Board of Directors

Standpoint's board of directors work in many different fields, ranging from legal to finance and communications to women’s advocacy. This adds a diverse pool of skills, knowledge, and expertise to the organization.

Alexis McKim

Chair

Exkberg Lammers, P.C.

Missie Boone, C.A.

Treasurer

Shakopee Police Department

Elizabeth Hanson

Member

Minneapolis Public Housing Authority

Julie Schlueter Engen

Member

YWCA

Lora Alexander

Member

Healthmine

BOARD MEMBER BIOGRAPHIES

Alexis McKim – Chair is an attorney in the Municipal Law Group at Eckberg Lammers who focuses her practice on criminal prosecution. Alexis has varied history working in the criminal justice system, including work as a pre-trial services agent, a correctional officer, and a probation and parole intern. These broad and comprehensive first-hand experiences have deeply diversified her work, helping to shape her perspective on crime and inspire her approach as an advocate in criminal court proceedings. 

Beginning her formal education in criminal law through her undergraduate course work, Alexis obtained her Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Wisconsin – Madison where she majored in Legal Studies with Certificates in Criminal Justice and Gender and Women’s Studies. Alexis is a cum laude graduate from Mitchell Hamline School of Law. As a law student, she worked on immigration cases as an intern at the Office of Principal Legal Advisor before becoming a certified student attorney at the Anoka County Attorney’s Office. While in school, she completed volunteer work through the Minnesota Justice Foundation, for which she was a recipient of a ‘Public Service Certificate’ in recognition of her hours of service. She also spent two years on the Mitchell Hamline Law Review. Prior to joining Eckberg Lammers, she worked as a Assistant County Attorney, handling juvenile delinquency matters of all levels and offense types. 

Alexis grew up in Stillwater and still resides in the east metro area. She is committed to animal welfare and volunteers in local rescue efforts. The outdoors was a large part of her upbringing, and she remains enthusiastic about nature, conservation, and related pursuits. Her free time is most often spent going on outdoor adventures with her dog, Kenna. She also likes reading, spending time with family, kayaking, paddle boarding, and enjoying all that the St. Croix River Valley has to offer. 

Anneliese McCahery – Co-Chair is an attorney at Eckberg Lammers in their Municipal Law Group who focuses on criminal prosecution and civil municipal representation for the Cities we serve. Annie’s knowledge and experience in municipal areas includes code enforcement issues, ordinance review and drafting, land use violations, land use agreements, civil municipal litigation, municipal prosecution, data practices, and law enforcement trainings. 

Missie Boone, CA - Treasurer serves as the Victim & Community Services Coordinator for the Shakopee Police Department, where she supports victims of crime by ensuring they understand their legal rights and the processes that follow a police report. She connects survivors to crucial resources and legal assistance, advocating for their safety, dignity, and recovery throughout their involvement with the justice system.

Missie has dedicated her career to serving victims—particularly those affected by domestic violence and sexual violence—since 2016. Her journey began as a volunteer on the crisis line for HOPE Center in Rice County, eventually leading to a full-time role as a victim advocate at the Crisis Resource Center of Steele County, where she served for nearly six years. Her extensive on-the-ground experience, combined with empathy, advocacy training, and a deep commitment to justice, has allowed her to assist countless survivors in navigating both civil and criminal legal systems.

She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology and Corrections from the University of Minnesota–Mankato and is a graduate of the Minnesota Victim Assistance Academy (2020). Missie is also a Credentialed Advocate (CA) at the Intermediate level of Comprehensive Victim Intervention Specialist through the National Advocate Credentialing Program.

Having lived and worked in rural Minnesota, Missie has a strong understanding of the unique barriers that victims in smaller communities face—particularly regarding access to legal protections and resources. These experiences shape the perspective and passion she brings to her work, enabling her contributions to the Standpoint Board.

Born and raised in Faribault, Minnesota, Missie enjoys fishing with her family, participating in speed jigsaw puzzling competitions, getting lost in a good book, and spending quality time with her loved ones.

Omolade Opanuga - Secretary most recently served as the Corporate Services Manager at BlackHouse Media (BHM) Holdings Limited, UK. In this role, Omolade provided advice on corporate and governance matters, managed litigation portfolios, and supported business expansion plans. Omolade’s tenure at BHM Holdings also included a key leadership roles such as Board Secretary, Head of Operations, where he was instrumental in building and maintaining operational systems, processes, and risk management strategies, Corporate Services Manager at BlackHouse Media Limited’s operations in Nigeria, overseeing litigation risks, legal advisory, developing agreement templates, and ensuring compliance with relevant laws. Omolade Opanuga also served as Legal Counsel, Nigeria & Legal Business Partner for Supply Chain & Human Resource at Unilever Nigeria Plc. During this tenure, he managed litigation portfolios, supported supply chain and human resource functions, and ensured compliance with corporate policies. His extensive legal background includes roles such as Legal Counsel at Unilever Ghana Limited, and Judicial Assistant to a Lagos State High Court Judge.

