ENRICHING LIFE, BUILDING COMMUNITY A tradition of caring since 1894

Trustees of Episcopal Homes of Minnesota

Meet Our Trustees

Please email info@episcopalhomes.org if you wish to contact a member of Episcopal Homes’ Board of Trustees

	Tom Hove Position: Chair Professional Affiliation: Roseville Area School District Title / Position:Retired Personal Message: I bring to the Board of Trustees nine years of past service on the Board. I do not bring to the Board any expertise in health care issues, financing, or banking. I do believe in Episcopal Homes’ mission statement and I am willing to give my time and whatever ability I have to achieve that goal.
	Brian Ostenso Position: Vice Chair Professional Affiliation: Mail Handling Group Title / Position: Owner
	Chris Howard Position: Secretary Professional Affiliation: Retired Title / Position: Attorney at Law Personal Message: I am honored to serve on the Board of an organization that is committed to caring for the spiritual needs, as well as the physical needs, of its residents.
	Denise Cole Position: Treasurer Professional Affiliation: St. Stephens Episcopal Church Title / Position: Retired Personal Message: It is an honor to serve at Episcopal Homes of Minnesota.
	Lois Cutler Professional Affiliation:University of Minnesota Title / Position: Retired University of Minnesota Researcher \| Gerontology Graduate Faculty, Ph. D.
	Amy Fistler Professional Affiliation: United Theological Seminary of Minneapolis and Saint Paul Title / Position: Vice President for Advancement
	Melissa Gilbertson Professional Affiliation: Mairs & Power, Inc. Title / Position: Assistant Vice President, Investment Advisory Services Manager Personal Message: There is not a place in this world I’m not interested in knowing more about. I have a passion for the homeless and the hungry and believe that all of those who have the capacity are charged with tending to those with no advocates through our time, talents or resources.
	Peter Gove Professional Affiliation: [Retired] St. Jude Medical, Inc. Title / Position: [Retired] Vice President of Corporate Relations Personal Message: I grew up in the Episcopal Church and my family has a long history with Episcopal Homes. I am honored to join the Board of Trustees.
	Rebecca K. Hawthorne, Ph.D. Professional Affiliation: St. Catherine University Title / Position: Professor Emerita Personal Message: Rebecca feels privileged to be considered for the Board of Trustees of Episcopal Homes of Minnesota. Currently Professor Emerita of St. Catherine University, Rebecca directed the Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership (MAOL) program and co-authors the annual Minnesota Census of Women in Corporate Leadership. Rebecca’s leadership practice spans organizational work in strategy, vision and mission, finance, personnel, program design and evaluation. She has held leadership roles in foundations, higher education, social service, religious organizations, and the arts. Previously she served as President of the Board of Trustees for The Sheltering Arms Foundation of Minnesota and as Senior Warden of St. Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral. Rebecca and her husband Peter Hawthorne are members of St. Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral and reside in Wayzata.
	Jim Huber Professional Affiliation: [Retired] Minnesota Department of Human Services Title / Position: [Retired] Social Worker, MSW Personal Message: Jim is honored to be considered as a member of the Board of Trustees for Episcopal Homes of Minnesota (EHM). Jim is a retired social worker with an MSW, and has worked the last 30 years in social services administration at both the county level and, for the past 13 years, at the Minnesota Department of Human Services. He has been the director for various programs from mental health to the Community Action Programs. Jim has just completed two years as the senior warden at St. Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral. He sees his role on the EHM board as a way to continue the reconciliation between the Cathedral and Episcopal Homes following the unsuccessful Episcopal Commons project. He has filled many other leadership positions with the Episcopal Church in Minnesota. Jim and his wife, Mary, have been married for 56 years. Mary served on the Episcopal Church Home/EHM board for nine years. They live in Woodbury.
	Mary Lilja Professional Affiliation: Lilja Communications Title / Position: Owner Personal Message: I am proud to continue my family’s longstanding involvement in Episcopal Homes, following in the footsteps of my ancestor Sister Annette Relf, as well as my grandmother and mother. I enjoy bringing my business and public relations background to our board deliberations.
	Robert McClay Professional Affiliation: McClay-Alton, PLLP Title / Position: Attorney Personal Message: Serving on the board is a privilege. Episcopal Homes of Minnesota actualizes our mission of service to greater and greater numbers of lower income seniors. Our management staff, under the able direction of Marvin Plakut, provides exceptional services to our core constituency.
	Rev. Diane McGowan Professional Affiliation: St. George’s Episcopal Church (Deacon); Eagan Police Department (Chaplain); Metro Critical Stress Management Team (Chaplain); American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress (Chaplain); Emergency Ministries (Board Member and Chaplain) Title / Position: Deacon / Chaplain Personal Message: It would be an honor to serve as a trustee for Episcopal Homes’ under any circumstances, but to do so during a period of tremendous growth doubles the joy. The deep satisfaction is then doubled again by the way in which we welcome residents of all income levels, treating each other with dignity that all of God’s children – and senior citizens – deserve.
	Sarah Nowlin Professional Affiliation: Department of Defense Title / Position: Retired / Teacher
	Brien Slawik Professional Affiliation: Har-Mar, Inc./Slawik Properties Title / Position: President & CEO
	Jim Tift Position: Trustee Professional Affiliation: St. Catherine’s University Title / Position: Assistant Professor; Interprofessional Education Faculty Personal Message: Jim is a gerontologist, relationship builder, strong advocate for senior services, and developer of the senior services clinical workforce. Jim is a St. Kate’s faculty member and is well connected and respected among senior care organizations in Minnesota. Jim was the Community Services Director for the ElderCare Rights Alliance/Tubman Elder Care & Rights Center, and has held faculty and program director positions at Metropolitan State University, Minnesota State University-Mankato, and St. Mary’s University. He is a founding member and Past President of the Minnesota Gerontological Society
Not Photographed	Carol Forbes
	The Rt. Rev. Bishop Brian Prior Position: Honorary Trustee Professional Affiliation: Episcopal Church in Minnesota Title / Position: Bishop Personal Message: With a long and significant history in the Episcopal Church and in the community, Episcopal Homes is truly a blessing to both!