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HOW CAN WE DO BETTER?

LEADERSHIP TEAM

LEADING WITH OUR HEARTS AND MINDS.

Our leadership team draws on a range of backgrounds to ensure a higher standard of care and a more meaningful experience for our residents and team members. At the foundation of their guidance is the knowledge and experience attributed to our legacy of 160 years serving and honoring individuals and their families.

It’s not uncommon to hear our leaders ask a team member or resident, “What makes your day great?” And listening with all their heart.

Executive Team

Shelley Kendrick, Ecumen Leadership team, President & CEO

Shelley Kendrick

President & CEO

Biography

Shelley Kendrick became Ecumen President and CEO in 2019, after serving as our Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice President of Operations since 2015. Shelley has extensive leadership and operations experience in senior housing and services. She joined Ecumen in 2012 and has led the management of the organization’s housing and care center communities, including strategic development, quality of care, operations, community relations, financial performance and innovation. Shelley has also led the ongoing expansion of Ecumen Hospice, which has grown to four regional offices, serving ten times the number of people daily than it did in 2015. Shelley holds a Masters in Nonprofit Business Administration from the University of Notre Dame and a B.S. in English Language and Literature from Eastern Michigan University.
Brett K. Anderson, RN Senior Vice President, Chief Ecosystem & Operations Officer. Ecumen Leadership team

Brett K. Anderson, RN

Senior Vice President, Chief Ecosystem & Operations Officer

Biography

Brett leads our integrated clinical, innovation and operations areas, driving holistic leading-edge solutions for health and societal challenges in our communities. Brett joined Ecumen in 2014 as a Clinical Director and was most recently VP of Health and Clinical Services. Prior to Ecumen, he owned and operated CareLogix Nursing Solutions. He also served as an Adjunct Instructor at Minnesota State University in Mankato and at Saint Paul College. Brett was appointed by Governor Mark Dayton to serve on the Board of Trustees for the Minnesota State College & Universities System from 2011-2013. He has a Master of Science in Nursing Leadership and Management from Metropolitan State University and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Minnesota State University in Mankato. Brett is a Registered Nurse, a Public Health Nurse and board-certified Nurse Executive.
Melanie (Mel) Sullivan

Melanie (Mel) Sullivan

Senior Vice President, Chief People Officer

Biography

Mel leads our people functions, including culture, organization development, overarching people strategies and company-wide people policies and practices. Her goal is to celebrate and develop the strengths of each team member, building a network of associates that share a passionate commitment to Ecumen’s mission of purpose. Mel has more than 30 years of experience in the healthcare industry with expertise in strategy, innovation, organization development and operations strategy, and has been Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer for Twin Cities Orthopedics and St. Croix Orthopaedics. She teaches as an adjunct professor at the University of Minnesota and the University of St. Thomas, in the areas of Health Management and Master of Business Administration — Healthcare. Mel, who joined Ecumen in 2019, holds a Doctor of Organizational Development degree from the University of St. Thomas, and also has a Masters of Business Administration, a B.A. in Business Administration and Human Resources, and is a Certified Medical Practice Executive (CMPE).
Scott Bjerketvedt

Scott Bjerketvedt

Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer

Biography

Scott is a strategic leader with deep knowledge and passion for business operations and a proven record of managing finance and accounting functions. Before joining Ecumen in 2020, Scott spent over 20 years in the medical device industry, where he held several key leadership roles throughout his tenure. In addition to his health care background, Scott brings deep expertise in such areas as P&L management, acquisitions and integrations, planning and analysis, strategy, and tax. Scott earned a B.A. in Business Administration with an Accounting Concentration from the University of St. Thomas.
Jim McAlpine Sr. Vice President, Legal Affairs & Corporate General Counsel. Ecumen Leadership Team

Jim McAlpine

Sr. Vice President, Legal Affairs & Corporate General Counsel

Biography

Jim joins Ecumen with 18 years experience as an attorney, shareholder and member of the board of directors at Quinlivan & Hughes, P.A., where he specialized in legal counsel for health care, skilled nursing and assisted living providers, as well as general insurance defense and civil litigation. Jim has served as Minnesota Defense Lawyers Association Long Term Care Committee Chair, and is a Health Law Committee Member. He is a graduate of Minnesota State, Mankato, and William Mitchell College of Law.
Heidi Freisinger Vice President, Philanthropy, Ecumen Leadership Team

