caringbridge
A Nonprofit Connecting Family and Friends When Health Matters Most
Board of Directors
- Brad Beard, Chair
- Janice Aune, Vice Chair
- Beth Monsrud, Treasurer
- Andrea Carruthers, Secretary
Brad Beard, Chair
Bradley J. Beard, MHA, FACHE, is the president of Fairview Southdale Hospital in Edina, Minn. In his role as the administrator, he is responsible for overall operations and strategic development and planning for Fairview Southdale Hospital, a 390-bed facility with 1,300 physicians and 2,300 staff members. With over two decades of healthcare experience previously he has had responsibility for rehabilitation services and retail imaging for the Fairview Health System. Brad serves on the following board of directors in addition to CaringBridge’s: Minnesota Hospital Association, Edina Chamber of Commerce, Edina Community Foundation and the Edina Crime Prevention Board. He has served on the boards of EMPI and Image Systems in the past.
Brad received his master’s degree in healthcare administration from the University of Minnesota, and a bachelor’s degree from both the Medical College of Georgia and West Chester University. He lives in Edina, Minn. With his wife and three daughters.
Janice Aune, Vice Chair
Janice Aune is past chair and CEO of Onvoy Inc., a Minnesota headquartered technology leader and telecommunications innovator. Upon joining Onvoy in September 2000, Aune led the company to a position of financial stability and growth. Under her leadership, Onvoy refocused its market emphasis to serve strategic enterprise, independent telecommunications and carrier markets with the goal of creating a market leader position in the development and delivery of IP-centric services. Janice left Onvoy in November 2007 upon the successful completion of the acquisition of Onvoy by Zayo, a venture-capital backed broadband company.
Prior to joining Onvoy, Janice served in numerous executive leadership positions at U.S. West (now Qwest) and ended her 30-year career there as a senior executive officer and president of the INTERPRISE division, the technology and innovations arm of U.S. West. There she was responsible for a $3 billion product portfolio.
Her past board of director experiences include: Minnesota High Technology Association, the Women’s Healthcare Trust, Minnesota Telephone Association, the Capital City Partnership, RLX Technologies, Onvoy Inc., and AeA. In addition, Janice held an appointed seat on the Technology Enterprise Board, a public-private board that advised state government officials on technology from 2001 to 2004.
Beth Monsrud, Treasurer
Beth Monsrud has more than 20 years of experience in the financial management field. She joined UCare in 2001 as controller, and was named senior vice president and CFO in 2008. She provides executive leadership and oversight for all fiscal operations and is responsible for the strategic direction for UCare’s accounting, budgeting, forecasting, product pricing enrollment and reporting as well as information systems, among other key financial functions.
In 2009 she was recognized by the Minneapolis St. Paul Business Journal as a “Woman to Watch” and received the Women’s Health Leadership Trust’s Mid Career Award.
Andrea Carruthers, Secretary
Andrea Carruthers is a real estate lawyer and asset manager at General Mills, Inc., one of the world’s leading food companies. At General Mills, Andrea has responsibility for legal and strategic management of the company’s worldwide real estate portfolio. Prior to joining General Mills in 2010, Andrea practiced real estate for 12 years at Faegre & Benson, a large Minneapolis-based law firm.
Andrea discovered her passion for CaringBridge and its mission when her cousin created a CaringBridge website after he was diagnosed with cancer in 2005. She brings legal knowledge and business experience to the CaringBridge board.
In her spare time, Andrea enjoys knitting, reading, cooking, discussing politics, and most of all, spending time with her husband, their two young sons and the family dog.
Alan Abramson
Alan is the senior vice president of information services and chief information officer at HealthPartners, a family of nonprofit Minnesota healthcare organizations focused on improving the health of its members, its patients and the community.
Alan graduated cum laude from Wheaton College in Illinois, and received his Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota with a concentration in computer applications and decision science.
Alan has served as an advisor or board member to numerous regional and national organizations for healthcare systems innovation and improvement. He co–chairs the Minnesota e–Health Initiative Advisory Committee, is a board member of the University of St. Thomas Graduate School in Business, is past board president of the American Lung Association of the Upper Midwest and serves as the chair for the Managed Care Executive Group, a national organization that provides a forum for the open exchange of information, innovative ideas and experience among CIOs and senior health plan leaders.
Leigh Bailey
Leigh Bailey is the founder and CEO of The Bailey Group, a leadership development firm which consults with executive level leaders and leadership teams. Through executive coaching, team building, strategic planning and consulting, Leigh and his team have helped hundreds of leaders and teams reach their highest potential and achieve their business outcomes since 1989. His industry experience includes banking, financial services, insurance, advertising and marketing, healthcare, medical technology, law firms and distribution services.
Leigh sharpened his skills as a business leader in the financial services industry in various leadership and consulting roles. As an executive coach and consultant, Leigh has become an expert at facilitating coaching processes that sustain long-term behavior change in individuals and organizations. He earned his master's degree in human development from St. Mary's University. He has served as an instructor and advisor in the Masters of Human Development Program at St. Mary's University. He is the co-author of Grown-Up Leadership: The Benefits of Personal Growth for You and Your Team and author of its corresponding workbook Taking Charge of Your Career.
James Eppel, Jr.
