Meet Our Staff

Amy Brendmoen

Interim Executive Director

With diverse experiences across multiple organizations, Amy Brendmoen brings extensive leadership and management experience to her clients. During her tenure as a Saint Paul City Councilmember from 2012 to 2023, Amy demonstrated exceptional leadership as Council President from 2017 to 2024. She provided executive leadership for the legislative branch of Saint Paul, facilitated and negotiated the city's annual budget process and played a crucial role in policy-making in collaboration with a diverse council. Amy's focus on economic development, finance, and planning was instrumental in advancing an inclusive, equity-centered policy agenda and advocacy. Additionally, she managed the council's twenty-one person staff team and was responsible for communicating the council's positions and decisions to the public. In her role as Chair of the Board of the Saint Paul Housing and Redevelopment Authority, she was instrumental in developing the 2018 Fair Housing Action Plan. 

Amy's organizational leadership is also evident in her work with the Rice Larpenteur Alliance from 2015 to 2023 where she secured funding, engaged diverse partners, and developed a comprehensive plan to revitalize underserved areas in Ramsey County. Prior to her work at the City of Saint Paul, Amy served as the Director of Marketing and Communications for Children's Home Society & Family Services from 2009 to 2012. In this role, she oversaw all marketing, branding, communications, and web presence for a $30 million non-profit organization.

Amy is actively involved in her community, having served on various boards and councils. She created a triathlon fundraiser for YMCA Camp St Croix and led a team of sixty volunteers to accomplish the event, raising $100,000 over ten years to help send kids to summer camp. 

Contact Amy: director@mavanetwork.org

Polly Roach

Program Director

Polly Roach is MAVA’s Program Director, providing support for activities related to the Service Enterprise Initiative and others funded by the Volunteer Generation Fund. Prior to joining the MAVA staff in 2018, Polly served on the MAVA Board of Directors, where she chaired the Strategic Directions Committee and was involved in shaping MAVA initiatives such as the Shifting Environment research. Polly received MAVA’s Mary Wiser Award for Leadership in the Field of Volunteer Resources in 2011. Previously, she worked at the Mentoring Partnership of Minnesota (now MENTOR Minnesota) as the Senior Director of Program Services, delivering resources, training and technical assistance to youth mentoring programs to strengthen their efforts to provide young people with high quality, long-lasting relationships. Prior to that position, she directed a one-to-one mentoring program for girls at the YWCA of St. Paul for 16 years. Polly holds a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Minnesota.

Contact Polly: proach@mavanetwork.org or 612-756-8088

Kyla Rathjen

Student Success Grant Director

Kyla Rathjen is MAVA's Student Success Grant Director. She is responsible for administering the Student Success Grant through the Volunteer Generation Collaborative. Kyla is a committed nonprofit professional with extensive experience in program management and community-led development, primarily in international organizations. She is passionate about effective philanthropy, equitable grantmaking, and social movement building. She has significant hands-on experience coordinating grantmaking efforts for grassroots organizations in East Africa and Central America, and served on the board of the Minnesota International NGO Network (MINN). Kyla has a BA in Sociology/Anthropology and Race & Ethnic Studies from St. Olaf College, and an MA in Human Rights from the University of Minnesota Humphrey School of Public Affairs and College of Liberal Arts.

Contact Kyla: krathjen@mavanetwork.org or 612-584-1339



Michael Nguyen

DEI Director

Michael Nguyen has 15 years of experience navigating the partnership opportunities that exist between the private, public, and nonprofit sectors. He has an extensive background in business development, project management, and organizational behavior projects. He is an analytical and a conceptual thinker who effectively partners with stakeholders to assess opportunities, facilitate strategic decisions, and drive successful executions. Michael’s ability to assess complex situations and identify appropriate solutions highlights his ability to gain meaningful insight and follow up thorough analysis. He is a particularly skilled presenter and group facilitator and who enjoys forging consensus among people with diverging ideas and opinions. Michael has held leadership positions at non-profit organizations including the Coalition of Asian American Leaders (CAAL) and Ascend NAAMBA Twin Cities. Michael received his Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Hamline University and a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Political Science from the University of Minnesota.

Contact Michael:mnguyen@mavanetwork.org

Mackenzie Albrecht

Greater Minnesota Program Manager

Mackenzie Albrecht is MAVA's Greater Minnesota Program Manager. She's responsible for outreach, relationship-building, and supporting volunteer engagement organizations and networks across Greater Minnesota. As a resident of Central Minnesota, she has first-hand experience engaging volunteers in small town and rural areas. Mackenzie has been involved with nonprofits as a volunteer, board member, and staff member since 2014, primarily with animal and youth related organizations. Before joining the MAVA staff, Mackenzie worked as the Volunteer Manager at Ruff Start Rescue, one of Minnesota's largest foster-based animal rescues. She became involved with MAVA when she completed the Volunteer Impact Leadership Training series and went on to serve on MAVA's Professional Development Committee before coming on as a staff member.

Contact Mackenzie: malbrecht@mavanetwork.org or 320-961-4141

Maureen L. Bourgeois

VISTA Program & Personnel Manager

Maureen L. Bourgeois is MAVA's Vista Program and Personnel Manager. In this role, she manages MAVA's AmeriCorps VISTA program and personnel operations. Prior to joining the MAVA staff, Maureen coordinated and oversaw administrative aspects of the Certified Family Life Educator designation with the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR). Through a variety of employment opportunities, and in her volunteer leadership role at the Basilica of Saint Mary, Maureen has had over 20 years of experience training and leading child and adult volunteers. Maureen has a passion for helping others develop interpersonal skills and works as a Standardized Patient/Client with the University of Minnesota and a Crisis Intervention Actor with the Barbara Schneider Foundation. Maureen has a Bachelor's degree in Theatre Arts from the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, and has supervised volunteers and volunteered within the Twin Cities performing arts community for several years.

Contact Maureen: mbourgeois@mavanetwork.org  or 612-568-3580

Anne Morehouse

Training & Events Specialist Consultant

Anne Morehouse, Training and Event Specialist Consultant, assists with MAVA’s educational programs to ensure volunteer leaders are trained to maximize organizational success. Anne’s extensive background in business development, marketing support for local commerce and her passionate belief in volunteerism naturally segue to helping leaders strengthen community relationships via MAVA’s unique training offerings. 

Contact Anne:amorehouse@mavanetwork.org