Meet Our Staff

Haddon Anderson

Executive Director handerson@statelineyfc.org

Haddon serves as the Executive Director. His role centers on organizational leadership including coaching staff, fundraising, community partnerships, board development, and more. Haddon previously worked at Lydia Learning Academy and a local church. He graduated from Cedarville University in 2010 (B.A. in Sociology) before earning a Master of Divinity from Moody Theological Seminary in 2014 with an emphasis in Urban & Intercultural Studies. Haddon and his wife, Julie, have been married since 2010 and have three children.

Zabrina Ramirez

Development Director zramirez@statelineyfc.org

Zabrina serves as the Development Director. Her role focuses on donor stewardship, communications, and organizational events. Zabrina graduated from Calvin College with a Bachelor’s of Arts in Sociology with an emphasis on Urban Studies. Prior to YFC, she finished a year of AmeriCorps service with City Year in Boston. Zabrina and her husband, Phil, have been married since 2020.

 

Beth Fontana

Campus Life Support bfontana@statelineyfc.org

Beth role focuses on outreach to youth through our Campus Life ministry. Beth is a graduate of Illinois State University (B.A. in Social Work) and previously served on the Youth For Christ staff as the Youth Guidance Director. Beth’s past experience also includes children’s ministry. Beth and her husband, Kevin, have three children and four grandchildren.

 

Courtney Hardmon

City Life Director chardmon@statelineyfc.org

Courtney serves as a City Life Director on our City Life team. Her role focuses on building Christ-centered relationships with youth in the community and in local schools. She studied youth ministry at Colorado Christian University and was previously a youth pastor in a local church. 

Olle Larson

Director of Ministry olarson@statelineyfc.org

Olle serves as the Director of Ministry. His role focuses on working with ministry staff and overseeing our three ministry models in addition to ensuring that ministry is well supported and running smoothly. Olle graduated from DePaul University with a Bachelor of Arts in History and Psychology before earning his MDIV from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in 2021. Olle and his wife, Kelley, have been married since 2013, having met at Intervarsity Christian Fellowship at Rock Valley College, and have a son.

Adam Palmer

Juvenile Justice Ministry Director apalmer@statelineyfc.org

Adam serves as the Juvenile Justice Ministry Director at Youth For Christ. His role focuses on engaging youth through various outreach efforts within the local detention center, Roosevelt High School, and the community. He is a graduate of Grand Canyon University with a Bachelor’s degree in Christian Studies with an emphasis on Youth Ministry. Adam is also an Army combat veteran who served three tours in Iraq and received the Purple Heart. He also has experience in fitness training, coaching, missions, and management. Adam and his wife, Ellenie, have been married since 2008 and have three children.

 

Alyssa Newton

City Life Ministry Director anewton@statelineyfc.org

Alyssa serves as the City Life Ministry Director. She oversees our City Life programming. She also focuses on building Christ-centered relationships with youth in local schools like Jefferson. She is a graduate of Concordia University, Nebraska (B.A. in Behavioral Sciences and Music). Previously, Alyssa taught at St. Paul Lutheran School in Rockford and worked at Rosecrance.

 

J.R. Flannigan

City Life Support jflannigan@statelineyfc.org

J.R. serves as a City Life Support staff member. His role focuses on outreach to youth through our City Life ministries. He has previously ministered in a variety of settings in Rockford and Chicago, including church ministry and through an organization reaching young men called Project Hood. J.R. and his wife D’Lisa are honored to parent two daughters.

Lauren Pazdra

Director of Operations lpazdra@statelineyfc.org

Lauren serves as the Director of Operations. Her role focuses on maintaining ministry sites and assisting with the volunteer onboarding process as well as performing administrative tasks, financial management, and event planning support. Lauren graduated Trinity Christian College with a BA in Psychology and Theology and earned a MA in Ministry Leadership from Calvin Theological Seminary. Her and her husband have been married since 2022. 

Joey Clapp

Campus Life Ministry Director jclapp@statelineyfc.org

Joey serves as the Campus Life Ministry Director for Harlem Middle School and High School. He oversees programming and building Christ-centered relationships with youth. Joey graduated from Maranatha Baptist University with a B.A. in Church Ministries and is currently attending seminary at Reformed Theological Seminary pursuing a Master of Arts in Biblical Studies. He also has a background working in churches, and most recently was an associate pastor of a local church in Rockford. Joey and his wife Leah adopted their daughter, who has been a part of their family since 2019, in February of 2023.

 

D’Lisa Flannigan

City Life Director dflannigan@statelineyfc.org

D’Lisa serves as a City Life Director. Her role includes contacting youth in middle schools like Lincoln and local high schools and building Christ-centered relationships with them in schools and in the community. Her prayer is that these mentoring relationships would lead to discipleship. D’Lisa and her husband J.R. have two daughters.

 

Juan Neira

City Life Support jneira@statelineyfc.org

Juan serves as a City Life Support staff member building Christ-centered relationships with youth. He oversees and leads our Latino outreach including an ESL class and soccer training program. Juan is currently pursuing a degree at Rock Valley College and plans to continue on in his education in ministry. 

 

Board of Directors 

Tim Ancona, Chairman

Bruce Haugen, Treasurer

Mindy Stadel, Secretary

Tyler Crosby

Cristina Frederick

Brent Hayes

John Hranka

Sierra Kellen

Dave Odling

Kelly Stern