James Eppel, Jr. (Jim Eppel) serves as senior vice president of commercial markets and health management for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota. In this role, Jim is accountable for all aspects of health management including network contracting and relationships and integrated health management; and for the products and services offered to individual and commercial group clients. Jim’s focus includes optimizing the cost and quality of services provided to Blue Cross members and delivering effective coverage and financing to the market.
Jim previously held the position of vice president of network management at Blue Cross. Prior to joining Blue Cross, he served as vice president of business development for Allina Hospitals and Clinics. He was in charge of identification, analysis and implementation of opportunities that furthered Allina’s market, clinical and strategic goals which included creating and maintaining relationships with health care providers and the development of new products and evaluation of existing products. He was also vice president of revenue management and improvement at Allina, where he was responsible for revenue and reimbursement strategies. Eppel has also held vice president positions at UnitedHealth Group and Medica, where he served as senior vice president of commercial markets and vice oresident of network management.
Jim and his wife Barb live in Edina, Minn. They have two children; Sarah, who is a graduate of Miami University, and John, a student at Boston College.
Karen Hohertz-Jacobs
Karen Hohertz-Jacobs is a senior director in the Retail Operations capability at Best Buy Company, Inc., where she has worked for more than 20 years. At Best Buy, Karen has had responsibility for many components of operations including store systems and field support for the supply chain and operations teams across the U.S. store base. She brings deep experience in utilizing user insights to bear in system design and capability support models. Karen graduated with a BA in Business and a concentration in Marketing from Webster University in 1992.
Karen first encountered CaringBridge as a site author in 2007 when her infant daughter was diagnosed with Stage IV Neuroblastoma. She has a passion for giving back to the organizations that she leaned on during her daughter's treatment and ultimate recovery.
Lars Leafblad
Lars is a Principal with KeyStone Search, a Minneapolis-based executive search firm emphasizing cultural fit when filling executive level positions. He leads the Corporate Affairs and Marketing & Engagement practice areas and co-chairs the Education Services practice. Lars is also the firm’s functional expert in Institutional Advancement. He joined KeyStone in 2007 after serving as Director of Development for the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota.
Lars earned a BA in Economics from St. Olaf College, and his MBA from the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management. There he was recognized with a “President's Student Leadership and Service Award” for his leadership contributions to the MBA student community. In 2007 Lars was also recognized with a “40 Under 40” award from The Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal and was called “the most networked man in the Twin Cities” by Minnesota Business magazine in December 2010.
He was selected as a 2008-09 HHH Policy Fellow at the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs and also serves on the advisory boards of The Salvation Army - Twin Cities and the Center for Public and Nonprofit Leadership at the Humphrey School. He is a member of the Citizens League, RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association, and is the founder and curator of Pollen, a networking community comprised of several thousand civic-minded leaders and entrepreneurs.
Lawrence J. Massa
Lawrence J. Massa became president and CEO of the Minnesota Hospital Association in October 2008, continuing a 25-year career as a prominent hospital and healthcare leader in the Upper Midwest.
Serving as a policy-maker, hospital executive and grassroots advocate, Lawrence most recently led Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar, Minn. There he acted as CEO of the municipal organization for almost 15 years. Prior to that, Lawrence gained more than 10 years of for-profit and nonprofit healthcare executive experience in South Dakota, Iowa and Minnesota.
Lawrence also represented Minnesota hospitals and championed healthcare-reform initiatives through his work on several state and national boards and organizations, including the American Hospital Association’s regional Policy Board; Health Minnesota, a multi-stakeholder collaborative; the Minnesota Health Care Reform Review Council; and VHA Upper Midwest. He is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives.
Cheryl Newell
Cheryl Newell is a results-oriented financial leader with more than 30 years of experience. She has proven comprehensive financial skills working with companies in financial services, mortgage banking, medical devices, software and retailing. She’s experienced in major financial software implementations and extensive business process redesigns.
Ann O'Connor Sandgren
As a licensed clinical psychologist for Roger Maris Cancer Center at Sanford Health in Fargo, ND, Dr. Ann O’Connor Sandgren specializes in health psychology focusing on persons affected by cancer and hospitalized patients facing serious illnesses. Ann has more than 22 years of clinical experience and psychosocial research. She is also a member of the North Dakota Health Care Review Board and has been a hospice volunteer for over 20 years.
Ann is married and enjoys family time, especially being a grandparent. She’s also an avid traveler. She’s learned from her work that time is precious, to slow down and be more intentional about living the moments well, and to take time for what matters most.
Jamie Thingelstad
As chief operating officer and chief technology officer of 8thBridge, a pioneering force behind social commerce experiences, Jamie Thingelstad understands the importance and power of the Internet’s ability to foster connections and help people. Jamie served as chief technology officer for financial publishers including the Wall Street Journal Digital Network, Enterprise Media Group of Dow Jones and MarketWatch, Inc. He was the founding CTO of BigCharts, the leading provider of financial tools and information to consumers and financial services companies via the web. He lives in Minneapolis, Minn. with his wife, two children and their dog.
Jamie is happy to share his knowledge and passion for technology to support the valuable work of CaringBridge.
Our Service
CaringBridge provides free websites to anyone facing a significant health challenge.
