Women’s Connection
I fancy myself as a ‘seeker.’ When I was looking for more opportunities for women connections, I discovered The Transition Network (former name of Women’s Connection). My dear friend, Lisa Nabbefeld, was instrumental in encouraging me to attend my first meeting and, soon after, becoming a member! I decided to join this group after attending the first few meetings, talking with participants, reviewing its mission, and viewing future programming!
Women’s Connection has allowed me to create deeper, meaningful relationships with women whom I may not have met otherwise. Recent activities I have engaged in have brought forth smiles and belly laughs! Through conversations with participants in a recent hiking SIG outing, a Paddle SIG was born. (Thanks, Linda Grant!) In addition, those same conversations helped me formulate the possibility of proposing a Crazy Adventures SIG.
Family
I grew up in Anoka and now live in New Brighton with my husband of 43 years, Karl. We raised three beautiful daughters (grown and flown).
I rejoined Women’s Connection in 2023 after some time away to care for some personal matters, including the death of my mother, birth of my first grand baby, moving my father from their home of 40+ years to an apartment, and addressing long-term medical issues.
Education and Professional Employment
I have an Associate of Applied Science degree in Health Information Technology, a Bachelor’s degree in Health Information Administration and a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership.
I started at Anoka Technical College in conjunction with Anoka-Ramsey Community College and North Hennepin Community College. After graduating with my associate’s degree and passing the state boards, I transferred to the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth. I completed my bachelor’s degree and passed the state boards. After nine years practicing as a health information administration professional in Duluth and the Twin Cities, I became the program director at Anoka Technical College for the Health Information Technology program.
Later, I became employment/career counselor with a terrific company named Hired. Lisa (Nabbefeld) introduced me to her friend and member Dawn Hughes at an early meeting. It was Dawn who referred me to the hiring manager at Hired. Later, Dawn became my manager! After nine years there, I retired in April 2023.
Accolades
I have several career accomplishments for which I am especially proud! An early accomplishment was preparing a Manual of Policies and Procedures for Confidentiality of Patient Health Information that was adopted by the Northeastern Minnesota Health Information Management Association and would be followed by the health care facilities in this region.
I also developed a Cancer Registry at a Twin Cities hospital and coordinated the components of the Cancer Program (Cancer Registry, Cancer Committee, and Cancer Conferences), which earned national accreditation.
When I became the new director of the Health Information Technology program, I inherited a program that was on probation from the National Accrediting Agency. I rewrote the curriculum for this two-year program, created a computer lab for our students, doubled the number of health care facilities that would accept these students to complete their three clinical rotations, developed new marketing materials, tripled the student enrollment, and earned back full national accreditation.
Retirement
Enjoyment abounds! I l LOVE my unlimited time with my husband, daughters, grand boys, grand dogs, my siblings and father, reading and engaging in my book club, gardening, spending time with friends, caring for myself, sleeping in, and lounging on my deck! I enjoy EVERYTHING about retirement! I have NOT missed employment for one millisecond!