Board of Directors

Mercedes Falk gravitated towards rural life when she started working on a farm on the weekends during her teaching career. She enjoys learning about all forms of agriculture and has a deep appreciation for the diversity that makes up our world. Since 2017, she has worked as an interpreter on various dairy farms in our area and has led groups on Puentes trips to Mexico. She has loved seeing the transformation that takes place when individuals take the time to see life from someone else’s perspective and begin to understand another on a deeper level.

Nora Lindstrom grew up on a dairy farm in rural Buffalo County and farms with her brothers on that same land. She feels that getting the opportunity to go to Mexico to learn about her employees’ families and lives has been life-changing for her. She loves being a farmer and believes strongly in the mission of Puentes.

Lori Miller was the director of the Women, Infants, and Children program in Buffalo and Pepin counties for fourteen years and now is a retired Dietitian. During this time, she made strong connections with dairy farm workers and helped increase cultural understanding in the counties. In addition to going on a Puentes trip several years ago, she gave presentations in her workplace about the experience. She is thrilled to be a part of the Puentes board.

Roberto Tecpile grew up in Astacinga in the state of Veracruz, Mexico. He has worked in different jobs in the United States since he was 18 and has been on a dairy farm in Wisconsin for more than a decade. He loves helping others and meeting new people. At his farm, he is a go-to fix-it guy. He has spoken about his experiences at the University of Minnesota, UW-River Falls, and UW-Eau Claire, several churches, and many other community groups in our region.

Cole Hoscheit grew up on a dairy farm in Southeastern Minnesota and learned a lot from his grandpas and dad. After moving away for college, he followed his heart and returned to that same farm. Working side by side with his employees to make the farm the best it can be is a passion of his. He has been to visit the families of his employees in Mexico several times and he is grateful to be a third generation farmer with the team that he has.

Carrie lives in SE Minnesota and has used her social work skills in working with the elderly, mainly in the area of personal safety. Over 10 years ago her Lutheran/Presbyterian church began to build relationships with Mexican workers in her community, and her passion for the people and culture was ignited. Her 4 trips with Puentes Bridges have allowed her to visit families that she and her church have connected with as well as the university students that they have supported. She knows first hand the difficulty of learning a new language as an adult, but little by little is progressing.

Stan Linder has been a dairy farmer in Pepin County Wisconsin since 1976. He went on his first Puentes Trip in 2004 and has become our fearless chauffeur. He has formed deep connections with the families of his employees and former employees and loves the people, culture, and food in the mountains of Zongolica in Veracruz, Mexico.

Shaun Duvall worked with dairy farmers and their Spanish speaking employees for 20 years. She first took farmers to Mexico in 2001 and founded Puentes/Bridges a few years later. She has taken countless trips to Veracruz, Mexico to learn about the individuals and families that have contributed so much to the dairy industry in our area. Her heart is far bigger than her body and the thought that she has put into caring about every person and being around her guides our organization to this day.