Staff Biographies

Shari Campbell – Vice President of Programs & Educational Services

Shari graduated from UW-Green Bay with majors in Human Development and Elementary Education.  The majority of my 24 years of experience has been in the field of Early Childhood Education and much has been in the non-profit sector...

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Gary Gorlen – Director of Weatherization 

Gary began his career working with low income families over thirty years ago.  His first job was with the Youth Employment Program at Central Wisconsin Community Action in Wisconsin Dells.  In 1980, while still with Central CAP, he was placed in charge of the Low Income Weatherization Program as part of his duties as the agency’s Deputy Executive Director...

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Laurel Andersen – Director of Human Resources

My original direction when I attended Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, was to be a voice major and sing professionally or teach music but I changed direction after attending Prospect Hall, a two-year private secretarial college for girls...

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Ailec González – Director of Finance

Ailec González is the Director of Finance for La Casa de Esperanza. With nine years of experience in the nonprofit sector and 16 years of accounting experience, Ailec’s primary responsibility as Director of Finance is the overall financial and administrative management of $23 million annual budget of the organization...

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Kelly Colgan – Assistant to President and CEO

Kelly Colgan is the Assistant to the President and CEO. She is responsible for:  acting as a Board and staff liaison; serving as the Assistant to the President & CEO; and providing administrative support to agency directors and managers...

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Cindy Retzack - Senior Housing Specialist

Cindy has been managing Apartments for over 21 years. She and her husband were the Resident Managers in a complex of over 100 units in Menomonee Falls for over 6 ½ years & they also were the Resident Managers in another complex in the Town of Brookfield of 128 units for 6 ½ years...

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Karen Oates - Director of Workforce Development and Financial Stability

As the Director of Workforce Development & Financial Stability, Karen has oversight of much of the adult programming for La Casa, including:  the Employer Connect program, Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, Family Self Sufficiency, and Financial Stability Initiative...

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Carmen de la Paz – Public Relations

Carmen moved to Waukesha in 1967 after receiving her degree from the University of Puerto Rico in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education. Carmen began her career at La Casa in 1971 as a teacher’s aide in La Escuelita. Later, Carmen was promoted to Lead Teacher and then to Parent Coordinator...

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Ligia “Lee” Wipfli, BS, SAC. – Manager of La Clinica

After an intensive career with international and domestic airlines located in Los Angeles and San Antonio., Lee transferred to Milwaukee in 1985 to work in the Mexicana Airlines’ regional office.  After operations relocated to Chicago, Lee accepted a position in administrative and compliance for Midwest Express Holdings in the certification of its airline pilots...

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Mary Hamkins - Senior Accountant/Internal Auditor  

Mary is responsible for keeping and verifying accurate records and for performing a variety of accounting and other financial functions.  Mary has a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Dayton and also has her CPA license..

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Dave Geisthardt - Field Operations Manager

As La Casa de Esperanza’s Field Operations Manager for weatherization, Dave is responsible for the production work flow, particularly with jobs performed by La Casa’s weatherization crews..

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Tracey Stanislawski - Director of Early Childhood Education Programs

Tracey has worked with children and families for over 17 years in varying capacities within the nonprofit sector.  Tracey earned a Master’s Degree in Social Work from UW Milwaukee and more recently, a teaching certificate from Mount Mary College...

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