Shobi’s Table Staff and Leadership

Staff

Kari Olsen is a Deacon in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, serving with a specific eye towards food ministry.  Kari discerned her call into the ministry while working in different kitchens, particularly while she was Food Service Coordinator at Holden Village – a remote Lutheran retreat center in the Cascade Mountains of Washington State. There, she lived and grew in her understanding of the deep connection between the Communion Table and our own kitchen tables, revealing the love of God made edible in the food that nourishes our body and souls.  Kari attended undergrad at Seattle Pacific University and received a Master of Arts in Ministry from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. Her first call was as the Kitchen Coordinator at Christ on Capitol Hill, where she helped guide a project to remodel their kitchen up to commercial standards, and connect the liturgical and service life of the congregation with food. She now serves as the Director and Mission Developer of Shobi’s Table, where her call to ministry means putting her faith and theology into daily practice.

Email – director@shobistable.org

Tina is the Business Manager at Shobi’s Table. She keeps track of the finances, communication with our lovely supporters, and sees that the infrastructure of our day to day business is running smoothly. When not hard at work at a database, she is in the kitchen chatting with volunteers or out on the truck serving meals. Away from work Tina loves to spend time in nature and chilling with her family.

Email – business@shobistable.org

Eric joined Shobi’s in 2023 as the Community Care Coordinator after serving as a volunteer in 2022. He invites people to lunch at Shobi’s, spends time with visitors of all stripes at the truck, talks with volunteers and donors, and approaches anyone else with ears willing to hear about the work Shobi’s does. (He also chops a lot of onions.) He believes every day with Shobi’s is a new adventure of trying to understand and assist the mysterious movement of the Spirit. Eric spent most of his life running a tree nursery/garden center/landscape business in his east-central MN hometown. He remarried in 2022 after 10 years as a widower, has two adult daughters who live nearby, and completed his Master’s of Divinity from Luther Seminary in 2025. In his spare time, he really, really enjoys napping, Scrabble, hockey and thinking about (but not necessarily completing) home improvement projects.

He hopes to see you soon at the truck!

Email – community@shobistable.org

Karleigh is our Hospitality Coordinator bringing more smiles and laughter to the truck. She is a graduate from Luther Seminary with her Masters of Divinity focusing on Justice and Reconciliation. Karleigh enjoys playing video games, DnD and watching movies with friends. She also loves trying new Shobi’s food and learning about new ways of cooking. She is excited to see you all at the truck and to get to know you all soon!

Email: hospitality@shobistable.org

Jen Levin joined in 2025 as the Kitchen Manager for Shobi’s Table. She has six kids, lives in St Paul, and also owns and operates a mobile pizza business called Home Fires Pizza & Provisions. Jen loves dreaming up a new menu every week at Shobi’s, working alongside volunteers, and serving delicious meals to the Shobi’s community. Away from the kitchen she likes to be in her own kitchen in pursuit of the perfect pizza crust. Away from her own kitchen she likes to be in another country, in her garden, thrifting with her girls, reading in a hammock, backpacking in Colorado, canoeing the BWCA, making maple syrup, or paddle-boarding on Square Lake.

Email: jen@shobistable.org

Laura Delventhal (she/her) is a local theatre artist, educator, and nonprofit administrator based in the Twin Cities for the last fifteen years. She served as the Director of Children Youth & Family at Living Waters Lutheran in Lino Lakes from 2010-2016 and as the Education Manager at Children’s Theatre Company from 2012-2019. During the pandemic years and beyond, Laura has juggled a myriad of jobs and volunteer roles from mom to campaign fellow, from teaching artist to children’s mental health resource developer, from political policy advocate to church administrative support. She currently serves as Treasurer and Key Grant Writing Volunteer for Christ on Capitol Hill, home of Shobi’s Table. 

Email: development@shobistable.org

Board of Directors

(Email director@shobistable.org to connect with a board member)

Deacon Sandy Aslaksen – Chair

Kaarin Evans – Treasurer

Kristen Kidder – at large

Pastor Brice Bloxham – at large

Pastor Seth Perry – at large

Kathy Janssen – at large

Kristen Perron – at large

Pastor Sarah Anderson – at large

(Board positions are open! Email director@shobistable.org to inquire.)

Development Advisors

Katy Janda has written successful proposals for research projects totaling over $12M. Major funders include the US Environmental Protection Agency, UN Environmental Programme, the UK Department of Energy & Climate Change, the Newton Bhabha Fund, the Indian Department of Sciency and Technology, the UK Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council, the UK Economic and Social Research Council, the UK Natural Environment Research Council; the European Commission, Electricité de France, and HSBC bank.