Minnesota Rural CHW Conference 2025 Speakers

John Fick | Northwest Minnesota Community Health Hub

Sofiya Podberetskaya | Northwest Minnesota Community Health Hub

Vanessa Southworth | Winona Community HUB

Roxanne Hayenga | Minnesota West Community and Technical College

Wendy Portaz | Northwest Technical College

Rachel Stoll | Minnesota Community Health Worker Alliance

Connie Norman | Red Lake Nation

Lisa Richards | Red Lake Nation

James Walsh | Minnesota Community Health Worker Alliance

Suzanne Koepplinger is a seasoned nonprofit and philanthropic professional with over 25 years experience in executive leadership and creative problem-solving. She is a highly effective network builder, leader of community-based transformational systems change and an experienced trainer and public speaker, both at home and abroad. Suzanne is the founder of Catalyst North Consulting, dedicated to fostering healing centered organizational cultures and leadership. Previously, she co-created and led the Catalyst Initiative, launched by the George Family Foundation in 2014 and based at the Minneapolis Foundation from 2018 to 2022. The Catalyst Initiative’s purpose to honor and foster culturally authentic self-care practices to advance health and well-being was realized through targeted grant-making, shared learning and unleashing visionary community leadership.

I graduated from the University of North Dakota in 2004 with a Master’s of Social Work Degree. I have been with the Dancing Sky Area Agency on Aging for 9 years, starting off as an Information and Assistance phone specialist. I also worked as a pre-admission screener for a few years, and am now the Contact Center Manager overseeing the I & A staff and the Resource Coordination staff. My background includes working for 10+ years in the nursing home setting as a CNA, CMA, and then as a Social Worker.

Melissa L. Lyon, EdD, is a Community Development Specialist with the Central Minnesota Council on Aging (CMCOA). She holds degrees in Sociology and Educational Leadership, with a focus on higher education. Melissa joined CMCOA after spending 15 years at Fayetteville State University in North Carolina, where she taught sociology and served as the program manager for the Service-Learning Program. Her educational background provides a holistic perspective on our work with aging, offering a unique view of intergenerational opportunities and a strong interest in various types of research. As a member of the Community Development Team at the CMCOA, Melissa provides guidance to organizations and community initiatives, including home and community-based services, age-friendly projects, dementia-friendly initiatives, and mental health and wellness programs. Melissa has customized and facilitated presentations about the Minnesota Aging Pathways, formerly known as Senior LinkAge Line, research, ageism, diversity, age-friendly communities, dementia education, and the benefits of social engagement and connections.

Kirsten Cruikshank is a community-based researcher for the Memory Keeper’s Medical Discovery Team UMN Medical School – Duluth Campus, working on the Community Engaged Rural Dementia and Alzheimer’s Research (CERDAR Projects). She has a Masters in Social Work degree from UMD and a background in community-based work with older adults and family caregivers. Kirsten was the Director of a rural nonprofit home and community-based services organization for fifteen years, helping older adults live independently. She has also worked with the Arrowhead Area Agency on Aging (AAA) on service development, and administered Older Americans Act supportive services grants. She lives in rural Lake County.

Kelsie is a community-based researcher for the Memory Keeper’s Medical Discovery Team and working on the Community Engaged Rural Dementia and Alzheimer’s Research (CERDAR) project. She is passionate about wellness, aging health in rural communities with a background in public health and dietetics. In her role she engages in community and greater Northern Minnesota by learning needs and assets of communities as relates to dementia, recruits participants to support brain health research projects and provides education in community.

Naomi Carlson has spent the past decade in Bemidji, Minnesota, dedicating her career to helping people and communities live into their full potential. She currently serves as a Community Development Planner at the Headwaters Regional Development Commission (HRDC), where she previously led as Executive Director. Her work centers on rural leadership, strategic partnerships, and systems change.
In 2024, Naomi became certified in the Primal Question framework, using it to support rural community leaders in uncovering their “why” and drawing out their personal and collective strengths. She also co-founded Leading Together, offering retreats and resources that help activate people’s gifts and move visions forward.
Naomi holds degrees in Public Health from Kent State and Syracuse University and is a frequent speaker on reimagining community work and doing things differently.

