Board of Directors
*denotes parent of son or daughter with a disability
Kristi Wallin
President, Sioux Falls
Kristi Wallin
Kristi Wallin serves as the President of the Board of Directors for South Dakota Parent Connection. She joined the SD Parent Connection Board of Directors in 2017. She is a retired educator having taught special education and then becoming a Special Education Director. Kristi holds both a B.A. and M.A. in special education as well as her Specialist Degree in Educational Administration. Kristi and her husband have 3 children and six grandchildren.
Kristin Sauer*
Vice President, Sioux Falls
Kristin Sauer
Kristen Sauer has been a board member with South Dakota Parent Connection since January 2020. She is currently serving as vice-president. Throughout the years, she has enjoyed serving her community and giving back to others. As Assistant Manager for US Bank in Aberdeen she has been given the opportunity to do what she loves even more. She is currently also serving her 2nd term as a board member for United Way of North Eastern South Dakota and was a 2019 graduate of the Leadership Aberdeen program. She also belongs to a Women's Leadership Network that acts as a mentorship to business professionals within US Bank seeking to increase their knowledge and skill set. Kristen has been married to her husband, John for 19 years and they have 4 children: Michael (25), Johnny (24), Sarah (18) and David (10). Kristen has had a lot of experience with Special needs individuals between Johnny, who has been diagnosed with Autism, Cortical Blindness, and Seizure disorder and their youngest, David that has an ADHD diagnosis. When enjoying her downtime; she can be found in the flower beds, walking their dog, or spending time at the lake with family.
Amber Winkler*
Secretary, Sioux Falls
Amber Winkler
Amber Winkler is the Secretary for the Board this year. She graduated from the University of South Dakota in 2005 with a BS in Sociology. She devoted 10 years to working at LifeScape as a Coordinator of Supports and Services; overseeing Day and Residential programs for adults with Autism. Amber left Lifescape in 2016 to work for the Department of Human Services Long Term Services and Supports Division. Amber spends her days helping Elderly and Disabled Adults connect with needed resources, services and providing case management. At home, she is a loving wife and mother. Her daughter was diagnosed with CMV at birth and, as a result, suffers from bilateral moderate hearing loss. She is passionate about SDPC's mission and the work they do as it directly benefited her family and many families across South Dakota. Amber enjoys spending time with family, being outdoors, camping, hiking and staying active.
Elizabeth Krogstad*
Member, Sioux Falls
Elizabeth Krogstad
Liz is an attorney with a practice focused on estate planning and trusts, including special needs trusts. She also has previous experience in trust administration, including administering various special needs and complex trust accounts and served as an attorney for the Social Security Administration, where she was responsible for reviewing case files and writing disability determination decisions. Liz resides in Sioux Falls with her husband and middle school-age son, who is on the autism spectrum.
Musheera Anis Abdellatif*
Member, Sioux Falls
Musheera Anis Abdellatif
Musheera is the mother of a young child with Down Syndrome. She is a University of South Dakota faculty member. She has a Ph.D. in Child Development and Educational Psychology. She worked as a child psychologist in Egypt, mainly with patients and families affected by mental illness and childhood psychiatric disorders. She was one of the founding members of a highly specialized Child Psychiatric Unit in her hometown. There she worked closely with families of individuals with ASD and ADHD, working with adolescents from high-risk environments. As part of her work there, she also founded the Mansoura Autism Support Association (MASA) in Egypt.
Christopher G Bordeaux
Member, Pine Ridge
Christopher G Bordeaux
Chris is married to Deborah and lives in the Slim Buttes/ Loafer Camp Community on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, an enrolled member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe. Chris is the Executive Director of the Oceti Sakowin Education Consortium (OSEC). A retired Gifted and Talented Educator and Principal. Chris has a MS Ed Admin from Oglala Lakota College, a BS Elem Ed from Black Hills State College and an endorsement in Gifted Education from the University of South Dakota. The majority of His teaching career was in Gifted Education in Tribal Schools. Has a younger brother who graduated from the SD School for the Deaf after attending 12 years. Chris has served eight terms on the South Dakota Indian Education Association Board. Three terms on the National Indian Education Association Board. Currently a member of the South Dakota Parent Connection Board, Anpo Wicahpi Owayawa-Pine Ridge Girls School Board... Consultant for Tribal Schools.
Vicki Stewart
Member, Sioux Falls
Vicki Stewart
Vicki Stewart is the Executive Director of Business Resource Network in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Vicki has a B.A. in religion with a minor in psychology from Augustana University. She has worked in the field of disabilities for 28 years striving for full inclusion of people with disabilities in employment, community living and all aspects of society. Vicki was born with the disease Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI) and uses a wheelchair for mobility. Vicki is a member of South Dakota RehabACTion, the Sioux Empire Society for Human Resource Management, the Sioux Falls Development Foundations Recruitment Council, Sioux Falls Downtown Rotary and the Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce. She serves on the USD Health Sciences Advisory Board and the State Board of Vocational Rehabilitation. Vicki is a Peer Visitor for Independent Living Choices and plays flute at church and other community events. She was Ms. Wheelchair South Dakota in 1998. Vicki also received the Governor's Award for Outstanding Employee with a Disability in 2000.
Andrew Renke*
Member, Sioux Falls
Andrew Renke
Andrew is the newest member of the Board of Directors. Andrew is the parent of a child with special health care needs. He has served as a youth pastor and has experience serving on boards and a background in IT. We are excited to learn more about Andrew and his family as he joins the board.
Elizabeth Welfl
Member, Sioux Falls
Elizabeth Welfl
Elizabeth Welfl (pronounced well-full ) joined the SD Parent Connection Board of Directors in 2021. She works at USA TODAY as a Sports Sales Strategist. She is also pursuing a Masters in Special Education with Specialization in Visual Impairment to become a Teacher of the Blind and Visually Impaired. In 2020, Elizabeth was appointed by Governor Kristi Noem to serve on South Dakotas Advisory Panel for Children with Disabilities. She and her husband, Kade, live in Spearfish, SD with their two-year-old son, Jack.
Rose Carroll
Member, Highmore
Rose Carroll
Amira Lawrence
Member, Sioux Falls
Amira Lawrence
Rose Carroll
Member, Highmore
Rose Carroll
Andrew is the newest member of the Board of Directors. Andrew is the parent of a child with special health care needs. He has served as a youth pastor and has experience serving on boards and a background in IT. We are excited to learn more about Andrew and his family as he joins the board.