Jessie R. Nicholson, Esq. has led Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services as Chief Executive Officer since August 2007. Previously she held the positions of Deputy Executive Director, Senior Leadership Attorney, and Staff Attorney with the organization.

Ms. Nicholson is active in leadership of both the Minnesota State Bar Association and Ramsey County Bar Association. She currently sits on the MSBA's Assembly, Board of Governors, and Professionalism Committee and the RCBA's Diversity Committee. Other professional affiliations include: Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers; African American Project Directors Association for Legal Services Law Firm Executive Directors; and National Legal Aid and Defender Association.

Ms. Nicholson is the recipient of numerous awards and honors, including the Heritage Honors Award from the University of Northern Iowa; Distinguished Service Award from the former William Mitchell College of Law. She has been recognized with the MSBA Civil Litigation Section: Advocate Award (2014) and MN Black Women Lawyers Network Achievement Award (2013). She was recently featured in the exhibit A Celebration of Women in Law, organized by the Minnesota Chapter of the Federal Bar Association. Ms. Nicholson is also a member of the board of the University of St. Thomas School of Law

Ms. Nicholson received her Juris Doctor from William Mitchell College of Law (1985).

Lisa Hollingsworth is the Director of Litigation and Advocacy at SMRLS. Lisa has worked at SMRLS in various roles and offices since 1999. She has a passion for finding creative solutions to SMRLS’s clients’ legal problems. Prior to working at SMRLS, Ms. Hollingsworth clerked for the Honorable Gary Crippen at the Minnesota Court of Appeals. She is a graduate of the University of Minnesota Law School and of Carleton College. Lisa serves on the Board of Directors of the Loan Repayment Assistance Program of Minnesota. When she is not at work, she likes to travel with her husband, volunteer for an animal rescue organization, hang out with her own rescue dog, and cook and eat world cuisine.

John Joachim is the Human Resources Manager at Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services (SMRLS). John earned a Master’s Degree in Non-Profit Management from Hamline University in St. Paul, MN in 2014. Before joining SMRLS in 2017, John served as the Business Director for The Salvation Army at their Harbor Light homeless shelter in Minneapolis. John’s wide-ranging career includes stints as a high school English teacher and a support service manager for the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation. In his spare time, John enjoys reading, movies, cheering for Twins baseball, riding his Harley motorcycle, and taking vacation cruises with his wife.