Leadership Staff
The Bridge for Youth
 Daniel Pfarr, Executive Director
Daniel F. Pfarr is Executive Director of The Bridge for Youth, a $3 million not-for-profit organization that provides 24-hour access point and shelter for youth in crisis. Founded in 1970, The Bridge for Youth was one of the first places in the nation for youth in crisis to find shelter and support. The Bridge is a recognized leader in the provision of comprehensive shelter, counseling, and housing services; it is also viewed as a model organization in the community serving youth in crisis. For over 15 years, he was associated with Bolder Options, a youth mentoring program in Minneapolis, MN. He initially became interested in the program as the mentor of a 16 year-old boy. He wrote grants as a volunteer for the program before serving as Development Director, and then Associate Director.
Dan is in the process of developing the Youth in Crisis Technology project (YCTP) in order to provide homeless youth with access to web-based assessment and referral tools. He is currently a member of the United Way’s Council of Agency Executives, Youth Services Network, Metro Partners Fund, RHYTTAC, and past president of the Youth Intervention Program Association.
He completed a Humphrey Policy Fellowship in 2010. He received his undergraduate degree in Social Work and his Masters Degree in Clinical Social Work from the University of St. Thomas.
Together with his brother, Dan farms land near Le Sueur, Minnesota that has been in the family for over 100 years. He is also a coach for the Robbinsdale Little League and the Ascension School baseball team. Dan and his wife, Julie Pinomaki live in North Minneapolis with their three sons.
Email: d.pfarr@bridgeforyouth.org
 Nikki Beasley, Program Director
Nikki started at The Bridge in 1999 to work with homeless youth in The Bridge’s Archdale Program. She became a Family Counselor in 2000, followed by Emergency Services Program Supervisor in 2004 and Emergency Services Director in 2009. She has over 13 years experience working with youth and families in crisis, and broad experience in the community in the human services field. She holds a BA in Psychology from Concordia University and an MA in Counseling and Psychotherapy from Adler Graduate School.
Email: n.beasley@bridgeforyouth.org
 Wendy Marcano, Operations and Systems Innovation Director
Wendy joined The Bridge in September, 2011. Prior to that she worked as an accounting, finance and operations consultant with several nonprofit and for profit companies in the Greater Minneapolis/St. Paul area. She serves on the Advisory Board of the Kinship program of the Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches, and volunteers with WomenVenture teaching classes in financial literacy. Wendy received her Bachelor's degree in Professional Studies from Audrey Cohen College and her MBA from the University of Phoenix. Wendy lives in Minneapolis and loves taking road trips around the country.
Email: w.marcano@bridgeforyouth.org
 Annie Nelson, Director of External Relations
Annie joined The Bridge in March 2011. Prior to coming to The Bridge, Annie was Development Director at Bolder Options. For eight years she owned and operated AMS,
a strategic consulting firm focused on the college athletics market. She was Executive Vice President at MB&A Consulting and Executive Director of the Minneapolis Youth Coordinating Board. She is a graduate of the Harvard University Kennedy School of Government and the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities.
Email: a.nelson@bridgeforyouth.org
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