Free, personalized websites that support and connect loved ones during critical illness, treatment and recovery.
Board of Directors
- Bert Harman, Chair
- Milo Arkema, Vice Chair
- Barbara Farrell, Treasurer
- Jackie Jensen, Secretary
Bert Harman, Chair
Bert is the President and CEO of Otto Bock Health Care Americas, a medical device company focusing on the orthotic and prosthetic segment of the orthopedics industry. He is a graduate of the University of Baltimore with a bachelor's of science degree in marketing and has more than 30 years of sales, marketing, business development and general management experience both in the U.S. and abroad.
Bert's experience in management and the medical field bring valuable insight to CaringBridge's strategic and finance planning.
Bert and his wife Debra live in North Oaks, Minnesota, and are busy with their four grown children and three grandchildren.
Milo Arkema, Vice Chair
Milo is a partner and a member of the executive committee at the certified public accounting firm Virchow, Krause & Company LLP, headquartered in Minneapolis. He leads the firm’s local initiative for serving emerging companies in the medical device and med-tech industries. Milo honed his expertise through extensive experience as a general business advisor to emerging and high growth companies.
Recognized for his expertise, Milo was selected as one of Twin Cities Business Monthly magazine’s “Super CPAs” in Minnesota for three years in a row. He also manages client services and serves as a general business advisor for a number of family owned companies.
Milo enjoys reading, writing and traveling abroad with his wife Jentine. They live in Edina, Minnesota, and have three grown children.
Barbara Farrell, Treasurer
Barb has 20 years experience in the information technology industry. She has focused on sales and client development responsibilities primarily in healthcare, education and financial services industries. Barb's experience helps CaringBridge extend the reach of its compassionate service to families in need.
Barb, her husband, Frank and two daughters live in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. Her stepson is enjoying college at Drake University. Barb is also a member of the board of the Girl Scout Council of Greater Minneapolis.
Jackie Jensen, Secretary
Jackie serves as Director of Patient Care at Phillips Eye Institute in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She directs all aspects of clincial care in the nationally recognized specialty hosptial dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases and disorders. She has been involved in the health care industry for more than 30 years including five years as the Director of Oncology at United Hospital where she was introduced to CaringBridge. Jackie’s understanding and experience in hospitals is invaluable in CaringBridge’s relationships with our sponsors. She Chairs the Development Committee and is involved in strategic planning with the CaringBridge board.
Jackie and her husband Mike live in Richfield, Minnesota. They have three grown sons and are devoted to their three wonderful grandchildren. Leisure time is spent playing golf, camping and traveling.
Joel Ackerman
Joel has been actively involved in health care and information technology for over 30 years. He is the President of Ackerman Concepts, a consulting firm specializing in health information strategy and product design. Previously, Joel served as Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer for Vivius, Inc., an innovative consumer-choice healthcare company.
Prior to joining Vivius, he founded and was Executive Director of the Rx2000 Institute, a health care information clearinghouse and educational organization. The non-profit institute played a vital role in preparing the American health care system for the year 2000 date change, as well as the transition to HIPAA.
As Vice President of International Information Systems and Director of Advanced Technologies at United Health Group, he led the exploration, development and adoption of new and emerging information technologies. Joel has been a leader in the development of national standards for electronic communications in health care, and chaired the development of the ANSI ASC X12 Eligibility (270/271) Transactions.
Janice Aune
Janice Aune is past Chair and CEO of Onvoy Inc., a Minnesota headquartered technology leader and telecommunications innovator. Upon joining Onvoy in September of 2000, Aune led the company to a position of financial stability and growth. Under her leadership, Onvoy had 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 VC backed broadband company.
Prior to joining Onvoy, Ms. Aune served in numerous executive leadership positions at US 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 US West with responsible for a $3 billion product portfolio.
She currently serves on the board of directors for the Minnesota High Technology Association (MHTA) and the Women's Healthcare Trust. Her past board of director experiences include: 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.
Brad Beard
Bradley J. Beard, MHA, is the President of Fairview Southdale Hospital and Clinics, Minneapolis, Minnesota. In his role as the administrator, he is responsible for Fairview Southdale Hospital, a 390 bed facility located in Edina, Minnesota and four primary care clinics with 42 providers. In his previous role he was responsible for rehabilitation services and retail imaging for the Fairview Health System. Mr. Beard has been employed with Fairview for the past 23 years. He received his Master's Degree in Healthcare Administration from the University of Minnesota, a Bachelor's Degree from the Medical College of Georgia and a Bachelor's Degree from West Chester University.
