Leadership Council
Steven P. Bresnahan, Executive Director
Steven P. Bresnahan serves as Catholic Charities Executive Director, leading the human services organization in its faith-based mission to the poor, vulnerable, and persons experiencing crisis.
He currently serves on numerous housing boards and is an adjunct faculty member of the University of St. Francis, Joliet, Illinois, teaching in the Masters in Health Services Administration program in Minneapolis and Moorhead, Minnesota. He has served on Catholic Charities USA Board of Trustees, the Catholic Health Association of Minnesota, St. Benedict Senior Community, Great River Interfaith Partnership, and the Stearns Benton Workforce Council.
Prior to his joining Catholic Charities in June of 1994, Bresnahan spent 15 years in the health care field, managing hospitals, nursing homes, and physician practices in Central Minnesota.
Bresnahan holds an M.A. in Health Service Administration from the University of Minnesota and a B.A. from Saint John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota.
Renae Sternke, Chief Operating Officer
Renae Sternke, in her capacity as Chief Operating Officer, facilitates the implementation of the organizational plans and budgets of Catholic Charities in cooperation with the Executive Director and Leadership Council.
Prior to her appointment as COO in February of 2006, Sternke was Catholic Charities Director of Human Resources. Previously, she had worked in Human Resources and Administration in both the private and non-profit environments in the greater St. Cloud area. She has served on the Boards of Directors for Rotary Club of St. Cloud, New Beginnings, and Central Minnesota Society for Human Resource Management.
Sternke holds a B.A. degree in Psychology and Management as well as a Master's Degree in Business Administration from St. Cloud State University.
Joanne Broschofsky, Director of Finance
Joanne Broschofsky manages Catholic Charities Finance Department which has responsibility for financial reporting and analysis, billing and accounts receivable/payable details, and payroll and benefit accounting for the organization.
She currently serves on the Boards of Directors of three nonprofit entities -- the the Catholic Foundation, Central Minnesota Chapter of the American Red Cross and New Beginnings. She also serves as a trustee for St. Joseph's Parish in Pierz, and on the Pierz District School Board. Prior to joining the organization in 1999, she worked in public accounting for 11 years. She is a member of the Minnesota Society of Certified Public Accountants.
Broschofsky holds a B.S. degree in Accounting from St. Cloud State University.
Penny Casavant, Director of Organizational Advancement
Penny Casavant manages Catholic Charities Organizational Advancement Department which is entrusted with nurturing and advancing Catholic Charities relationships with donors, funders, collaborators and others who share our commitment to charity, justice and serving those in need in our society.
Casavant has a strong background in both development and communications, having begun her career as a print and broadcast journalist. She holds a B.S. from Moorhead State University and a M.A. in non-profit management from Metro State University.
Joan Collins-Marotte, EdD/MS, LP – Director of Caritas Family Services
Joan Collins-Marotte manages Caritas Family Services, a program division within Catholic Charities that includes: Adoption Services; Caritas Mental Health Clinic; Emergency Services: Food, Clothing, Financial; Financial Counseling; Hope Community Services; La Cruz Community Services; Legal Imigration Services; and Life Transitions Services.
A Licensed Psychologist and Certified Rehabilitation Counselor with over 18 years in the field, her specialty areas include post-traumatic stress disorder, crisis response, complex trauma interventions, community healing, and clinical program evaluation. She has presented at twelve national conferences and over 30 state and regional conferences, and has published numerous articles in professional journals, including original research on the treatment outcome of youth residing in residential facilities. She has also taught in the Counselor Education Department at St. Cloud State University.
Prior to her becoming Director in June of 2000, Collins-Marotte was Program Director at Catholic Charities St. Cloud Children’s Home, a residential adolescent treatment facility where she had previously been employed as a Clinical Supervisor and counselor for many years.
Collins-Marotte received her Doctorate in Education in Leadership, Policy, and Administration from the University of Minnesota. She holds an M.S. degree in Community Counseling and Rehabilitation Counseling from St. Cloud State University.
Ruth Hunstiger, L.S.W. – Director of Senior Services
Ruth Hunstiger manages an extensive group of residential and community based services. Programs under Ruth’s direction include: Catholic Charities Senior Dining and Meals on Wheels, Central Minnesota Foster Grandparent Program, Catholic Charities Senior Health Promotions, Catholic Charities Supportive Housing for Youth, Support and Advocacy for Independent Living services , Services to Persons with Developmental Disabilities including Catholic Charities In Home program and 5 residential based licensed Adult Foster Care homes in Cold Spring and St. Cloud, as well as Catholic Charities CAHI home in Paynesville- a residential facility for persons with physical disabilities.
