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 retirement after 27 years of service.
Tom Pippitt
Operations Director
In his role as Operations Director, Tom works with the Directors of the Mentorship, Support Services, and Employment Partner programs 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!
Alan Bistrup
Support services director
As Support Services Director, Alan will be meeting with all of 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 will ensure any services they need, in supporting their transition back into the community, are met.
abistrup@redemptionproject.org
support Services: 612-479-4345
Jeromy Darling
Mentorship services director
As Mentorship Services Director, Jeromy 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.
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.
Steven Fitch
education services director
As Education Services Director of The Redemption Project, Steven will be teaching the inmates 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 has joined the team at The Redemption Project.
Tish Torchia
mentorship services manager
As the Mentorship Program Manager, Tish works with our Mentorship Program Director in the 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.
Amber Manthei
administrative assistant
As Administrative Assistant, Amber provides administrative support to The Redemption Project (TRP) team members. Amber works to ensure the highest level of professional support to advance TRP’s mission.
Amber Manthei (Mon-tee) has a rich background within employment services. After receiving a Global Career Development Facilitator credential earned from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, she continued to dedicate training in resume writing, soft skills training, empowerment, and leadership development towards reentry services.
Throughout her extensive tenure in the non-profit sector, specifically within organizations serving single mothers and incarcerated populations, Amber has consistently demonstrated a commitment to service and a passion for fostering inclusivity, engaging with diverse communities, and continually expanding her knowledge base.
Beyond the professional realm, Amber finds solace and joy in outdoor pursuits alongside her spouse and three large dogs. With four grown daughters and two cherished grandchildren, family remains at the heart of her endeavors. Embracing the call of lifelong learning, she is currently pursuing further education in substance use counseling at Winona State University and hopes to receive her LADC in early 2025.