Gayle Klopp
Executive Director, Administration & Operations
Gayle Klopp has served in management roles for a variety of industries, including not-for-profit, healthcare, consulting, transportation, manufacturing, and computer technology. His background includes four decades in business and human resource management, program and staff development, as well as accounting and computer database design. He has served as director of human resources for American Baptist Homes of the Midwest (seven-state region), senior benefits analyst for MDU Resources, Inc., and as consultant for major U.S. companies – Farmland Industries, La Petite Academies, Schlage Locks/Ingersoll Rand and Premium Standard Farms. Gayle’s experience ranges from working with small businesses to companies with over 14,000 employees spanning 37 states.
Over the years, Gayle has been active in civic and church leadership roles, including service on finance committees, trustee boards, special committees, deacon councils and numerous other roles. Of significance is his national board service with the American Re-EDucation Association and the Council for Health and Human Service Ministries (CHHSM). He, too, continues to serve on the Public Policy Advisory Committee for the North Dakota Association of Nonprofit Organizations and has served as board member and vice president for the Residential Child Care Facilities Association (ND). In 2006-2007, Gayle was selected to participate in the national Faith-Based Leadership Institute for diaconal ministry and represented CHHSM and the United Church of Christ in the nation’s multi-denominational leadership program.
Gayle is a graduate of Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, with a degree in business administration and religion. Gayle received a mini-MBA degree from the University of Kansas and completed additional graduate studies with Benedictine College (Kansas City, MO) and the College of St. Thomas (St. Paul, MN).
During the mid-1970s, Gayle served in the Second Division, US Marine Corps.
Gayla Sherman, MSW, CIT, CCTP
Program Consultant
Gayla Sherman joined Charles Hall in 2004 and has more than 30 years of experience in not-for-profit management, programming and resource development, including serving as executive vice president for Central Baptist Theological Seminary (Kansas City) in the 1990s. Prior to her move to Bismarck, Gayla served in major leadership roles for large nonprofit organizations in Louisville, KY, and Greater Kansas City. Her work included residential treatment/behavioral health, urban homeless/low income programs, domestic violence, Girl Scouts, K-12 education, and theological education. She, too, has served as adjunct faculty for William Jewell College (MO) and the University of Mary (ND).
During her early career, Gayla served as congressional office staff for U.S. Representative Les Aspin (D-WI) in Washington, D.C. She then worked as producer for the National Public Radio affiliate in Austin, TX, and as reporter/writer for the ABC affiliate in the Texas capital. Notable recognitions for Gayla have included: Barbara Jordan Award for Best Radio Public Affairs Programming (1984); Greater Missouri Leadership Challenge (2001); United Way Executive Leadership Award (2007); Zonta Rose Award for humanitarian work with women (2014); and, the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award (2019).
Gayla’s commitment to active volunteer involvement is evident in her decades of service on local, regional and national nonprofit boards, advisory committees and women’s advocacy groups. Of significance is her board service with the American Re-Education Association, the National Association of Social Workers (ND), the North Dakota Association of Nonprofit Organizations (NDANO), North Dakota’s Association of Addiction Counselors, North Dakota’s Native American Foster Family and Adoption Recruitment Task Force, Kansas City’s Women’s Foundation, Greater Kansas City Council on Philanthropy, and the National Advisory Committee for Women in Leadership (Association of Theological Schools in U.S. and Canada). Gayla served terms as board president for NDANO and the Council of United Way Agencies (Missouri Slope Areawide United Way).
Gayla holds a master’s degree in social work and theology from Southern Seminary in Louisville, KY, as well as a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Texas at Austin. She is a certified clinical trauma professional (CCTP). Her current professional memberships include the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), North American Association of Christians in Social Work (NACSW), National Association of Social Workers (NASW), and the Cognitive Neuroscience Society (CNS). Gayla is a professional harpist of 30+ years.
While Gayla continues to provide consultation regarding program development and design, she joined United Tribes Technical College in mid-2021 as director of health and wellness for the Lewis Goodhouse Wellness Center on the tribal college’s campus in Bismarck.
Krislyn Thompson
Director of Business Affairs
Krislyn has over three decades of experience working in the accounting and financial services field. Prior to her employment with Charles Hall Youth and Family Services, she worked for the Council of Abused Women’s Services (CAWS). She also provided selected financial consulting services in recent years to the Abused Adult Resource Center in Bismarck. Krislyn’s past work experience includes serving as accounting/financial staff for North Dakota’s Department of Commerce and the North Dakota Water Commission.
Krislyn is continuing part-time work with Charles Hall Youth & Family Services during the organization’s transition in 2021 to a new mission direction. She, too, serves as the Finance Manager for the Housing Authority of Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in Ft. Yates, ND (beginning in Feb. 2021).
Krislyn holds accounting degrees from Bismarck State College and Moorhead State University (MN).
Rhonda Styles-Rohde
Director of Marketing and Communications; CPI Certified Instructor
Rhonda has over 25 years of experience in leadership and management and a long history of volunteering in the local community. She holds a bachelor’s degree in management with a minor in psychology from Minot State University.
Rhonda is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), the National Association of Professional Women (NAPW) and the North Dakota Economic Security and Prosperity Alliance (NDESPA). She has served as past President of the Council of United Way Agencies (COUWA) in Bismarck.
Rhonda’s community board service has included Bis-Man Stilettos and Arts for All in Bismarck. She is an active volunteer and service leader for her local church congregation, Surprise Church (Bismarck). She is a nationally-certified trainer in nonviolent crisis intervention with the Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI). Rhonda, too, is a certified trainer in the trauma-informed model, Risking Connection/Restorative Approach®.
In 2019, Rhonda was named Woman of the Year by the Bismarck-Mandan Business and Professional Women’s Club. She was recognized for her significant contributions and service in the Bismarck area.
In 2021, Rhonda continues part-time work with Charles Hall as the agency pivots to its new mission direction in service to children and families, especially those struggling with the impact of trauma. Beginning in late 2020, Rhonda began work as Director of Quality Assurance for the Community Action Program, Bismarck Region (VII).
Leslie T. Dunn, PhD
Consultant and Program Faculty
Leslie T. Dunn, PhD, is co-founder and former CEO of The Teel Institute for the Development of Integrity and Ethical Behavior in the Greater Kansas City area. For over two decades, The Teel Institute developed customized programming, training and evaluation for schools, parents and youth-serving professionals in the areas of social and emotional competence, moral development, self-valuing and character education.
As CEO/Executive Director, Leslie was responsible for the overall strategic direction of The Teel Institute, including advocacy in character education in the Greater Kansas City area and nationally. She has been featured on national news (CNN) during tragic times of school shootings, as well as with numerous public speaking engagements, including as featured keynote speaker with the North Dakota Association of Nonprofit Organizations (NDANO). A researcher and expert in evaluation and program design, Leslie served as director of research and development, strategic planning, and training departments for the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation before leaving the Kauffman Foundation to start The Teel Institute (mid-1990s) to continue work on The ESSENTIAL CURRICULUM© by forming a freestanding nonprofit in Kansas City. She earned her bachelor’s degree at Williams College (MA) and holds both a master’s degree and PhD in Research Psychology from the University of Kansas.
Leslie continues to partner with Charles Hall following the COVID-19 pandemic (2020) as the agency works to pivot its mission and purpose and build on almost six decades of trauma-informed, strength-based residential service work with foster care children.