Congratulations to our 2022 Award Winners!
- Outstanding Professional in the Field of Aging: Lacelle Cordes, Rosemount Parks & Recreation
- Up and Coming Professional: Liz Faust, Maple Grove Parks & Recreation
Outstanding Professional in the Field of Aging award winner Lacelle Cordes was recognized at a special presentation, attended by seniors from the Rosemount Steeple Center, Lacelle's family and friends, Rosemount Parks& Recreation staff, and many others wanting to celebrate her many accomplishments. MASS President Lesley Young and Awards Committee Chair Stephanie Baumann presented Lacelle with the well deserved award, and MASS members Missie Kohlbeck, Barb Lipinski, Sue Bohnsack and Michele Starkey joined in on the celebration. Congratulations Lacelle!!
Highlights From Lacelle's Nomination: Lacelle has worn many hats during her 30-year career with Rosemount Parks & Recreation, including supervising the senior programs from 1997 to 2015. At the time she took over, the group was meeting in a basement of a local shopping complex. Lacelle helped transition the group first to the Rosemount Community Center, expanding the program to include daily cards/games, monthly luncheons, classes, day trips, and more, and later to our current space at the Rosemount Steeple Center. While overseeing the senior programs, Lacelle developed great relationships with the people she served. The president of the Rosemount Area Seniors at the time said, “Lacelle works hard to make our senior programming a success and does her best to meet the needs of our RAS members. Her ability to collaborate with others helps to make our programs successful”. Although Lacelle is no longer working with our senior programs on a day to day basis, she still actively participates in a networking group of senior programmers in the south of the river area, sharing her knowledge and experience and continuing to help coordinate programs and events. Despite having several other job responsibilities, Lacelle always makes time to dedicate to senior programs. In addition to her regular job duties, Lacelle has been an extremely dedicated member of MASS over the years. She has served on the Executive Committee as the Membership Chair for over 10 years. As part of that position, she worked with MRPA to have them serve as the fiscal agent for MASS, and she still works as the liaison with them. She has also served on several conference committees, managing registrations and helping in countless other ways, and she was integral in hosting the 2014 conference in Rosemount. Lacelle is a great advocate for MASS and very well deserving of this award!
Up and Coming Professional award winner Liz Faust was presented her award at the 2023 annual MASS Conference! She has accomplished so much in her nine years in the field and is so deserving of this award. Congratulations Liz!!
Highlight's from Liz's Nomination: Liz began her career working for the City of Rogers managing all senior programs, and she is now working for the City of Maple Grove as the current Recreation Program Specialist, overseeing the 55 forward programs. Over the last few years, Liz has worked through the challenges of COVID and continues to grow meaningful relationships with outside community groups as well as within the City organization. One example is her work with Age-Friendly Maple Grove. She is the lead on the board and works with the different committees to meet their goals and objectives. The outcomes of this group have been meaningful and have been incorporated into city planning and development. Liz has presented to the Governor as well as our City council numerous times about the positive impact of the work Age-Friendly provides. Liz also works closely with numerous outside groups to bring educators to the senior population. This work includes providing a memory café, family support groups, insurance, and house maintenance resources, driving programs, safety series, and more. To fulfill all needs of the senior population Liz’s programming includes many opportunities for socializing and staying active. Currently, she oversees 12 social clubs, and 4 active clubs as well as the pickleball program. Liz also reaches seniors through a variety of registration-based programs that include art, African drumming, basket weaving, card making and crafts, discussion groups, monthly meet-ups, offsite trips and adventures as well as large senior luncheons and suppers. Liz programs serviced over 1800 seniors in 2021 in addition to the social club numbers. Throughout COVID, Liz with help from her team continued to provide essential services to the senior population. She revamped traditional programming and offered outdoor bingo events and outdoor entertainment opportunities as well as virtual fitness and wellness programming. She continued to communicate regularly with the community to check-in and provide services. In 2021 Liz Faust teamed up with Maple Grove’s Youth Outreach Coordinator to begin an intergenerational garden program. The program was a huge success with all spots full with a 50/50 population of seniors to youth. This program was the recipient of the 2021 MRPA Award of Excellence. This year the program has doubled and Liz was able to secure a substantial donation from the Maple Grove Hospital to support the initiative. This is one example of how Liz continues to grow her programming and meet the needs of the community.
Thank You to the 2022 MASS Awards Committee
Committee Members: Stephanie Baumann, Barb Lipinski, Michele Starkey, Sue Bohnsack, and Al Vandehoef. If you are interested in serving on next year's Awards Committee, please contact Stephanie Baumann at 651-322-6016 or stephanie.baumann@rosemountmn.gov. This is a fun committee to serve on, as our job is to honor and recognize our deserving colleagues for their hard work and dedication to the field. We are always looking for new members!
Past Award Recipients:
2020 | Stephanie Baumann | Up and Coming Professional | Rosemount Parks & Recreation |
2020 | Lesley Young | Outstanding Professional | Club Prior, Prior Lake |
2019 | Laura Hoberg | Up and Coming Professional | Winona Friendship Center |
2019 | Sue Bohnsack | Outstanding Professional | Eden Prairie Senior Center |
2018 | Heather Radke | Up and Coming Professional | Marshall Senior Center |
2018 | Laura Hood | Outstanding Professional | Whitney Senior Center, St. Cloud |
2017 | Rebecca Kropelnicki | South Washington County Senior Center | |
2016 | Nicole Gorman | Farmington Senior Center | |
2015 | Barb Lipinski | Marshall Senior Center | |
2014 | Laurie Thrush | Hastings Area Senior Center | |
2013 | Michele Starkey | Burnsville Senior Center | |
2012 | Steve Pieh | City of Minnetonka Senior Services | |
2011 | Linda Walter | City of Lakeville | |
2010 | Missie Kohlbeck | Farmington Senior Center | |
2009 | Suzanne Kostanshek | Elk River Activity Center | |
2008 | Connie Thompson | Fridley Senior Center | |
2007 | Arlene Fink | Northfield Senior Center | |
2006 | Dodie Johnsrud | Pope County Senior Center | |
2004 | Pam Loidolt | Monticello Senior Center | |
2003 | Jeanne Fackler | City of Golden Valley | |
2003 | Gail Sinkel | Delano Senior Center | |
2002 | Susan Newville | Hopkins Senior Center | |
2001 | Kris Orluck | Maple Grove Senior Center | |
2000 | Cathy Bailey | Gillespie Center, Mound | |
1999 | Jennifer Spado (Crotteau) | Buffalo Senior Center | |
1998 | Melinda Ludwiczak | ||
1997 | JoAnne Kvern | ||
1995 | Linda Dietz | Breckenridge Senior Center | |
1994 | Mary Hilleshiem | ||
1993 | Dorothy Williams | ||
1992 | Carol Kuettner | ||
1991 | Jean Thorne | ||
1990 | Steve Hennes | Whitney Senior Center, St. Cloud | |
1989 | Kathy Meyer | ||
1988 | Kathryn LeBrasseur |