Meet the Staff
Our coaching staff includes regional and national athletes and long-time recreational skaters from around the nation. Instructors are hired for their skill, enthusiasm, professionalism, and desire for ongoing development. All staff is professionally trained. Being an NSS coach means much more than teaching skating skills: It means being a role model, a team member, and having an active voice in our organization.
Our Core Values: QUALITY ~ COMMUNITY ~ COMMITMENT ~ LEADERSHIP ~ ENTHUSIASM
Our Team
Jump to bios:
- Carey Tinkelenberg, Founding Owner/Director
- Kittle Evenson, Assistant Director
- Sarah Besse, Skating Instructor
- Laura Mansell, Skating Instructor
- Michaela McLaughlin, Assistant Director
- Melanie Ritz, Skating Instructor
- Ally Shaw, Skating Instructor
- Anna Sheehan, Skating Assistant
Carey is a U.S. Figure Skating Double Gold Medalist (Freestyle and Moves in the Field) and a PSA Master Rated Program Director, Senior Rated in Group Instruction, and a Registered coach in Freestyle and Moves in the Field. Carey began skating in the USFS Basic Skills Program at age 6. She trained with 2007 US Olympic Committee Developmental Coaches of the Year Mark Mitchell and Peter Johansson, and with Kate McManus at the Colonial Figure Skating Club in Acton, MA and the Skating Club of Boston. She was the 2010 U.S. Adult National Silver Medalist in Masters Pairs with Peter Biver and the 1998 New England Regional Silver Medalist. She was also a national competitor with The Colonials synchronized skating team. Carey has performed in ice shows and was offered touring positions with Disney On Ice. Carey has danced since age 8 (ballet, modern, and jazz) and has been a dance instructor and choreographer for Phillips Academy in Andover, MA and for various groups in southern MN. Carey has coached numerous recreational and competitive skaters ranging from beginner through Senior level skaters. Carey earned her B.A. in Psychology from Carleton College and established the Northfield Skating School in 2005. She has written articles about leadership and management for SKATING Magazine, Professional Skater Magazine, and RINK Magazine and she has delivered presentations at national and international skating conferences on behalf of U.S. Figure Skating and the Professional Skaters Association. Carey is a member of Northfield’s IceNow organization and the Northfield Youth Sports Collaborative. In 2008 she was selected as a member of U.S. Figure Skating’s Basic Skills Subcommittee and serves as a mentor to directors and author of national handbooks and training programs. In addition to skating and dance, Carey loves music, yoga, cooking, reading, writing, and traveling. ACCEPTING PRIVATE STUDENTS |
Kittel is a junior at Carleton College. Kittel grew up in Northfield and has been skating recreationally since she was three. She started taking private lessons when she was twelve and studied under Carey Tinkelenberg for two years. Kittel started coaching with the creation of Northfield Skating School in 2005. In the summers Kittel attends Concordia Language Villages for Norwegian, works at Target and volunteers at the Northfield Retirement Center’s store. During high school she was an active member of National Honors Society and the Northfield Community Resource Bank’s Jr. Board of Directors. |
Michaela has been a figure skater for 15 years. She took lessons for many years with her two younger sisters. Michaela entered the competition world when she was in 8th grade. She was a part of the Burnsville Skating Club as well as the ISD 196 Icettes team. While a part of the Icettes, Michaela competed in Synchro as well as many individual and “jump and spin” numbers. In 2003, Michaela and her Icettes team made it to Nationals in Anaheim, California. Her team placed first in the short synchronized routine and 4th in the long synchronized routine! Michaela has much experience working with kids: She coached cross country and track and field for elementary/middle school aged kids for four years. She has taught French, Spanish and Creative Writing classes over the past 7 years. During the summers, Michaela leads at-risk youth on backpacking and canoeing trips throughout the country. This year, Michaela is a senior at St. Olaf College, majoring in Psychology and Hispanic Studies. ACCEPTING PRIVATE STUDENTS |
