Meet the PeopleOur Staff

Blythe Severson

Executive Director of Newgate Education

In her role as Executive Director of Newgate Education, Blythe leads the administrative, educational, and operational functions of the school. Her primary goal is to support the student body to ensure the growth and success of each individual student. Prior to joining Newgate, Blythe held leadership positions in international business operations at two Fortune 500 companies in the Twin Cities, as well as key committee and board positions on multiple national trade compliance organizations. She holds a bachelor's degree in international business/commerce from the University of Minnesota.

Christina Vang-Dixon

Associate Director

Christina provides leadership and strategic vision to support the success of Newgate and its students. Prior to joining Newgate, Christina worked for three other non-profit organizations and was on a board. She has a Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Systems Management from the University of Minnesota.

Todd Grothe

Operations Manager

Todd is responsible for the day-to-day operations of Newgate School, including technical training strategy, student oversight, auction management, and employer outreach. He's painted cars professionally in various body shops in the Twin Cities, worked in technical support for a paint distributor, and partnered with multiple city leaders on implementing environmental initiatives, so he's well suited for the fast pace of operations and supporting all of our students in finding their place in the industry.

Tyla Pream

Office Manager

As Newgate's office manager, Tyla is responsible for vehicle intake, IT and finance strategies, customer service, and donor-facing interactions. She's also our human resources expert and oversees Newgate's Wheels for Women program. Tyla has a BA in music with a minor in business administration from Augsburg University.