Meet Our Team
James H. Justesen - President
Jim attended grade, junior, and Patrick Henry High School while growing up in north Minneapolis. This was followed by a brief stint at Augsburg college, followed by a tour in the Marine Corps. He proudly served in the First Brigade, Fleet Marine Force-Pacific. Two days after being discharged, Jim enrolled and three years later graduated from the University of Minnesota.
He enjoyed a thirty year career at Northwestern Bell/U S West. Jim loves his family, especially his five grandchildren, his friends, reading, and fishing. Using a variety of adaptive equipment himself sparked the idea with his wife Jackie over twenty years ago to create a nonprofit that gives specialized equipment to individuals experiencing low or no vision. Jackie and Jim's efforts came to fruition with Eye-Link in mid-2000, to help the many people with severe visual impairment that cannot afford vital adaptive equipment!
He enjoyed a thirty year career at Northwestern Bell/U S West. Jim loves his family, especially his five grandchildren, his friends, reading, and fishing. Using a variety of adaptive equipment himself sparked the idea with his wife Jackie over twenty years ago to create a nonprofit that gives specialized equipment to individuals experiencing low or no vision. Jackie and Jim's efforts came to fruition with Eye-Link in mid-2000, to help the many people with severe visual impairment that cannot afford vital adaptive equipment!
Lori Thompson - Secretary
Lori Thompson and is originally from the state of Illinois. She graduated from Spoon River College in Canton, Illinois. After moving to Minnesota, she was employed at an adjustment to blindness training center for 5 years. For the past 9 years she has been employed with the State of Minnesota.
Kelly McCrary - Director
Kelly has been an Eye-link board member for 15 years. He grew up in Michigan and moved to Minnesota in 1988 after college.
Kelly has been working as a Mobility Instructor at Vision Loss Resources for over 30 years. He also served as Rehabilitation Director for a number of years. His entire career has been focused on blind and visually impaired individuals and helping them overcome adversity due to vision loss.
Kelly and his wife of 34 years have three adult, married children and two grandchildren.
Kelly has been working as a Mobility Instructor at Vision Loss Resources for over 30 years. He also served as Rehabilitation Director for a number of years. His entire career has been focused on blind and visually impaired individuals and helping them overcome adversity due to vision loss.
Kelly and his wife of 34 years have three adult, married children and two grandchildren.
Jack Weber - Director
Former President and Director of Nat'l Bank of Commerce, Mankato Minnesota. Director of Maple Grove Foundation. Graduate of University of Minnesota with majors in Finance and Economics
Jeffrey Thompson
Jeff is a former Teacher at Adjustment to Blindness Training Center, Chairperson of the Minnesota State Rehabilitation Council-Blind, Vice Chair Minnesota State Academy for the Blind, Founder of Blind Abilities Podcast, Woodworking Teacher for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Member of the Minnesota Wild Blind Hockey Team, contributing Host for Accessible Media Inc. Radio and Blindness Advocate.
Tim Dallmann - Director Corporate/Foundation Development
After embarking on a career in accounting in the early 1990’s, Tim had issues with his hands. In 1997, he was exploring alternative ways to type when he was introduced to speech recognition software and to a Minnesota company that sold this software. They also sold other assistive technologies that helped individuals with disabilities that ranged from mobility impairments to uncorrectable vision loss and learning disabilities.
That company hired Tim to be their business manager and he learned all aspects of the assistive technology industry. After that company closed in 2007, he became co-owner of a new assistive technology company, The Speech Gurus. Throughout Tim's 20+ years in this industry, he's seen many innovations and has heard life changing stories from individuals who have gained access to these technologies.
In 2016, Tim joined the Eye-Link Minnesota board where he uses his experience to help individuals with irreparable sight loss get access to these life changing technologies.
That company hired Tim to be their business manager and he learned all aspects of the assistive technology industry. After that company closed in 2007, he became co-owner of a new assistive technology company, The Speech Gurus. Throughout Tim's 20+ years in this industry, he's seen many innovations and has heard life changing stories from individuals who have gained access to these technologies.
In 2016, Tim joined the Eye-Link Minnesota board where he uses his experience to help individuals with irreparable sight loss get access to these life changing technologies.
Erik (Rik) Jothen - Treasurer
Erik has worked in the Accounting and IT Management fields and is currently retired.
In his free time, he enjoys his grand kids, fishing, golf, and listening to music. He also enjoys spending time with his wife Karen at home in Apple Valley and at their lake home in northern Minnesota.
Erik has been an Eye-Link board member since 2002 and supports Eye-Link’s mission to provide assistive technology to Blind and visually impaired Minnesotans.
In his free time, he enjoys his grand kids, fishing, golf, and listening to music. He also enjoys spending time with his wife Karen at home in Apple Valley and at their lake home in northern Minnesota.
Erik has been an Eye-Link board member since 2002 and supports Eye-Link’s mission to provide assistive technology to Blind and visually impaired Minnesotans.
Anne Justesen - Director Donor Development
Originally from Maryland, Anne moved to Green Bay, Wisconsin and then to the Twin Cities after college. She has two wonderful, young adults, both graduated from college and working. She and her family like to travel and spend time at their cabin in Wisconsin. Anne works in the transportation logistics industry. Volunteering with Eye-Link and helping the blind and visually impaired is something she very much enjoys.