We are a team of talented professionals with a wide range of skills and experience. We love our community, love what we do, and we do it with passion.
Molly Schroeder
Founder and President & Interim Executive Director
My husband Clayton and I have called the Big Lake area home since 1996, raising our three children here. Working with children of all ages has been a lifelong passion, finding immense joy in those “light bulb” moments when something clicks for them during a new discovery. My love for nurturing relationships and connecting people, especially those in different life stages, is a driving force.
My commitment extends not only to helping youth thrive, feel loved, and valued in our community but also to the community itself. Over the years, I’ve actively participated in various Big Lake community organizations and founded two nonprofit organizations, including The Wave. Currently, I also get the joy of consulting with congregations and their staff.
I proudly serve on the Minnesota Health and Human Services Family Resource Center Advisory Council as a Community-Based Organization Serving Families Representative and remain engaged in several other community organizations. Outside of community involvement, you’ll find me enjoying family time, volunteering, kayaking, running, hiking at State Parks, and pursuing advanced degrees—I’ll be earning my Doctorate in Transformational Leadership in May 2024.
Why do I support The Wave Youth Center? Because our world has changed drastically, leaving many communities fragile with people less connected to their neighbors, and I want more for this community.
Kristi McAlpin
Vice President
My family moved to Big Lake in 2005. I have bachelor’s degrees in biology and German Language, and a doctorate in Veterinary Medicine. Since graduating in 2000, I have been a practicing partner in the Big Lake Area Veterinary Hospital and St. Michael Veterinary Clinic.
I have 6 daughters aged 13 to 27 who are and have been active in dance, music, gymnastics, volleyball, swimming, and hockey. I’m lucky to have a wonderful husband who supports me in every way.
As a member of the Big Lake Chamber of Commerce, I serve on the block party planning committee. I help support the community by working with the youth apprenticeship program and providing scholarships to graduating seniors, as well as working with Independence STEM classrooms.
I spend my free time with Girl Scouts where I’ve been a leader since 2003. I have been blessed to see and help many different girls grow into young women and start their adult lives. I enjoy gardening, reading, and traveling. But my favorite thing to do is watch and support my girls in their favorite activities.
I joined The Wave to continue to support and help the children of this community thrive and develop important interpersonal skills that are necessary to have. In a difficult situation the past few years, our most precious asset is also our most vulnerable, The Wave is a place where our youth can gather, talk to one another, seek help if needed, and develop important relationships in a safe environment supported by the community.
Kate Loso
Treasurer
Big Lake became my home in 2018. My husband and I were determined to try our hand at hobby farming and now enjoy our animals and land daily. Without children of our own, each afternoon spent at The Wave is special.
It wasn’t until I started volunteering at The Wave that I felt a part of this community. My certified therapy dog, Butter, and I are fortunate to visit weekly. Each visit reminds me of why I support The Wave’s mission; our youth have a safe and caring space to be themselves.
Kyle Sidlo
Secretary
I am the Senior Pastor of Saron Lutheran Church in Big Lake. My wife, Val, and I are the parents of two adult children and have two grandchildren. I have several years of experience advocating on behalf of youth and for communities that I serve. I participate in many of Big Lake’s community organizations. I am also heavily involved with the Big Lake Area Ministerium, bringing together churches in ways that benefit the Big Lake community. I also have 11 years of experience in full-time church youth ministry in Minnetonka and Brooklyn Park.
I support The Wave Youth Center because I see so many young people without effective support in this community. There are many people who care and work hard for young people. But the organized and individual efforts are not reaching all. The Wave will provide safe space, support, encouragement and positive options for young people in ways that parents, schools, sports and employers cannot. I want every young person to know she or he is valuable, supported and cared about.
Molly Feit
Financial Oversight
BIO COMING SOON
Mandi Sabourin
Executive Board Member
Born and raised in Minnesota, I’ve been a resident of Big Lake for the past eight years. I’m a single mom of a middle school-age son.
I love this community, the people, the schools and the incredible opportunity for balance with nature and recreation in the area.
After working in an office setting my entire career ranging from administration to financial planning and investment, estate and trust planning, accounting, and tax – I discovered a creative side to myself that I hadn’t known existed. Since picking up a paintbrush in 2017 I have learned so much about myself through art, mindfulness, meditation and yoga that I began exploring ways to bring the benefits to the greater community.
In September 2018 I began making my dreams my reality by entering the world of entrepreneurship and Create & Connect Studio was born! I started this endeavor as a painting party artist and have since began teaching adult, children’s and chair yoga. Through mindfulness and meditation training courses, I continue to learn and expand my knowledge.