Sandy Hennum, a life coach, author, and Community Development Specialist, lives on Lake Bemidji with her husband and sweet cat! For over 40 years, she has dedicated her career to helping people grow—spending decades in health care leadership and 12 years directing a family homeless shelter. Author of three books, Sandy continues to inspire individuals and organizations to create meaningful change through compassion, connection, and collaboration. She currently works at Headwaters Regional Development Commission where she co-founded Leading Together, with Naomi Carlson. Together they offer Mini Retreats, Self- Guided Resources, Workshop Series and Full Retreats. She has been a Community Health Worker since 1982.

Laura Rosier, LSW, is a passionate social work professional and program manager committed to advancing health equity and culturally responsive care with a deep commitment to health equity, culturally responsive care and community driven solutions. At Wilderness Health, she leads initiatives to improve outcomes for families affected by substance use disorder (SUD) and maternal health across Northeastern Minnesota. Laura founded a regional advisory council to elevate lived experiences in shaping policy and programs. Previously, she developed a long-term services and supports (LTSS) program for tribal elders and individuals with disabilities. Laura is on course to complete her Masters of Social Work in 2026, with a focus on trauma informed care and American Indian Health. She actively contributes to community initiatives, including regional grant workgroups such as Hello Range, and was nominated for the Minnesota Perinatal Quality Collaborative’s “Outstanding Community Organization Award.”

Megan Nieto has a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from St. Cloud State University and is bilingual in Spanish/English. She received her Community Health Worker certificate in 2017 from Northwest Technical College in Bemidji. Megan currently teaches the Minnesota CHW Certificate courses — in Spanish — as an online instructor at St. Mary’s University in Minnesota. Megan’s expertise is in direct supportive services for families facing lead poisoning, healthy homes, asthma, and other chronic health conditions. Megan’s professional experience includes serving as the Director of Community Health Programs at a community-based organization and as a Community Lead Educator. Supportive services expertise includes in-home visiting, resource referral and connection, clinical lead testing services, and case management. In these roles, Megan developed contracts with health insurance companies, and low-cost mechanisms for processing claims, so her organization could supplement its grant-funded efforts with insurance payment income.

Children’s Dental Services is Minnesota’s largest provider of school-based dental care serving 39,000 annually. Sara holds a law degree from the University of Minnesota and a master’s degree from the Harvard School of Public Health. Under her tenure CDS received several awards for innovation, including its pioneering work integrating mid-level providers. She participated in passage of Minnesota’s dental therapy legislation, and currently is employing 13 therapists who treat 26,000 patients annually.

Following nearly 25 years of senior operations leadership, relationship development and program development experience working with Fortune 500 companies in Portland, OR, John returned to his home area of northwestern Minnesota several years ago. He entered the nonprofit world and has worked with housing and healthcare programs. Seeing first-hand the challenges the people of this region face when confronted by the social determinants of health, he has been involved with the NW MN Community Health Hub since its inception in 2023 initially as a Governance Team member, then as the Network Director of the Hub’s development.

Sofiya Podberetskaya lives in the Twin Cities with her family and cocker spaniel dog Lucie. Sofiya discovered her passion for helping others while getting her bachelor’s degree in Political Science one summer when she interned as a Grants and Development intern for a non-profit organization. There, she learned about grants as well as how life-changing grants can be for people. Sofiya started her journey of helping people in home health care where she did administrative work for an organization. She then transitioned into her role as Grant Coordinator for Sanford Health in Bemidji, Minnesota, where she has been working remotely on the Northwest Minnesota Community Health Hub for almost two years. Sofiya is very passionate about the work she does and hopes to make a difference in the community.

Denita Ngwu is a family coach, community health leader, and social entrepreneur with more than 15 years of experience supporting families, survivors of domestic violence, and communities with limited resources. She currently serves as a Family Coach at the Jeremiah Program, where she helps single mothers pursue education and career goals, and as a Day One Call Center Support Specialist with Cornerstone, providing crisis support to individuals experiencing domestic violence, sexual assault, or human trafficking.

Anita (she/her) is a health advocate and researcher dedicated to advancing social justice in global public health. She has worked with organizations including the Mayo Clinic, SoLaHmo Partnership for Health and Wellness, Duluth Community School Collaborative, and Lake Superior Community Health Center, focusing on community-based participatory research and health equity.

Matt Flory has worked for the American Cancer Society for nearly 25 years. In his current position, he works with the health department, health insurance plans and coalitions aimed at increasing cancer prevention, screening and support for patients after a cancer diagnosis. Matt has a Master’s in Public Policy from the University of Minnesota and is a Past President of the Minnesota Public Health Association.

