Leah Morken, PhD, LP

Clinical Director

Leah Morken, Ph.D., LP, is a Licensed Psychologist and serves as the Clinical Director of Family & Children’s Center. She earned her Doctorate in Psychology from Walden University. Leah provides clinical leadership to programs across the agency in addition to providing direct services. She works with clients of all ages and specializes in psychological testing, working with children ages 0-5, and play therapy with children during the therapeutic process. In addition, Leah provides parents with Child-Parent Psychotherapy, Parent-Child Interaction Therapy, and works with individuals on the autism spectrum.

lmorken@fccnetwork.org
(608) 785-0001 ext. 3120

Mary Jacobson, MA

Director of Programs, Wisconsin

Mary Jacobson joined FCC at the beginning of 2018 and brings with her a vast knowledge of the social service industry. Mary has a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Wisconsin La Crosse and a Master’s in Servant Leadership from Viterbo University. She has most recently served as the Asst. Executive Director of Catholic Charities. Mary serves on a variety of boards and committees including the La Crosse Collaborative to End Homelessness and the Balance of State Continuum of Care.

mjacobson@fccnetwork.org
(608) 785-0001 ext. 2223

Karrie Hahn, MA, MBA

Director of Programs, Minnesota

Karrie Hahn joined Family & Children’s Center in 2022 with vast experience in the human service field working with children and youth with Autism and other complex care needs. For the past 25 years, she worked at Chileda in a variety of roles from program oversight and supervision to program development. In addition, she has been involved in strategic planning initiatives. Karrie graduated from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse with a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and a Master’s degree in Vocational Rehabilitation-Counseling from the University of Wisconsin-Stout. Karrie also has an MBA from Viterbo University.

khahn@fccnetwork.org
(597) 615-3115

Ellen Hongerholt, MA

Director of Advancement & Marketing

Ellen Hongerholt, M.A., has joined Family & Children’s Center as the Director of Advancement & Marketing. She has more than 30 years to the field of financial development/fundraising and public relations, primarily in the area of capital campaign consulting/management for non-profits and municipalities. Over the past 25 years she has completed 42 capital campaigns in the tri-state region, successfully assisting cities and organizations in raising approximately $70M through her business Crescendo Fundraising Professionals, LLC.

Ellen gained her master’s degree in Philanthropy and Development from St. Mary’s University of Minnesota and has her undergraduate degree in Mass Communications with a public relations emphasis and sociology minor from Winona State University.

She states her goal is to assist current and new donors’ in advancing the vital mission of Family & Children’s Center throughout western Wisconsin and southeastern Minnesota.

ehongerholt@fccnetwork.org
(608) 785-0001 ext. 2132

Ann McDonald, CPA

Chief Financial Officer

Ann McDonald joins Family & Children’s Center with almost 25 years of experience in the accounting profession. She started her career working in public accounting. For the past 18 years, she has worked in financial leadership roles at local non-profit human service agencies and for the last 7 years at Chileda as its CFO. Ann has been responsible for all day-to-day activities in the Finance department. In addition, she has learned the various compliance rules in the related areas for both MN and WI and was a member of the WI DCF Rate Setting workgroup. Ann graduated from Winona State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and 2 minors in English and Business Law. She has held an active CPA license in WI since 1998.

amcdonald@fccnetwork.org
(608) 785-0001 ext. 2203

Rich Petro

Director of Human Resources

Rich Petro offers 30 years of experience in the human resources arena, having led the function for much larger companies and local businesses as well. He has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, Ill., and graduate-level education in industrial and organizational psychology from Illinois State University, Normal, Ill. Rich Petro is actively involved in the local community where he has served on the La Crosse Area Senior Human Resources Management Roundtable, the La Crosse City Vision Action Committee and on steering and advisory committees for the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse. He has also volunteered with the United Cerebral Palsy of SW Wisconsin, the Muscular Dystrophy Association and Family & Children’s Center. He is co-author of “Practical Lessons in Leadership—A Guidebook for Aspiring and Experienced Leaders.”

rpetro@fccnetwork.org
(608) 785-0001 ext. 2224

Tita Yutuc, LCSW, LICSW

President/CEO

Tita Yutuc serves as President and CEO of Family & Children’s Center, beginning her journey in 2015. Tita brings extensive experience in human services, including more than 25 years in senior leadership roles. Prior to returning to the LaCrosse area where she grew up, she had spent twenty-nine years in Chicago having most recently served as chief operations officer at SOS Children’s Village Illinois. SOS is a child welfare organization that provides foster care services, a shelter and intensive community-based outreach program across four sites in and around Chicago. Additionally, she also has more than 38 years in the nonprofit world. With a master’s degree in social work from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, Tita has provided strategic direction and oversight for a variety of children, youth and family services. She is active within the community currently serving on the Rotary Brain Game board and the WAFCA ( Wisconsin Association of Family & Children’s Agencies) board of directors.

tyutuc@fccnetwork.org
(608) 785-0001 ext. 2228