On any given weekend at Northgate, you may see several staff members cruising through the lobby, up on the big screens, or leading from the stage. But behind the scenes, there’s another team of leaders at work, making sure our special faith community is firing on all cylinders—and that’s our Board of Directors!
So, why do we have a board and what do they do?
Here’s what one of them had to say:
The people [I work with] on Northgate’s board are really smart people who care deeply about reaching out to our community in the name of Jesus. Even though we take our jobs seriously, our meetings are never boring! We have a lot fun, taking God's work seriously, but never taking ourselves seriously. The primary purpose of the Northgate board is to hold our Pastors, Staff and church up in prayer. We are involved in discussions about how to prioritize the budget and resources needed to reach Northgate's mission, vision and values. We have the honor and privilege to dream big and support the church during this exciting time at Northgate!
A couple of the faces have changed over the years, but their dedication to helping people become who God purposed them to be has never faltered. We are very blessed by the minds and hearts that make up this team. And it’s with that in mind, we pull back the curtain today to give you a glimpse into this amazing group and tell you just a little bit about each one.
Here they are!
TIM DETTLAFF
He’s calm, cool, collected and Canadian. This guy is seriously awesome with strategic planning and his business acumen is a huge asset to our team. When he’s not leading in the boardroom or serving on the First Impressions Team, he and wife Linda can be found traveling, cheering enthusiastically at a grandkid’s sporting event, or chilling by a bonfire with their pups.
NANCY GRAMS
Not only does she serve on the board, but Nancy leads the prayer team and volunteers with the First Impressions ministry. She loves dark chocolate, time with her granddaughter, and shoes--so very
many
shoes. She even loves snowshoes! Loyal and committed, Nancy has been at Northgate since day one and wholeheartedly believes that the best is yet to come. Her biggest inspiration is seeing all the everyday miracles that happen and the transformation taking place around our church. Little known fact about this lady: she’s been wearing the same exact perfume for 35 years! Told ya she was loyal.
DAMOLA ADEOGUN
Cooking keeps her calm and focused, her kids keep her inspired to grow, and God’s work in our community is what excites her. Not only is she business savvy but she volunteers at her kids’ school, in Northgate’s Kidnection program, and with the Black Employee network & Women’s network at her office, to bring awareness to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Where does she get her ambition? From watching her hero and mother, who rose—against all odds—from a village in Nigeria to raise a beautiful family with seven very successful children. Damola delights in her two children, who are both basketball stars with the Anoka Tornadoes and she delights in all the friendships she’s made in Northgate’s GROW program.
MIKE ORN
It’s likely that you’ve driven by a billboard or bus-bench with Mike’s smiling face. Although he’s best known for being big in insurance, you should know that he’s a volunteer-machine, obsessed with serving our community. Mike loves to coach hockey, greet with First Impressions at Northgate, serve at the House of Charity in Minneapolis, and on the Board at ACBC Food Shelf in Anoka. While it’s true he keeps himself pretty busy with these organizations, he also makes sure to set aside time for family, fishing, and golf. Something quirky about Mike? He’s been wearing the same pair of $5 K-Mart gloves for 36 years.
SHELLY HOUSER
Who lives in a log house and loves helping people with their faith and fitness goals? It’s Shelly! Shelly loves life and it shows as she joyfully pours herself into her four grandkids, swimming, reading books, oil paintings, and supporting people at her personal training studio. When she’s not helping clients build muscle, she’s helping to build a ministry for young single mothers with Elevate Hope House. She serves on Elevate’s Board and is excited to swing the doors wide open on their program & new housing facility for some special families. Random fact: her favorite movie is the Matrix because of all the Christian themes and parallels weaved into the plot. We’ll never watch it the same way again, will we?
DIANE PETERSON
A lawyer and a filmmaker, is there anything this woman can’t do? Doubt it! While Diane could keep herself plenty busy with her career and on the set of her hubby’s latest movie project, she’s hooked on helping out hurting families through Northgate’s Confident Kid’s program. At home, she’s known to crack a ton of jokes, snuggle her two little dogs, and hang with her next door neighbors, Pastor Linnea and Joe Grey. Diane faithfully follows the Holy Spirit where He leads and she’s a treasure on our board.
We thank this board for tirelessly working to ensure that Northgate operates smart, smoothly, and with big, God-sized dreams for the future.
Lift these leaders up in our prayers, and know that they are praying for you too!