News

Elections were held to fill several vacant District Officer positions at the recent District Meetings. Each of the seven geographical districts in the state is represented by an elected slate of officers – District Chair, Chair-Elect, Secretary, and District Board Director.

Three people have recently officially joined LeadingAge Minnesota’s team: James Benedict as the Senior Systems Administrator, Annie Xiong as the Office and Accounting Manager, and Nathalie Squire as the Executive Assistant.

Vista Prairie Communities (VPC), a nonprofit provider of assisted living, independent living, memory care, and care suites in Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Ohio, has named Justin Hughes the Executive Director of Vista Prairie at Copperleaf in Willmar. He assumes his role on June 12.

Eric Meittunen has joined the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs as Deputy Commissioner - Veterans Healthcare. Eric will lead the Healthcare Division with responsibility for our five current and three new Veterans Homes, Adult Day Center, and Veteran Suicide Prevention initiative.

American Baptist Homes of the Midwest (ABHM), an Eden Prairie, Minnesota, based not-for-profit provider of senior living and health care, is pleased to announce the appointment of Annette Greely as the new President and Chief Executive Officer.

LeadingAge Minnesota is looking for a talented, strategic, customer-focused individual to join our team as Director of Membership. Interested candidates can learn more and apply here.

Saint Therese, a senior living leader in the Twin Cities and a member of LeadingAge Minnesota, announced it has signed a letter of intent to assume ownership of a full continuum of care life plan community from the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary of Monroe, Mich., through a proposed transfer of sponsorship agreement between the two nonprofit organizations. The life plan community is IHM Senior Living Community (IHM SLC).

On Wednesday of this week, a group of LeadingAge Minnesota members attended a “Mini Day at the Capitol” in an effort to continually share our stories and drive legislative action. They had the opportunity to meet with their lawmakers to discuss our long-term care policy priorities and share their stories.

Gene Gustason, a long-time LeadingAge Minnesota member, has announced his retirement from the Stewartville Care Center effective at the end of March. He completes his career in the sector after 29 years at the skilled nursing setting in Stewartville. The Stewartville Care Center is an 85-bed skilled nursing facility for residential and rehabilitative care.

Jennifer Marcus of Vista Prairie Communities has been promoted to the newly created position of Regional Director of Operations within her organization.

Erin Shvetzoff Hennessey, CEO of HDG and LeadingAge Minnesota Board Member, was included in Modern Healthcare’s Top Women Leaders of 2023 list. This award honors female executives from all sectors of the healthcare system who are developing policy, leading change, and guiding healthcare delivery improvement across the country.

The 2022 Class of Leadership Academy fellows officially graduated at the Institute & Expo on Thursday, Feb. 9. Forty-five leaders completed the year-long program, along with eight supportive volunteer coaches.

Knute Nelson leaders Katie Perry and Angie Urman have taken on new positions within the organization’s senior leadership team.

We continue to grow as an association and want to usher a big welcome to those new communities and organizations returning to LeadingAge Minnesota in the past few months. Please give them all a warm welcome!

LeadingAge Minnesota is excited to announce that members can post their open positions on the AgingServicesJobs.org job board at a reduced rate – all year long!

Please join LeadingAge Minnesota in giving a warm welcome to Kayla Khang. Kayla joins the staff as the Manager of Government Affairs and Policy. She will support our policy and lobbying efforts in St. Paul, including leading our organization's return to in-person Advocacy Day at the Capitol on March 13, 2023.

On Dec. 1, the 2022 Leadership Academy Class of Fellows completed their program year of leadership development. The official graduation for the cohort of 45 leaders will be celebrated at the 2023 Institute & Expo.

Saint Therese, a LeadingAge Minnesota member, is partnering with Rasmussen University – Bloomington to help train the next generation of nurses.

Totaling $400,000, 24 workforce grants were awarded to LeadingAge Minnesota members across the state by the LeadingAge Minnesota Foundation this week. The grant program funds staff appreciation, OnTrack Nursing Assistant Training program set-up expenses, and initiatives to improve recruitment, retention, and talent pipeline development.

It's time to update your organization's staff roster in LeadingAge Minnesota's records.

Registration for the 2023 Institute & Expo will open the first week of December. To help you prepare for a smooth registration experience, we have sent notices to each member organization with a staff roster to review and update.