Our Leadership Team

Under Annastasia’s leadership, the Center for Social Impact (which includes the Leadership Impact Group) provides immersive and transformational learning experiences to advance systemic equity and social justice. With a forward-thinking and analytical approach, Annastasia has a proven track record of building and leading teams in the development and implementation of high-quality programs and training. Her passion for enhancing the effectiveness of community-based initiatives is evident in her commitment to hands-on development and strategic planning to achieve sustainable results.  She is guided by her belief in the transformative power of community engagement and informed by her personal experiences of overcoming systemic barriers. Annastasia is a graduate of Metro State University with a degree in Business Administration.

Janie cultivates and manages external client relationships across all business sectors partnered with the YMCA Leadership Impact Group. With over 30 years of experience, Janie has expertly honed her sales, project management and business development skills, empowering companies, organizations, and stakeholders to achieve their objectives. Janie’s extensive background in working with diverse individuals has enabled her to develop and sustain successful, long-term customer relationships across all levels of management, both locally and nationally. Janie is a graduate from the University of Minnesota with a degree in journalism and is also a Qualified Administrator for the Intercultural Development Inventory assessment.

Jenny is responsible for leading partnerships and programs that span from kindergarten to college/career with young people. She is committed to building teams and networks that leverage community strengths to address our region’s most pressing issues. Jenny has led with the Beacons Network in Minnesota for two decades and served as executive director for the University YMCA for 10 years. She is a proven executive leader committed to transforming local and national communities with expertise in youth development, education initiatives, cross-sector collaboration, and research/evaluation. Jenny is a strategic and inclusive professional with strong communication and relationship building skills. She holds a master’s degree in education in youth development leadership from the University of Minnesota. 

Mary has been an active, passionate and impactful YMCA leader for over 40 years. She works with our community, families and local leaders to address systemic barriers and disparities that impact the wellbeing of individuals and communities. Prior to her current role, Mary served as vice president of operations as well as the executive director of the YMCA of the North at the Blaisdell branch, where she was responsible for the program operations serving the South/North Minneapolis communities. Mary holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin-Stout in child development and family life with a concentration in human resource management. Mary has made the YMCA a lifelong career and has a strong belief in the three pillars of youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility.

Jeremy Kurtz, Sr. Executive Assistant supports the business processes of the Leadership Impact Group and more broadly the leadership of the Center for Social Impact. He joined the YMCA of the North team in 2010 after a long career in corporate retail. Jeremy is an experienced administrative professional and project manager, focused on the customer experience and a commitment to continuous process improvement. Jeremy hails from Grinnell, Iowa, migrating to the Twin Cities for college. He holds a BA in Sociology and Urban Studies from Macalester College. He comes to LIG with a history of activism in the LGBTQIA+ community and a deep interest in learning about identity at the intersection of culture and self-discovery.

James’s life mission is to create and develop spaces where leaders can have learning experiences that will allow them to see who they are while developing a vision for who they can be. He is committed to creating a system of support that is inclusive, respectful, and safe in the minds and hearts of all people involved. He continues to serve as a Senior Fellow for the Sagamore Institute. He has also served as a consultant for several nonprofit and for-profit companies using a narrative approach to understanding the human designed differences in various cultures. For over 25 years he has continued to provide sessions and lectures for numerous organizations concerned with creating systems to connect differences by forming community in the marketplace. James holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from East Carolina University and is a certified coach and Qualified Administrator for the Intercultural Development Inventory assessment.

Jenny is a transformational leader, coach, and bridge builder, dedicated to fostering inclusivity, belonging and leadership agility. With deep expertise in systems
change, she has led innovative strategies in youth and family services, cross-sector partnerships, and leadership and innovation development. As a Qualified Administrator for the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI), she helps leaders navigate cultural agility with purpose. A seasoned facilitator and curriculum designer, Jenny creates impactful learning experiences that empower individuals and organizations. Her strength lies in bridging perspectives, fostering human-centered solutions, and driving meaningful transformation. Passionate and purpose-driven, Jenny excels at building connected, vibrant communities.

Scott is passionate about developing leaders through coaching and conversations connecting thoughts and ideas supporting their leadership journey to creatively choose their next best step. His career includes nonprofit executive roles in urban, suburban, and rural communities. He provides leadership to the co-creation of experiences that serve as a catalyst for transformation for individuals, teams, and organizations. Scott is energized seeing leaders and teams build capacity to meet the needs of their environment and communities by shifting mental models and systems to better align with their goals. Scott holds a Master’s Degree in Organizational Leadership, is a certified coach, and a Qualified Administrator for the Intercultural Development Inventory Assessment.

Sandra provides leadership for influencing organizational culture. She has proven success in motivating individuals and groups to achieve transformation through coaching, facilitation, and qualitative research.  As a culture and systems change agent, Sandra has collaborated with diverse teams and individuals and creates a level of comfort and brave setting for effective authentic engagement.  She is an adjunct professor at Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU), and founder of SJH Consulting. Dr. Howard is a certified coach and a qualified administrator for the Intercultural Development Inventory Assessment (IDI®). She has a Bachelor of Science in biology from Boston University, Master of Human Services from Springfield College, and PhD in Human Services, Organizational Development from Capella University. 

Hedy founded the Leadership Impact Group team in 2018 with an innovative model of leadership development collaborating with communities and organizational leaders that was the first of its kind in the YMCA national movement. She is an innovative, strategic, analytical, change agent professional and highly regarded expert in the fields of social justice, social innovation, and community organizer. Since retiring at the end of 2023, Hedy has continued to be involved in our work as a consultant and mentor. She was recognized by the YMCA of the USA with the Carlos Sanvee Global Diversity Equity and Inclusion Lifetime Achievement award in 2023. Originally from Baton Rouge, Hedy has an MBA from the University of Minnesota and a Doctor of Education from St. Mary’s University. She is a certified coach and is also a Qualified Administrator for the Intercultural Development Inventory assessment.