Wanda Jarchow is a dedicated health services professional with extensive experience in addiction, child abuse/neglect, teen pregnancy prevention, oral health, and poverty issues. Her experience spans national, state, and local levels, including roles such as Program Director at a 65-bed drug and alcohol rehabilitation program, development of a CASA program, and direction of the National Abstinence Clearinghouse. She has also facilitated community organizations, worked on national teen pregnancy initiatives, developed state-level CASA forms, and addressed local oral health access issues. Ms. Jarchow was selected by her community to participate in the Blandin Leadership Summit. Subsequently, her application was selected for the Leaders Partnering to End Poverty initiative through the Blandin Foundation in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, which selects one community per year to receive one-year of leadership training on poverty. This experience led to the development of Luv1LuvAll, which addresses challenging issues in the southwest Minnesota region, including brain health, oral health, access to resources, safe and affordable housing, and nutrition for senior citizens. Ms. Jarchow and her husband, Mike, reside in Luverne, Minnesota, and have six children.

Georgie Kinsman is a public health evaluator currently working on initiatives aimed at preventing and managing chronic disease (particularly diabetes and arthritis) within disproportionately affected populations in Minnesota. Georgie has been particularly interested in chronic disease because of the strong ties to the social determinants of health (SDOH). Georgie supports a number of projects including statewide implementation of evidence-based programming and the utilization of CHWs in chronic disease prevention and management.

Kim Matteen is a Diabetes Program Planner with the Minnesota Department of Health’s Diabetes and Health Behavior Unit. She works on increasing access to the National Diabetes Prevention Program (National DPP) and supporting established and newly developed programs throughout the state. Since 2015, Kim has worked to provide technical assistance to public health departments, American Indian tribes, health care systems, community organizations, and employers to reduce the burden of diabetes for populations experiencing health disparities. She has acquired an in-depth knowledge of National DPP program development, participant recruitment and engagement, recognition standards, payment models, and is a trained lifestyle coach. She is also trained by the CDC as a National DPP State Quality Specialist.

Rachel Stoll is a Community Health Worker (CHW) Certificate holder currently working as the Education Manager at the Minnesota Community Health Worker Alliance (MNCHWA). Prior to her work at MNCHWA Rachel worked as the Winona Community HUB Manager in Winona Minnesota. Rachel has experience working in the field as a CHW at the Winona Community HUB prior to her administrative role. Rachel’s educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in Anthropology and Gender Studies from Marquette University and a Community Health Worker Certificate from Minnesota West Community and Technical College.

Kristen Godfrey Walters is the CHW Initiatives and Community Engagement Director in the division of Health Promotion and Chronic Disease at the Minnesota Department of Health, where she leads state and federally funded initiatives to advance CHW infrastructure within the state. Kristen also leads division-wide initiatives to advance community-clinical linkages and community engagement strategies. Kristen has over 15 years’ experience as a CHW program manager/supervisor and CHW Ally, advancing CHW policy, systems, and models at the local and state level. Her experience includes leading the integration and growth of CHW programs to extend the reach of a safety-net health system into the community. Kristen holds a master’s of public health administration and policy and a bachelor’s of business, life sciences and public health from the University of Minnesota.  

I have been the intake/referral case manager for White Earth Mental Health for 5 years. I have over 25 years of experience working with the Native American population in addressing health and education disparities. I am an enrolled member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe and a second-generation descendant of the White Earth Nation.

Dai Vu (she/her) works in the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Division of Health Equity Strategy and Innovation as a Community Engagement Supervisor. Her role now includes supporting the Health Equity Networks Team. Dai Vu is a second generation Vietnamese-American who came with her family to Minnesota in 1980 as one of the boat refugees from South Vietnam.

Ben Cahill is a regional coordinator for the Minnesota Health Equity Networks, working to strengthen, amplify and connect health equity efforts in the Northwest region. Living in Bemidji, Ben is a passionate advocate for the unique needs of rural, indigenous, and LGBTQ2S+ communities of Northern Minnesota. Previously, Ben worked as a community health worker for Red Lake Nation and PrimeWest Health, assisting folks to navigate health care and social services, to connect with vital resources, and to recieve health education. A 2023-2024 Project R.E.A.C.H. fellow, Ben is focused on empowering those in community and public health to make a difference through legislative advocacy and public policy.