Peter Rosenblatt

Executive Director

Peter has more than 25 years of experience serving youth and children in social service organizations. Peter began his career at Janus Youth Programs in Portland, where he spent 15 years running a variety of community-based residential group homes for children and youth across the continuum of mental health, homelessness, and juvenile justice needs. Peter taught at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee before moving to Minneapolis to become the Director of Children’s Services at Catholic Charities in the Twin Cities. He became Executive Director of The Link in January 2010.

 
 

Lois Clark

Finance Director

Lois manages all the financial operations and oversees the Accounting Clerk for the Link. She has 20 years of experience in nonprofit financial management. Lois started at the Link in 2009 and looks forward to helping the organization in continuing to succeed and grow.

 
 

Julia O'Brien

Director of Development

Julia is responsible for the fundraising, marketing and communications for The Link. She has more than 15 years of experience working in development. Her expertise is in foundations/corporations and major gifts. Julia’s prior experience includes working at AchieveMpls, Minneapolis Medical Research Foundation and the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra. Julia earned her B.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and her M.B.A. from the University of St. Thomas.

 
 

Kate Tobin

Juvenile Justice Division Director

Kate oversees all Juvenile Justice programs at The Link. Beginning at The Link as a Youth Advocate in 2004, she moved into the Project Potential Program Manager position, then into the Youth and Family Services Director, and then Program Director. Kate has a BA in Anthropology from the University of MN – Twin Cities. Kate is passionate about program evaluation and development.

 
 

Erin Wixsten

Housing Division Director

Erin is The Link's Housing Division Director and has been with The Link since 2005. For over 11 years, Erin has worked as a supervisor, case manager and advocate for at-risk and homeless youth in youth shelters, schools, group homes, and with various community involvements. Erin has focused specifically on program development and implementation and is committed to providing the best possible services and support for youth and young adults. Erin attended the University of Minnesota and Metro State University focusing on Family and Social Science and has received Health Realization training at The Link.

 
 

Blaine Turnbull

Juvenile Supervision Center Manager

Blaine graduated from Central Methodist University in Fayette, Missouri in 2007 with a Bachelor’s in Psychology and then spent a year coaching college basketball at Peru State College in Peru, Nebraska. Blaine returned to Minnesota to work as a counselor at Volunteers of America’s Bar-None Residential Treatment Facility, expanding his youth work experience and his understanding of mental health diagnoses and behavioral disorders. Blaine joined the Link in 2010 as the Lead Youth Specialist at the JSC before accepting the position as JSC’s Program Manager.

 
 

Becky Pilarzyk

Be@School Program Manager

Becky has over 15 years experience in planning, implementing, and supervising programming for at-risk youth. She has worked with truancy intervention programs for 8 years. Becky believes that evaluation and accountability is at the heart of every successful program. She is committed to collaborating on a variety of levels to provide the best services possible to the clients and to build a web of support for them in the community. Becky has a BA in child psychology and youth development and a Master’s in social work from the University of Minnesota.

 
 

Joshua Casey

ERC Program Manager

Joshua has been engaging youth for nearly twenty years as a coach, mentor, counselor, and supervisor. He studied Psychology at the University of Wisconsin - Madison and earned his M.S. in Experiential Education at M.S.U.-Mankato. Joshua believes that youth yearn for structure and guidance, and he feels privileged to have the opportunity to offer these to them. Through experiential learning, he also is constantly trying to challenge the youth to explore their own identities to determine which values they want to be know for. Joshua began serving youth with The Link in January of 2011.

 
 

Annie Wells

Lindquist Apartments Program Manager

Annie joined The Link in 2011 as the Program Manager for Lindquist Apartments. Annie has eight years experience working in the area of housing and homelessness in the Twin Cities. She has experience working in a variety of housing settings including emergency shelter, transitional housing, and both scattered site and site based permanent supportive housing programs. Annie earned her undergraduate degree in Psychology and German from St. Olaf College and her Master’s Degree in Social Work with a focus on Community Practice from the University of Minnesota. She is an activist in the Queer community and volunteers with immigrants who have recently moved to the United States.

 
 

Mindy Van Huffel

Lincoln Place Program Manager

Mindy joined The Link in 2011 with more than 8 years of experience working with at-risk communities living in supportive housing. Mindy brings enthusiasm for program development, community engagement, collaboration, and youth development to Lincoln Place Apartments. Her vision is that Lincoln Place serves as a safe, nurturing environment where young people are able to work through the challenges they face as they transition into adulthood and become self-sufficient. Mindy is currently attending Minnesota State University focusing on Urban and Regional Studies.