It’s the end of an era at Arc Northland, as Executive Director Laurie Berner has retired. 

Berner was a tireless advocate and prominent figure in the disability community for more than 30 years. Her legacy of person-centeredness and system transformation paved the way for the work going forward. The Arc Minnesota CEO, Andrea Zuber, helped Berner celebrate her career this spring. 

Berner holds degrees from Illinois’s Triton Community College and Minnesota State University-Mankato. Her studies were in therapeutic recreation and parks, recreation and leisure services. 

She served as Arc Northland director from August 2018 until this spring. Before that she spent more than five years at Superior Vocations Center in Superior, WI, where she was associate director. 

Her extensive work experience also includes a stint as Epilepsy Foundation of Minnesota executive director; program manager at Residential Services of Northeast Minnesota and executive director of Udac.  

Berner plans to take some time off to assess her next journey. 

Amanda Crosby has taken the top spot. “I am absolutely honored and humbled to have been chosen as Arc Northland’s executive director,” she said. “I have worked in the field professionally for the past 20 years, most recently with the local center for independent living. I can’t wait to learn all the ins and outs of working with Arc Northland, Arc Minnesota and Arc U.S. I look forward to collaborating with you all in the future and hope to be a part of the Arc’s mission and vision for many years to come.”