Laura Mansell started skating at age three, when her parents took her to the local outdoor rink and she immediately fell in love with skating. Since then, she has competed in dozens of competitions and has passed her Junior Freeskate and Senior Moves tests. She was a member of the Roseville and St. Paul Figure Skating Clubs, and coached by Sandy Wittmann. She loves figure skating and hopes to stay connected to the sport for her entire life. She is a junior at St. Olaf College and would someday like to become a sports medicine doctor. In addition to skating, Laura is an alpine ski racer for the St. Olaf Ski Team. Outside of her two main sports, Laura enjoys singing, snowboarding, attending church, waterskiing, shopping, exercising in general, and being outside! She loves working with children and is excited to share her love of skating with new people! ACCEPTING PRIVATE STUDENTS |
Melanie started skating at Hutchinson Ice Arena at 6 years of age. Throughout her life she has enjoyed skating as a hobby and a competitive sport. She was a member of ISI for twelve years, skating through Freestyle level 8. She competed in many rinks around Minnesota and synchronized skating was an important part of her experience on ice. When she was 13, Melanie joined the Hutchinson Junior Precision Team, the Mini Gems followed by the Senior Precision Team the Ice Diamonds. While in high school she coached freestyle levels 1-3 at Hutchinson Ice Arena. In her college years she continued to skate for fun and exercise. After college she moved to San Diego and continued to skate under her favorite coach and National competitor Clara Hoagland. At the San Diego Ice Arena she also trained with their Adult Snychronized Team. She is now a member of the Professional Skaters Association. Bellydancing, salsa dancing, rollerblading and surfing (when in San Diego) are some other hobbies she enjoys. Melanie has an Associate Science degree and in her career she enjoys working with and meeting new people. ACCEPTING PRIVATE STUDENTS |
Ally is nineteen years old, a sophomore at Carleton College and grew up in Bloomington, Minnesota near the Mall of America. Ally started skating at four years old in the Basic Skills Program and started taking private lessons at six years old. Since 1997, Ally was a member of U.S. Figure Skating and the Figure Skating Club of Bloomington. She has passed her USFS Senior Moves in the Field and Senior Free Skating Tests. During her competitive career, Ally competed in numerous competitions; was a gold medallist in the 2004 Upper Great Lakes Regional Championships Open Juvenile Division and took second place in the 2004 Minnesota State Competition. Ally has also coached skate school at FSC of Bloomington for the past two years while participating in their yearly ice show. In addition, she was a member of the Bloomington Butterflies for three years. Outside of skating, Ally was a council member of the Kennedy High School orchestra and co-captain of the cross country team. She is also a second degree black belt and is a devoted Vikings football fan. Ally loves children and is very excited to continue her passion for skating at the Northfield Skating School. ACCEPTING PRIVATE STUDENTS |
Sarah is twenty years old and a sophomore at Carleton College. She enjoys skating, and believes that nothing compares to the feeling of athleticism, mental focus, and controlled movement that ice skating inspires! After spending a gap year as an exchange student in Norway, Sarah came to Northfield and has become very involved in the community. She volunteers at the Historical Society and was a candidate for the 2009 DJJD Royalty Scholarship Program this summer. A flute teacher and woodwinds coach in high school, Sarah is currently a Project Friendship mentor. She is enthusiastic about coaching with NSS! |
Anna Sheehan is a freshman in high school attending the Northfield School of Arts and Technology. Anna started skating 4 years ago with the Northfield Skating School, and loves the physical, mental and artistic challenges that figure skating provides. Anna has enjoyed being given the opportunity to be an assistant coach during last years skating season, and loves working with the children and the other coaches. |
Hear it from the coaches:
NSS is my sanctuary, my home away from home, and my favorite part of the week. Let me tell you why. NSS connects me with kids of all ages, parents and families, other college students, Northfield businesses and resources and combines all into a unique and vibrant community. Coaching allows me to share my knowledge and love for skating while empowering the skaters to be leaders. Every Sunday afternoon is a new opportunity for the skaters´ energy to revitalize, renew and rejuvenate me.
- Michaela McLaughlin, Skating Instructor since 2006, Assistant Director since 2009
Interested in joining our team? Contact Carey!
