ABOUT US
OUR TEAM
Alec Johnson, Founder and Volunteer
Since 2018 Alec has volunteered with Honoring Our Veterans and is now the Executive Director of North Star Valor. He lives in Saint Paul, MN and is a part-time professor of Entrepreneurship at the University of St. Thomas. He is also a freelance automotive and architecture photographer, and award-winning fine art landscape and portrait photographer. Early in his career, Alec was a professional test driver for Goodyear Tire Co.
Guy Townsend, Board Member and Volunteer
US Army Veteran Guy Townsend, avid and accomplished woodworker, he helped found North Star Valor.
Tom Hall, Board Member and Volunteer
Upon an honorable discharge from the military Tom earned a bachelor’s in political science from Iowa State University while playing defensive end for the football team before completing my master’s degree in international relations from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. He recently received his Doctorate from the University of South Florida with a focus on rural American businesses.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tchall18/
Shinwon Noh, Director of Operations and Volunteer
With extensive experience of doing research on creative industries (e.g., art museums, digital streaming platforms vs. legacy TV networks, K-pop), I help future business leaders understand how artistic thinking can drive ethical innovation and meaningful organizational change.
Currently serving as an Entrepreneurship professor while actively engaging with arts organizations, I’m passionate about revealing how arts-based approaches can transform traditional business paradigms.
OUR MISSION AND IMPACT
North Star Valor is a non-partisan, MN nonprofit 501(c)3 dedicated to serving combat-wounded veterans. We do this by offering retreats in Ely, MN; mutli-day programs designed to give veterans an immersion experience with nature and art. As a follow-on to these programs, Veteran coaches will organize half-day local excursions designed to continue engagement, connection and camaraderie.
Support of the Minneapolis VA
North Star Valor recieves support from the Minneapolis VA Recreational Therapy Group. To read the letter, click here: Letter of Support
OUR NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY
It is the policy and commitment of North Star Valor that it does not discriminate on the basis of race, age, color, sex, national origin, physical or mental disability, or religion.
Equal Employment Opportunity
North Star Valor is committed to a policy of equal employment opportunity and does not discriminate in the terms, conditions, or privileges of employment on account of race, age, color, sex, national origin, physical or mental disability, or religion or
otherwise as may be prohibited by federal and state law. Any employee, board member, volunteer or client who believes that s/he or any other affiliate of North Star Valor has been discriminated against is strongly encouraged to
report this concern promptly to the Executive Director.
Discriminatory Harassment
Harassment or intimidation of a client, staff person or guest because of that person’s race, age, color, sex, national origin, physical or mental disability, or religion is specifically prohibited and may be grounds for termination. Harassment and
intimidation includes abusive, foul or threatening language or behavior. North Star Valor is committed to maintaining a workplace that is free of any such harassment and will not tolerate discrimination against staff members, volunteers or
agency clients. Issues of discriminatory treatment, harassment, or intimidation on any of these bases should immediately be reported to the Executive Director or immediate supervisor and, if substantiated, prompt action will be taken.
WHO WE HELP
We work specifically with wounded veterans from any branch, any conflict or war. We are focused on helping veterans change their trauma story.
HOW WE HELP
Working with the tools of nature and art immersion, veterans start changing their day to day life experience, seeing it through these therapeutic experiences that they can take home and continue to utilize in changing their trauma story.