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Meet our Staff

Tyla Pream

Office Manager

As Newgate's office manager, Tyla handles vehicle intake, IT, finance strategies, and donor relations. She also serves as our human resources expert and oversees the Wheels for Women program. With a BA in music and a minor in business administration from Augsburg University, Tyla brings a unique perspective to Newgate. She particularly enjoys the variety of donated cars that come through Newgate, especially the older models. Tyla finds the most joy in witnessing moms receive their vehicles from the Wheels for Women program, especially when they bring their children along to share in the experience.

Anahita Champion

Advancement Director 

As the Advancement Director, Anahita leads marketing strategies, fundraising, and partnerships within the organization. With a Master of Arts in Strategic Communications from the University of Minnesota and over 12 years of experience in Public Relations and Marketing for small businesses and non-profits in the Twin Cities, she is a natural storyteller. Anahita is passionate about listening to people’s experiences and sharing their journeys through various media platforms. She loves to invest in youth and young adults, supporting their current and future endeavors, and is dedicated to empowering moms—both integral to the mission of Newgate School.

Chad Erickson 

Mechanical Instructor 

Chad prepares students as both skilled technicians and well-rounded professionals by offering career guidance, interview preparation, and problem-solving strategies. For 26 years, Chad owned and operated his own repair shop and transitioned to instructing at Newgate to fulfill his passion for mentoring and educating others. The best part of the job for Chad is looking back at where students started and seeing how far they've come throughout the growth and changes they undergo during their time at Newgate.

Don Smieja

Auto Body Instructor

At Newgate, Don is dedicated to instructing students on their journey to becoming skilled auto body apprentices. With 31 years of working as a Newgate instructor, Don specializes in teaching metal work, filler work, painting, welding, and safety. Having attended Newgate’s training program in 1985, Don's passion for his role shines through in his commitment to fostering student growth and building lasting friendships. His favorite aspect of his job is the opportunity to connect with students and create a supportive learning environment.

Jason Lajon 

Auto Body Instructor 

Jason teaches valuable skills and introduces Newgate students to auto body repair techniques and related subjects; safety, welding, mechanical and painting. He graduated from Dunwoody in 1997 and has worked at production auto body shops, a Porsche specialty shop, and at Master Collision Bloomington. Jason has an I-Car Platinum certificate and majority of his work has been on late model BMWs. Jason enjoys teaching students the skills they need to be successful and loves witnessing students grow in skill and confidence as they train on donated vehicles. 

Bryan Christensen 

Facility Maintenance Technician 

Bryan plays an important role in keeping Newgate School running smoothly, handling equipment repairs, groundskeeping, and lawn care. He is involved in processing donations and supporting student, instructor, and staff projects. Bryan attended the Newgate Auto Body training program and has additional education through the US Army in communications and data entry. He enjoys working with students, seeing them develop new skills, and collaborating with the Newgate team to bring projects to life. Bryan’s dedication helps drive Newgate’s success and contributes to the school’s future growth.

Thai Thao

Lead Mechanic

Thai specializes in inspecting and diagnosing donated vehicles, focusing on heavy line duties, including major engine and transmission repairs or replacements. With a career in automotive technology that began in 2006 and a degree from Dunwoody College of Technology, Thai brings useful experience to his role. He finds the most fulfillment in the ongoing learning opportunities Newgate provides. The combination of continual growth and a supportive work environment is what Thai values most about his position at Newgate.

Yang Lor 

Auto Mechanic

Yang works on heavy-duty tasks like engine and transmission swaps, as well as maintenance work on suspensions and brakes to ensure our vehicles run smoothly. Yang started at Newgate in 2016 as a student and began working as an Auto Mechanic for the school upon graduation in 2017. Yang says the best part of his job is the opportunity to constantly learn and grow and he enjoys being exposed to new challenges regularly that help him develop his knowledge and skills of auto mechanics.