Board Members
Stearns Benton Bar Association
Alexander
Gutnik
President.
Alexander Gutnik is an associate attorney with Heller & Thyen, PA. He is an experienced family law, employment law, and housing law attorney. He also works in the areas of unemployment insurance benefits, criminal expungements, and criminal defense. Previously, Alexander was a Staff Attorney with Central Minnesota Legal Services. He provided quality legal services to a financially eligible population in Stearns County and eight other Minnesota counties.
Outside of the office he enjoys working out – especially with his wife, Victoria. He is a Minnesota Vikings fan and a car enthusiast.
He will serve on the board through May 2026.
Lily
Sackett
Vice-President.
Lily is an associate attorney at Jeddeloh & Snyder, P.A. and spends most work days in the St. Cloud office. She practice in the areas of guardianships and conservatorship, civil litigation and civil commitments. Lily graduated from Hamline University School of Law in May 2015 and was sworn in on October 30, 2015 to practice law in the State of Minnesota.
She lives with her husband Grant and a very mischievous cat named Mack. She loved going to Tokyo and can’t wait to travel back to Japan.
She will serve on the board through May 2027.
Jamie
Reinschmidt
Secretary-Treasurer.
Jamie went to law school at the University of Minnesota and graduated in 2014. During law school she clerked at a private law firm in Minneapolis working primarily in criminal defense. After graduation, she was a law clerk in Hennepin County for two years in the serious felony division. She then worked for the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office for two years prior to coming to the Stearns County Attorney’s Office where she currently works in the criminal division.
She will serve on the board through May 2028.
Rachel
Miller
Administrator.
Rachel Miller is the SBBA’s Administrator, effective October 2018. She has a Bachelors Degree in Interior Design from the University of MN Twin Cities and the bulk of her past work experience focused on architectural lighting design. However, she is currently a para at Sauk Rapids Middle School and loves working with all of the students and staff. She grew up in Wisconsin, but met her husband in college and has called Minnesota “home” ever since. They have three sons and are enjoying the very active stage of life they are in as a family.
She is not a voting member of the board.
Jessica
Hockley
Immediate Past President.
Jessica Hockley is currently an assistant county attorney at the Stearns County Attorney’s Office in the Special Victim’s Unit in the Criminal Division. Jessica started at the Stearns County Attorney’s Office as a Law Clerk and was hired on as an attorney in October of 2018. Jessica earned her law degree from Mitchell Hamline School of Law and her Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and Portuguese Studies from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities.
She will serve on the board through May 2025.
Luke
Godzala
Board Member At-Large.
Luke Godzala attended William Mitchell College of Law, graduating in 2012. His legal career began when he clerked for the Honorable Leonard A. Weiler. He has also worked as an Assistant St. Cloud City Attorney and currently as an Assistant Stearns County Attorney in the Criminal Division.
Some of his interests include hunting, golfing, reading, and going to the movies. He is also a huge Minnesota Wild fan.
He will serve on the board thru May 2024.
Kelly
Larson
Board Member At-Large.
Kelly Larson is Associate General Counsel at CentraCare Health. She practices in the area of healthcare law, contract law, employment law, and related areas. Prior to moving joining CentraCare, Kelly was an attorney with Hughes, Mathews, Greer, P.A. where she practiced business litigation. She also worked as a Judicial Law Clerk in Kandiyohi County.
Kelly is a 2009 graduate of South Dakota State University, with a B.A. in English, Magna Cum Laude, and a 2012 graduate of Hamline University School of Law, J.D., Cum Laude.
She will serve on the board thru May 2023.
Jessica
Mastellar
Board Member At-Large.
Jessica Mastellar is the Data and Technology Manager for Central Minnesota Legal Services, one of the legal aid organizations serving low income individuals in the state. She earned her law degree from Hamline University School of Law as well as a Master of Nonprofit Management from the School of Business. Prior to that, she attended University of Wisconsin – Madison where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Studies and History. A native of the Twin Cities, Jessica moved to Sartell in 2013 where she lives with her family.
She will serve on the board thru May 2023.
Aaron
Decker
Board Member At-Large.
Aaron Decker is an attorney at Franz Hultgren Evenson, P.A., where he practices Family Law, CHIPS, Estate Planning, Probate, Guardianship, Conservatorship, Criminal Defense, and Business Law.
Aaron, a native of Sartell, Minnesota, graduated from Sauk Rapids-Rice. He received his Bachelor of Science degree, Magna Cum Laude, in Community Psychology. Aaron achieved academic honors at William Mitchell College of Law. He is on the executive board for John E. Simonett Inns of Court and leadership board for greater St. Cloud Area Thrive – Promoting healthy social and emotional development of our youngest children. Aaron lives in Sartell with his family, enjoys MN State campgrounds and watching MN sports teams.
He will serve on the board thru May 2023.
Patrick
Moen
Board Member At-Large.
Patrick Moen is currently an assistant county attorney with the Stearns County Attorney’s Office in the Civil Division handling child support and related files. He has been with that office for over seven years, and previously did juvenile delinquency prosecution and adult criminal prosecution there. He earned his law degree from William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul, and prior to that a Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Minnesota-Duluth. He lives in Sartell with his family, enjoys outdoor activities and keeping up with his kids’ activities.
He will serve on the board thru May 2023.
Judge
Nathaniel
Welte
Board Member At-Large.
Judge Welte was appointed May 11, 2020, by Governor Tim Walz. He received his JD from Hamline University School of Law and his BA fromUniversity of Minnesota – Duluth.
He has served as Assistant County Attorney in the Becker County Attorney’s Office, in private practice and as a part-time assistant public defender for the State of Minnesota.
He has been the assistant scoutmaster forPerham Boy Scout Troop 321, President of the New York Mills Lions, a member of the Perham Rotary Club and a board member on the New York Mills Cultural Center
He will serve on the board thru May 2023.