Heidi Freisinger

Vice President, Philanthropy

Biography

Heidi leads our philanthropic fundraising efforts through major and planned gifts, foundation and corporate giving, government grants and special events. Having joined Ecumen in 2019, Heidi brings over 15 years of fundraising experience to our team, including her Senior Director of Annual Giving role at YMCA of the Greater Twin Cities. Heidi began her career at the YMCA and held several key jobs, including Director of Events Planning and Business Manager. Heidi has a B.S. degree in Kinesiology from the University of Minnesota.
Tami Haley

Tami Haley

Vice President, Clinical Excellence & Care Transformation

Biography

Tami leads our clinical excellence and care transformation operations. Tami has served in various roles at Ecumen since 2012, including Clinical Director, Regional Nurse Consultant, and Director of Clinical Excellence. Her 15 + years of experience in Senior Care enables her to fully understand the complexities of the clinical needs in our communities. Tami holds a Bachelor of Arts in Biology and a Masters of Science in Nursing- Leadership and Management. Tami is a Registered Nurse and a Public Health Nurse.
Angie Andresen

Angie Andresen

Vice President, Communications, Marketing & Advocacy

Biography

Angie leads communications and advocacy efforts for Ecumen. With a passion for uncovering and telling the stories that showcase Ecumen’s innovative work, Angie is committed to ensuring that the voices of older adults are heard. Prior to joining Ecumen in 2020, she was Managing Director of Communications at Minnesota Public Radio and American Public Media Group. She serves on LeadingAge Minnesota’s Public Policy Committee, and is a board member of Girls on the Run Minnesota and Roots for the Home Team. Angie graduated from the University of North Dakota with a B.A. in Communications.

Board of Trustees

John Petraborg

Chair

Biography

John brings more than 30 years of senior leadership experience in the public and private sectors. Mr. Petraborg is recently retired from Hewlett Packard (HP). At HP, he was the Client Industry Executive responsible for the development of health and human services solutions for HP’s State and Local government customers. Through his leadership of business transformation engagements with many government agencies in the US and abroad, he has focused on the use of innovation, application of best practice, and deployment of technology to restructure government health and human services. In addition to many roles in government, Mr. Petraborg served as Commissioner (Acting) of the Minnesota Department of Human Services, the state’s largest agency. Mr. Petraborg pioneered innovative policies for health care, welfare reform, children’s services, and child support. He led the successful business re-design and system development for several Minnesota programs. Mr. Petraborg received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the University of Minnesota School of Social Work, the Public Service Award from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the Children’s Champion Award from Children’s Defense Fund. He served as national President of the Quality Control Directors Association. He recently served as Chairman of the Human Services IT Advisory Group of Tech America, the leading technology trade association in the US.

Peter Jacobson

Vice Chair

Biography

Peter currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the Detroit Lakes Community and Cultural Center, a unique community organization dedicated to creating opportunities to learn, grow and play for people in the Detroit Lakes area. The organization includes a fitness and aquatics center, indoor playground, child care center, the Holmes Art Center, and The Historic Holmes Theatre. He began this role in late 2019 as the beginning of his second career after spending the previous 34 years in healthcare administration. As a healthcare administrator, Peter’s focus was on providing leadership in integrated healthcare delivery systems with a primary focus on rural healthcare. His most recent role was as President of Essentia Health Saint Mary’s in Detroit Lakes Minnesota, and as Senior Vice President of Operations for the West Market of Essentia Health where he had leadership responsibilities for several critical access hospitals, clinics and long term care facilities in Western Minnesota and North Dakota. Peter has also been active in the community serving as a volunteer and board member of several non-profit organizations with a passion for building a healthier community for all people. Peter is a graduate of the University of North Dakota and obtained a Masters of Business Administration from The Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota.

