Minnesota Academic Research Conference Keynote Address

Wendell Veurink has been working in a helping profession for over 35 years. He has worked as a mental health counselor; pastor; correctional staff member; chemical dependency counselor, and health educator. For the last 14 years, he has worked for a large non-profit mental health agency where he is the training/mentoring coordinator as well as still doing some counseling with clients and families. At his agency, he was presented with the “Circle of Courage” award for modeling belonging, mastery, independence, and generosity to his fellow employees and the clients he serves.

Wendell Veurink is a husband, the father of three grown children, and the grandpa to 5 grandchildren. He enjoys singing, public speaking, fishing, hunting, motorcycling, biking, and traveling. He loves to learn, following the lead of a grandmother who said the day you stop learning is the day they throw dirt on your face. He enjoys people and wants to emulate his grandfather who always had time to “visit with his neighbors”. He is active in his community and in the ministries of his church family.

WENDELL VEURINK

"Understanding the Inside Kid (Person)"

As a counselor/trainer/mentor/pastor, I believe that the way you influence change in people is through relationships. You may have the “best practice program” but if you do not connect with the people, nothing will happen. If you do not meet people where they are and then instill hope, your work may be very frustrating. And if you don’t understand the basics of the human brain and how life experiences shape people’s lives, you may struggle with being an effective change agent. As Peggy Milan said, “We never touch people so lightly that we do not leave a trace”. We determine the effects of that “trace”.