Jarod Morken
Jared is a Financial Advisor with Northwestern Mutual’s Wealth Management Company, the owner of Lifetime Properties, LLC, and the Executive Officer of Bravo Battery, 1-147th Field Artillery in the South Dakota Army National Guard.
He has served 17 years in the Army National Guard, including over seven years on active duty and two deployments to Afghanistan. In 2022, he was introduced to Calm Waters as a donor and fully supports the organization’s mission and vision. Excited to make a difference, he eagerly accepted the opportunity to serve as a board member and is committed to working with the community to better support Veterans.
He resides in the Sioux Falls area with his two young sons and two very large dogs.
Keith Hoekstra
Keith works in the banking industry in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He was raised in Sioux Center, Iowa, alongside his parents and older brother. After graduating from Western Christian High School, he attended Southeast Tech and the University of Sioux Falls. Keith served in the Marine Corps Reserves from 2007 to 2013 and later returned to the University of Sioux Falls to earn his MBA in 2016.
He currently resides in Sioux Falls with his wife, Katie, their four children—Connelly, Cayenne, Lucille, and Aaron—and their German Shepherd, Shadow.
Tesia Smith
Tesia graduated from the University of South Dakota in 2021 with a Master’s in Social Work and currently practices as a clinical mental health therapist. She values family, relationships, the helping profession, community, her Christian faith, perseverance, and optimism.
Tesia has served on the board of Calm Waters since its inception and currently holds the position of secretary. Her role on the board is particularly meaningful to her, as she has many relatives who have served in the military. Drawing on her mental health expertise, she is guided by the belief that “nobody was meant to try to live this life alone,” a principle she frequently shares with her clients.
Leah Kerwin
Leah serves as the Administrative Assistant to Thomas S. Voorhees at Equitable Advisors. She is currently working toward obtaining her securities licensing with the goal of succeeding Tom upon his retirement. In her role, Leah supports a practice that offers a range of services, including health insurance, long-term care, life insurance, mutual funds, and annuities, with a strong focus over the past decade on farm succession planning.
Leah is known for bringing a positive and upbeat attitude to her work and values the opportunity to support others during important moments in their lives. She is actively involved in her church and is passionate about making a meaningful impact within her community. Outside of work, Leah is the proud owner of her dog, Gizmo, and enjoys spending Sundays watching football, singing, and exploring new experiences.
Colleen Stegenga
Colleen grew up in South Dakota on a dairy farm. Her father was a WW 2 Veteran, and her mother ran the household and raised 5 children. Colleen founded Embracing Change Counseling Services after a rich lifetime of hard work, education and helping others. From working in the public-school setting, to social worker, and finally to her own therapy services, she offers support and guidance to those seeking a safe space to be themselves and express thoughts and feelings without judgment. Colleen especially enjoys providing services to area farmers and our country’s Veterans.
Jamie Johnke
Jamie moved to Sioux Falls from Colorado in 2009 and has built a career of more than 10 years in the financial services industry. As a member of the team at Northwestern Mutual, she plays a key role in supporting the advisory practice and helping ensure the day-to-day operations run smoothly so clients receive an exceptional experience.
Outside of work, Jamie enjoys staying active and making the most of the time with her family. She loves the outdoors, traveling, attending concerts, golfing, and working out. One of her greatest joys is cheering on her son at his sporting events and supporting him in everything he does.
Jessica Nelson (Ad Hoc)
Jessica earned her Master of Social Work degree from the University of Denver, with a concentration in mental health and trauma. Her work is grounded in a deep belief in compassionate, whole-person care that honors both the emotional and lived experiences of those she serves.
As a United States Army Veteran and the spouse of a disabled Veteran, Jessica brings both professional expertise and personal understanding to her work, reflecting a profound commitment to supporting military families, caregivers, and Veterans. She currently serves as a social worker with Calm Waters, where her passion for helping others is driven by her dedication to walking alongside individuals and families as they navigate healing following military service.