Meet Our Team
Dwight Tostenson
Chief Executive Officer, President and Co-Founder
As Chief Executive Officer, Dwight oversees the strategic direction of the organization with a particular emphasis on the Virtues for Success curriculum. Dwight has been approved by the Bureau of Prisons to serve as a mentor for incarcerated individuals and routinely visits the prisons in which The Redemption Project operates. Dwight has a strong passion for social justice and for providing second chances to former felons. He also brings over 20 years of executive management experience to the organization.
Odell Wilson
vice president and chief operations officer
As Vice President / COO, Odell is responsible for the implementation of the organization's operational plan, management of the organization, and leads communication efforts with corrections facilities and other nonprofits.
After graduating with Bachelor's and Master's Degrees from Penn State University, Odell was employed as a rehabilitation consultant with Sevdy and Locket Rehabilitation Service from 1991 to 1993 and went on to become a Vocational and Educational Counselor at the Amherst H. Wilder Foundation from 1993 to 1997. Odell recently worked as a Supervisory Federal Probation and Pretrial Service Officer until his recent retirement after 27 years of service.
Steven Fitch
education services director
As Education Services Director of The Redemption Project, Steven teaches our incarcerated students the Socratic method, social adaptation skills to assist them in their re-entry into society & the second chance job market,
After a twenty-five-year career in sales ending as an Account Executive with DenMat, Steven went into the business world for 5 years as the owner/operator of Mr. Hot Dog MN, a hot dog cart that grew to a 28 ft, self-contained kitchen on wheels, selling the business for a profit. He felt the calling to the field of Education, where he took a position as a paraprofessional with Waseca Public Schools, for 7 1/2 years, He worked with behaviorally and developmentally challenged students as well as mainstream students assisting them with their studies. Now he is a member of the team at The Redemption Project.
Bradley Ratgen
education services facilitator
As Education Services Facilitator of The Redemption Project, Brad also teaches our incarcerated students TRP’s Virtues For Success curriculum, social adaptation skills to assist them in their re-entry into society & the second chance job market, as well as how to consistently be people of good character based on unchanging virtues that they can apply in their daily lives.
Brad is a native Minnesotan who grew up and graduated high school in Hastings and then attended both Gustavus Adolphus College and William Mitchell College of Law where he earned a Juris Doctor degree and embarked on a 25+ year career as an attorney.
Brad is a proud TRP Fellow and is excited to be part of the team now at The Redemption Project.
John C. Williams
Mentorship services director
As Mentorship Services Director, John is responsible for The Redemption Project’s (TRP) Mentorship program by recruiting, educating, training, supporting, and retaining Mentors, and connecting them to inmates (TRP Fellows) while incarcerated.
John is the founder of Champion City Mentor Program, a school-based mentor program contracted with Brockton Public Schools since 2013. As a youth, growing up in Brockton, John was involved in activities that led him to spend six years in county and state prison. John returned to Brockton with a vision to have a positive impact on the community. He quickly became a voice in the movement for Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) reform. He volunteered for many community organizations and was hired as the lead Peace Advocate for the City’s first street outreach program. In 2011, John began his own mentoring program, Champion City Mentor Program, which has assisted thousands of low performing students in turning around their behavior, and academic performance through in-school mentoring, family connections, and after school and summer programming.
Tish Torchia
mentorship services manager
As the Mentorship Program Manager, Tish works with our Mentorship Program Director in recruiting, training, onboarding, and supporting of the organization's Volunteer Mentorship Program. Volunteering for more than 15 years in and through the Bureau of Prisons (BOP), Tish has worked in both the Departments of Education, teaching men who were getting their GED's and Religious Services, and mentoring men through the BOP's Threshold Program. She continues to mentor these men, many of whom are now out and thriving members of society.
Born and raised in Portugal, she moved to the US at the age of 11. Tish attended both the University of Notre Dame and St. Mary's College, earning a BA in Psychology and a Degree in Education, respectively. While teaching Elementary School in Baltimore, MD, she attended Johns Hopkins University to receive an MS in Computer Education.
Tish has raised 5 children and is now blessed with 10 grandchildren, the "loves" of her life. She is an avid mountain biker/trail runner and is most grateful to be joining The Redemption Program family.