She is a Licensed Social Worker through the State of Minnesota who has worked with seniors for over 30 years in many areas, including healthcare and housing. She currently serves on numerous local and State Boards and committees with a special focus on seniors, homeless youth and hunger initiatives. Hunstiger holds a B.A. degree in Social Work from St. Cloud State University.
Kathy Langer, Director of Social Concerns
As Director of Social Concerns Kathy Langer promotes and engages communities in Catholic social teaching which Catholic Charities is founded upon - teachings that foster the inherent dignity of all people, the preferential option for the poor and vulnerable, care for God's creation and global solidarity. Kathy works with the Catholic community and beyond to consider what it means to live the gospel message of love for all of God’s people.
Langer is a representative on the Social Concerns Department of the Minnesota Catholic Conference, is the Diocesan Director of the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, is on the Board of Directors of the National Roundtable of Social Action Directors and the St. Cloud Diocesan Mission Office, and serves on the Diocesan Education Council.
Langer earned a Master’s Degree in Theology, with a concentration in Spirituality and Scripture, from the St. John’s School of Theology. She has over 20 years of experience as a lay ecclesial minister in the areas of campus ministry, parish pastoral ministry, youth ministry and faith formation.
Mike Lehn, Director of Information Technology
Mike Lehn manages the Information Technology (IT) Department which promotes effective and efficient processing of information throughout Catholic Charities by integrating technology into the daily processes of staff members. The department provides computer and telephone support and guidance, equipment maintenance and replacement, systems analysis, computer and telephone network operations, computing standards, training, software and database development, and data protection and security.
Lehn received his M.B.A. in Management Information Systems from the University of Minnesota - Carlson School of Management, and a B.A. in Business Administration-Finance from University of St. Thomas.
Timothy J. Lieser, L.S.W, M.A. MNM, Director of Resdential and Day Programs
Timothy J. Lieser manages an extensive group of residential and community-based services. Programs under Lieser’s direction include Catholic Charities St. Cloud Children’s Home, Catholic Charities Day Treatment Programs in St. Cloud and Elk River, Catholic Charities Intensive Treatment Unit in Fergus Falls, Catholic Charities CAHI Home in Paynesville, and several homes for adults with developmental disabilities in the Cold Spring area.
For the past 30 years, Lieser has developed his leadership and managerial skills at Catholic Charities.
Lieser is a Licensed Social Worker for the state of Minnesota and a Cultural Diversity Trainer for the Minnesota Council of Child Caring Agencies. He has nearly 20 years of experience as a first responder and volunteer firefighter. Lieser has also served as Vice-Chair of the District 750 (Rocori) School Board.
He holds a master’s degree in non-profit management from Regis University in Denver, Colo. and a bachelor’s degree in social work from St. John’s University in Collegeville.
Mardi Noyes, SPHR, Director of Human Resources
Mardi Noyes manages Catholic Charities Human Resources Department which is entrusted with the task of supplying and retaining qualified employees, volunteers, and interns as well as crafting policies and working with Catholic Charities Leadership Council as a strategic partner to help them reach their program goals.
She is an active member of the Central Minnesota Society for Human Resource Management, the HR Committee for United Way, the HR Committee for Boys and Girls Club and the District 742 Community Education Advisory Board.
Noyes has an M.A. in Public Administration with an emphasis in nonprofit management from the University of Illinois and a B.A. in Psychology from St. Cloud State University.
Jim Rudolph, Director of Property Management
Jim Rudolph directs the Property Management department which provides services for purchasing and sale of buildings and assets, coordinates leases, maintains buildings and equipment, provides centralized purchasing and inventory of supplies, and administers the agency's fleet of vehicles.
Rudolph is a graduate of St. John's University with a B.A. degree in Philosophy and a minor in Psychology. He is pursuing designation as a Certified Property Manager (CPM) through the University of St. Thomas in conjunction with the Institute of Real Estate Management.
Harvey Schmitt, Director of Housing Services
Harvey Schmitt oversees Catholic Charities Housing Services area which includes: Housing Management Services for 776 units of housing in 14 Central Minnesota communities; Domus Transitional Housing for women and children; and Veterans Transitional Housing.
He is currently a member of the St. Cloud Health and Housing Advisory Committee and previously served on the Boards of Directors for St. Cloud Habitat for Humanity and the St. Cloud Housing Coalition.
Schmitt holds a B.S. in Management and Finance from St. Cloud State University.
Laura Wocken, Executive Assistant
Executive Assistant Laura Wocken supports the work of the Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer and facilitates the functioning of the senior management team.
Prior to joining Catholic Charities, she was in administration for an architectural/civil engineering firm and an insurance business.
Wocken is a graduate of St. Cloud Business College.
