OUR FOUNDATIONAL ELEMENTS

Vision Statement - What we want to see in the world

We envision renewing and restoring hope to those individuals and families in need. 
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Mission STATEMENT - What is our work

​Our mission is to demonstrate love and compassion by connecting furniture/household items with individuals and families in their time of crisis and challenge.
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PURPOSE STATEMENT - why we do OUR WORK

Our purpose is to fill a void in the community by helping transform a residence into a home.
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OUR core values - The rock of values we built upon

We are unwavering in our values as we came together to build the organization.  These values are the foundation and they manifest in all development and impacts of the Furniture Mission of the Red River Valley.
Grace
Respect
Compassion
Integrity
Humility
​Generosity

​OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLES - Our guide as we connect, work, build, and evolve the furniture Mission of the Red River Valley

We take our values one step further and established guiding principles for all of our work.  We ensure that every action of the Furniture Mission of the Red River Valley is filled with love and hope.
Faith-led
Responsive
Transparency
Kindness
​Connecting
Perseverance

staff

Stephanie Manesis – Director of Operations

Stephanie Manesis is Furniture Mission of Red River Valley’s part-time Director of Operations.  Stephanie has experience with three of her own start-ups and with serving on a Board of Directors.

With a strong background in marketing, copywriting and teaching, Stephanie helped market Oil of Olay, Clearasil, Maybelline, Rolodex, American Express and Lego Toys brands.  She has taught marketing at the university level and taught languages (French, Spanish and English as a Second Language) to children and adults. 

Stephanie has a BA in French Language from the University of Minnesota – Duluth and an MBA in Marketing and International Business and an MA in French Studies from New York University.
Stephanie is a professional speaker in the Mental Wellness field and is producing and directing a WWII documentary, working title: “Compassion on the Battlefield in WWII.” In her spare time, she likes to sculpt in stone, write, bike and kayak.
“I joined Furniture Mission so that I could be a part of something bigger in the Fargo- Moorhead community. I love the fact that Furniture Mission works from a place of compassion and love."

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OUR TEAM LEADING the concept to ACTION

Our Board of Directors came together​ with a shared idea of making an impact through kindness for those in need. Conversations grew relationships and relationships fueled ideas.  Soon, the Furniture Mission of the Red River Valley was born.  With heartfelt compassion, this group volunteers their time, talents, and abilities to taking this organization from idea to reality.  They are always looking to connect with people in the community with ideas and passions in helping people.  Our mission is about making a residence a home, but it is also about hope and humanity.  We all can connect with that.

evert Van Engelenhoven, President

Evert was born and raised in Luverne, MN and graduated from Luverne High School in 1959, He is married to his wife Judy and has been married for 48 years. They have two sons and one daughter and five grandchildren. They have lived in West Fargo since 1977. 

Evert is a retired insurance agent and was in the insurance industry for 52 years. Evert was a partner/owner and past president of Hektner-Lybeck-Erickson Insurance Agency in Fargo, ND. He was active in the Professional Insurance Agents Association of North Dakota and is a past president. 

Evert is an active member of Faith – Journey Lutheran Church in West Fargo and has served on various boards and is a past president. He has been a volunteer for the American Red Cross for a couple years and is a caseworker throughout ND, SD and western MN. He is also a member of the Gateway Lions Club in Fargo. His interests include golf and yard work, and he is a retired runner and proud to have finished the Minneapolis Marathon 8 times
"I joined Furniture Mission because God has blessed me in so many ways I feel a strong desire to help people less fortunate than myself."

Darrell Costain, VICE PRESIDENT

Darrell grew up in rural DeLamere, ND, the middle son of a farm family. He graduated from Milnor, ND Public School and received an Associate Degree from ND School of Science in 1971. He transferred to the University of North Dakota and received a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing in 1973. 

Darrell spent 38 years in foodservice, the last 16 years with US Foods in Grand Forks, ND as the VP of Merchandising and Marketing. He received several personal awards as did his division for outstanding performance in the area of vendor negotiations and overall profitability. Darrell retired in 2012. 

Darrell has been married for 42 years and he and his wife, Arlene, have two grown children and five grandchildren. They enjoy international travel and golfing and are active in their church. He is very involved with Lions International as a way to give back to others locally and internationally
"I joined Furniture Mission of the Red River Valley because I felt a need to give back. By the grace of God many have been given tools that can help so many others less fortunate."

LeAnne DRESSEL, Secretary

LeAnne retired after 17 years as Parish Administrator at Faith✟Journey Lutheran Church in West Fargo. She provided general oversight for day-to-day operations, including management of finances and personnel. Previously, she held positions in personal banking/consumer lending and as a consumer credit counselor. 

LeAnne remains active in retirement volunteering at Faith✟Journey and in the community. LeAnne has served as a committee member/treasurer for the West Fargo Area Community Program, a group organized to provide senior services and activities in West Fargo. She also served on the Board of Directors for Valley Senior Services, an organization providing services for area seniors to help maintain their independence. 

