Assistive relies on their trusted board members to help guide our organization in growing and providing better services each and everyday. Take a moment to learn about the people who make up Assistive’s board!
Representative Pete Silbernagel, President
Pete began his career working for North Dakota based Melroe Company. His career with Melroe included working in Gwinner, Bismarck, and Columbus, Ohio. Additionally, Pete worked for the Lilliston Corporation in Albany, Georgia as North American Sales and Marketing Manager. He returned to North Dakota to be President of Alloway Manufacturing in Fargo (an agricultural equipment manufacturer) for more than 10 years before joining TrueNorth Steel, also in Fargo. He retired from his position as President of the Corrugated Pipe Business Unit of TrueNorth Steel after 18 years of service.
Pete has many years of experience in the public sector arena. He has served 12 years on the Casselton City Council; as a member of the Board of Directors and Executive Board of the Cass County Economic Development Corporation; as a member on church boards in Horace and Casselton and as a board member of the National Corrugated Steel Pipe Association. Pete has been a Representative in the North Dakota State Assembly from 2013 to the present.
Marshall McCullough, Vice Chair
Marshall McCullough is originally from Bismarck, graduated University of North Dakota with a BS in accounting, graduated University of Denver College of Law, and worked for Price Waterhouse in San Francisco as a tax advisor for 8 years before moving to Fargo. He is an Attorney and President of Ohnstad Twichell, P.C. Marshall’s community involvement and memberships include the West Fargo Economic Development Council where he served as past Chairman, the International Peace Gardens where he serves as Vice President, the Red River Estate Planning Council where he served as past President, and the Red River Zoo where he served as past President. Marshall frequently is a presenter at local churches, clubs, and businesses. He holds honors and distinctions as member of the Red River Estate Planning Council, and as past President of the Red River Zoo.
Kevin Warner, Secretary/Treasurer
Kevin Warner was born and raised in Fargo, ND. He is a graduate of NDSU with a business administration degree with an emphasis in finance. Kevin has spent fourteen years with Gate City Bank and is currently working as the Business Lending Manager. Previously, he was a Membership Relations volunteer with the Fargo/Moorhead/West Fargo Chamber of Commerce for seven years.
Carol Gunkelman Anhorn
Carol Gunkelman Anhorn is a Fargo native and graduate of University of Utah. She has worked in marketing and advertising since 1983 at Ingstad Broadcasting, G.L. Ness Advertising Agency (now Sundog), WDAY broadcast division of Forum Communications and currently serves as General Sales Manager at KQLX Radio Group. Carol has served on many non-profit boards including IPAT, YMCA, Downtown Community Partnership, North Dakota Chamber of Commerce (formerly GNDA), North Dakota Broadcast Association, Kappa Kappa Gamma Alumni Association, National Agri-Marketing Association, United Way Women’s Leadership Council, Big Cormorant Lake Association, YMCA Endowment, and served on committees for NDSU, YWCA, United Way, YMCA, NDSU Team Makers, and FM Advertising Federation. Carol and her husband Todd split their time between their homes in Fargo and on Big Cormorant Lake where they enjoy time with their 3 kids, 1 daughter-in-law and grandson Gunnar!
Representative Kathy Hogan
Kathy Hogan received her BS in Sociology at Jamestown College and her MS in Counseling, at North Dakota State University. She is a long time resident of Fargo, ND who has been a Representative in the North Dakota State Assembly from 2009 to the present. Kathy’s professional experience includes a Management role at the South East Human Service Center from 1975 to 1990 and a role as Director of Cass County Social Services from 1990 until 2008. She is an Associate of the Presentation Sisters Member, Region Five, Children’s Services Coordinating Committee Board Member, Saint Anthony of Padua Member, and Villa Nazareth Board Member.
Sister Kathleen Atkinson, OSB
Sister Kathleen Atkinson is a Benedictine Sister from the Annunciation Monastery in Bismarck, ND. Nationally recognized as a leader in hunger and homelessness education, she has developed service learning experiences for all age groups and led service teams to a variety of foreign and United States locations. Graduating from SMCHS in 1974, and 1977 elementary education graduate of University of Mary, Atkinson holds an MA in Theology from St John’s University and a Doctorate in Ministry from the St Paul Seminary School of Divinity, University of St Thomas.
Sister Kathleen has been a lifelong innovator and facilitator of programs which integrate faith, leadership, and service to the poor. While a high school religion teacher, she developed volunteer programs at SMCHS, Bishop Ryan, and Trinity. While ministering at the University of Mary, she started the mission trips to GOD’S CHILD Project in Guatemala and was the founding Director of the Student Volunteer Program (1993) and the Christian Leadership Center (2004). Sister Kathleen currently serves on the CHI/St Alexius Medical Center Foundation Board, Burleigh County Housing Authority, ND Interagency Program for Assistive Technology Board and Dacotah Foundation Board of Directors.
Atkinson is the founder and director of Ministry on the Margins, a volunteer-based ecumenical ministry committed to supporting those who fall through the cracks during times of transition. Ministry on the Margins serves over 200 people each week through their food pantry, coffee house, prison re-entry mentoring, prison bible studies, and a variety of creative responses to the needs of the marginalized. Since its creation in 2013, Ministry on the Margins and Sister Kathleen have been recognized as the Caritas Award Winner by Catholic Charities of North Dakota, Food Pantry of the Year by the Great Plains Food Bank, and a top 3 national finalist for the Catholic Extension Lumen Christi Award.
Sister Kathleen is the author of two books, God is Always There. Psalms for Every Moment and Letting Go and Letting God. 21 Centuries of Faith.