Ecumen Leadership Team Members

Following are other members of Ecumen's corporate leadership team.  They are focused on leading Ecumen's work in "changing aging" and delivering Ecumen's mission of "creating home for older adults wherever they choose to live."

Kathy Bakkenist , COO and Sr. Vice President of Strategy and Operations
Kathy leads Ecumen’s operational strategy and work in expanding aging services technology globally.

Before joining Ecumen in 2003, Kathy was chief operating officer of LifeSource, which is responsible for human organ recovery for transplantation in the Upper Midwest. She also served as director of residential rehabilitation programs at Courage Center, and played a key leadership role in growth and expansion of the rehabilitation and resource center.

Kathy serves on the leadership team of the Center for Aging Services Technologies (CAST), which is an international coalition of more than 400 technology companies, aging-services organizations, businesses, research universities and government representatives focused on expanding the use of technology in aging services.

Kathy received her B.A. in English from Eastern Montana College and a M.S. in Social Work from the University of Minnesota.

Dennis Johnson, Sr. Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Prior to joining Ecumen in 2004, Dennis served as vice president and controller of International Multifoods, a multi-national Fortune 500 company that was sold to J.M. Smucker Company in 2004.

As a member of International Multifoods’ senior executive leadership team, Dennis oversaw International Multifoods’ Securities and Exchange Commission financial reporting, internal management financial reporting, planning and budgeting, financial due diligence for acquisitions, corporate tax planning, and corporate financial policies and procedures. During his career, Dennis helped negotiate and structure a number of major transactions, including the acquisition of the $400 million Pillsbury and related brands business from General Mills in 2001.

Dennis is a graduate of the University of South Dakota, where he received a B.S. in Accounting.

Steve Ordahl, Sr. Vice President of Business Development
As senior vice president, business development, Steve oversees business and senior housing development, revenue expansion and diversification.

Since joining Ecumen in 2003, Steve has led the single most significant expansion of senior housing in the organization’s history. In a two-year period, Ecumen added nearly 700 units of housing and $130 million in new development. During that period Ecumen completed both the largest construction project and the largest property acquisition in the company’s history. Steve has extensive experience in creating strategic partnerships and has brought his entrepreneurial focus and commitment to collaboration to the senior housing arena.

Before joining Ecumen, Steve lead transformations at several public and private organizations by refining operations, enhancing market positioning, and generating operating profits. He is a graduate of the University of Minnesota, where he received his B.A. in Political Science.

Scott Riddle, Vice President of Finance
Scott joined Ecumen from medical device manufacturer American Medical Systems Holdings, Inc., where he served as treasurer. Earlier in his career he was director of corporate development and strategic planning for International Multifoods Corporation. He also was manager of corporate finance for Northwest Airlines and director of financial management at Augsburg Fortress Publishers.

As vice president of finance, Scott’s role is integral to Ecumen’s banking relationships, capital structure planning and analysis, financial reporting and mergers and acquistions.  Scott received his B.A. in business administration from Bethel College and his M.B.A from the University of Saint Thomas. He also attended Harvard Business School.                     

Brian Nelson, Executive Director of The Ecumen Foundation and Vice President of Philanthropy
Brian oversees all donor relations and fund development strategies to support our work and innovation in aging services. 

Before joining Ecumen Brian led fund development for Minneapolis-baed Allina Home Care, Hospice and Palliative Care.  Over his 26-year career he has helped raise nearly $100 million for leading organizations, including Memorial Blood Centers, Catholic Charities, Children's Cancer Research Fund and the American Cancer Society.

Brian is a graduate of Concordia College in Moorhead, Minn., where he received a B.A. in communications and English.  In 2000, he was named by the Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal as one of Minneapolis/St. Paul's top "40 Under 40" leaders.

Larry Jorgensen, Vice President and Chief Information Officer
As Ecumen’s chief information officer, Larry oversees Ecumen’s IT function, existing IT investment and assures that our technology infrastructure supports our operational and growth objectives.

Larry joined Ecumen from Green Tree Servicing (formerly known as Conseco Finance), where he served as vice president of application development and support. He has vast experience helping both small and large businesses overcome IT challenges and realize new opportunities. At Green Tree, he was responsible for the organization’s technology strategy and technology services that supported corporate and divisional operating groups.

Larry received his B.A. in organizational management and communications from Concordia College in Saint Paul.

Mick Finn, Vice President and Chief of Operations
Mick, who oversees Ecumen's daily operations, joined the company in 2005.

He previously was vice president of customer operations for the health maintenance organization (HMO) UCare Minnesota. Mick also served as senior vice president of public affairs for the Minnesota Health and Housing Alliance (MHHA) and helped spearhead the development of landmark legislation that led to the development of assisted living in Minnesota. A former United States Naval intelligence analyst, Mick also served as Minnesota assistant commissioner of health in Gov. Rudy Perpich's administration and Director of Majority Caucus Services for the Minnesota House of Representatives.

Mick received his B.A. in Philosophy from Saint Mary's University in Baltimore, Maryland, and a M.S. in Education from the University of Southern California.

Robin Dunbar, Vice President of Human Resources
As Ecumen's Vice President of Human Resources, Robin oversees Ecumen's human resources practice and is responsible for aligning human resources practice with the companies strategic initiatives.

Robin joined Ecumen from Safetran Systems, where she served as head of human resources. She has a diverse generalist background providing human resources strategic support to national companies. At Safetran, she was responsible for developing corporate human resources practices and delivering HR consultation to their United States and Canadian divisions.

Robin received her B.A. in human resource management from St. Thomas University.

Eric Schubert, Vice President, Communications and
Public Affairs

As head of communications and public affairs, Eric Schubert is responsible for managing Ecumen’s communications and public affairs strategies.

Before joining Ecumen, he was a member of the leadership team of the Minneapolis-based public affairs firm Himle Horner. Earlier in his career he worked in marketing communications with the public relations firms Manning, Selvage & Lee in Atlanta and Weber Shandwick in Minneapolis.  In 2007, he was named by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal as one of the Twin Cities'  top leaders under age 40.

Eric received a B.A. degree in English from Saint John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota, and was a policy fellow at the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs.