Our Team
Meet Our Team
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(he/him)
Chris was born, raised, has lived and worked in Central Minnesota his entire life holding a number of organizational leadership positions over the years in for-profit and nonprofit organizations as well as starting and operating his own residential contracting business. Having founded the Avon Hills Folk School in 2017 he recently became the first full-time employee as its Executive Director.
Hobbies for Chris are gardening, hunting, fishing, mushroom hunting and just about anything outdoors. Chris is married, with two adult daughters and has lived within the Avon Hills nearly his entire life.
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(she/her)
Jordan grew up in Avon, Minnesota and has a deep love for the region, the outdoors, and sharing these spaces with others. Her work at the folk school allows her to support local artists, provide opportunities for the community to learn and grow, and share the Avon Hills with those from near and far. In her spare time, Jordan enjoys reading, being outdoors, and spending time with her husband, dog, and cat.
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Brittany, a daughter of Minnesota’s lakes and long winters, first came to Avon Hills Folk School as our inaugural intern, carrying with her a quiet spark, a steady sense of care, and heightened curiosity. She is devoted to the art of internal and external safety: both the kind we build within ourselves and the kind we weave together in community, and holds close the belief that everyone deserves a place to belong, just as they are.
With a heart tuned to the rhythms of land and people, Brittany now tends her role as Program Director much like a careful gardener: nurturing thought, cultivating connection, and helping good things grow. Brittany finds joy wandering the woods in search of wild treasures, stirring something warm in the kitchen, sharing laughter, moving through yoga, and delighting in the small, shining moments of discovery that make life feel ever new.
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Shane Mahon is passionate about making and teaching. He believes they go hand in hand. Building on an Art degree from California State University, Shane has spent over 20 years teaching art to children and adults. Currently, he teaches STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) and Social Emotional Learning at a school for children coping with emotional and behavioral challenges. Because the current educational model leaves many children behind, Shane believes in fostering intrinsically motivated learning. He is excited to share the Timbernook approach. At home in Central Minnesota, Shane and his wife are always making and learning new things.
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Tom Wicks spent 34 years in Youth Development work at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Minnesota. As Director of Operations, Tom was part of the team that helped the organization grow from one Boys & Girls Club to three new Boys & Girls Clubs and 12 school based program sites serving over 1,500 youth and teens per day. The more Tom heard and read about TimberNook the more he thought about his childhood that was spent mostly outdoors. With great enthusiasm he looks forward to sharing this opportunity to be outdoors with youth around Central Minnesota.
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The best thing my parents did was allow my brother and me to play hard as kids: play rough, build crazy contraptions, dig holes, build forts, and make a mess. My favorite part of Timbernook is that it is a space and time for kids to play hard and make core memories in the outdoor environment. As an adult, I get to see childhood magic daily. I now work as a licensed K-12 art teacher with kindergarten and middle school-age artists. In my free time, I enjoy creating art, gardening, hiking, and kayaking. I am currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Teaching and have a Bachelor's in Studio Art and Art History.
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Sean Fisher is an outdoor educator who thrives at the intersection of nature, creativity, and community. His engaging hands-on teaching approach has spanned to classrooms and communities in Spain, Tanzania, Israel, and the United States, supporting youth environmental education through active place-based learning experiences. He brings a deep curiosity for ecology, and interests of foraging, papermaking, and printmaking, into the communities he helps cultivate.
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Kristen Whitley has a fierce love for nature and creativity, and a passion for combining the two. She has a professional background as a registered Art Therapist, working in children's mental health facilities for more than a decade. Kristen enjoys making art, hiking, traveling, and rock hunting with her husband and son.
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Jen lives with her husband in the Avon Hills, just a half mile from AHFS. She is a certified Montessori teacher with a passion for working with children ages 3–6, helping them develop independence, curiosity, and a lifelong love of learning.
When she is not in the classroom, Jen enjoys playing guitar, running with friends, and reading. She especially loves spending time outdoors and believes that nature provides some of the best opportunities for exploration, discovery, and growth. Jen is passionate about encouraging children to connect with the natural world and thrive in outdoor learning environments.
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Growing up near the Avon Hills, Kayse has always loved the area. After earning a degree in Communication Art & Design, she started a business as a photographer and worked as a designer at a small firm in Avon. She loves working at the Folk School and sharing the incredible opportunities AHFS offers. In her free time, Kayse enjoys hiking, kayaking, and sewing.
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Board Members
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After practicing law in St. Cloud for 37 years Neil retired to his property on the West edge of the Avon Hills. Now he spends his days in the woods, hunting, making firewood, tapping maples and caring for his bees. Neil was one of the founding members of the AHFS board of directors and continues to use his legal experience to guide the school toward long-term success. Neil and his wife Jean have two adult daughters and two grandchildren who delight in playing in the woods
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Mary enjoys the outdoors and is inspired by all the teachers, volunteers, students and the vision of everybody involved with Avon Hills Folk School. She is especially interested in serving the underserved communities in the area. Before Mary retired to this area she worked for 6 various small businesses as an accountant and has recently been involved with a few other nonprofits.
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Jordan grew up in Avon, Minnesota and has a deep love for the region, the outdoors, and sharing these spaces with others. Her work at the folk school allows her to support local artists, provide opportunities for the community to learn and grow, and share the Avon Hills with those from near and far. In her spare time, Jordan enjoys reading, being outdoors, and spending time with her husband, dog, and cat.
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Mark was one of the founding members of the Avon Hills Folks School board and has worked as a teacher, a creator of arts programs for the College of St. Benedict, St. John’s University and Minnesota Public Radio, and as a writer. A long-time neighbor of the folk school, he has watched its evolution with enthusiasm and gratitude. Mark and his wife Therese Nierengarten brought up three sons just down the road from the folk school, all of whom received frequent outdoor and life lessons from the grandparents of the Avon Hills Folk School, Francis and Karen Schellinger.
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Brad Konkler was introduced to the Avon Hills Folk School as a student in our first Timber Framing course and now serves as a course instructor and board member. As a certified National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) outdoor leader he splits his time between the northwoods of Wisconsin and Upstate New York's Adirondack High Peaks Region. Brad is an Ironman triathlon athlete, Nordic ski coach, and has spent a lifetime promoting community health and well-being through a variety of leadership roles
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Dr. David Kroska has resided in the Avon Hill’s area since 1985 where he has a large organic garden and orchard. He is a practicing OB/GYN with CentraCare of some 44+ years. He founded a lifestyle medicine program (the LiFE) program which he has taught for over 17 years.
He and his wife Susan have a micro business ACME tomatoes, selling tomato, peppers, eggplant and basil transplants in the spring.An avid construction hobbyist, he has built numerous structures including a pizza oven, several large bridges, a 75 foot concrete tunnel and a woodworking shop. Hobbies include gardening, woodworking, bicycling, hiking, writing and teaching.
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In January 2022, Ayan Omar became the first Somali to be named the Director of Equity for the St. Cloud School District. As director, Ms. Omar, a former high school English teacher, is responsible for the coordination of educational programs & services to improve equity. Skilled in teaching high school, college/university, and adult learners, Ms. Omar creatively plans events that promote understanding and compassion between diverse community learners.
Ms. Omar’s work has earned her many accolades and acknowledgments state-wide and nationally.
She has written and contributed to NPR, Washington Post, Huffington Post, St. Cloud Times, and MPR on topics specifically related to race, cultural, and religious relations.
She has been selected as a TedTalk presenter and awarded the St. Cloud Times Change Maker award.
She has also been honored with a Leadership in Educational Excellence award and recognized as a MN Department of Health Services: Outstanding Refugee Award recipient.
Recently, she participated in MPR’s annual conference The Little Moments Count as a parent panelist with 100 people in-person and 500++ virtually.
Her involvement in social justice issues illustrates a passion to make a difference as an advocate, mentor, and a respectful human being.
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Tom Wicks spent 34 years in Youth Development work at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Minnesota. As Director of Operations, Tom was part of the team that helped the organization grow from one Boys & Girls Club to three new Boys & Girls Clubs and 12 school based program sites serving over 1,500 youth and teens per day. The more Tom heard and read about TimberNook the more he thought about his childhood that was spent mostly outdoors. With great enthusiasm he looks forward to sharing this opportunity to be outdoors with youth around Central Minnesota.
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Chris was born, raised, has lived and worked in Central Minnesota his entire life holding a number of organizational leadership positions over the years in for-profit and nonprofit organizations as well as starting and operating his own residential contracting business. Having founded the Avon Hills Folk School in 2017 he recently became the first full-time employee as its Executive Director.
Hobbies for Chris are gardening, hunting, fishing, mushroom hunting and just about anything outdoors. Chris is married, with two adult daughters and has lived within the Avon Hills nearly his entire life.