between Ace Ventura Pet Detective and Dr. Doolittle, caring for her dog, cats, chinchillas and bearded dragons. She's glad that she can run free and play with her friends and hopes never to be put in a cage.......again.
After receiving her B.F.A. from Sarah Lawrence College, Megan lived and worked in New York City for a number of years before returning to her hometown of Minneapolis. She has worked as an actress, singer, paralegal for a immigration law firm, loan account manager, administrative assistant, camp counselor, youth acting coach, vocal coach, singing telegram, and finally, retreat staff at Youth Frontiers for the past four years. Megan is pleased that her skills in theatre, music and youth leadership (not to mention the occasional singing telegram), have lent themselves to her development here at Youth Frontiers. She eagerly looks forward to another fabulous year at Youth Frontiers! In her spare time, Megan sings with the ensemble, Exultate, and in the summers can be found working with Itzhak Perlman at The Perlman Music Program on Shelter Island.
Todd's background before YF was working the last 14 years in youth ministry in the Twin Cities area. His passions outside of YF are his family, golf, most other sports, and leadership development. Todd says he joined the Youth Frontiers team because there is no "I" in it, except that lower case one at the end.
Joe is a graduate of St. John's University in Collegeville, Minnesota, where he graduated with honors in Latin American Studies and Spanish. He worked as a camp counselor in high school, a tutor while studying abroad in Guatemala and Chile, and is presently writing and playing Children's folk music for his band, The Okee Dokee Brothers. He has traveled with The Medicinal Strings Bluegrass Band for three years performing free concerts for underserved communities. Now, Joe is basking in the glory of being a Youth Frontiers Apprentice. 
Eric plays the guitar, and sings. When he's not rocking his sweet guitar skills for Youth Frontiers, Eric plays and tours in a rock band called Attention. They've made trips to the east and west coasts, and even a trip across the pond to the United Kingdom! On the weekends, Eric can be heard as a DJ on Minneapolis radio station KQRS. He spends his free time loving baseball, eating good food, and seeing lots of live music.
Carrie enjoys long walks on the beach...and working for Youth Frontiers! After many many years of many many random work experiences (DJ, Theater Director, Community Organizer, Group Facilitator, Camp Couselor) she has finally found a job that combines them all! Outside of work Carrie spends most of her time dancing (Lindyhop), hiking, writing, and playing with her sweet pup Darwin. 
As a senior at Richfield high school, John was a student leader on the Respect Retreat and discovered he had a passion for inspiring young people. For six years, John has been delighted to inspire young people through stories of his experiences (good and bad) growing up in Richfield, MN with his "googly eyes." John studied theater at Saint John's University where he graduated with honors in 1998. After college he spent time as both a classroom teacher and administrator in Nassau, Bahamas and then at SJU. When not on retreat, John is also passionate about ultimate frisbee as both a coach of the Minneapolis South high school team and a player on the nationally prominent club team Sub Zero.
Sam was born in Moorhead, MN to a humble wood worker and his noble wife. After being brought up under the traditions of the great Midwest, Sam ventured of to find his place in the bigger picture. Victory was achieved when Sam joined forces with the Youth Frontiers team after his years of being a retreat leader. Sam enjoys harnessing the power of laugh and dance during YF retreats to encourage young people to stand up for what is right. When Sam is not kicking it with YF, he can be found riding his bike, cooking meals that take longer than "instant," and reading books about how to read books.
Kecia is a pianist/singer/songwriter who has performed all over the country. While still in high school, Kecia started a decade-long engagement playing piano at Nordstrom department stores, releasing two CDs and performing around the country. While attending the University of Minnesota, she started working with Youth Frontiers. Before settling into a full-time career at YF in Minnesota, Kecia spent six years enjoying the mountains of Colorado and the sand and surf of California. Kecia is excited to be back with YF for the third year in a row, and is looking forward to winning thousands of thumb wrestling competitions on retreats! 
Originally joining the Youth Frontiers team in 2004, Seniz has spent the last two years in New York City designing and implementing arts curriculum for NYC public schools, training new teachers in dynamic classroom facilitation, and teaching jr. high and high school students leadership and collaboration through theatre and improvisation. Now back in Minneapolis, Seniz is thrilled to resume with YF as a retreat director challenging students of all ages to practice compassion, awareness, and responsibility in regards to themselves and others. When not on retreat with YF, Seniz continues her work with Pillsbury United Communities as a mentor for Minneapolis youth facing complexities of social and economic inequalities. Seniz loves to sing and perform, play games (like Sardines!), spend time with good people, and travel.
Andy Zimney has worked with youth his entire career. After graduating from St. John's University with degrees in English and Theater, he worked as a camp counselor, wilderness guide, substitute teacher, rock climbing instructor, acting teacher, and youth mentor. As a staff member at Youth Frontiers since 2001, Andy loves the opportunity to challenge both youth and adults to live more closely to the ideals they hold most important. Andy is a father and husband who loves spending time at the park, in the back yard, and up north with his family. Andy is also an actor and comedic improviser who can be seen regularly at Comedy Sportz Twin Cities, an all-ages improvisational comedy company in Minneapolis. 
Jamie Zuel, a.k.a. Zuel, is in his fifth year as a retreat staff at Youth Frontiers. He is honored to share his talents with young people by challenging them to think differently about how they treat themselves and others. When not on retreat, Zuel loves to run, hang out with family and friends, and eat good food. In the summer months, you can catch Zuel entertaining large crowds at St. Paul Saints baseball games as the "Super Fan."