Meet the Team

Karla Eisenbiesz

Executive Director

Karla was born August 15, 1956 in Bismarck, ND and lived in Mandan until age 23. She moved to Southern California and lived there for 25 years. "Once a North Dakotan always a North Dakotan" she came back home in 2008. She has two grown sons and five grandchildren. She has had an extensive career ranging from being the assistant to a CPA/Forensic Accountant for 13 years to numerous years working as a bookkeeper/office manager and catering for Fiesta Villa here in Bismarck. When the restaurant was sold she went to work at the Elks in Bismarck as the office manager. She started as The Banquet Director part-time and because The Banquet added several additional feeding meals she resigned from The Elks and started full-time as the Director for The Banquet and has been the director for eight years. Her interests are reading, entertaining, football, decorating and being with her grandchildren. Friends and family are the most important thing in her life.

Theresa McKendrick

Marketing

Theresa was born in Bismarck and raised in Wilton ND. Pursuing a career with the airlines took her out of North Dakota for schooling and extensive travel.
Theresa along with her husband, Reiley, came to live in Mandan ND in 2014. Since then they have added two dogs and a set of boy/girl twins to their family.
People have always been at the heart of what Theresa enjoys doing; customer service or management with an airline, shipping and receiving, a temp agency and insurance have all lead her to this roll with The Banquet.

"A warm meal opens so many hearts!" Theresa says

Helaine Van Eekhout

Kitchen

Helaine is married with 3 grown children. Her two grandsons live a mile from her and she enjoys spending time with them. She grew up in Dickinson and moved to Bismarck 17 years ago. She loves to cook and bake and sharing these talents. She started volunteering cooking meals for The Banquet and then became a part-time employee. She loves what the Dream Center and The Banquet stands for and how it benefits the community. Helaine enjoys fitness classes, adult coloring, reading, long drives, Netflix and CATS!

Shondale "Shonny" Morsette

Kitchen

Shonny was born and raised in Bismarck. She graduated from Bismarck High School in 2012. She started working as a part-time cook with The Banquet in June 2022 and works in the kitchen and with volunteers 4 days a week. In her free time, Shonny enjoys watching movies, cooking, listening to music and going for nature walks with her friends.

"I am truly blessed to have been offered the position as Director of the Banquet. It is my belief that without community service, we would not have a strong quality of life. It's important to the person who serves as well as the recipient. It's the way in which we ourselves grow and develop. And so, I will continue to grow with the wonderful people that surround me at The Banquet."

Quote from Karla