About Us
Mission
Erik’s Ranch & Retreats provides safe and unequaled living, working, social and recreational environments for young adults with autism, using its guiding principles of lifelong learning, individual community building, and bidirectional integration through voluntourism . We’re committed to giving each of our residents a rewarding life on his/her own terms, experiencing dignity, compassion and the joy of continuing possibility.
History
Our story began four years ago as Kathryn Nordberg, CEO and founder of Erik’s Ranch & Retreats, searched for options that would provide her son Erik, a moderately functioning young adult on the autism spectrum, the kind of life he deserves – active and full of possibility and purpose. And, her search came up empty. She quickly found that there were few good options for moderate to high functioning adults with autism, including those with Asperger Syndrome. Despite years of hard work, even those high-functioning individuals often look for a community and desire some level of structure and support in their lives – with living accommodations, relationship building, work and recreation. So, in the last few years, Kathryn and a team of psychologists, attorneys, architects, and marketing and business professionals have developed one of the most innovative residence facilities for young adults with autism in existence: Erik’s Ranch & Retreats, with locations in Edina, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis, and in Montana’s Paradise Valley, not far from Bozeman.
Ms. Nordberg has the background – and the vision – necessary for this important living and working experience for those with autism. She has held executive positions with organizations in technology, finance and healthcare, and has leadership experience in organizational planning, management and marketing. And, for the last decade, Nordberg has helped run the largest privately held assisted living facility in Minnesota seeing, firsthand, how residents benefit from a consistent caring and dedicated staff. To that end, she streamlined the documentation process and improved efficiencies to allow nursing staff more time for personalized care. Nordberg’s goal for a better life for those with autism is the foundation behind Erik’s Ranch & Retreats. For a full biography, please visit our Board of Directors page.
