Our Board Members & Staff

John & Sarah Ramthun - Executive Directors

John grew up on a farm just outside of West Bend, WI, with his parents and 5 siblings. The family of 8 has now grown to 22 including in-laws and nephews with 3 siblings still working on the farm where we enjoy helping as often as we can! Sarah grew up in her family of 5 on the south side of Milwaukee and went to school K-12 downtown (MPS) where she was considered a minority at her schools. The family, now of 9, loves to spend time together, especially at the family cottage in Door County. We are SO blessed to have such amazing families! From an early age our families were involved in our local Churches and faith has been an important part of our lives. We went to college at UW Madison, John majoring in Bio-Chemistry and Sarah as pre-med. St. Paul’s was a significant part of our undergrad experience. As God worked in our lives we switched our majors to Religious Studies, became friends, and graduated in 2004. 2004 also included beginning as the Directors of Religious Education and Youth Ministry at St. Aloysius in Sauk City, getting married, and moving to Sauk Prairie. St. Al’s brought us many wonderful memories, including leading our first Mission Trips, and numerous friendships over 6 years. In 2010, God called us to a new apostolate to serve our community. 6:8 aims to transform communities by making service personal through service experiences enhanced by education and exhortation hoping to embody Christ in the way we live. Our plan is to give all we have to the people we are serving with and for, so that first our community, can be transformed! We would love to have you join us!

Cathy Lins - Board Member

Cathy was born and raised in Wisconsin, but has travelled the US and the world working with nonprofits and social issues. She is experienced at working with nonprofits on organizational development and program design. And has assisted community groups and faith-based organizations with community building and engagement.

She has signed on to the board to help 6:8 get started.

In 1995, Cathy formed Development Plus, Inc. She is an organizational consultant and facilitator who specializes in organizational planning, project development, strategic partnerships, and quality assurance. Her work has focused on helping individuals and agencies turn their vision and passion into reality. Participants from her programs have appreciated her depth of knowledge, her enthusiasm, and her sense of humor.

Jackie Lesperance - Board President

I'm originally from Franklin, WI - a suburb of Milwaukee. I received a BS in Zoology from UW-Madison in 2004 and, during my time there as an undergraduate, had my first conscious experiences of God, an organized faith community (in my case a Catholic Church), and peers who were passionate about the gospel. After graduating, I got married and worked as a Youth Minister/DRE in Mt. Horeb, WI for three years, receiving a crash course in humility and an appreciation for people's unique spiritual gifts and journeys. While living in Mt. Horeb, we had two boys, Elijah (now 4) and Sam (now 2.5) before moving back to Milwaukee so that Andre could pursue graduate work. We are excited to welcome our third child into our family around the end of April.

I completed certification as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for children entering the Child Welfare System and am an active volunteer. I agreed to be on the Board for 6:8 because I believe in it's mission and feel that it is a great, tangible step toward loving our neighbors the way that Jesus would have us do. I look forward to working with the Board and staff to bring God's love, in it's many forms, to the people we will serve.

Andre Lesperance - Board Secretary

Jackie already mentioned our beautiful boys. About me, I'm just finishing up my master's degree in theology from Marquette University, and I am the Pastoral Associate at two parishes in the North Shore suburbs of Milwaukee. I've grown tired of the intense polarization in our society as well as in the Church: “liberal” or “conservative,” personal-piety or social-justice, etc. But what I have been able to be a part of with Jackie, John and Sarah, the Mission Trips, and the always edifying conversations we have, gives me hope that there is a simple and profound way to live our faith. John and Sarah constantly inspire me with their love for God and others. We've felt that God has been present in our friendship, and most recently in our conversing and dreaming together about what type of non-profit they might be called to form. We are so excited to be an official part of the team!

Erin Brennan - Board Vice President & Tom Brennan - Board Treasure Tom and Erin are involved in various community organizations, including Sauk Prairie Kiwanis, Sauk Prairie Sports Boosters, and numerous others. Tom has been involved in the banking industry for 28 years and Erin is a practicing attorney in the Sauk Prairie area. Erin has witnessed the benefit of seeing how donating and sharing time with the youth in our area can make a huge impact for the entire community. Tom’s Experience of participating in the High School Mission Trips has lead him to believe in the importance of receiving through giving and serving.

All four of their children have experienced first hand the reward of serving others through mission trips and more. They have been so moved to share that they have invited others to participate with them. The Brennan’s desire is to involve the entire family to serve together. Therefore they are active with and support 6:8 and hope to incorporate whole families to transform our community through personal service.