Marcia M. Kull

Secretary

Biography

Marcia Kull offers experience and expertise to businesses seeking guidance with sales, strategy, and business planning. A tested and successful executive, Marcia has guided founders and CEOs from start-ups to century-old companies in executive sales, operations, and legal roles. She served most recently as Chief Transition Officer for Seven Marine, a Wisconsin-based outboard engine manufacturer, guiding integration efforts following Volvo Penta’s 2017 acquisition. Marcia served as President of Torqeedo, Inc., a world leader in marine electric propulsion, responsible for global revenue development and marketing. Previously, she was Vice President-Marine Sales for Volvo Penta, leading sales teams and distribution strategies for leisure and commercial marine segments throughout the North America. A former product liability defense attorney, Marcia’s skill in understanding how people purchase and use products provides a special expertise in bringing new technology to the market. Throughout her career she led the introduction of several innovative award-winning products from rapid market acceptance to multi-million-dollar revenue streams. She worked proactively with state and federal regulators to understand the advantages of these new products and revise outdated regulations. Marcia led strategic efforts to prepare OEMs, distributors, and dealers to accept and advocate for new technologies, ultimately ensuring their long-term success. Marcia’s active role in marine industry trade and governmental activities includes serving on the Executive Board of Directors for the National Marine Manufacturer’s Association (NMMA) from 2013-2017. She was Chairperson of the NMMA’s Engine Manufacturers Board of Directors, the first woman to chair that committee, following a four-year stint as its Vice Chair. She chaired the NMMA Boating Industry Risk Management Council for six years. In 2007, she was appointed to the National Boating Safety Advisory Council by the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security and served two terms as a manufacturer representative. In 2006, Marcia was awarded the Darlene Briggs Marine Woman of the Year by Boating Industry magazine and was honored in 2016 by the Manufacturing Institute with the STEP Ahead Award as one of the Top 100 Women in Manufacturing. Marcia shares her passion for mentoring and training young workers and emerging leaders through her “Leadership at Any Level” seminar and workshop series. Recent clients include the Manufacturing Institute, Boating Industry magazine, and Reverb, Inc., (a subsidiary of Etsy). She has been featured as a speaker and writer on marketing and selling to women. Marcia is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Iowa, where she participated as letter-winning member of the varsity track and field team, and of the University of Iowa College of Law. She is an active adventurer, a recent summiteer of Mt. Kilimanjaro, and names surfing, backpacking, and bicycling among her favorite activities.

Dr. Susan J. Crockett

Treasurer

Biography

Susan is an Adjunct Professor in Food Science and Nutrition at the University of Minnesota. Until January 2013, she was VP & Sr Technology Officer for Health and Nutrition at General Mills where she led the Bell Institute of Health and Nutrition. Until 1999, she was Dean and Professor in the College of Human Development at Syracuse University. Crockett has degrees in Nutrition & Dietetics, is a Registered Dietitian & Fellow of the American Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics. With support of a Bush Foundation Leadership Fellowship, she completed a Ph.D. in Epidemiology from the U of MN. Crockett has published research about nutrition education in schools, effectiveness of nutrition interventions on the eating behavior of children & seniors. She received an award from the Secretary of Health & Human Services for Innovation in Health Promotion and Disease Prevention. Her research has been funded by the Retirement Research Foundation & the National Institutes of Health. She has taught a wide variety of nutrition courses including clinical nutrition & nutritional biochemistry. Crockett chaired the Board of Directors of the International Food Information Council (IFIC), was active in the International Life Sciences Institute & is an advisor to the National Academy of Sciences about nutrition for seniors. Crockett helps lead a project to provide support & affordable housing for ex-offenders. She is an Elder at Westminster Presbyterian Church, past secretary to the VocalEssence board & past president of the Board of the United Theological Seminary.

Jen Augustson

Biography

Jen Augustson is Vice President of HealthPartners Institute. She supports Institute administrative functions, health professional education programs and services, research compliance and integrity, and the Institute’s Centers for Research and Education. She helped lead the integration of research and education across HealthPartners and Park Nicollet between 2014 and 2017. Prior to joining HealthPartners in 2009, she worked in state government and nonprofit organizations, and holds a master’s in public affairs from the University of Minnesota.

Ann Barkelew

Biography

Ann’s 35-year public relations career includes C-suite experience in the public sector (Los Angeles County Office of Education), the private sector (Dayton Hudson Corporation, nka Target Corporation) and with a major international agency (Fleishman Hillard). In 1995, Ann was named by her peers internationally as “Public Relations Professional of the Year;” in 1999, was named one of the Most Influential Women in Business in Minnesota by CityBusiness; in 2001, received Fleishman-Hillard’s Lifetime Achievement Award; and in 2003, received the Arthur W. Page Society’s Distinguished Service Award for contributions that have strengthened the role of public relations in society. Today Ann is actively involved with VocalEssence as a member of the board and with womenwinning: Minnesota Women’s Campaign Fund as a past board member. She twice chaired the Children’s Theatre Company Board of Governors. She was a public member of the Minnesota News Council for six years and chaired the Council’s first board of directors. She was a founding member of United Way’s “Success by Six” program and was actively involved with the Greater Minneapolis Girl Scout Council. She served two terms on the boards of the Minnesota Humanities Center and the Minneapolis Club. She is a member of the Minnesota Women’s Forum and the Twin Cities Communications Council. Ann began her career as a high school English and journalism teacher in Missouri and California. She headed public information programs in Santa Barbara and Los Angeles California as a school administrator before moving to the corporate sector in 1981. She earned her bachelors’ degree from Central Missouri State University and her master’s from the University of Missouri.

