Meet the Team
The People Behind Otter Tail Social Security Disability Advocates
At Otter Tail Social Security Disability Advocates, we believe that navigating Social Security Disability should never mean navigating it alone.
We are a small, local team dedicated to helping individuals and families understand and navigate the Social Security Disability process. We take pride in getting to know our clients, treating every person with dignity and respect, and providing the personal attention that can be difficult to find at larger firms.
Meet the people who make OTSSDA what it is.
Alex Kutzke
Owner & Non-Attorney Representative
Alex Kutzke is a Fergus Falls native who is deeply committed to helping individuals and families navigate the Social Security Disability process with clarity, compassion, and respect.
After growing up in Fergus Falls, Alex spent several years living in Oregon, where he built his family, earned his paralegal degree in Portland, got married, and welcomed two beautiful daughters. It was during this time that Alex began his career in Social Security Disability advocacy — work that would quickly become more than just a profession.
For more than eight years, Alex assisted clients through every stage of the Social Security Disability process, from initial applications through appeals. At his previous firm, he worked closely with clients from start to finish, gaining firsthand experience with the many different stages and challenges of a disability claim. This experience gave Alex a strong understanding of the SSDI and SSI systems and, more importantly, an understanding of what clients experience while trying to obtain the benefits they need.
What drew Alex to this work — and what continues to motivate him — is the impact it can have on people's lives. For individuals who are unable to work because of a disability, obtaining benefits can mean having the income needed to survive, maintain stability, and preserve their independence and dignity.
When Alex and his family returned to Fergus Falls, he quickly recognized a need for more local support for people navigating the disability process. He decided to create a small advocacy firm focused on providing personalized service to people in Fergus Falls and the surrounding communities.
Today, Alex works directly with clients while also leading the OTSSDA team. He is passionate about making a complicated system easier to understand and helping clients feel supported throughout the process.
Natasha Kutzke
Office Manager & Marketing Coordinator
Natasha Kutzke serves as the Office Manager and Marketing Coordinator for Otter Tail Social Security Disability Advocates.
As Office Manager, Natasha helps keep the day-to-day operations of OTSSDA organized and running smoothly. She works behind the scenes to coordinate scheduling, client communication, office procedures, document management, and the many details that go into keeping a small advocacy office functioning efficiently.
For clients, Natasha is often one of the first friendly faces or voices they encounter when contacting OTSSDA. She understands that reaching out for help can be difficult, especially when someone is already dealing with the stress and uncertainty that often comes with a disability claim. Her goal is to make every interaction with the office welcoming, respectful, and as straightforward as possible.
As Marketing Coordinator, Natasha also works to connect OTSSDA with the local community. She manages the firm's marketing efforts, community outreach, social media, and local networking, with the goal of helping more people understand Social Security Disability and know where they can turn for support.
Natasha enjoys being part of a locally owned business that is focused on helping people in the community. She and Alex are committed to building an office where clients feel seen, heard, and treated like people — not case numbers.
Haley Rust
Legal Assistant
Haley Rust serves as a Legal Assistant at Otter Tail Social Security Disability Advocates.
Haley plays an important role in supporting our team and helping keep client cases organized and moving forward. She assists with case preparation, documentation, file organization, correspondence, and other administrative and legal-support tasks throughout the Social Security Disability process.
Her attention to detail and organization help ensure that important information is properly maintained and available to the team when it is needed. Behind every disability claim is a significant amount of paperwork, documentation, deadlines, and communication, and Haley helps manage those details so that our team can stay focused on providing quality support to our clients.
Haley also understands the importance of treating every client with patience, professionalism, and respect. Whether she is helping with a document, communicating with a client, or assisting with case preparation, she is an important part of the team working behind the scenes to support each client's journey.