Nine honorees receive 2022 President's Leadership Excellence Award
Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota is proud to recognize nine honorees statewide who received the 2022 President’s Leadership Excellence Award. The award recognizes employees who demonstrate outstanding leadership, inspire colleagues, drive innovation, and build community. They include Janelle Milling, Kelli Whisnant, Jody Shaskey-Setright, Jenni Carrier, Sheri Swopes, Stacy Abdouch, Taymara Montague, Alissa Dott, and Jennifer Kreps.
“I am thrilled to recognize these outstanding leaders for the exceptional talent and dedication they bring to our work and mission,” said Patrick Thueson, president of Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota.
Janelle Milling is a house coordinator for Disability Services at Lutheran Social Service in East Grand Forks. She was recognized for outstanding team leadership and supporting direct reports with mentoring excellence, empathy, appreciation, and growth opportunities.
Kelli Whisnant is a house coordinator for Disability Services, helping individuals with disabilities to live full and abundant lives they imagine for themselves. Kelli was noted for her steadfast dedication to the LSS mission, inspiration she provides to others and exceptional ability to show compassion that goes far beyond what words can say.
Jody Shasky-Setright is director of regional operations for Behavioral Health in Alexandria. She and her team provide a wide array of behavioral health services for children, individuals, couples, families, and older adults. Jody was recognized for her passion, service excellence and leadership in delivering high quality service expertise across the organization.
Jenni Carrier is a program director for Care Coordination Services that offers a team of licensed social workers and registered nurses to assist individuals through transitions such as hospitalization or rehabilitation admissions and adjusting to assisted living settings. Recently, she championed expansion of Care Coordination services with five new care coordinators and more than 400 members. With her leadership, this was the largest time of growth in this service line. With service excellence, Lutheran Social Service has also received a “High Performer” designation from Blue Cross Blue Shield.
Sheri Swopes is a program manager for Portland House in Minneapolis, a half-way house for adult male felons who are transitioning back into the community. With her leadership, Portland House now also has a program focused on working with youth by offering personalized case management support. She has made great strides in her work, successfully helping one young man who had consistent involvement with law enforcement to eventually having no contact with law enforcement for over a year. She also worked with him to obtain employment and learn how to cook for himself. She prevented another young man from becoming homeless and preserve his job while looking for long term housing. Colleagues say she makes work enjoyable and effectively work with clients to find the best in themselves.
Stacey Abdouch is director of services for Partners in Community Support (PICS) that offers self-directed care options to individuals and families, helping with financial aspects such as payroll, taxes and administration. Stacey is noted for her passion for providing high quality service, leading her team with excellence and undertaking new innovations to continually improve service.
Taymara Montague has served for several years as director of Disability Services at Lutheran Social Service. In her work, she has provided outstanding leadership for her team and delivered service with great care and sensitivity, striving to find the best ways to ensure that the individuals supported achieve goals that are important to them. Recently, she was elevated to a new position within the organization and will be offering leadership in new ways.
Alissa Dott is the senior director of Host Homes, Care Coordination and Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services for Lutheran Social Service. Host Homes are families that open their homes to an individual with a disability. Care Coordination provides support to individuals transitioning from hospital or rehabilitative care. Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services provides support to families with children who are deaf or hard of hearing, deaf family mentors, resources and referrals, and training in educational advocacy. Alissa was recognized for her high energy, positive outlook, high level of accountability and strong collaboration talents.
Jennifer Kreps is a senior director for Disability Services at Lutheran Social Service. She is widely known for her professionalism, compassion, innovative ideas, and continual efforts to strive for delivering the highest quality service. She has demonstrated exemplary dedication to the care of others during the COVID-19 pandemic, and always serves others with their best interests at heart.
Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota began in 1865 when a Lutheran pastor and his congregation opened an orphanage for children near Red Wing in southeastern Minnesota. Today, with 2,500 employees and 10,000 volunteers, Lutheran Social Service helps one in 65 Minnesotans through services that inspire hope, change lives, and build community. Some services, such as Adoption, Financial Counseling, Supported Decision-Making and Guardianship Options, Pooled Trust and Senior Companions support residents in other states as well. Through its mission, the organization seeks to foster safe and supportive homes for children, restore health and wellness in families, empower people with disabilities to live the lives they imagine, and promote health, independence and quality of life for older adults. For comprehensive information about the work of Lutheran Social Service, visit lssmn.org.