Jan M. Conlin

Biography

Jan M. Conlin is a founding partner of Ciresi Conlin LLP. She has a long record of leading high-stakes intellectual property and business-critical commercial litigation. In addition to being named one of the Top 100 trial lawyers in the county (Benchmark Litigation) she has also been named a Top 10 Minnesota SuperLawyer. Jan is a graduate of St. Thomas University and the University of Minnesota Law School. She has served numerous Boards, including The Minneapolis Foundation, Minnesota Orchestra Association, and Catholic Charities. She was also the past Chair of the Board for the St. Thomas School of Law.

J. Michael Dady

Biography

Michael is the founder of Dady & Gardner, P.A., a 10 lawyer boutique firm that limits its nationwide practice to helping franchisees, dealers, and distributors solve their business-threatening issues with their franchisors and suppliers. He and his colleagues have successfully resolved business-threatening disputes for their clients in over 350 different systems. According to Chambers USA, which annually surveys lawyers nationally, by specialty, Dady & Gardner has been deemed to be the best franchisee law firm in America. Michael is a graduate of St. John’s University and the University of Minnesota Law School. He has served as the Chair of the Board of both the St. John’s University Board of Regents and of the Board of Catholic Charities of St. Paul and Minneapolis. Michael Dady particularly enjoys his ongoing role as the “head cowboy” on his working cattle ranch in northeastern South Dakota- much to the delight of his wife, Kim, their children, and their four grandchildren, and other family members and friends.

Ingrid Rasmussen

Biography

Rev. Ingrid C. A. Rasmussen was ordained in 2013 and serves as Lead Pastor at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in the Longfellow neighborhood of Minneapolis. She is committed to the work of justice and believes the church is called to be active in the public square. Ingrid is a graduate of Augustana University (Sioux Falls, SD) and Candler School of Theology at Emory University (Atlanta, GA). She is a leader with a number of place-based organizations—namely, Longfellow Seward Healthy Seniors, Longfellow Rising, and Trinity Apartments Advisory Board—and is active in the Minneapolis Area Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. She has written for The Christian Century, Duke University’s Faith and Leadership, Journal of Lutheran Ethics, and other publications. Ingrid lives in Minneapolis with her husband Paul and together they run to keep up with their two sweet and lively children.

Nancy Thompson Ulvestad

Biography

Nancy is currently working and consulting for the University of Minnesota School of Nursing and has over 35 years of experience in health care. Before joining the School of Nursing, Nancy worked at the Center for Bioethics at the University of Minnesota. She currently is the President ex officio of the Westminster Counseling Board and has previously served on the boards of the Children’s Hospitals, Colonial Church in Edina, Stevens Square Foundation, the Downtown Council to End Homelessness, and continues to volunteer in efforts to end homelessness, serve vulnerable populations and end-of-life initiatives. Nancy has a B.S. in Nursing from Gustavus Adolphus College and a Masters of Religion and Theology from United Theological Seminary.

John Truckenbrod

Biography

John grew up in Columbia Heights, Minnesota, along with his parents and four siblings. After graduating from the University of Minnesota with a business and accounting degree, he practiced as a CPA in public accounting with both McGladrey and then as a senior audit manager with Deloitte for many years, specializing in accounting and auditing. Upon getting married, he followed his entrepreneurial instinct and changed careers. He became a wealth advisor and started his own company, First Advisors, Inc., in downtown Minneapolis. His wife Jane, also a CPA with public accounting experience, joined First Advisors as a wealth advisor a few years later, and today they continue to work together. First Advisors primarily serves small business owners and 401K retirement plans. When working with his clients, he strives for verifiable outcomes in an uncertain world. John has served on the boards of both Lutheran and Methodist community churches, and served in many capacities including managing their endowment fund investments. John’s belief is that while finance and investing is not science, it may be an artful science, which can be used to improve both organizations and people’s lives. John and Jane live in Plymouth, Minnesota. They have two daughters, Clare and Grace, who also live in the Twin Cities metro area. John’s recreational activities include boating, golfing, and enjoying walking and hiking through forest trails with Jane.
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