Our Team

Brett Rawlings (he/him) manages key administrative and structural tasks to enable the PFund Foundation team to reach maximum effectiveness as the Executive Assistant to the Executive Director.

Before PFund Foundation, Brett attended Texas Christian University, where he graduated with a BFA in Musical Theatre.

Aaron Zimmerman (he/him) is a career fundraiser and non-profit manager. He has served as PFund Foundation’s Director of Development, as a Major and Planned Giving Officer at Twin Cities PBS (TPT), and as the Director of Development and Communications at Domestic Abuse Project, a Minneapolis-based domestic violence therapy and advocacy program.He holds a B.A. degree from the University of Wisconsin — Madison and has a Master of Arts in Philanthropy and Development from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. He wrote his capstone on the history and practice of white supremacy in philanthropy and fundraising in the United States.

Mercedes Plendl (she/her) leads the design, implementation and evaluation of grant making programs at the foundation. Mercedes worked for a decade as the Program Officer at Better Way Foundation, supporting indigenous leaders and organizations through systems change and culturally-affirming programs.

Mercedes completed her Masters Degree in Public Policy through the Leadership and Nonprofit Management track at the Humphrey Institute at the University of Minnesota, and also earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in German and Theater Arts from the University of Minnesota.

Kevin Kjonaas (he/him) leads the fundraising and communications efforts at PFund Foundation. Most recently, Kevin served as Associate Director of Development and Communications at Avenues for Youth. Kevin’s ability to cultivate relationships and drive organizational growth through effective communication strategies supports PFund’s efforts to ensure resources are available for grantmaking, entrepreneur investments and scholarships for LGBTQI+ communities in the Upper Midwest.

Kevin completed his Bachelors Degree from the University of Minnesota in Political Science.

Bob Albachten is an accomplished finance and business professional specializing in nonprofit accounting and financial management. With over a decade of expertise, he has supported boards and executive teams in achieving strategic goals for organizations of various sizes. Bob is highly skilled in budgeting, grant tracking, financial reporting, and regulatory compliance. Recognized for responsiveness, reliability, and professionalism, Bob leads with a collaborative, ethical, and team-oriented approach, inspiring others while maintaining high standards of integrity. As an Alum of Metropolitan State University and Minneapolis Community & Technical College, Bob has additional experience in Education and says that his passion lies in working in an organization that “makes a difference in the lives of countless people, and I feel the work that Pfund Foundation does is vital to the health of our community.” Bob is deeply committed to LGBTQ+ equity and has actively advocated for inclusive environments throughout his career.

Sami Sahu (he/him) administers, monitors and refines the process for new and existing grant and scholarship programs and other strategic investments and partnerships as PFund’s Grants Management Associate. Sanmit is a Data Analytics and Software Development Professional with a Masters degree in Computer Science from the University of Southern California.

Lilly Knopf (they/them) supports the distribution of scholarships and grants while conducting outreach to connect PFund to LGBTQ+ communities across our five-state region as PFund’s Program Associate. Lilly has experience in higher education and arts education, and graduated from the University of Minnesota with a BA in Linguistics.

Lauren Rimestad (she/her) has nearly two decades of experience in nonprofit administration in the Twin Cities and Portland, Oregon. At PFund Foundation, Lauren pairs creativity with careful planning for engaging campaigns that connect people through philanthropy. Lauren completed her bachelor’s degree at the College of Liberal Arts, University of Minnesota – Twin Cities.

Dionne Sims (she/her) is a queer professional from Minneapolis, MN with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications and Media Studies. In 2020, she left her career in tech and founded Black Garnet Books, an independent bookstore and community space in Saint Paul, MN that focuses on uplifting authors and artists of color. Once established, Dionne sold the bookstore in 2024 to a community member and devoted her time to teaching new bookstore owners how to run their shops as an instructor with the Professional Booksellers School. Currently, she is the Advancement Associate at PFund Foundation. You’ll likely spot her at indie coffee shops around the cities reading a book, and if you can’t find her, she’s at home with her dog, Nova, playing video games.

