Board of Directors
- Jody Winters (Chair)
- Linda Senst (Vice Chair)
- Jackie Backen (Treasurer)
- Jane Otto (Secretary)
- Janis Rannow
- Scott Rehmann
- Ronda Matthias
- Jeri Lueneburg
Jody Winters is a partner with the law firm of Gavin, Olson & Winters. She is licensed to practice in Minnesota (since 1992) and Federal Court (since 1993). She is the City Attorney for Glencoe, Lester Prairie and Silver Lake and prosecutes cases for the city of Hutchinson. She has been on the Board of Directors since the fall of 2001 and was the Chairperson in 2002-2003. She is also a member of the 8th District Bar Association, McLeod County Bar Association, Community Corrections Advisory Board, Domestic Abuse Task Force, and the GRHS Ethics Committee.
“I believe it is important to educate the public about domestic abuse, the prevalence of domestic abuse and why victims stay in an abusive relationship as education will help end the violence,” Winters said. “The Alliance provides an invaluable service to victims providing them support, guidance and hope.”
Linda joined the board in November 2010. She works at McLeod County Public Health as PHN II, assistant to the director. She has worked in many areas of hospital nursing in the past and has been with the county since 1991. She has the following responsibilities: coordinator the Follow Along Program, county contact for Help Me Grow early intervention services; member of the McLeod Interagency Early Intervention Committee along with the Interagency Referral Team, the Family Support, and the Public Awareness subcommittees; the MDH Early Hearing Detection and Intervention county contact; PCA assessor, and waiver case manager. Linda has two children; Laura, who works at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, and Jesse, who is a freshman at UMD.
“I feel that the Alliance offers hope and strength to those who otherwise would have neither of those things. With the disintegration of the family unit, we have seen many ‘lost children’ who might have been saved or at least assisted in the their goal of a better, safer, happier life,” Senst said. “Whatever we can do to stand in the gap to assist the abused will be blessed. I am honored to be a member of the Alliance Board.”
A board member since September 2004, Jane Otto, took a hiatus the past year to finish school. Now a newly licensed RN, she works as a lab assistant in Ridgewater Collegeʼs nursing program and as an on-call nurse at Glencoe Regional Health Services. It was her former career as a journalist, however, that Jane came to serve the Alliance. “Reporting on the sorrow and hurt that domestic abuse causes made me realize I want to do more,” Jane said.
A native Philadelphian, Jane now calls Minnesota home after living here for 17 years. She and her husband, who Jane refers to as “her best friend,” have four children, all in their 20s. If thereʼs spare time to be had, Jane spends it jogging, reading, painting, or occasionally cleaning.
Jackie Backen joined the McLeod Alliance in December of 2009. She is a lifetime resident of Hutchinson. She and her husband, Bill, have three daughters. Amy is a Special Ed teacher at the Hutchinson High School, Stacy attends the University of Minnesota Twin Cities and will be pursuing a career as a Pediatric Physician’s Assistant and Calli attends Hutchinson High School. Jackie works full time as the Director of Office and Communications at Faith Lutheran Church in Hutchinson and part time at State Farm Insurance in Glencoe. She previously worked at the McLeod County Courthouse in the family law division and worked with the advocates from the McLeod County Alliance.
Backen said that she really admires the advocates and the work they do. “They do a wonderful job working with the victims,” she said. “I am honored to be a board member.”
Janis Rannow is a public relations and communications professional and has worked as the statewide communications manager for a national organization, a radio news director, a newspaper reporter and other communication/marketing positions. Janis was delighted to rejoin the McLeod Alliance board in late 2008, having previously served as a board member during the organization’s infancy. A long-time resident of Hutchinson, Janis is a graduate of St. Cloud State University, the University of St. Thomas and has taken advanced coursework at Hamline University. Janis is an avid seamstress, gardener, volunteer and writer/reader, but her biggest joy is her family, especially her much-loved children and grandchildren.
“The changes I have seen in the awareness of domestic violence and care of those it impacts is both needed and gratifying,” Rannow said. “However, much work remains so that one day we may claim that we have eradicated this soul-destroying behavior.”
Scott Rehmann is the Sheriff of McLeod County. Scott has been in law enforcement for 12 years. He has also worked as a Chemical Dependency Counselor for 10 years. Scott and his wife, Katie are both from McLeod County and make their home in Winsted. They have four children.
“Most of my work, either as a counselor or in law enforcement, has been with juveniles in crisis. I believe that if we work to protect our families from violence, through education, intervention, and resources, we will turn around the number of young people that find comfort in the world of drugs and alcohol,” Rehmann said. “The McLeod Alliance for Victims of Domestic Violence is one of the most fundamently important organizations in McLeod County as the people who make up the organization are dedicated to ending a violent cycle of family abuse that if not stopped will continue on to the next generation. Safe and healthy families equal a safe and strong community. I am honored to be a member of the board.”
Ronda Matthias has previously served on the board and is excited to be back. Ronda has worked at Wendling Insurance Services, Inc. since 2006. She is a licensed agent with a special interest in long term care. After the Alliance director spoke at a Hutchinson Rotary meeting, she decided she wanted to become involved. Besides serving on the board, she has helped with other projects throughout the years.
Ronda and her husband Mark have 3 children: Matt and his wife Angie live in Minneapolis; Gina, a recent college graduate is doing an internship in San Antonio, Texas, as a dietician; and Jeff who is a sophmore at St. Thomas. In her spare time she likes to travel, read and spend time with family and friends at the lake.
Jeri Lueneburg joined the board in May 2009. She had worked at Hutchinson Technology, Inc. for several years before leaving in June. Jeri now feels she has the time to volunteer.
Jeri and her husband Brad have 2 daughters. Megan is a May 2009 Architecture/Environmental Studies graduate of Iowa State University and is currenty in the Peace Corps in Kran, Bularia. Elizabeth is a sophomore at University of Wisconsin- Madison planning on an Enginering Degree.