Jacob Simmons – Member is currently the Director of Business Solutions at Pace International, where he manages relationships with key sales accounts and strategic partners. He coordinates event strategies and attends industry conferences to drive engagement and growth. A graduate of Winona State University with a degree in Business Administration, Jacob’s commitment to service began in college when he volunteered with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society as a Community Outreach Coordinator. In 2023, Jacob joined Standpoint to support survivors of domestic and sexual violence, motivated by a deep understanding of their challenges and needs. He is passionate about collaborating with others and optimizing systems to create meaningful, positive changes that improve lives. In his free time, he loves to travel, enjoys live music, and spends time with family and friends.

Lora Alexander - Member is a mission-driven leader with a lifelong passion for equity, justice, and improving the lives of those often left behind. She brings over 15 years of experience leading product development, user research, and engagement strategy in healthcare and nonprofit spaces—always with a focus on accessibility, empathy, and user-centered design.

Raised in the northern suburbs of Minneapolis and now living in the city, Lora’s connection to Minnesota’s communities runs deep. She began her advocacy journey as a teen, volunteering at a women’s shelter, where she saw firsthand the resilience of survivors and the barriers they face in seeking justice and support. That experience sparked a commitment she has carried throughout her personal and professional life.

Today, Lora serves as the Vice President of Product and Experience at Healthmine, where she leads teams that design inclusive healthcare tools for underserved populations. She has held leadership roles at organizations like Be The Match and Hello Alpha, where she focused on improving care and access for marginalized groups—including LGBTQ+ communities, low-income patients, and rural populations. Her approach weaves together behavioral science, storytelling, and research to understand people's needs and ensure they are seen and supported.

Lora also brings nonprofit board experience, where her strengths in strategic planning, community engagement, and financial oversight are matched by her deep empathy and unwavering belief in Standpoint’s mission.

When not working, Lora can be found baking, gardening, or spending quiet weekends with her family and four cats at their cabin in Blue Earth. She is honored to support Standpoint’s work advancing justice and building a world where all survivors are heard, protected, and empowered.

Elizabeth Hanson - Member is a Manager within Minneapolis Public Housing Authority who leads a team for the Housing Choice Voucher Program specific to Participant and Community Engagement.  Elizabeth (Liz) and her team handle intake and inquiry from participants, families, and property managers while supporting a variety of community engagement efforts.  Prior to her work with Minneapolis Public Housing Authority, she worked as a Business Manager for a healthcare company serving in various capacities.  During her tenure in healthcare, she served as a steward of the community by leading direct-service volunteer opportunities and donation drives while representing the organization at community events.

Liz’s passion for service and community led her to serve as President for a non-profit organization.  During this opportunity she learned about budgeting, strategic planning, large-scale fundraising, and she strengthened her commitment to the community by implementing initiatives centered around food insecurity.  She is very excited to be working with Standpoint sharing her passion for service, strength in board service, and governance practices.

Suzanne Guertin - Member is the lead attorney for the Healthcare-Legal Partnership (HLP) at Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services (SMRLS). Before that, she largely practiced family law, also at SMRLS. In addition to leading the HLP, Suzanne staffs two community clinics weekly. Suzanne’s casework is primarily in family law, including order for protection cases, immigration law, and housing. Suzanne also represents parents in juvenile protection cases with an emphasis on cases involving the Indian Child Welfare Act.

Julie Schlueter Engen - Member is a senior Human Resources executive with more than 30 years of experience leading people strategy, organizational transformation, and workforce development across nonprofit, privately held, and private equity-backed organizations. As Vice President of Human Resources at YWCA Minneapolis, she serves as a strategic advisor to executive leadership, guiding initiatives that strengthen organizational performance, employee engagement, compliance, and long-term sustainability.

Throughout her career, Julie has partnered closely with CEOs, executive teams, and business owners to align talent strategies with business objectives, oversee organizational change, and build scalable HR infrastructures that support growth. Her expertise includes executive leadership, compensation and benefits strategy, succession planning, employee relations, risk management, and regulatory compliance.

Julie is a proud St. Olaf College and St. Olaf Choir alumni (UM! YAH! YAH!). She brings to the Board a desire to contribute to meaningful social change and a belief that lasting impact is achieved through collaboration, thoughtful governance, and strategic leadership