Read About Our new Board Members
KATHRYN HIETBRINK
Kathryn Hietbrink is very excited to be joining the 7 Rivers LGBT Resource Center at this time in her life and the life of the Center. She feels ready to contribute to help move the center forward and that there is an excellent plan in place and energy and people to make it happen. Kathryn would like to honor those that gave birth to the center and to the members and volunteers that have kept it going and expanding to meet the community’s needs. Kathryn moved to La Crosse 2 and 1/2 years ago to assume the School Social Worker position at Central High School and to enjoy the beauty and diversity of the this area. She had been living in Richland Center and commuting to Tomah for 6 years after spending her younger adult years in Chicago. Part of her goal is to help build a bridge of support for LGBT youth as they transition into young adulthood and to expand networking, socializing and service opportunities to the larger LGBTQ community.
GREGORY S. BONNEY
Greg Bonney is a partner with the firm of Johns, Flaherty & Collins, S.C. in La Crosse, practicing primarily in estate and business planning, as well as probate and real estate law. He also works with many businesses, ranging from sole proprietorships to national and international companies.
Greg grew up in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, and is a 1978 graduate of Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, and received his law degree in 1981 cum laude from Hamline University School of Law in St. Paul, Minn. He joined Johns, Flaherty & Collins in 1981. He is admitted to practice in the state of Wisconsin and the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin.
Actively involved in advancing the practice of law, Greg is a member of the La Crosse County Bar Association and the Crawford County Bar Association. He is a member of the State Bar of Wisconsin and is currently on the Board of Directors of the Real Property, Probate and Trust Section of the State Bar Association. He serves on the Special Investigative Panel of the state Lawyer Regulation System, an appointment by the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
Greg has been involved in several community activities, including the Sugar Creek Camp Foundation, La Crosse Area United Way, the La Crosse City board of zoning appeals, the La Crosse Community Foundation, the Salvation Army Advisory Board, as treasurer of the La Crosse Area Synod – Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and as treasurer of the Logan High School Band Parents Organization. He is active in the lives of his two boys and in his church, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church.
MIKEL HAMPEL
I am a local boy farm boy. I was born in Black River Falls, raised in Cataract and attended Sparta High School. I have an AssociateS Degree in Accounting from Western Technical College and a BS in Business Administration from UW-La Crosse. After graduation I lived in Appleton and worked for a hotel and an airline before landing a position with a dairy cooperative. I was hired as an accountant, promoted to General Ledger Supervisor and again to Assistant Regional Controller. In 1996, I was hired by Radisson Hotel in La Crosse as Controller and I moved back to La Crosse.
My partner’s name is Dan Lintin, a founding father of the resource center. We have five daughters. Three are attending Logan High School, one is attending Iowa State University and the oldest is a graduate from UW-Riverfalls. I have been a member of the City Tax commission for several years. For the last two years, I have been a member of the Pridefest Committee. I am member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in La Crosse, involved in Sunday school, our Tuesday evening community free meal called “Come for Supper”, a member of the Membership and Evangelism Committee and organizer of our new men’s groups.
TRISH HARVEY
Trish Harvey teaches 8th grade social studies at Holmen Middle School in Holmen, WI. Formerly, she served an administrative role at the University of Wisconsin La Crosse in the Masters of Education – Professional Development Program. She has also facilitated two UW-L Learning Communities and is currently working with a community in Milwaukee. Trish earned a Doctoral degree from the University of Minnesota in Educational Policy and Administration. In addition, she has a Master's of Science degree in Sports Administration from UW-La Crosse. Trish taught grades 7-12 social studies for a number of years in St. Charles, MN. Her interests include biking, skiing, hiking, and reading. Trish and her partner, Teri Staloch, have two sons, Tate, 7, and Teigen, 4.
PATTI MARTIN
I’ve lived with my husband in the La Crosse area for the past 28 years. My husband and I reside in an old farmhouse and have raised three boys in a rural setting near Coon Valley. In April our marriage will be 30 years old and we are now experiencing the joys of being grandparents to a little girl. My hobbies include many interests such as doing outdoor activities, reading, learning about the universe, and experiencing interactions and relationships with people.
Graduating as a social worker from Utah State University my work and volunteer experience has mainly focused on working with families and children. Currently I am employed by PATH WI, a non-profit agency, contracted by La Crosse County to provide services to families experiencing child abuse and neglect issues. I also serve as a mental health consultant for Head Start Child and Family Center of La Crosse.
Over the years I have been interested in learning more about people: from various cultures, in different ethnic groups, with beliefs differing from mine, and in the LGBT community. As we raised our children we tried to instill an open mindedness and an acceptance about the differences that make people unique. In 2003 we learned our youngest son was gay. While we embraced him for who he was it still wasn’t enough to take away the fears he had about being gay in our society.
In the positions I’ve held professionally and as a volunteer I have worked at educating people about what it is they need to know to be effective parents, healthy individuals, and productive members of society. I believe it is through education that we alleviate the ignorance that causes hatred and prejudice. Skills I could bring to the LGBT Resource Center board are abilities to empathize, provide support, speak to the public, educate, counsel, and a strong sense of compassion.
Though brief and concise I believe the above provides information on my interest in working on the LGBT Center board and also how my own goals would be met in doing so. I look forward to this opportunity and thank you for your consideration.