STAR House Board

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Sarah Anderson is a 15-year Saint Paul resident with a professional background in strategic planning and implementation. She has spent the bulk of her professional career in management consulting, working across industries, business functions, and company sizes. When she’s not at work or trying to keep up with her 13 year old, you can find her doing yoga, biking urban and single track trails, or traveling.

Sarah knows the struggle of raising kids without a strong local support system, and is excited to help build STAR house to support families who need a hand to get through critical moments. 

Becki Emerfoll is a St. Paul native and has raised her family and grandchildren here. Becki spent many years working at a local college until earning her Paralegal degree in 2013. Since then, Becki has enjoyed a rewarding career with a Minneapolis law firm. Becki’s professional skills and personal experiences as a mother, wife, grandmother, and daughter to a single parent have made the partnership with STAR House successful.

Marissa Pitterle is an institutional investment professional who has lived in St. Paul since her first job out of college over a decade ago. While her career has focused on investment management for insurance companies, she is also passionate about personal finance and financial education. When not absorbed in budgets and balance sheets, she enjoys traveling the world, reading, and running - if Minnesota weather cooperates. As a Wisconsin transplant, Marissa understands how critical support networks are to the community, and especially to parents. She is looking forward to being a part of STAR House and serving to support local families who need their community. Marissa has been a Board Member and Treasurer for Twin Cities Pet Rescue (2017-2019) and is currently a Board Member/Finance Committee member for Inkline Printing (owned by her sister) since 2020. Marissa has a Bachelor of Science in Physics from the University of Notre Dame and earned her MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Lexie Marsh was raised in the Twin Cities area by a single mother, fostering a deep commitment to supporting children and families in both Hennepin & Ramsey County and those with similar upbringings. Through her volunteer work with Minneapolis Public Schools, Bridge For Youth teen shelter and MN Recovery Connection, she's gained valuable experience working closely with at-risk children, teens, and families, understanding the importance of compassionate, non-judgmental, and trauma-informed care.

She joined STAR House in 2023 as a member of the launch committee, where she specifically focus on policies and procedures. Currently, Lexie works as a Legal Assistant in downtown Minneapolis. She looks forward to her continued work with STAR House and making positive impacts in her community. 

Bio coming soon.

Sarah Ellefson, Interim Executive Director, was born and raised in St. Paul, MN, and resides here with her daughter. Sarah enjoyed a 17-year corporate career in marketing, purchasing, administration, and event planning. In 2001, Sarah began to imagine creating a place to provide family-focused parenting support for parents and caregivers in the community that she calls home. A place that was needed, but wasn’t available when she was younger. A place that so many families still need. 

Sarah’s work in the field of Children and Family Services continued through various volunteer roles including developing a daycare service for a local church, volunteer dance teacher, teen support group facilitation, and serving on the Funds Allocation board for the United Way. Sarah has also earned a Bachelor’s degree in Child Care Administration and Advocacy while remaining engaged in the community. Sarah was introduced to the crisis nursery model while working at the Greater Minneapolis Crisis Nursery. Sarah oversaw many of the Children’s Services department’s functions in roles ranging from Child Development Specialist to Interim Manager. 

This particular mission is near to Sarah’s heart because she was raised by a single mother in poverty which allows her a special insight into the needs of the children in similar situations. With her personal and professional experience, Sarah knew founding a crisis nursery in Ramsey County was the next logical step. Sarah is proud to be among STAR Houses’s visionaries and one of the three founding members. 

Kayla Ulsby moved to the Twin Cities in 2014 and quickly became involved in mental health advocacy work. She completed her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at the University of Minnesota and her Master of Social Work at St. Catherine University. Her work has given her a wide range of experiences, including in children’s and immigrant mental health, nonprofit administration, health and wellness, performing arts education, and research on immigrant populations, healthcare worker burnout, and healthcare education. She joined STAR House in 2020 as a fundraising volunteer and joined the board at the beginning of 2023, transitioning to staff in 2024. Kayla is passionate about working with children and families and finds that STAR House’s mission to provide care and support is an important one in her community.