LeAnne grew up in Mayville, ND and attended Mayville State University. She and her husband, Keith, have been married for 50 years and have lived in West Fargo most of that time. They have two daughters and two granddaughters, all living in the area.  
​"I joined Furniture Mission after a conversation with Evert about his vision to begin a local ministry helping families or individuals who, because of events beyond their control, needed gently used furniture. I had recently been involved in trying to help a family after a fire and realized this ministry would be a huge blessing to many in the area. I knew quickly that I wanted to become involved with this important mission."  

​​Paul lybeck, treasurer


Paul and his wife live in south Fargo and have three children and six grandkids. He is an owner/agent at Hektner-Lybeck-Erickson Insurance Agency where he has worked for the past 44 years. He was born in Fargo in 1953 and then raised in Moorhead, MN graduating from Moorhead High School and Concordia College. 

Paul was a long-time member of Pontoppidan Lutheran Church where he spent 24 years on the church council including a term as President. In 2010, his family moved their membership to Atonement Lutheran Church in south Fargo. 

Paul’s lifetime hobby is fastpitch softball in which he participated for over 40 years and also was on many local, state and national committees for the sport.  In addition, he has served as the executive director for several state, regional, national and international tournaments hosted by the Fargo-Moorhead Softball Association. Currently, Paul is a member of the North Dakota Softball Hall-of-Fame. Upon retirement from softball, he and his wife purchased a lake home on West Silent near Vergas, MN where they spend their leisure time in the summer
"After 30 years in business together, Evert asked me to serve on an exploratory committee regarding bringing the Furniture Mission to our community.  One year later, I believe in this project with all my heart.  I see the Furniture Mission as the missing link that will locally change lives and bring hope to thousands of devastated individuals and disadvantaged families."

​​scott hildre, board member

Scott grew up in McVille, ND where his family owned the general store. He went to Mayville State College, University of North Dakota, Moorhead State University and Michigan State University. He worked in the field of special education at the Grafton State School and Harbor School in Moorhead, MN. 

Scott later took a job at Herbst Dept. Store at West Acres Mall and then with Richman Brother Clothing also at West Acres Mall. While with Richman Brothers he took that store to the number one store in growth out of 300 stores in the nation. He then became the assistant manager in charge of marketing for the West Acres Mall. Scott taught Sales and Marketing at Moorhead Technical Collage for two years. Scott then sold commercial real estate for the last 20 years. 

Scott is an active member of the Gateway Lions Club. He sits on the board of directors for a non-profit called Center, Inc. He is a member of Atonement Lutheran Church. Scott is married to his wife Miriam and has three children, six grandchildren and two great grandchildren. He retired in 2019 and enjoys time with friends and family. He is a coin collector and a wood carver
"I joined the furniture mission because of a trip I took to South 
Dakota and was exposed to the real need that many people had for gently used furniture. I had never thought about the hundreds of families that had lost everything,and we're trying to make a home for them selves, or the homeless families that were looking for a new beginning. I needed to try to help if I could. Furniture Mission is a way that I can do that."

CHristy dauer, BOARD MEMBER

Christy is a Program Director for the North Dakota Women’s Business Center and is based in the Fargo area. A native of West Fargo, she is a sales and marketing professional with over a decade of successful experience in expanding client relationships. Christy specializes in sales and marketing to make meaningful relationships. 

Christy’s smile has been called contagious and her laughter fills a room. Inspired by her parents at the age of six, Christy has a passion of helping others by volunteering and giving back to local non-profits. Christy lives in West Fargo with her husband, two boys, dog and Guinea Pig
"I am passionate about the community and loved the concept of helping those facing a crisis. When Darrel and Evert approached me about joining them in a brand new non-profit and as a passionate lover of this community, I seized the opportunity to join in!"

​Keven kercher, BOARD MEMBER

Keven currently works as an Associate Attorney at the law firm of Ohnstad Twichell,P.C. , in West Fargo, North Dakota. Previously he served as a military engineer and then as a military lawyer in the Army for over a 20-year career, retiring at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. 

Keven grew up in West Fargo and attended West Fargo High School. After high school, he attended and graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. Keven’s church as a youth was Faith + Journey Lutheran Church in West Fargo, ND, which is a few blocks from his childhood home. 

After retiring from the service, Keven and his family returned to the West Fargo area and Keven reconnected with the church. He presently serves on the Church Council and Call Committee. Keven enjoys exploring the outdoors and spending time with his wife Sara and his two daughters Megan and Brianna
"When I learned about Furniture Mission of the Red River Valley and who they serve I knew I wanted to help. It's a group of people that are passionate about making a difference in our community. We offer hope and a hand up and it feels good to be part of that!"

HEATHER HUOTARI, BOARD MEMBER

Heather is a CPA (Certified Public Accountant) working for Eide Bailly in their Business Outsourcing and Strategy Group. Inspired by her dad’s entrepreneurial spirit, she attended NDSU to earn degrees in both Accounting and Management with hopes of making an impact in the small business community. 

