Mission and Leadership

I have been involved with Hope Harbor since 2009 as teacher, financial secretary, board member, and now as Executive Director.  I have bachelor's degrees in Business Administration with an emphasis on accounting and management and Business Education.  My primary responsibility is to provide leadership for the ministry, ensure fiscal responsibility by being good stewards of resources, and continually striving to be a ministry of excellence. I have been married to Wade since 1990 and we have three married adult children and one granddaughter.  I enjoy spending time with family, traveling, reading, going for walks, beating Wade at backgammon, and spending time at our cabin in Alexandria MN.  I love sharing the Hope Harbor story with anyone who will listen.  I also enjoy speaking to groups about how God has worked in my own life and how He has always been faithful to provide for every need.

My Favorite Scripture: Philippians 4:6-7 

I was raised in Minneota, MN and received my bachelor’s degree in Business Management in 2004. On to bigger and better things, I was never moving back home.  Raised in a Christian home, my faith was tested and grown in 2015 when my husband Joe and I decided he'd leave his family business and move back to Minneota.  I learned the true meaning of “trusting in the Lord” when I forfeited my plan for my life; in 2018 we decided it was time for me to resign from my 11 year career so I could be fully present in raising our children.  We live on a small acreage outside of Minneota with our three beautiful children, a dog, and a cat! I enjoy making memories with my family and friends. On the weekends you can usually find our family doing some kind of house project! I believe the Lord answered my prayers when the Finance Secretary position was presented to me in March of 2019. I am blessed to be a part of this amazing ministry! 

My Favorite Scripture: Proverbs 3:5-6

I was born and raised in small town Minnesota where cattle far outnumbered people.   My grandmother taught me the importance of a love for Jesus from an early age.  I didn't fully understand it but I held onto it dearly.  I moved to Marshall in 2002 to attend SMSU, studying Sociology, Justice Administration and Criminal Justice.   After college, I had the education to do what I thought I should, the experience to show me I didn’t know what I wanted, and plenty of baggage that needed checking.  Wise counsel recommended that I pray Proverbs 3:5-6 over my life - and direct my paths He did!  I found healing I didn’t know I needed in a place I never expected to find it: my job at Hope Harbor.   I have been with Hope Harbor since 2007 as Direct Care Staff, Lead Staff, Program Coordinator, Program Director, Director of Operations and now Site Director.  In this role, I support staff in Marshall as they minister to our girls and families each day.  

My Favorite Scripture: Revelation 12:11 

I was born and raised in Marshall, Minnesota and heard about Hope Harbor back as a freshman in high school.  The ministry had been in the back of my mind throughout college until my senior year. I attended SMSU in Marshall and received a degree in Social Work.  I also obtained my social work licensure in 2019.   During my senior year at SMSU, I chose to intern at Hope Harbor and that is where my journey began with this ministry. I fell in love with this place and the work all the staff gets to do.  We love on the girls and help them find their purpose and identity in Christ. I started here as a Direct Care Staff in May 2018 then moved into the role of Program Coordinator in May 2019.  Fun facts about me: I played tennis for SMSU all four years, I have a cat named Chloe (follow @meowmeowChloe on Instagram), and I love calligraphy and you will see some of my writing around the house when visiting Hope Harbor. 

My Favorite Scripture: Luke 19:3

I grew up in small town central MN with a great family and community. I knew who Jesus was and was involved in my church, but didn’t make Him my Savior until college. By then the community where I grew up was a bit shaken, so I found comfort in knowing my God would never be shaken or leave me. After I graduated with a BS in Community Psychology from St. Cloud State, got engaged, made the move to Marshall and began working at Hope Harbor. I felt instantly at home in Marshall between my coworkers, my church, and my husband, Loic. God showed up in His perfect timing by continual provision and showing me His plans are far better than my own. As the Biblical Counselor I love the opportunity to serve Him and this ministry in a new way. Some things I love: doing laundry (weird I know), listening to audiobooks, long walks, and traveling. 

My Favorite Scripture: Matthew 6:34

I grew up in Morris, MN and attended the U of M Twin Cities. Go Gophers! I graduated with a BS in Agricultural Education and a teaching license. I taught 7-12 agriculture for three years, which brought me to the Marshall area. I started at Hope Harbor in September 2017 as Direct Care Staff. I have always known God, but working here and finding my church community has helped my faith to grow. When the teaching position opened here in Marshall I wasn’t too sure about it until I found myself saying “yes!” I truly believe that He lead me here. In the Teacher role, I manage the girls’ individual education  progress and the classroom to help them with their school work.  In the small classroom setting we have here, I get to connect with the girls more and spend more one on one time with them as they learn.

My Favorite Scripture: Ephesians 4:32

I've lived in Winona since 1967 and love the nurturing, wholesome community here.  I have been married for 31 wonderful years to my husband, Rich.  We have 5 boys and 3 lovely daughter-in-laws.  My family is important to me!  My growing up years were tumultuous and I made some unwise decisions as a teenager.  Looking back, I know the hand of God was upon me to save me and save me he did!  The work of the Holy Spirit and the prayers of my mother shaped who I am today.  I taught in public schools for 10 years, directed church groups of many types as well as been involved in community activities.  I'm so excited to be able to continue the work of Hope Harbor in our community!  I have been with Hope Harbor since 2017 and my job is to direct Hope Harbor in Winona.  