The Wave Youth Center initiative is very dear to me. Our teens and young adults are facing more stress and trauma in their everyday lives than ever before. The world of mindfulness, yoga and art should be available to everyone – it is my goal to reach as many people as possible of all ages and all walks of life – sharing joy and wonder. The Youth Center is one such way that I hope to make an impact in a powerful and meaningful way.
Kristina Bruggeman-Maag
Board Member
I have lived in Big Lake for the past 16 years. I have three daughters ages 22, 16 and 13. My oldest daughter, a BLHS alumni, now lives in Fargo ND with her husband. My 16 and 13-year-old daughters have attended Big Lake school since preschool. They are active in dance, as well as a variety of school activities including cheerleading and drama. I am currently employed at Sherburne County Health and Human services as a social worker in the Developmental Disabilities Unit. In my spare time, I enjoy spending time on the lake and bonfires.
“Why do I support The Wave Youth Center?” I support the Wave do to the fact that I see many youth in this community needing a place to find acceptance. Being a teen in this day with social media can be very difficult. Knowing there is a safe place where they can go and hang out and have fun in a safe open and welcoming environment can be the change that one youth needs.
Raeanne Danielowski
Board Member
I am currently the Sherburne County Commissioner serving District 2 – Big Lake Township and City of Big Lake. I have lived in Sherburne County for more than 40 years. My husband, Ervin, and I live in Big Lake. We have two grown children that we raised in this community, and four grandchildren all of whom live close by. For more than 40 years, I have been a business owner in Big Lake, and heavily involved in community service.
Prior to being elected to Sherburne County Board of Commissioners, I served on the Big Lake City Council for 10 years, first as a council member for four years, and then as mayor for six years. Since being elected, I have enjoyed serving the residents of Sherburne County.
I support The Wave Youth Center, because I feel there is a huge need for it in Big Lake for our youth to have a safe place to hang out.
Holly Baker
Board Member
Hello! My name is Holly Baker, and I am local here in Big Lake! My Husband Alex and our two sons moved here in 2019. We were in a large city and felt like it wasn’t the right place to raise our kids. Big Lake has everything we wanted, awesome nature to hike, lakes to fish and kayak, and amazing opportunities for our kids. I grew up in large cities and have a passion for the outdoors! Louis is 5 and starting kindergarten this year and Leo is almost 4. Alex and I worked for corporate positions when we moved here and early last year we had taken time to reflect on what we wanted in life. At that point, we felt like we were living in Big Lake; but, not really living IN Big Lake. We never had been to a restaurant or visited any of the small businesses.
Alex’s Mother passed away and it made us realize how important relationships are and making memories with others. After reflecting on what was important to us and the life we wanted for our kids, we wanted to embrace our community that we hadn’t yet lived in yet. That’s when we decided to take a look around our community to see what was missing. Both of us have experience in the pet industry and I have now been grooming professionally for 18 years. Naturally, we noticed there was no grooming salons in the city of Big Lake. So, we made the decision over a weekend to launch a salon with us running it together. We now have three locations! I can honestly say I am totally invested in Big Lake now! I volunteer in Children’s Ministry at our church, am Head Coach for a T-Ball team here in Big Lake, belong to the board for Green Acres Animal Rescue, and volunteer as Vice President of a business networking chapter. I have gotten the pleasure of meeting so many people in our community by grooming their pets and it’s such a blessing to get connected with our incredible neighbors and generous community!
Derek Wieber
Board Member
I became acquainted with The Wave through my wife’s volunteer work. We still consider ourselves new to Big Lake and are happy to be involved with such a great organization that supports the youth within our community.
I work for a German Manufacturer and have appreciated numerous trips to Europe. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family, hunting, fishing, and doing taxidermy.
Linda Schell
Board Member
I’ve been a resident of Big Lake Township for over 6 years. I’ve fallen in love with the location and the people. Bill and I are blessed with 7 adult children between the 2 of us, along with 4 dogs and several
fish. Bill is a Navy Veteran – so we are involved in many Veteran activities. From Memorial Day and Labor Day events, keeping the Veteran Memorial Park clean, and participating in the monthly American Legion meetings. It is important to us to help Veterans keep connected to the community and each other.
