MACV Employee Spotlight – Paul Pedersen
Air Force Veteran Paul Pedersen is one of MACV’s most established staff members. As a Senior Case Manager & Housing Stability Program Specialist based in Duluth, Pedersen shares that he considers it a privilege to work with the MACV Northern team.
“We see people in all stages of crisis and meet them where they are at and do our best to help them,” explains Pedersen. “The most rewarding part about our mission is helping someone and hearing a sincere thank you!”
Over the years, Pedersen has seen all types of requests from all eras of military veterans. He finds connecting Veterans to services like VA service-connected disability benefits as one of the most rewarding parts of his job, especially when the Veteran was not aware of their options or unsure how to access them.
“Homeless Veterans are not typically the stereotyped person in a field coat standing on the street corner, they look like you and me and are trying to make it,” observes Pedersen.
If Paul isn’t working, you can find him outside hunting, fishing or “just enjoying the season.” Like many MACV employees, he also supports other nonprofits which assist Veterans. He serves as a board member for the Wounded Warriors Guide Service for the past five years, helped build a disabled Veterans hockey team in Duluth as part of the Minnesota Warriors hockey program, and is active with local Disabled American Veterans Chapter 6 community projects.