My Favorite Scripture: Galatians 6:9 

I was born in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and raised just outside of Winona, with a few years in New Jersey.  The eldest of seven daughters, I was homeschooled until I left home for college. I attended Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, worked as a nanny, and graduated with a degree in Ministry to Victims of Sexual Exploitation in spring of 2016.  I had the opportunity to live in the Philippines for six months working with an anti-sex trafficking organization in the slums of Metro Manila. This experience changed my life and really solidified my desire to serve young women and girls who are hurting. I have been with Hope Harbor since 2016, serving in various ways and all shifts.  As Program Coordinator for the Winona home, I get to see and experience many different sides of both the girls here and the ministry as a whole! 

My Favorite Scripture: Romans 8:37-39

In college I found the acceptance and significance I was searching for when Christ drew me to Himself. God filled me with His joy as He healed me from looking for acceptance in the wrong places. I've always had a passion for people of different cultures and was ready to tell the world about Him! As God has a sense of humor, He called me right back to my college town of Marshall, where I hesitantly began as House Staff at Hope Harbor. Five years later I followed Him to Winona to serve with this amazing ministry's new house. I stepped into the role of counselor this year knowing God had been preparing me for this. I love to see Him work in these precious girls and their families, as I get to challenge them, pray with them, and disciple them. He brings healing to the deepest places, gives them a sense of significance, and guides them to live in a way that honors Him and blesses them. This job is the best! 

My Favorite Scripture:  Psalm 40:1-10 

I was raised in a Christian family that struggled greatly, with many difficulties that was just trying to find their way. Through many hard years, God has healed me and used much of my past for good. He has molded my heart to have a passion for others and helping them in their hardships. I moved to Winona in 2016 where I attended Winona State University and graduated with a major in Psychology and a minor in Child Advocacy. During my college years, I started working at Hope Harbor and quickly fell in love with the staff and the girls that I get to work with. Not wanting to leave after graduation, I followed God’s call and became the teacher at the Winona home. Some of my favorite things about this job is watching broken hearts become healed through Jesus, discipling the girls, and participating in many of the fun activities that we do. 

My favorite scripture: Joshua 1:9

Like any good book let’s start with a little background about me.  I grew up in Plankinton, SD and attended SDSU after high school, playing football for one year.   Shortly after college I joined the South Dakota Air National Guard and have been a member of SDANG for almost 11 years.  I’ve been involved in ministry for several years now.  Prior to accepting the position of Site Director at Hope Harbor I was involved with Collision in Sioux Falls as their Relationship Development Coordinator.  I serve on another board for the organization Teammates, a youth mentoring program.  I have a heart to see everyone come into relationship with Jesus.  My heart is that I will leave the everyone I meet a with a better representation of who Jesus is.  My wife and I have three beautiful daughters.  We live in Parker where my wife is a teacher alongside some of the very teachers who taught her as a child!  I love the outdoors, woodworking, hunting, fishing, and many other hobbies I have. 

Hi, I'm Laura! I'm originally from Green Bay, WI, where my parents still live, and I also have a younger brother who lives in the Twin Cities, where we both went to college. I started out as a junior high Language Arts teacher and a volunteer at Hope Harbor, and then I worked for six years at Hope Harbor in Marshall before God called me to work at the Parker location. Throughout the years, I've worked every shift except for Monday overnight, and I was also the teacher at the Marshall location for a couple of years. In my current role as the Program Coordinator, I ensure that the boys' programs are running smoothly and they are working toward their goals, as well as providing support to our direct care staff. One of my favorite things about working at Hope Harbor is getting to share God's love with the boys and their families. I've gotten to see many residents complete their Hope Harbor programs, and while each one is in a different place today, I can be confident that we did our best to pass along the message of hope that we have in Jesus, both the hope that He can restore families and the ultimate hope we have in the gospel - the hope of everlasting life with a Father who will never fail us.

Bio coming Soon! 

I grew up in Marietta, Ga., which is just outside of Atlanta.  In the summer of 2002, I met my husband, Scott Dent at the church that I was attending.  By the end of the summer, we were engaged and married a year later.  Once we were engaged, I moved to Florida because my future husband was in school to be a pastor at Warner Southern College and lived with family friends until we were married in June of 2003.  In 2004, our first daughter Alyssa was born. In March of 2005, we moved to Meridian, MS for our first pastorate. Our family grew in 2006 when our second daughter, Ryleigh, was born. We lived in MS for 5 years then moved to Ga and pastored a church in the North Georgia mountains for 4 years. In 2014, we followed God’s calling to Marion, South Dakota where we have been for the past 6 years. In 2016, we welcomed our third daughter, Presley. My passion is working with teens and teaching them what God truly has to offer.  I am blessed to be a part of Hope Harbor’s ministry as the teacher in Parker.