TEAM
We are Northland residents, banding together to support newborns and their families.
NATE ALVAR
Board Chair
Nate Alvar is a lifelong Duluth resident, along with his wife Kelly and their family. His connection to the Foundation mirrors Kelly's, of course, having lost his first two sons to birth defects and premature birth. From that experience, they have become avid supporters of newborn health in the area, focusing their efforts in the last decade to produce the Yeti Tour, a 150-mile charity snowmobile ride.  Nate works as VP of Product Engineering for FMG Suite, a San Diego based firm providing marketing services to financial advisors and insurance agents, operating their technology campus in Duluth, MN.
KIM PEARSON
Vice Chair
Kim has supported women and children in the Northland for over 15 years through both her work at Essentia Health and previous charitable roles. A native Wisonsinite, Kim is the Director of Nursing for the Superior Hospital of Essentia Health and previously managed the Birthplace for 12 years. In this role, Kim was instrumental in Essentia Health receiving their Baby-Friendly designation. As both a board member and event chair for other organizations, Kim has helped to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars to improve health of newborn babies. Following in her footsteps are her two daughters who are successful nurses working with women and children. Kim is also on the Board of Directors for the Minnesota Organization of Leaders in Nursing.
DR MARIA OBAID
Member at large
Dr. Obaid earned her medical degree from St. George’s University School of Medicine, True Blue, Grenada. She completed her residency at Rutgers University, Newark, New Jersey. She is fellowship trained through Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital at Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, NY. She is board certified as a pediatrician by the American Board of Pediatrics, and as a lactation consultant by the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners.
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Dr. Obaid is the recipient of the 2021 Mead Johnson Trainee Diversity in the Workforce Travel Award from the Eastern Society of Pediatric Research. She also earned the 2021 Trainee Registration Grant from the Pediatric Academic Society.
ANNIE LEPPER
Treasurer
Raised in Superior, Annie has been a Northlander all her life. Currently the VP of Operations and Marketing for Minnesota Power Employees Credit Union, Annie spends her daytime hours living the Credit Union philosophy of “people helping people”. This drive to help others has extended into her charitable work with the United Way and various children’s charities and events. As a mother to a premature (born at 33 weeks) baby herself, Annie understands the stress that goes along with joy of being a new parent of a baby born too early. Now a healthy 2 year old, her daughter Quinn inspires her to continue working so every baby is born healthy.
KELLY ALVAR
Member at large
Duluth native Kelly Alvar has been raising funds for newborns in the Northland for more than 20 years. Alongside her husband and fellow board member Nate, the Alvar’s are parents to four boys. Their first son Isaiah was born in 2006 and due to severe birth defects survived for 20 minutes - 20 minutes that were special in a way only a parent knows. Mason was born in 2007 at 26 weeks old and passed away after one week due to complications of extreme prematurity. Jonas (2008) and Elias (2012) were born healthy at 36 weeks and continue to thrive today. Kelly turned her grief into action and continues to fight to ensure every baby is born full term and healthy. The Alvar’s created the Yeti Tour in 2011, a beloved Northland snowmobile event. Between the Yeti Tour and other efforts, they have raised more than $200,000. Kelly has been a RN for 22 years and currently works at St. Luke’s Hospital. In 2018, Kelly was the recipient of The Women Today’s Spirit Award for her exceptional courage and determination.
DEE MUNSON
Member at Large
Deann is a native Duluthian and holds a Bachelor's of Arts degree in English from the University of Minnesota Duluth. She has been married for 37 years to husband Bill and she is an identical twin. Deann and her twin sister were low birth weight babies and that is what drove her to support healthy newborns nearly 30 years ago, when she joined the March of Dimes as a volunteer. That volunteer position grew into board membership and ultimately President of the March of Dimes Board. Deann currently works as an account manager for Lake Superior Magazine and BusinessNorth Newspaper. She has worked in the publishing industry for nearly 40 years. Deann is also on the board of Directors and the Executive Committee for the Hermantown Area Chamber of Commerce.
ANNIE SABOE
Member at large
Born and raised in the Duluth area, Annie is passionate about supporting her local communities. Annie is currently a Commercial Account Manager with Reliable Insurance Agency, and prior to this newer role, she spent 13+ years dedicated to her work with a local nonprofit affordable housing organization. Annie lives in Cloquet with her husband, Eric, and their two boys - 11 year old Colben and 8 year old Crosby. Annie is also active in her sons' school community - serving as President of the elementary school's Partners In Education (P.I.E.) group and volunteering weekly to read with students through the Power Lunch program. Outside of work and volunteer efforts, Annie finds the most joy spending time with her family and friends - crafting, camping, fishing, puzzling, archery, golfing - just to name a few.
While Annie was very fortunate to experience two healthy pregnancies and full-term births with her sons, she has personally seen how birth defects and premature births significantly impact families and is continually inspired by Northland Newborn Foundation's mission to support the health of babies and their families in our community.
DEB PETERS
Member at large
As a dedicated Neonatal Nurse Practitioner in the NICU at Essentia Health, Deb has been fighting for newborns and their families for more than 20 years. A mom to three kids, Deb loves traveling, agates, fishing and all that Lake Superior and the Northland has to offer. In 2014 Deb was honored with the Kunsche Award for her outstanding service and continued commitment to the Minnesota Perinatal Organization. Deb is also on the Planning Committee for the Minnesota Perinatal Organization.
AMANDA VAN KILSDONK
Member at large
A native southern Minnesota, Amanda moved to Duluth in 2009 to attend college at UW-Superior. More than ten years later, Amanda now lives with her husband in Superior, WI, and works as a Marketing Planner at Essentia Health. Amanda is currently a member of the Fuse Duluth Leadership Council as well as a member of the Leadership Duluth, Class of 2020. Working for the healthcare industry, Amanda has become very passionate about community health and overall giving back through fundraisers and non-profit work. She looks forward to providing her support in the Northland Newborn Foundation initiatives now and into the future. Amanda can often be found reading, gardening, playing her electric cello or just enjoying the outdoors.
JOEL BREKKEN
Member at large
Joel moved to Duluth in 1989 after serving in the US Army. A graduate of UMD, Joel Started the Joel Brekken Insurance Agency. He also owns and operates JAB Properties and All Seasons Mulching and land clearing. Joel has three awesome children: Quinton, Katie and Jackson. Joel brings his business leadership and years of experience serving on area nonprofit boards.