Renée

Executive Director

Renée has long felt a calling to make a difference for vulnerable children who are being exploited. This led her to Corrie’s House in November 2022, serving first as a board member, then as Board Chair, and now serving as the Executive Director. Prior to joining Corrie’s House, Renée served for 25 years in the medical technology field in small, mid-sized and Fortune 500 companies, to include Johnson & Johnson, Boston Scientific, Guidant Corporation, and Spectranetics. Renée served in multiple areas of management and executive leadership in commercial operations to bring new therapies and medical technologies into highly specialized and fast growing markets of cardiology and electrophysiology. She served six years on a 4,000-member church council, the last two years as Council President. Renée received her B.S from Towson University in Mass Communication and an M.B.A. From University of Baltimore.

Megan

Marketing and Communications

Megan, a dedicated marketing professional committed to making an impact on the lives of children in need, joined Corrie's House in 2023. Megan's decision to become a part of Corrie's House is rooted in her unwavering commitment to making the world a more beautiful and compassionate place for those in need. Having previously spent three years in the technology sector, Megan understands that while there is beauty in innovation, there is also a pressing need to address the less aesthetically-pleasing aspects of our society. In her role as Marketing Communications Manager, Megan combines her creative background with her tech-savvy skills to raise awareness and engage the community. She is driven to help people see the inherent beauty in humanity and to contribute to healing the world's wounds. Armed with a degree in interior design and an innate passion for all things beautiful, Megan's unique blend of expertise, creative flair, and a deep sense of purpose makes her an invaluable addition to Corrie's House.

Jodi

Program Director

Jodi has always had a passion for working with at-risk youth, especially those vulnerable to sexual exploitation. With more than 35 years of experience, she brings a wealth of knowledge and a heart for serving young people.

Jodi served for 13 years as a Juvenile Detention Center Supervisor for the Ramsey County Department of Corrections. Prior to this, she spent more than a decade as a probation officer, ensuring youth had access to evidence-based services through thoughtful case planning and management.

She served as a committee member on the Multi-Disciplinary Sex Trafficking Committee and collaborated with agencies to expand prevention education. At the Juvenile Detention Center, she ensured staff were trained in #Not a Number, provided ongoing training on trafficking awareness, and equipped staff with updated information on signs, symptoms, and trends in sex trafficking to better protect youth in the justice system.

Jodi’s experience also includes work at Booth Brown House Group Home and Treatment Center, Washburn Child Guidance Center, St. Joseph’s Home for Children, and coaching youth gymnastics in St. Paul. She has volunteered at Eagle Brook Church in the Confident Kids program and has dedicated her life to helping youth discover their strength and resilience.

Jodi earned her BA in Psychology and Sociology from Hamline University, along with multiple child education certifications. Her leadership, compassion, and dedication to youth will serve Corrie’s House well as we provide safety, healing, and renewal.

Nyki

Program Manager

At the age of 31, Nyki experienced sex trafficking after moving to an unfamiliar neighborhood in Minneapolis. Under the control of a trafficker, she endured exploitation before escaping and rebuilding her life. Having faced homelessness and violence, Nyki found safety through a supportive housing program, which gave her the chance to begin healing.

Since that time, Nyki has transformed her trauma into her life’s work. She is deeply committed to promoting social justice, advocating for survivors, and empowering others to find hope and healing. With a background in psychology, Nyki has extensive experience in trauma-informed care, advocacy, neurodiversity, equity, and systems development. Her career includes restructuring and managing a housing program, spearheading organizational improvements, and walking alongside survivors in their healing journey.

A passionate educator, Nyki is dedicated to teaching coping strategies and skills that support survivors as they navigate life after exploitation. She describes herself as a “nerd” who believes that humility is the key to growth and learning.

Above all, Nyki is the proud mother of two daughters, and her fight for a safer, more equitable world for them fuels her work. She is excited to bring her lived experience, professional expertise, and vision to Corrie’s House as Program Manager, confident in the program’s trauma-informed and multi-disciplinary approach to healing.

Our Founder’s Story

In 2014, Abby Thalacker’s heart was broken for victims of sex trafficking. 

While volunteering at a ministry event near the Mall of America, Abby connected with several anti-trafficking volunteers who opened her eyes to the extent of sex-trafficking in the U.S., her home state, and even that very mall. When the group prayed, Abby was overwhelmed by God’s heart of compassion for those who are being sexually exploited. That very day, she understood the call on her life was to open a home of restoration and refuge for the young children trapped in the vicious cycle of sex-trafficking. Heartbroken and daunted, yet also purposeful and driven, Abby founded Corrie’s House and launched the team that would provide underage survivors a safe space to heal.

Abby diligently led the organization as Executive Director through July 2023. Remaining in the honored role of Founder, Abby is excited to see what more is in store for the home of restoration being built, and is thankful to every supporter who has made Corrie’s House part of their mission.