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.
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.
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.
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, photography and outdoor activities.
Malissa Parrott-Stahnke
Director of Behavioral Support Services
Malissa joined LBSA in 2025 as Director of Behavioral Support Services. Malissa has been a lifelong advocate of people’s rights, person-centered thinking/planning, and the need for behavior support services. Her parents ran a treatment foster home for over 20 years, for children, while she was growing up. As a Nonprofit Executive Director, she has directed various programs in this field for the past 10 years. She has been a nationally recognized EMT-B since 2003 with work experience in an ambulance and in the emergency room, witnessing the need for behavior/crisis supports within our population. Malissa is a Qualified Mental Health Practitioner, licensed NREMT, with a bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration. Malissa and her husband, Jason, have 3 beautiful adult daughters, 2 sons-in-law, and 5 amazing grandchildren. She enjoys spending time with her grandchildren, Pilates with her youngest daughter, and traveling with her husband.
Scott Blum
Director of Finance