Three LSS leaders appointed to new executive roles

St. Paul-based Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota, among the largest human service organizations in Minnesota, announced new executive roles for three organizational leaders: Elizabeth Saevig, Jaime Wilkins and Heidi Wiste.

            Elizabeth Saevig has been named associate vice president of Grants, Data Intelligence and Evaluation. In her new role, Saevig will provide leadership and direction to the grants, data, and evaluation function and be a key strategic partner to the Executive Operations team. She will ensure strategies advance the performance of the organization and align with overall goals and objectives.

            “I’m inspired daily by the work of LSS colleagues and the organization’s commitment to support neighbors in living full, abundant lives surrounded by community,” Saevig said. “I’m thrilled to support the services through grant revenue generation and to report the outcomes of LSS through efficient, accessible, and sustainable data technologies.”

            For more than 20 years, Saevig has worked in nonprofit development, evaluation and reporting leadership experience across healthcare and social service organizations, large and small. Most recently at Lutheran Social Service, she served as senior director of Grants, Data Measurement and Evaluation. 

          “Elizabeth is an amazing leader and a superb strategic thinker who has collaborated with others across the organization to create innovative solutions and strong partnerships,” said Joe Khawaja, senior vice president of Finance and Operations. “She’s insightful, a strong team player, and widely respected among her colleagues. I am incredibly excited for Elizabeth to step into this leadership role.”

            Saevig earned her bachelor’s degree in Peace Studies, Communication and Spanish from the College of Saint Benedict in St. Joseph, Minnesota, and her master’s degree in Organizational Leadership from Northwestern University in Roseville, Minnesota. Her recent leadership learnings include participation in the International Chief Data Officer and Information Quality Symposium at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and a Women in Leadership event offered by the Chief Executive Group.

            Jaime Wilkins has been named associate vice president of Economic Opportunity & Youth Support Services. 

            “I am thrilled to step into this new leadership role to advance our work in providing tools and support that empower Minnesotans to overcome obstacles and live full, abundant and self-reliant lives,” she said. “We know that housing stability for youth and families, financial wellness, meaningful employment and supportive, healthy communities are all critically-important social determinants of health and we are focused on strengthening all of those important elements in people’s lives.” 

            With more than two decades of experience in housing and human services, she will provide leadership and direction in her new role for a wide range of services including Youth Services, Financial Services, Employment Services, Housing Services, and Refugee Services. She will work with leaders across the organization to cultivate and sustain commitment to the organization’s mission and values.

            Most recently, she served as senior director of Housing Services with Lutheran Social Service, expanding housing services to Minnesotans experiencing homelessness, supporting policy development for children and families, securing grants, creating new partnerships, empowering teams and developing emerging leaders. She also serves as a key leader on the Pan-African Employee Resource Group at Lutheran Social Service.               

            “Jaime has been instrumental in developing and expanding essential services to support housing stability, health and family wellbeing for Minnesotans across the state,” said Alexis Oberdorfer, senior vice president of Services for Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota. “Her leadership and expertise have earned recognition from our state, county and city partners. She’s an exceptional colleague and we’re excited for the creativity, energy, compassion and leadership that she brings to her new role.” 

            Wilkins is also a member of the HousingLink Board of Directors in Minneapolis and serves as vice president for the Suburban Metro Continuum of Care in the Twin Cities. 

            Wilkins earned her bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development and Family Studies from Concordia University in St. Paul, Minnesota, and a master’s degree in Human Services and Leadership of Organizational Management from Capella University in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

            Heidi Wiste has been named associate vice president of Children & Family Services. Previously, she served as associate vice president of Adoption & Foster Care with Lutheran Social Service. 

            “It’s an honor to step into an expanded leadership role at LSS,” Wiste said. “I have great passion for this work, and we have extremely talented teams with incredible knowledge and experience in these areas who are deeply dedicated to ensuring that children and families have opportunities to thrive.” 

            In her new role, Wiste has expanded her leadership to oversee Camp Noah, Disaster Services, Behavioral Health, Family Services, and Duluth Youth Services. 

            “Heidi is an exceptional leader, and I’m thrilled that she is taking on this expanded leadership role with LSS,” said Alexis Oberdorfer, senior vice president of Services for Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota. “She brings deep experience, amazing energy and compassionate leadership to her work and our mission to inspire hope, change lives and build community.”

            Wiste also serves as president of Children’s Home Society of Minnesota. In 2012, Children’s Home and Lutheran Social Service combined adoption services and united the strengths and practices of each organization to secure loving families for children.

            Wiste holds a master’s degree in Clinical Social Work from New York University in New York City and a bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, New York. She has continued to enhance her skills and completed the University of Minnesota’s Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health Certificate Program, the Child Trauma Academy’s Certificate Program in Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics and the New York University’s Executive Leadership in the Not-for-Profit Sector program.