Our Staff

To contact staff by email, just add together the following (no spaces):

• first name (.) last name @life-house.org

• Kim Crawford, Executive Director. As Executive Director for Life House of Duluth, Kim Crawford is dedicated to improving the lives of homeless and at-risk kids in Duluth. Her goal is to give them hope and provide the tools and resources to move on and create a bright and productive future. Her strong commitment to social justice and poverty issues as well as her professional experience and educational background has provided her with a strong base from which to work. Her current involvement in the community, active participation on non-profit boards, successful financial funding efforts and creative approach to development, position her in a unique way as the Life House Executive Director. Kim has a BS in Business Administration, an MS in Corporate Communication from Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri. She has also completed an MA in Religion and Theology from the United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities in Minnesota. Because of her background and experience, Kim is frequently invited to speak on homelessness and poverty topics at various churches and organizations throughout the Duluth community.
  To contact Kim Crawford:
  Phone: (218) 722-7431 x. 10
  

• Jeff Woolverton, Development Director. Jeff holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology from the University of Wisconsin-Superior (1998). Prior to becoming Development Director at Life House, in 2005 Jeff implemented and coordinated both the Futures Program and the School Outside of School (S.O.S.) Program at Life House, helping at-risk youth ages 16-20 to self-identify goals toward achieving education goals and economic self-sufficiency. Jeff was first employed by Life House in 2002 as the Weekend Activities Coordinator for Proctor House, first transitional housing facility for homeless young men in the state of Minnesota. In February 2011, Jeff celebrated his ninth year as a Life House team member.
  To contact Jeff Woolverton:
  Phone: (218) 722-7431 x. 14
  

• Tim Peterson, Finance Manager. Tim received his Bachelor of Science degree in 2009 from the University of Minnesota with a major study in Organizational Management and Finance. Tim enjoys college sports, and is an avid fan of Notre Dame’s college program. Before joining the Life House team in January 2010, Tim worked as Finance Intern for NewPage Corporation, and for three years prior was the Accounting Manager for North Shore Resources in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
  To contact Tim Peterson:
  Phone: (218) 722-7431 x. 15
  

• Erich Lutz, Housing Program Manager. Erich has extensive experience with supportive housing programs and services that assist homeless youth to achieve the skills necessary to obtain and maintain safe and affordable housing. Erich began his career at Life House in 2001 as the Transitional Services Case Manager. In 2003 the Corporation of Supportive Housing selected Erich as the only advocate from Greater MN to join a group of Metro area advocates to tour the European Foyer Model in London England. In 2009, he worked for the Human Development Center, providing intensive case management services to long-term homeless individuals and families in Duluth. Erich returned to Life House in 2010 as the Housing Program Manager and oversees the operation and staffing of our Housing Services Program.
  To contact Erich Lutz:
  Phone: (218) 722-7431 x. 13
  

• McKenzie Pangerl, Futures Education Case Manager. After becoming involved with a non-profit organization, The Image Project, McKenzie acquired a great sense of how essential good teaching is throughout the world.   It was through those experiences in Tanzania, Africa that she decided to go into the field of education.  In spring 2011, McKenzie graduated from the University of Minnesota, Duluth, with a Bachelor of Applied Science degree in School Health Education.  She completed her student teaching at Hinckley Finlayson High School where she taught children in grades 7-12. McKenzie joined the Life House Team in October 2011. 
  To contact McKenzie Pangerl:
  Phone: (218) 722-7431 x. 12
  

• Kyle Naalsund, Housing Case Manager. Kyle received a B.S. degree from the University of Wisconsin-Superior in Secondary Education in Mathematics with a minor in Coaching. He taught high school math at Duluth Denfeld High School for 3 years before joining the Life House Team in 2004 as the Site Manager at Proctor House. Kyle moved to Denver three years later to work as a house manager for a nonprofit agency helping at-risk youth develop independent living skills, including gaining employment and finishing school. In 2009, Kyle moved back to Duluth to rejoin the Life House Team as assisting homeless youth in accessing on-site supportive housing services.
  To contact Kyle Naalsund:
  Phone: (218) 722-7431 x. 27
  

• Samantha Cotten, Housing Case Manager. Samantha has spent the past 5 years working in Mental Health Services, overseeing adult foster care programming for individuals with severe persistent mental illness.  Her experience includes adult and juvenile mental health and chemical dependency with her primary focus being on those individuals who are more difficult to work with. Samantha is a former Life House Youth who has ample life experience that contributes to her success in housing and in relating to the youth and young adults accessing case management services.  She graduated in 2002 from Lake Superior High School and continues working towards degrees in Communications and English. 
  To contact Samantha Cotten:
  Phone: (218) 722-7431 x. 16
  

