Politics in Minnesota and The Work at Ecumen

Politics in Minnesota, the long-running newsletter on – just as it name says – politics in Minnesota had very kind words for the work being done at Ecumen. Below is the text: Who Needs Dennis Hopper?Many of our readers are Baby Boomers who, like your publisher, are now starting to think about life down the line. Boomers present an unprecedented age wave. The Department of Human Services figures the half billion the state spends on senior care will grow to at least $20 billion by 2050. That’s obviously unsustainable. Plus, Minnesota’s 1.48 million Boomers don’t envision living in institutions (Cuz I just don’t see you playin’ shuffleboard, you know what I mean?!‘).Enter Ecumen, a completely reinvigorated former nursing home organization previously called Board of Social Ministry. In 2003, the board of trustees wanted to reinvent and brought in highly respected Kathryn Roberts to be CEO (bio here). Roberts, in turn, brought in a ‘change agent’ board of trustees and staff, names many of our readers know, including:Board chair Loanne Thrane (former state director for GOP U.S. Sen. Rudy Boschwitz), Dave Karsnia (Detroit Lakes business leader), Keith Halleland (health law guru), John Byom (former International Multifoods CFO), Lynn Anderson (Gov. Perpich’s chief of staff), Bob Hoffman (former MnSCU board chair), Rev. Dean Johnson (former DFL Senate Majority Leader), Rev. Kris Linner (author), Peggy Lucas (Brighton Development founder), Joanne Negstad (Lutheran World Relief exec), Lisa Deverell, (Land O’ Lakes exec), Dianne Nimmer (entrepreneur), Rev. Hank Noordzy (Duluth community leader), Jerry Peterson (former West Publishing exec.), David Stillman (Generations expert), and ELCA SE Minnesota Bishop Harold Usgaard.Roberts also recruited Steve Ordahl, who headed Underwater Adventures, Lifesource C.O.O. Kathy Bakkenist, former UCare exec Mick Finn and Eric Schubert from Himle Horner’s leadership team.Ecumen has been doing lots of good stuff like conducting the largest ever study of Minnesota Boomers, adding hundreds of housing units, developing housing and services for other organizations, starting the ‘Changing Aging‘ blog, creating a more tech-driven system and working for laws to get technology to market faster. Ecumen is certainly a company to watch, professionally (and personally for those of us who will have seniority next).