Make a Difference

Join SSCO’s Board of Directors!

The SSCO BoD are volunteers who dedicate their time to ensuring our mission is carried out.

Th Board provides a respectful forum for community involvement and leadership that builds on neighborhood strengths to promote and improve Stevens Square-Loring Heights as a fun place to live, work, and play.

Photo courtesy of Hennepin County Libraries

Board of Directors

The SSCO Board of Directors is composed of residents from the Stevens Square-Loring Heights neighborhood and holds meetings on the first Tuesday of each month, which are always open to the public.

In addition to the full board, SSCO has 4 committees that meet on a monthly basis: Safety Committee, Neighborhood Development Committee, Events & Engagement Committee, and Executive Committee. Each committee is also composed of and chaired by SS-LH residents and open to the public.

An SSCO staff member is responsible for coordinating committee meetings and ensuring the decisions of the Board and Committees are put into action. Below is a list of all current Board members, Staff, and Committee leadership. For more information on the work of each committee click here.

To get up to speed on what’s been discussed at past BoD Meetings, feel free to read the Minutes taken at each meeting at the bottom of this page!

Elected Officers

Ken Strobel (he/him)

Board Chair
My name is Ken Strobel. I've lived in the Stevens Square-Loring Heights Neighborhood for 29 years, and have been a volunteer with the SSCO most of that time. I am member of the neighborhood Safety Team (formerly Block Patrol).
Karen Ives (she/her)

Treasurer
Karen is a long-time resident and active volunteer in the Stevens-Square Loring Heights neighborhood. She has acted as Treasurer of the neighborhood organization on and off the Board for many years, and is familiar with its various funding sources, expenses and reporting requirements. Karen is an attorney in her working life, and enjoys helping people. She has seen the neighborhood go through many changes, and loves the dynamic nature of Stevens Square.

Members-At-Large

Frank Perez

As someone who regularly enjoys our park with my dog, Talia, I understand how important our shared spaces are for fostering community connections, recreation, and overall well-being. I want to be a voice for all residents, advocating for improvements that benefit everyone—whether that means enhancing park amenities, supporting local initiatives, or fostering stronger communication between the board and the community.
Jody Podulke (she/her)

My name is Jody Podulke. I’ve lived in Stevens Square since February of 2020 and having grown up in rural North Dakota I really love how warm, welcoming and close knit this neighborhood is. I’m active with the SSCO Safety team and enjoy helping with the many events the SSCO puts on like Cinema and Civics and the Festivals. It’s been a great way to get out and meet my neighbors.
Maureen Wells (she/her)

“As a 50 year resident of Stevens Square, I have been both a renter and a condo owner. I love our neighborhood. My career is in social work and I have worked in HIV since the 1980s. Currently I am semi-retired and work 2 days a week as the social worker for 4 AIDS adult foster care homes.”
Robert Perdriau (he/they)

I have been a resident of the Stevens Square community for the past two years. I am a proud dog dad of a 10-year-old pitbull named Serenity. I am passionate about building a stronger sense of community and enhancing our local park for everyone in the area!
Scott Dickman

Scott has in Stevens Square since Feb. 2017, and before that, lived at 215 Oak Grove St for 33 years, so has been in the neighborhood a long time. Scott has had a lifetime of experience in government and is now retired.

Non-Board Committee Leadership

Molly Ellis (she/her)

Co-Chair of Neighborhood Development & Events Committee
Molly's background is in architecture and she works as a project manager. She has lived in Stevens Square since 2016 and is involved in a community garden and a variety of SSCO activities. She enjoys being co-chair of the Events & Engagement Committee because it is a great way to meet new people in the neighborhood.
John Kiel

Co-Chair of Neighborhood Development & Events Committee
John is the owner of The Boiler Room, a welcoming independent coffee shop in Minneapolis. They lived in Stevens Square from 2021 to 2023 and remain connected to the neighborhood. In addition to running The Boiler Room, they work in the tech industry, bringing a problem-solving mindset to both fields. Outside of work, they share their home with a lively crew of pets: their dog, Colton, and two cats, Tiny and Fat Cat