Executive Director

Erin moved to Brainerd in 2010 from the Duluth area, which happens to be the same year that TheShop was founded! She holds Bachelor’s degree in Human Services Management and has 13 years of experience in the field of mental health with both adults and youth. Erin comes to us from the Northern Pines Mental Health team based in the Brainerd High School, so she is already a familiar face to the youth we serve. She also served on TheShop’s board of directors for several years before taking the leap to become the Executive Director. Working with youth, especially teens and young adults is one of her passions and believes that, while they do age her on occasion, that they also keep her flexible and keyed into the “spark” for life that all youth possess. Erin believes that all youth need spaces where they can socialize, be creative, be themselves, and feel safe and she considers it an enormous privilege to be able to provide that in the Brainerd/Baxter area.

Being from the Duluth area, Erin loves to spend time on or near the water with her family and is grateful to live in a community with so much access to that. She loves to read and is an active reptile keeper who can’t wait to share some of her collection with the youth at TheShop.