2023 Board of Directors
Meet the people who comprise our board of directors.
PRESIDENT
Jarrod Peterson is the owner of Touching Hearts at Home, Mid-Metro and Touching Hearts at Home of West Central MN. Touching Hearts provides non-medical home care throughout the metro area and outstate communities. Jarrod got his start in home care in 2008 working for the founder of Touching Hearts (who also happens to be his aunt) before becoming an owner himself.
In addition to keeping very busy with his two offices, Jarrod also serves on several boards and committees that focus on senior issues and small business concerns. Jarrod's favorite way to spend his time is with his two children at home in Shakopee.
VICE PRESIDENT
Annalisha Perez, LALD is the Executive Director at Cerenity Senior Care Humboldt, which is operated by Benedictine Living. Annalisha began working with seniors over 15 years ago. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish Studies but enjoyed working with the senior population so much that she decided to stay in the senior care industry. Prior to her role at Cerenity Senior Care Humboldt, Annalisha worked as a Licensed Assisted Living Director for Volunteers of America National Services, as an Executive Director in Assisted Living in Roseville and as a Sales & Marketing Director and Life Enrichment Director in senior living. In her spare time, Annalisha enjoys hiking and spending time with her husband and two spunky sons.
TREASURER & PROGRAM COMMITTEE CHAIR
Jim Lord oversees New Business Development for Grace Hospice.
The mission of Grace Hospice is to serve God by recognizing that every person deserves to live out his or her life with respect and dignity, free of pain, and in an environment that promotes quality of life.
SECRETARY
Angela Elwell is the Director of Marketing at Prelude Homes & Services Memory Care Cottages, where they seek to create communities where elders are valued, families are family and God is glorified. We do so in our Memory Care Cottages by providing compassionate, state-of-the-art care for those we serve. We use strength-based programming that focuses on each individual’s personal preferences, strengths, and life-legacy.
MEMBERSHIP CHAIR
Debra Bland is the Sales and Marketing Director at Woodbury Senior Living. Debra brings over 45+ years of senior living experience in skilled nursing and assisted living, and working for profit and non-profit organizations. Debra worked as a nursing assistant and later transitioned to Admissions and Sales and Marketing in senior living. Debra also worked for a development company where she took charge of the lease up and opening of several assisted living communities. Debra has been married for 43 years and has two grown sons and three granddaughters. She and her husband enjoy older cars and have two, a Chevelle and a Corvette. You will find them at car shows in the warmer months. Debra is also an animal nut! Currently she has a terrier named “Ginny;” she is a rescue with special needs.
FALL AGING CONFERENCE CHAIR
Ian Bruess is the Director of Community Relations at Episcopal Homes in St. Paul representing their two Skilled Nursing buildings and Transitional Care Center. He started working in the senior care industry as a dietary aid in high school, and soon found the senior care industry to be a perfect fit for his career. He studied at the University of Missouri - St. Louis, then to Chicago and Denver working in a Guest Services and Admissions role since 2014.
Ian lives in Bloomington with his wife and their Shih Tzu, Ella. During his free time, he loves spending time with his family, being outdoors, and checking out the latest restaurants.
SOCIAL MEDIA CHAIR & HISTORIAN
Anastasia "Stacy" Atkins
Stacy was born and raised in Stillwater, Minnesota where she and her family still reside today. Stacy loves spending time boating on the St. Croix River with her husband, adult children and friends. Her true passion is helping the aging population find trusted options in senior living. Stacy is a Senior Living Consultant with Care Patrol. Stacy also founded an Art Therapy Practice called Olive Art. With Olive Art Stacy provides sessions throughout MN. Stacy said that it is an honor to serve on the Board of Directors supporting St. Paul Senior Workers Association and their mission.
SCHOLARSHIP CHAIR
Harvey Perle has BSBA Degree in Marketing from Boston University. He owned and was the Administrator of a Nursing Home in Maryland, and then owned and managed several Manufacturer’s Representative Agencies in Minnesota focused on the Gourmet Housewares industry. Harvey has created a third career by merging these two previous career experiences into the world of Insurance.
Harvey is licensed in Life & Health in Minnesota and focuses on Health Insurance for all ages, with a specialty in Medicare.
Harvey is also the very proud Dad of his two adult daughters, affectionately known as “The Perle Gerles”.
COMMUNICATIONS CHAIR
Rachelle Strasburg has a heart for service, a passion to transform aging services, and the experience to help our communities reach out to new residents. She is the VP of Sales and Marketing for Vista Prairie Communities and also an 18-year veteran in senior care, specializing most recently in aging services campaigns and strategies for marketing initiatives.
She formerly served as the Corporate Director of Marketing for SilverCrest Properties and as a Corporate Sales and Marketing Consultant at Ebenezer for 5 years. Rachelle has also served on the Fall Aging Conference Steering Committee for the last 7 years.
MEMBER AT LARGE
Shelley Beckman has worked in client relations, specifically with seniors, for several years. She loves people! And building relationships is imperative to her, both personally and professionally, as it positions her well as a community advocate and/or resource for those in need. She has a passion for helping families protect what is most important to them. It is her goal to continue providing top-tier education and advocacy empowering others to put a plan in place, which will help prevent a potential crisis. Shelley is very passionate about Estate Planning; thus, as a public speaker, she shares her own experiences educating others and bringing awareness to the importance of “planning for the unexpected” to loved ones are cared for and protected, no matter what.
Shelley and her husband reside in the north metro with their yorkie, Hank, and are the proud parents of three adult children. Aside from spending quality time with family and friends, Shelley enjoys all things sports, photography, air shows, gut-wrenching laughs, and music.
MEMBER AT LARGE
Kathy Cameron-Kuehn is a Certified Life Coach specializing in family caregiver coaching. She has years of life experience in the senior services industry and personal experience working with her own family. Kathy loves to help her clients create a balanced life and strengthen their family relationships. She and her husband live in Forest Lake with their spoiled labradoodle, Teddy. Kathy also has two children in college and is a caregiver for her 90-year-old mom.