• Dawn Plath, KATS Mental Health Counselor. Dawn earned her B.A. degree in Sociology and Corrections from Minnesota State University, Mankato, and her MSW degree from the University of Minnesota, Duluth. Today, Dawn is licensed as a LICSW through the Minnesota Board of Social Work, and has experience working with youth in residential treatment centers, including Woodland Hills and the Leo A. Hoffmann Center in St. Peter, Minnesota. Over the past three years, Dawn has been employed at the Human Development Center as a School-based Psychotherapist for Duluth Public Schools (ISD 709), and has made a strong commitment to educating school staff and community members about youth mental health issues, and advocating for mental health services in the community. Dawn has volunteered as a sexual assault victim’s advocate and currently holds a position on the Board of Directors for the Program for Aid to Victims of Sexual Assault (PAVSA). Dawn joined the Life House team in June 2010, and seeks to provide accessible and comprehensive mental health services to youth at Life House.
  To contact Dawn Plath:
  Phone: (218) 722-7431 x. 11
  

• Melida Keister, T-ACT (Transitional Assertive Community Treatment) Case Manager. In the summer of 2008, Melida graduated from the University of Minnesota Duluth with a Bachelors of Arts in Criminology and Bachelors of Applied Science in Psychology. As an undergraduate Melida interned with Northwood Children’s Services working with at-risk youth. After her internship Melida continued on to a counselor position within Northwood’s working with at-risk youth on coping skills, behavior modification, and daily living skills. Melida joined the Life House team in July 2011 as a T-ACT case manager. T-ACT is a collaboration between Life House, Minnesota Department of Human Services, St. Louis County Public Health and Human Services, and the Human Development Center, working together to provide supportive services to young adults (ages 18-26) who have severe and persistent mental health and chemical dependency needs.
  To contact Melida Keister:
  Phone: (218) 727-4200
  

• Ahna Pelto, Youth Center Advocate.Ahna graduated in 2010 from the University of Wisconsin Superior with a B.S. in Social Work.  Ahna interned as an Alcohol and Drug Intervention Specialist with the Duluth Public Schools in the spring of 2010.   She also has volunteered with children and young adults both locally and abroad.  Most recently, Ahna spent two years working with Developmentally Disabled adults before joining the staff at Life House in October 2011.
  To contact Ahna Pelto:
  Phone: (218) 722-7431 x. 17
  

• Chris LeBlanc, Outreach Worker / Youth Center Advocate. In spring 2011, Chris graduated from the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, Minnesota, with a B.S. in Social Work. As an undergraduate, Chris interned at the Department of Institutional Diversity through the college’s Social Work program. Most recently, Chris spent over 400 hours in an internship with Life House, actively taking part in the program data collection / outcomes evaluation process as well as working directly with at-risk and homeless youth in the Life House drop-in center.
  To contact Chris LeBlanc:
  Phone: (218) 722-7431 x. 17
  

• Jennie Backus, Youth Center Advocate Lead. Jennie went to high school in Cairo, Egypt, and is a graduate from the College of St Scholastica in Duluth, Minnesota with a B.A. in English. After college Jennie moved to Red Wing and worked two years at a rural sexual assault program until she moved to Minneapolis and spent the following four years at the Sexual Violence Center providing crisis intervention services to people who have experienced sexual violence. During her time as a sexual assault advocate Jennie was very interested in the link between sexual violence and teen pregnancy and provided workshops around healthy sexuality as a primary prevention tool for sexual violence at state-wide and national conferences. Jennie was also involved in the sexual violence prevention movement and is a certified trainer of the Green Dot curriculum, one of the only methods proven to reduce the experiences of personal violence. Jennie was excited to make the shift to working with youth of Life House and felt the transition was very natural.  Jennie is also a volunteer with PAVSA, enjoys ballet, reading and going to her brother’s hockey games.
  To contact Jennie Backus:
  Phone: (218) 722-7431 x. 17
  

• Terry Moody, Facilities Maintenance. Terry is an EPA Universal certified technician and has been a licensed mechanical journeyman since 1998. Terry has nearly 20 years of experience with residential and commercial maintenance, including electrical and mechanical repairs. Prior to joining the Life House team in May 2009, Terry was the general manager of a central heating and air-conditioning company and three retail appliance stores in Jacksonville, Florida.
  To contact Terry Moody:
  Phone: (218) 393-3066