Our Board of Directors

Andrea joins the team as a mother, wife, and skilled Neonatal Nurse Practitioner. With over two decades of experience in the NICU setting, caring for countless NICU families, Andrea continues to prioritize the healing connections that the medical staff can provide for NICU families.
Currently working in a level IV NICU, she leads the NICU Complex Care team serving the most medically complex infants and their families. A core belief is that the art of healing is not about fixing what is broken, but about creating what is whole.

Kristi joins our board as a mom, wife, small business owner, and NICU mom. She is a fierce advocate for NICU support not only for parents, but also for the siblings of NICU warriors. With her experience at the hospital bedside to navigating life outside of the NICU, Kristi continues to connect, support, and work with families that are currently navigating their NICU journey both in and out of the NICU.

Kristi currently stays home with her four young kids while successfully running a small family-owned business, and she continues to pursue her passion for helping NICU families through a non-profit started and named after their own NICU miracle. A passion for giving back, helping others, and paying it forward is what drives Kristi and her family daily as they have been on the receiving end of these philosophies and have seen the direct impact of these core values. Her family mantra is that paying it forward is not only good for the soul, but also for healing the heart.

Kim is a wife, mom, grandma, small business owner, entrepreneur, and a 26-year NICU veteran. She navigated the NICU long before support was thought to be necessary for parents on this terrifying journey, and she is passionate about sharing not only the story of her micro-preemie son’s arrival, but also his survival and how well he has done post-NICU. Hope amidst the heartache is something Kim strives to offer those who are feeling the weight of the NICU.
Kim currently runs a successful Bridal Alterations business, has had a successful 10-year run in the entrepreneurial space, and also helps on their family-run farm. With the kids all grown and out of the house, Kim enjoys time gardening, canning, golfing, and all things summer. She has also been very active in the non-profit sector and looks forward to continuing this passion with Dear NICU Mama.

Tyler brings a decade of experience in the financial services industry, specializing in helping clients achieve their financial goals. Before joining CLA, he focused on servicing and onboarding 401(k) plans for sponsors and participants, along with extensive experience in personal and business banking and lending. In his current role, Tyler works with individuals and business owners to develop comprehensive financial strategies, including retirement planning, investment management, and tax and estate planning.

“Every NICU journey is different, but one thing we have learned is to never discredit the trials and personal tribulation that the NICU brings – whether six days or six months. Every experience creates an opportunity to make an impact, and Dear NICU Mama provides a platform to do exactly that.”

Dr. Amber Fort, DO, JD, MPH, MS, originally from the Southwest, was the first in her family to pursue higher education. She earned a degree in Biology from UCLA in 1996, followed by graduate studies in Biomedical Science in Florida, medical school in Fort Lauderdale, and pediatric training in Georgia and North Carolina. Since 2020, she has served as a neonatologist at Sanford Children’s Hospital in Fargo. During the pandemic, she also earned a law degree to help shape healthcare policy through the lens of her clinical and public health experience.

Passionate about people and their stories, Dr. Fort believes in transforming challenges—like having a hospitalized newborn—into pathways for growth. She is honored to join the Dear NICU Mama board and is committed to supporting its mission of connection, compassion, and community.

Alyssa Lakoduk is the Managing Director of the North Dakota Investment Accelerator for gener8tor, where she leads initiatives that help founders scale ideas into thriving companies. With a background in venture and community development, she’s passionate about building ecosystems that empower resilience, innovation, and connection, values that mirror the heart of the Dear NICU Mama mission.

As a proud NICU mom herself, Alyssa brings both professional expertise and personal understanding to her work. She is deeply committed to supporting mothers navigating the complexities of the NICU journey and to strengthening the network of care that extends far beyond hospital walls.

Nicole Thorfinnson is a marketing leader, wife, sister, daughter, and mom driven by the power of human connection. She believes community often begins close to home but can extend far beyond it through shared experiences, vulnerability, and a collective desire to leave things better for those who come after.

Professionally, Nicole serves as the Director of Marketing at Advanced Business Methods (ABM), where she focuses on aligning strategy, storytelling, and meaningful connection. She is passionate about casting vision and creating clear, actionable pathways to bring that vision to life.

Nicole is also a NICU mom—an experience that profoundly shaped her perspective on empathy, resilience, and advocacy. Giving back to the NICU community is deeply personal to her, and she is passionate about paying forward the support and encouragement her family once received. She is honored to serve on the Board of Directors for Dear NICU Mama, where she supports families with compassion, encouragement, and connection—both in the NICU and beyond.