Staff and Board of Directors

Lydia Kihm is the Executive Director of Teens Alone. Lydia is a graduate of Ohio University and spent 15 years in management, marketing and marketing research. Before joining Teens Alone in 1997, she was Volunteer and Development Director at Person to Person in Minneapolis.

Robert Ward, Psy.D. is Teens Alone's Program Director. Rob obtained his doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology- Los Angeles. His background includes working as a staff psychologist for a university mental health facility, a psychotherapist for Family and Children's Service in Minneapolis, and as a mental health consultant for various youth, family and spiritual programs.

Wendy Epstein is a licensed social worker. She received her bachelor's degree from the College of St. Catherine, and is completing her clinical research paper for her master's degree from the University of St. Thomas. Before joining Teens Alone, Wendy was a youth and family counselor at Face to Face Health & Counseling in St. Paul. She also worked for Hennepin County's Crisis Intervention Center, and is bilingual in English and Spanish.

Beth Knoblauch has her M.A. in Educational Psychology from the University of Minnesota. Prior to her work at Teen Alone, Beth worked as a counselor with homeless mothers going through chemical dependency treatment and their children in Honolulu, Hawaii and as a counselor for teen girls receiving treatment in Minnesota. She also worked as a Program Manager for Lutheran Social Services with homeless teen moms and their children.

Chris Ochocki earned a Masters Degree in Mental Health Counseling from Notre Dame College in Manchester, NH. Chris's background includes serving as a youth and family counselor at The Mental Health Center of Greater Manchester, a youth minister at Ste. Marie's Parish and working as a manager for youth summer camps sponsored by Group Publishing, Inc.

Teens Alone Board of Directors FYE 09
Dave Benson - Program
Principal
Orono High School

Dana Brewer - Business Chair
Co-Owner, KLB Financial

Quinette Cook - Marketing
Graphic Designer

Sarabeth deNeui - Chair/Program/Business
Director of Students - St. Louis Park High School

Heidi Horsch - Business
Accountant

Peg Keenan - Business
Community Volunteer

Mary Mills Barrow - Marketing
Executive VP and Co-founder - Coolibar

Bobbi Pointer - Past Chair/Program
Licensed School Nurse - Hopkins High School

Dave Rittenhouse - Business
United Health Group-Human Capital Director

Randy Thompson
Counselor, Eden Prairie Central Middle School

Deb Ukura - Fundraising
Youth Program Manager - Hopkins School District

Gail Youtsos - Fundraising
Tanglen Elementary