My top priorities are to honor and build my relationship with God; to be the best version of myself – emotionally, mentally, physically, spiritually; and to support my family and others to be the best version
of themselves. When I’m not working I enjoy swimming, knitting and my new newest passion is making quilts. I attained my big goal in 2022 of swimming 5 miles in Vermont. Next year – I have a goal to swim 10
miles, and in 2025 to swim 25 miles. I have a long-term goal of making quilts for veterans and future generations.
I am passionate about helping others to see what is possible and to transform to be the best version of themselves. This is my ‘why’ of being involved with The Wave Youth Center. Our youth need to see
what is possible for them and how to become the best version of themselves. We can do this together, for them and with them.
Connie Stegora
Board Member
As a dedicated member, I bring a wealth of experience not only from my professional career as a seasoned realtor but also from my active involvement in community service. My commitment to excellence, trust, and client satisfaction in real estate, is backed by a Graduate Realtor Institute Certification, Military Relocation, Diversity Designation, and a Master’s Degree in Business. I am adept at negotiation, strategic planning, and marketing—all skills that I’m excited to leverage for the benefit of our youth and community programs. I grew up and graduated from Big Lake. In 2012, we returned to Big Lake to raise our family here. We maintained our strong connection to the area throughout because my family resides here and our love for this community.
Beyond my career, I am a mom of four children and we have opened our hearts and home to raise another child (our bonus child), reflecting our commitment to nurturing and supporting the next generation. Alongside being a wife of 16 years and a pet parent to two dogs, my family values volunteering as a core principle of our lives. My husband, Troy, contributes his leadership as Commander of the Monticello VFW and Vice President of the Big Lake Food Shelf. Meanwhile, I actively participate on the PanCAN (Pancreatic Cancer Action Network of Minnesota) board, the Big Lake Robotics board, and serve as the Senior Vice President of the Monticello VFW Auxiliary.
My enthusiasm for joining the Wave board is driven by a personal connection, as our children frequently use the facility. This experience has given me a unique perspective on the importance of creating supportive and enriching environments for all children. I am excited about the opportunity to contribute to the growth and success of the wave board, enhancing the experiences of all who benefit from its programs. Together, let’s make a positive and lasting impact on the lives of our youth.
Board Member
James Pionk
I love this community and have called it home since 1987. Although I am only an official member of The Knights Of Columbus I support many community organizations. Growing up in a family of farmers I developed a love for gardening and animals.
Why do I support The Wave Youth Center? As a child growing up with disabilities, I was often excluded from activities and often heard that I could not do something or I would not amount too much because of my disabilities. The Civil Air Patrol and the youth Conversation Corps were organizations that had a place for me that I felt valued and loved just as I was. I want to be a part of encouraging others that are often excluded to find a place where they feel they belong and are cared for.
Krystal Gleason
Board Member
Picture and BIO coming soon.
Clayton schroeder
Board Member
Hello, I’m Clayton Schroeder—a husband, father of three young adults, and a small business owner. Coaching has been a significant part of my life, from guiding my kids in sports to supporting the youth and young at heart in our local Special Olympics delegation. I’m passionate about fostering confidence and growth, regardless of abilities.
I’m proud to be a part of The Wave Youth Center—a space where students find caring adults and a sense of belonging. All students need support, and The Wave is where they can discover it. Looking forward to making a positive impact together!
Youth Liaisons
For privacy and online safety we do not publish the last names or provide pictures of our Youth Liaisons.
lily
Youth Liaison
Hello! My name is Lily. I would like to take this opportunity to tell you a little about myself, why I would like to be a student liaison, and why I love The Wave so much. I’ll start with some things about me. First of all, I love making new friends. I think it’s amazing to hear about new stories and about all the things others like and do not! Another thing is I love helping people. It makes me so happy to help people, it’s like a warm cup of coffee. Sweet and warm. Lastly, I love to cook. It lets me express myself and I’m pretty good at it so it makes me feel confident.
Now, why I am so passionate about being a student liaison at the wave. Some reasons why I want to be a student liaison are: I can help with making decisions on things that kids would enjoy and things that kids aren’t feeling so sure about. Next, I love to be part of my community and The Wave is like a second home to me, meaning it is important to me. I care about the happiness of others when it comes to being in a community I’m in. I want the absolute best for as many kids at The Wave. Last but not least, I enjoy hearing what people have to say about things that I can help with. Then, I can let you guys know when there is something that should happen to better The Wave and make it a safer place for everyone.
Finally, I love The Wave as it has helped me a whole lot with being confident around people in public situations. I know every time I walk through the door I will be welcomed, accepted, and heard. Thank you so much for listening to me, hearing what I have to say, and giving me this amazing opportunity!