LM Brimmer (they/them) is a writer, teacher, and CEO of 66 Wands Consulting. They were born in southern Wisconsin and now live in Minneapolis, MN in Mni-sota Makoce, the traditional homelands of the Dakota and Ojibwe peoples. They have held interim-executive leadership roles at The Cedar Cultural Center and In The Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre and have previous management experience with Intermedia Arts and The Ordway Center for Performing Arts. In 2019, they co-edited the anthology Queer Voices: Poetry, Prose and Pride (MNHS Press). Their essays and poetry have appeared in various publications, including The Public Art Review, Quarterly West, and Pleiades Literature in Context. They hold an MFA from Randolph College and MA from University of St. Thomas and teach in the English Department at Century College and Arts and Cultural Leadership Department of the Master’s of Professional Studies at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. You can find them on social media as @leesuhmaroon & @66wandsllc

Joseph Brooks serves as Chief External Affairs Officer at Vivent Health, where he leads the organization’s national external affairs strategy, including marketing and communications, community engagement, philanthropy, and partnerships. Vivent Health is one of the country’s leading providers of HIV prevention and care, serving communities across a six-state region.

In addition to his role at Vivent Health, Joseph serves as a Senior Advisor at ViaNova, where he advises ultra-high-net-worth individuals and families and their family offices and foundations on developing philanthropic strategies and launching and managing philanthropic initiatives and structures.

Joseph brings deep experience across health, education, and community philanthropy, including prior leadership roles at the Greater Milwaukee Foundation and several major universities, where he led comprehensive fundraising campaigns, donor engagement strategies, and institutional advancement initiatives.

A longtime supporter of Milwaukee’s LGBTQ+ community, Joseph serves on several nonprofit and foundation boards, including the Cream City Foundation. In 2016, he co-founded Miltown LGBT Families (now Out Families), which builds community among LGBTQ-led families across Wisconsin and neighboring states.

Joseph holds degrees from Lawrence University, the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, and Marquette University. He is also a Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP) and Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE).

Austin (he/they) strives to make meaningful, positive change in their community. He currently works for the University of Minnesota, and is a proud graduate of the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee. Austin volunteers at Westminster Presbyterian Church as a youth group leader. He also helps coordinate the Fairshare Farm community garden in Minneapolis. In their free time, they enjoy reading, listening to classical music, hanging with friends, and exploring new cities, towns, and state parks.

Cody Ingle is the Senior Research & Evaluation Specialist at Lost&Found, a Sioux Falls-based nonprofit committed to suicide prevention.
With a Master of Public Health in Population Health Research and Analytics from the University of North Dakota, Cody is currently a Bloomberg American Health Initiative Fellow at Johns Hopkins University, pursuing a Doctor of Public Health in Health Equity and Social Justice and working in the Violence Focus Area of the Fellowship.  A passionate advocate for 2SLGBTQ+ equity, Cody helped organize South Dakota’s first Pride Parade and has experience in policy advocacy, event planning, and community engagement.

With over 17 years of nonprofit leadership experience, Alissa is an adaptive and heart-connected strategist partnering with change agents in the nonprofit sector. She lives in Minneapolis, with her partner Crystal, two kids Ada & Perrin, and dog Cookie. Alissa is the President & CEO of The Bakken Museum, a change agent sparking inquiry-based mindsets and supporting inclusive full participation in STEM.

Noah is a proud queer Filipino Iowan originally from Cedar Rapids. He currently attends Northeastern University in Boston, majoring in criminal justice and sociology on a pre-law track.

From a young age, Noah has worked to advocate for his communities, including lobbying to ban conversion therapy in his home town, fighting anti-Asian racism during the pandemic, and serving as a DEI advocate at a law firm in New York City.

Noah is a past and current PFund scholar and is eager to serve improve the lives of queer people in the region as a PFund board member. Outside of advocacy, Noah loves traveling, going to SoulCycle, and spending time with family and friends.

Barry currently is an organizer with ND Human Rights Coalition, an organization with which he has spent most of the past 24 years with. He has served on boards with Fargo Human Rights Commission, River Keepers, Progressive Coalition, Mental Health Association, and currently is chair of the New American Consortium for Wellness and Empowerment, State Health Department’s LGBTQ Advisory Board, and the board of the High Plains Fair Housing.
Barry is a graduate of North Dakota State University with a BA in sociology and psychology. While at NDSU, Barry was a participant in the Experiment in International Living and served three semesters with University Year for Action.

