EXECUTIVE BOARD
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Lisa Edgette is a people-focused leader who is passionate about building strong organizations and giving back to her community. With a background in strategic planning, culture, and leadership, she brings a thoughtful, collaborative approach to board service.
As Board Chair of The Foster Network, Lisa is proud to support an organization that meets a unique and critical need for foster families and children by providing essential resources, connections, and community support. She is especially drawn to work that serves vulnerable children, believing that early support can positively change life trajectories. Lisa is deeply committed to helping ensure every child in foster care experiences stability, dignity, and belonging.
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Vanessa is an Outpatient Therapist at Sprout Play Therapy and Counseling Services, whose primary focus is working with youth who have experienced time in the state foster care system. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor - Mental Health (LPC-MH) in the state of South Dakota, a Registered Play Therapist (RPT), a Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP), and proficient in adoption competency. Vanessa has been in the mental health field working with youth affected by foster care, adoption through foster care, significant traumatic events, and behavioral challenges over the past ten years in a multitude of outpatient, home-based, and residential settings. Vanessa would love The Foster Network to connect, serve, and support as many foster families in the area as possible. She hopes the organization helps youth in foster care to be given a sense of safety, belonging, and community through the various programs, experiences, and events.
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Holly Renken is a new Executive Board member and serves as Secretary. She has adopted three children through foster care and has been a foster parent since 2017. She is currently an educator in the Sioux Falls School District. Through The Foster Network, Holly hopes children are given a sense of normalcy in an unfamiliar environment. Being able to shop for clothes, get new shoes, join in activities, or spend time with other kids at events are all things that make kids feel at home, and The Foster Network provides all of that for kids!
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Connie brings a powerhouse background in organizational development and strategy to The Foster Network board. With over 25 years in HR and business leadership, as well as years as a corporate trainer and business consultant, she understands how to build thriving cultures. Academically, she holds a Master’s in Organizational Leadership and is near completion of her PhD in Industrial and Organizational Psychology. Having served on non-profit boards for 25 years, Connie is dedicated to applying her expertise to her passion: helping people, especially children. She is excited to help the organization scale and flourish.
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Kristen is the Past Chair of The Foster Network Executive Board. She graduated from the University of South Dakota with a degree in Elementary Education in 2007. Kristen and her husband, Travis, became foster parents in 2017 and were introduced to The Foster Network (formerly East River Foster Parent Network) shortly after. The Foster Network quickly became a source of support as they welcomed children into their homes and navigated the sometimes messy road of foster care. Kristen would love The Foster Network to be a source of support for area foster parents by providing necessary supplies, education, and connections to other foster families.
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Kevin Gleason serves as Treasury Management Officer at Central Bank in Sioux Falls, where he has spent over 20 years in various community roles, leveraging his expertise in operations and networking to contribute to local initiatives. He and his wife, Andrea, actively support several nonprofits through dedicated volunteer work.
With a strong professional background in finance and a commitment to family-oriented causes, Kevin joined The Foster Network's executive board in 2023 to champion resources for foster families, drawing from his experience, connections, and development skills.
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Katie graduated from Augustana College with a degree in Accounting and Business Administration and felt compelled to help an organization with her personal and business experiences.
Katie and her husband, David, were volunteer host families with Safe Families in Sioux Falls, taking in children for several years. A past family ended up in the foster care system, which allowed Katie and David to take those children in through respite care. With a midday call, Katie was able to use The Closet at the last minute to secure necessities for them without having to go shopping that night. This helped the boys find a sense of pride in having their own things and acclimate back into our home before attending school in the morning.
Katie and David are licensed foster parents in South Dakota and have adopted three children out of foster care.
Katie’s passion for children extends to many organizations, but The Foster Network is her main priority. She knows children do not have a voice in situations, and her focus is on helping them feel comfortable and prepared, even in difficult situations.
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Lisa Marso is a partner with the Boyce Law Firm, where she has practiced law for over 30 years. Her primary areas of practice include employment and governmental entity law. She lives in Brandon, SD, with her husband, Randy. Her adult children live in Massachusetts and Colorado.
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Mitch lives in Brandon, SD, with his wife, Lindsey, and three children, Brooks, Marley, and Rory. Mitch grew up in the Sioux Falls area, left for college, and eventually moved back in 2014. Mitch has a degree in Finance from Minnesota State University and an MBA from the University of Sioux Falls. In their spare time, Mitch and Lindsey stay busy with several kid activities and enjoy family time.
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Mitchell Aman joined the board in 2024. He is a graduate of South Dakota State University with an A.A. degree in General Studies. Mitchell works for Miller Funeral Home in Sioux Falls, SD, as a Funeral Director Apprentice. He and his spouse, Brittany, have four children and reside in Sioux Falls.
Mitchell is a Master Mason and Certified Masonic Civility Ambassador with Minnehaha Lodge #5 in Sioux Falls. He became familiar with The Foster Network and its mission after several Freemasons from the Lodge toured the facility. Minnehaha Lodge #5, with a long local history of charitable work, has stepped up to help The Foster Network in any way it can. Mitchell's goals are to increase community awareness of the organization and its positive impact on the foster community, see that necessary supplies are obtained for The Closet, and continue to provide support for foster families and children in the foster community.
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Rebecca joined The Foster Network Executive Board in 2024. Rebecca grew up with many cousins who were adopted or in foster care and has been tuned in to the needs of foster families ever since. Rebecca works at MarketBeat, where she leads the product team. When she is not at work, she loves to be with her family, including her husband and daughter. She enjoys music, strategy games, dinner parties, and the great outdoors. You might catch her walking or biking around the city or attending a Levitt concert.
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As a founding member of The Foster Network, Marla has been an active part of the organization since its conception in 2012. Marla is a nurse at the Avera Heart Hospital in Sioux Falls. Marla and her husband were foster parents for 15 years. They have five children and adopted three of their children through foster care. Marla's goals for The Foster Network are to help increase community awareness of the organization and foster care while increasing community involvement. With community involvement and support, The Foster Network can improve and expand on current programs and venture into new ones.
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Sarah is a stay-at-home mom who has been married since April 2000. She and her husband have three daughters and two dogs. She is passionate about The Foster Network’s mission and is driven by the need to ensure children entering foster care have access to essential items and support.
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Tom and his wife, Jessica, reside in Sioux Falls and have five kids and two dogs. Tom works in banking, and Jessica is an Assistant Principal in the Sioux Falls School District. In 2020, they became licensed foster care parents and adopted their three oldest kids out of the foster care system. They are passionate about supporting and guiding anyone navigating the foster care system.