Bringing Professionals in the field of aging together since 1983

Awards

Congratulations to our 2022 Award Winners!

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