Meet Our Leaders
The entire Laura Baker Services Association team, led by the individuals below, is dedicated to living out our mission each and every day.
Sandi Gerdes
Executive Director
Sandi came to LBSA in 1983. She has worked in a variety of settings since that time, including direct client support, directing the offices of Development and Admissions, and Supported Living Services. She assumed the position of Executive Director in June of 1997. She is the mom of two grown children, serves on several not-for-profit boards and is active in her church. Read Sandi’s In Community blog.
Candi Lemarr
Director of Finance
Tim Hawley
Director of Community Services
Tim Hawley joined LBSA in 2020 as Director of Community Services. Tim and his entire family have been very involved in the special needs community since the birth of his daughter, Reilly, who has intellectual and developmental disabilities. Tim spent much of his career in corporate marketing at several companies including McDonalds and Dairy Queen. Later Tim transitioned to the non-profit sector as Executive Director of GiGi’s Playhouse, a non-profit that provides people with Down Syndrome free educational and social skills programming. Tim and his wife, Jen, have three adult children and are planning a move soon to Northfield.
Nicole Laudont
Director of Oak Street Services
Nicole became the Director of Oak Street Services in March of 2018. She has a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Kansas, Lawrence, in Human Behavior/Applied Behavioral Science. She worked with the Lovaas Institute in Minneapolis and the Autism Partnership in California before coming to LBSA in 2014 as QDDP/Behavioral Analyst. Nicole is a certified Safety Care Instructor, and has served on the LBSA Professional Development Committee.
Andrei Sivanich
Director of Community Relations
Andrei joined LBSA in the fall of 2017. He is in charge of development, public relations and marketing. Andrei is returning to the non-profit world after 20 years of sales and marketing in the corporate sector. Andrei and his wife, Wendy, have two adult daughters. He enjoys tennis, travel and outdoor activities.
JR Larson
Director of Business Development
JR joined LBSA in 2022 as Director of Business Development. He is a native Minnesotan and graduate of the University of Minnesota, Carlson School of Management. Prior to LBSA, JR worked for over 20 years in the medical device and medical services industries having held a variety of leadership positions in sales, marketing, and business development. He and his wife moved to Northfield in 2006 with their two sons, one of whom is on the autism spectrum. LBSA was one of the organizations that supported his family’s transition to Northfield, and so JR is thrilled to join the LBSA leadership team!