J Nguyễn-Paul (they/them) is a queer Vietnamese American artist and community carer based in Minneapolis. With experience in nonprofit, philanthropic, and higher education, J is committed to building equitable systems that center the well-being of queer, trans, and BIPOC communities. Their work is informed by anti-capitalist and anti-racist values.

Currently pursuing a Master of Social Work degree at Augsburg University, J envisions a future defined by collective liberation, interdependence, and justice-driven action. As a Board member, J seeks to amplify and support the voices of Queer and Trans students, particularly Queer and Trans Black, Indigenous, and students of color, in higher education and academia.

Dr. Brent Opall is a strategist, researcher, and professor at the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire in the department of Management and Leadership Programs (MLP). He earned a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) from the University of Minnesota in Organizational Leadership and Policy Development.

Brent is passionate about teaching, earning several awards including the Chuck Tomkovick Teaching Excellence, University of Wisconsin MBA Consortium Outstanding Faculty, and the Carlson School’s Commitment to Excellence Award.

Sara Radjenovic works at the Sandberg Goldberg Bernthal Foundation as a senior manager for email and web. Sara has multiple master’s degrees and over ten years of experience in digital and email marketing. Prior to that, she spent nearly a decade working for women- and social justice-focused nonprofit organizations in the Twin Cities, Washington D.C., and New York.

Sara’s journey to PFund Foundation began many years ago when she served on a scholarship committee. She firmly believes in PFund Foundation’s mission and is excited to be part of creating real, lasting change. Sara lives in South Minneapolis with her wife (Lisa) and dog (Juniper). She enjoys traveling, reading, writing, weightlifting and hiking.

Becky Smith has worked to advance social justice through strategic communications and leadership across movements for almost two decades. Most recently, she spent eight years as the Communications Director at Violence Free Minnesota and served as Interim Executive Director for the last six months of her tenure with the organization. Becky brings over ten years of experience serving on nonprofit boards in her role as the president of the PFund Foundation board of directors.

Kit Spielberger is a content strategy and editorial leader with more than 17 years of experience in legal, government, and media organizations. They currently lead a bilingual content team dedicated to making trustworthy legal information accessible online. Kit holds a B.A. in linguistics and cognitive science from Pomona College and an MBA with a concentration in strategy and leadership from the Indiana University Kelley School of Business.

They co-led the Pride at Work business resource group at Thomson Reuters for four years, during which they spoke and wrote frequently about trans and non-binary inclusion in the workplace. They are particularly passionate about leadership development for trans and queer people.

Chris Stedman is a writer, activist, podcaster, and professor who teaches in the Department of Religion and Philosophy at Augsburg University in Minneapolis, MN.

He is the author of IRL (2020) and Faitheist (2012), and the creator, writer, and host of Unread, named one of the best podcasts of 2021 by the Guardian, Vulture, HuffPost, Mashable, and the CBC. Additionally, Unread was honored by the 2022 Webby Awards for its writing, and cited by The Trevor Project as a resource with “an ultimately life-preserving lesson that we hope every young LGBTQ person is able to learn.”

You can learn more about Chris and his work at chrisstedmanwriter.com.

Lynelle Wood became aware of PFund Foundation a few years ago and immediately fell in love with the organization.

Lynelle currently works for HealthPartners in human resources, focusing on labor and employee relations. Prior to HealthPartners, Lynelle worked for the state of Minnesota in labor relations.Lynelle has served previously on the boards of multiple nonprofit organizations, including Family Tree Clinic. Lynelle also actively volunteers for a variety of organizations across the Twin Cities and enjoys travellng and hiking.

Tamara (she/her/hers) is an in-house attorney with a large financial services company, where she leads a global team of legal professionals supporting wealth management and investment services businesses. She earned her J.D. degree cum laude from the University of Minnesota and holds a B.S. in Finance from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Tamara has been a passionate advocate for inclusion within corporate America, the legal profession, and the Twin Cities community throughout her career. She has spoken about issues of fairness and inclusion at various local and national conferences and was recognized with the National LGBTQ+ Bar Association’s Out & Proud Corporate Counsel Award in 2025. Tamara is inspired by the mission of the PFund Foundation and grateful for the opportunity to contribute to ensuring its continued success.

Tamara lives in the Twin Cities with her wife, Denise, and their rescue dog, Lil.