Heather now has many years’ experience as a professional in the accounting industry and enjoys cultivating small businesses successes by helping them leverage technology to obtain real-time financial insights; helping them make business decisions. Her passion to help others succeed in this way seamlessly translates to the non-profit community where she enjoys volunteering and giving back any way she can. 

In her spare time, Heather loves spending time with her husband and daughter, heading to the lakes on the weekends (particularly in the warm summer months), and relaxing with a good book or Netflix.
When I heard about the Furniture Mission of the Red River Valley, I was excited to get involved and help families that are going through a crisis. I’m passionate about or community and excited to make a positive impact through this mission! 

advisor

lynn speral

Lynn Speral and her husband, Mark, are long-time residents of Fargo. They have two grown children and five grandchildren, all of whom reside in Fargo.

Lynn recently retired as the CEO of the American Red Cross Dakotas Region, serving North Dakota, South Dakota, and NW Minnesota. In this role, she led a team of 20 staff members and over 500 volunteers. Prior to her role at the Red Cross, Lynn was the Director of Development at the Rape and Abuse Crisis Center. During her tenure at this organization, she led fundraising, marketing and communication efforts, and supervised the non-clinical staff of the Center.

Preceding that position, Lynn was the Director of Marketing at DMS Health Group in Fargo and she came into that role after working 20 years in the healthcare industry in radiology. Lynn’s non-professional interests include camping, sewing, reading, and spending time with her family.
"My professional career has included nonprofit work with clients moving forward from a personal crisis. Household items such as furniture, lamps, and wall hangings help make a dwelling a home. In addition, community members are often looking for ways to donate gently used items and this makes it a win-win for those in need and those able to give."

COMMITTEE OF SUPPORT

The Furniture Mission also has Committees that support our mission and efforts by giving of the resources of time and talent and volunteerism.  They help the Board advance the mission and they help in areas of their strengths.  We are always looking to add people that can help the Board bring home and hope to individuals and families in our community.  
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Paul Fleming, committee member   

Paul is a Financial Advisor and a member of the wealth management team at Bell Bank in Fargo, ND. A native of Albert Lea, Mn, he attended Mankato State University and graduated with a B.S. degree majoring in Finance and Management with a minor if Economics. 

Paul worked for Kraft Foods as a Sales Representative/Account Manager for eight years and has been in financial services for 28 years. Paul is an active member of Calvary United Methodist Church, Fargo Gateway Lions and has served on various local boards. In his free time Paul enjoys being outdoors, motorcycle touring, golf and is a hockey fan. Paul and his wife Karen live in Fargo and they have two sons
"When I learned about Furniture Mission of the Red River Valley and who they serve I knew I wanted to help. I enjoy being around people that are passionate about making a difference in our community. At Furniture Mission we offer hope and a hand up and it feels good to be part of that!"

​​Duane Zwinger, COMMITTEE MEMBER

Duane Zwinger was born and raised in Sykeston, ND, the oldest of six children.  His early days were spent on the family farm.  He graduated from Sykeston Public School in 1959.  He got his Bachelor of Science Degree from Valley City State College in 1964 and his Master of Science Degree in Education from Northern State University in Aberdeen, SD.  He is married to Mary Ann for a total of 53 years and they had 3 daughters and have 4 grandchildren.  

Duane was in education his whole career.  He was a classroom teacher & coach, principal and superintendent.  His last “real” job was superintendent of Gackle-Streeter Public School, a position he held for 13 years.  He is an active member of the Sts. Anne & Joachim Catholic Church in Fargo.  He is also very active members of the Sts. Anne & Joachim Knights of Columbus Council 11930 and the Gateway Lions Club of Fargo.  His special interests are sports, the outdoors and playing cards.
“After hearing Evert give his message to our Lions Club and seeing the passion that he has for the Furniture Mission of the RRV, I wanted to be a part of this program as well.  To help give to those that are less fortunate.  I wanted to be on the ground-floor start of this program and to help and watch it flourish.” 

​David Pederson, COMMITTEE MEMBER

David has an AAS in computer programming and utilizes his problem-solving skills daily.  He is currently the Maintenance Director at Red Rock Property and he comes to the committee for the Furniture Mission as a follower of Christ and a strong commitment to service.  

David is on the Board for Fix-It Forward Automotive Ministries and a proud Lion's Club member.  He was raised in Hawley, MN in a large family with eight siblings.  He also has two kids of his own - ages 13 and 15. 

KAYLA MEDIGER – SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER

Kayla Mediger is the Program Manager for the North Dakota Women’s Business Center and is based in the Fargo area.  She graduated from North Dakota State University with a degree in Retail Merchandising and Business Administration and has spent the last decade in the retail and marketing industry in California, Nebraska, Minnesota, and North Dakota.  Her experience in the retail industry has allowed her to provide specialized expertise in sales, store management, product development, buying, and event coordinating to clients.  Community engagement and helping others is a passion of hers and most recently is sharing her social media skills with Furniture Mission.
“I joined Furniture Mission as I'm passionate about others and love giving back to the community. I'm so excited to be a part of this incredible organization and help those in need!”