A frequent lecturer and consultant on the topic of leadership, customer service and employee satisfaction, Brad provides practical solutions and strategies to organizations interested in improving their level of service to customers and employees.
James Eppel, Jr.
Jim leads the network management division of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota. In this role, he has responsibility for all aspects of the relationship between Blue Cross and its extensive network of hospitals, physicians, allied and ancillary providers.
Prior to joining Blue Cross in 2007, Jim served as vice president of revenue management and improvement for Allina Hospitals and Clinics, where he had responsibility for Allina’s revenue cycle functions, including payer relations and contracting, billing and collection, Medicare reporting and pricing.
Jim has spent many years in a variety of roles within managed care organizations, including Medica Health Plans and United Resource Networks, a subsidiary company of UnitedHealth Group (UHG). While a member of the senior management team at Medica, he had responsibility for all aspects of Medica’s commercial products, including sales, marketing, product development and customer service. During another period, Jim had responsibility for Medica’s network management, health improvement, pharmacy and medical economics functions. As vice president of product development and contracting for United Resource Networks, he led URN’s contracting efforts with a national network of transplant centers and developed new products focused on catastrophic illness.
Jim and his wife Barb live in Edina, Minnesota. They have two children; Sarah, who is a student at Miami University, and John, a student at Edina High School.
Douglas McCormack
Doug is a partner with Sonnenschein, Nath & Rosenthal LLP, a law firm that practices throughout the U.S., Asia, Europe and Latin America. He works out of the firm’s Washington D.C. office in the areas of public law and policy strategies and health care. Doug specializes in representing early-stage companies, trade associations, health and medical companies, professional medical societies, and nonprofit organizations.
Doug has also represented large nonprofit and disability organizations such as the Epilepsy Foundation, the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation, and the Lance Armstrong Foundation. He has provided clients guidance on issues and organizational management, strategic planning, and crisis management. In addition, Doug has experience working with growth companies in the technology and health care sectors.
Lisa Pope
Lisa is a Minneapolis-based integrated marketing strategist. With over twenty years of Fortune 500 client experience, she has provided strategic direction for brand leaders such as BMW, Belvedere Vodka, Subway, and Visa. Lisa excels at translating brand strategies across a variety of platforms—including web, print and multimedia outlets—to ensure consistent, effective customer experiences. Lisa’s superior leadership skills, network of best-in-class partners, and collaborative approach offer her clients the best of all worlds in her consulting practice.
Lisa holds an MBA in Marketing from the University of Minnesota. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Psychology from the College of St. Benedict. She has participated in continuing education courses at the Kellogg Graduate School of Management, Adaptive Path seminars, Culinary Institute of America and Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD).
Scott Schwefel
Scott is founder and CEO of the Twin Cities Learning Center for Insights Learning and Development, the creator of professional assessments to enhance leadership skills, corporate communications, and foster personal growth. Scott has more than 20 years experience as a successful business entrepreneur and leader.
Previously, Schwefel was CEO for Benchmark Computer Learning in Edina, Minn. Under his leadership, Benchmark was twice featured as one of Minnesota’s Fast 50 rapidly-growing, privately-held firms. He is a graduate of Concordia University.
Soni Styrlund
Soni is founder and CEO of The Sunny Corporation. She has nearly 30 years experience with industry leaders General Mills, Campbell-Mithun Advertising, Wilson-Griak Films, and the Moore Talent Agency. She served on the board of Streetlights, a diversity mentoring program in Los Angeles and chaired the Association of National Advertisers Production Committee. She was the founder and President of Minnesota Women in Film and Television, and a founding member of the Minnesota Film and Television Board. Styrlund is the recipient of a Women’s Leadership Award from Manhattanville College, and an honorary certificate from Congress, for her commitment to helping others. She is a graduate of the University of Minnesota.
William Weimer
Bill is a partner at Faegre & Benson, a general practice law firm based in Minneapolis with offices in Denver, Boulder, Des Moines, Frankfurt, London and Shanghai. Bill's practice primarily focuses in the area patents, trade secrets, and trademarks, including procurement, enforcement, counseling, litigation support, and agreements.
Prior to joining Faegre & Benson, Bill was in-house counsel at Imation Corp. and 3M Company. Bill brings legal understanding and experience to the CaringBridge board. He is focused on strategic planning within the CaringBridge board.
Bill and his wife Lora have two children and live in Woodbury, Minnesota.
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