Alan Bistrup
Support services director
As Support Services Director, Alan meets with all our Fellows as they are released from prison. Many of our Fellows coming out of prison are starting from scratch and find themselves in need of life’s basic necessities such as Housing, Food, Clothing, and Transportation, just to name a few. Alan ensures any services they need, to support their transition back into the community, are met.
abistrup@redemptionproject.org
support Services: 612-479-4345
Dave Snider
employment services director
As the Employment Services Director, Dave oversees The Redemption Project’s (TRP) relationships with our Employment Partners through recruiting, education, training, supporting, and retaining employers; and connecting TRP Fellows to those job opportunities.
Dave served 14 ½ years in the prison system which became a life changing opportunity for him. During his incarceration, he served on and facilitated the inmate volunteer Hospice program at FMC Rochester. During these years, Dave discovered the true value of oneself and the life we are given. Many of the men Dave served were dying of diseases caused by drug and alcohol use and it became important for him to keep their memories alive through helping others break this cycle.
Dave was one of the four individuals who helped create the founding mission for the Redemption Project. He is now blessed to be a part of this amazing program that he believes in so much and hopes to help it grow into the future.
employment Services: 612-475-6703
Malcolm Olatunde
program services representitive
As a Program Services Representative, Malcolm will work with our program Directors to support our Fellows through Education, Mentoring, Employment, and Support Services. Malcolm is dedicated to achieving a successful re-entry for all of our Fellows.
Malcolm was born in Birmingham London England. He is committed to being a provider for his family, helping to lead, mentor, and pass on all the knowledge and experience he has gathered over the years that others might use for growth and development. He has a passion for serving others.
Malcolm enjoys basketball, activities with his children (the joy of his existence), riding motorcycles, working out, anything around the ocean, and travel. He is scuba certified , has been sky diving twice, has traveled to 42 countries, and still counting.
Jeromy Darling
Digital Marketing Director
As Digital Marketing Director, Jeromy is responsible for building a unified integrated database to streamline The Redemption Project’s operations. Jeromy is also responsible for building out content for our website (videos, posts on social media, etc.) to better communicate our message to employers and the public about what we do and why they (employers) should become second-chance employers and hire our TRP Fellows (graduates of our program).
Jeromy is an artist and advocate based in Minneapolis, MN. In 2014 he founded The Salvage Project with the goal of bringing redemptive arts into prisons across America. Besides being a great father to his 4 children, his greatest passion in life is showing each person their innate dignity and value and helping those on the fringes of society find meaning and purpose in their lives.
Tom Pippitt
Operations Director
In his role as Operations Director, Tom works with the Mentorship Services, Support Services, Employment Services, and Digital Marketing Directors as well as the day-to-day operations of The Redemption Project, and keeps the organization up-to-date on the latest technology. He also strives to keep in contact with many of our ‘Fellows’.
Tom has over 30 years of experience in the field of technology as well as a Master’s Degree in Software Engineering from the University of St. Thomas. He was also previously incarcerated at the Federal Medical Center in Rochester, MN. It was there that he became a proud graduate of TRP’s Virtues for Success class. Having experienced the power of redemption and taking responsibility for one’s actions himself, Tom is driven to help other incarcerated individuals who want to be positive members of their community. Oh, and he has a great singing voice too!
Christine Fitz
administrative assistant
As an Administrative/Finance specialist, Christine provides her expertise in administration and finance. In this role, Christine is responsible for financial, facilities, business and administrative activities. Christine participates in strategic planning and problem solving, policy formulation and budgetary decisions, as well as offering financial counsel and guidance on the implications of institutional decisions. In her over 20 years of experience, she has helped businesses and non-profits adjust to utilize their resources to continue to maximize their goals.
In her personal life, Christine enjoys her family, friends, dog, volunteering and outdoor activities of golf, walking, running, and pickleball.
Kristi Bookles
grant writer
As The Redemption Project's Grant Writer, Kristi manages all grant-seeking activities including the creation of any content required by a foundation or organization in order for them to consider giving their support to TRP. She also provides any formal written support needed in maintaining TRP’s relationship with current funders.
Kristi carries a bachelor’s degree from the University of Northwestern St. Paul in Roseville, MN, holds a master’s degree from Regent University, and has over 9 years of experience working in key supportive organizational roles.