OUR TEAM
Kari Bednarczyk– Founder and Executive Director
Kari is a graduate of St Catherine University in Occupational Therapy. After five years as an Applied Behavioral Analyst Therapist (ABA) and twenty three years as a Pediatric Occupational Therapist (OTR) in multiple settings, she felt a desire to more deeply serve families of children with special needs. Her dream and mission is to encourage, support, decrease isolation and foster community in the disability world. This dream and mission resulted in a new non-profit; Granting Respite and Care For the Extraordinary-GRACE Inc. Kari lives in Andover with her husband, Nick and their two sons, Bennett and Andrew..
Katy Holthaus -Board Member
Katy realized she has a passion for serving kiddos with special needs at a young age. Her brother was born prematurely and was diagnosed with a variety of intellectual disabilities. Her passion grew serving the special needs community over the years and really solidified when she volunteered for the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s summer camp for a week. She even met her husband Nathan during that week of camp! Katy obtained a bachelor’s degree In Exercise Science and later obtained a A.A.S degree in Occupational Therapy Assistant. She loves all things pediatrics and has worked 3 years as a COTA in outpatient pediatric clinics prior to finding Grace. She is a busy mom of two littles and enjoys spending time outside with her family, working out at her CrossFit gym, or catching up with a friend over a hot cup of coffee.
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Dawn Schuette -Board Member
Dawn graduated from St Catherine University in Occupational Therapy. Immediately after, Dawn and her husband moved to WA where she started her OT career. For the next 24 years, Dawn moved all across the county as a US Marine Corps wife and worked in a variety of settings including rehab, orthopedics and lymphedema. In 2009, Dawn began working in pediatrics in Stafford VA. She opened her own business providing in home OT treatment. Her family moved to MN in 2017, where she continued treating high risk infants. In 2020, Dawn retired from OT as a processor for veteran benefits for student veterans at Concordia University. She began volunteering at Grace Respite events a year ago and this experience has been rewarding as she is able to spend time with exceptional children and their families. Dawn has been married almost 30 years to her husband Jason and they have two children, Olivia age 20 and Duncan age 16.
Christy Witkowski -Board Member
Christy discovered a passion for occupational therapy (OT) when she witnessed firsthand the positive benefits of OT when her husband received OT services due to a cancer diagnosis. She quickly realized that helping others live their best possible life was the career path she wanted to pursue, as helping others succeed is something she values. Christy is a recent graduate from Anoka Technical College with an A.A.S. in Occupational Therapy Assistant and is now a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA). Christy is pursuing a career as a pediatric COTA. Prior to going back to school, Christy was a stay-at-home mother to her daughter and the primary caregiver to her husband throughout his cancer battle. Christy enjoys spending time with her daughter outdoors in nature and has a great passion for watching and playing sports; mostly Summer sports.