The Northern Plains Conference

on Aging and Disability

Life's Your Legacy...Live It!

About the Speakers

Jacqueline Marcell (Kick-Off Keynote)

Compelled from being the sole caregiver to her elderly father and ailing mother, Jacqueline gave up her career as a television executive to become an advocate for eldercare awareness and reform.  Determined to save others from a similar frustrating experience, she wrote her first best-selling book “Elder Rage” and was the producer and host of  "Coping With Caregiving”, a radio program with 700 archived interviews. Media appearances include TODAY, CNN, PBS Documentary, Woman’s Day, Prevention, and AARP.  Marcell has a B.S. degree and holds California Teaching Credentials, UCLA.

Dr. Pauline Boss (Opening Keynote)

Dr. Pauline Boss is Professor emeritus at the University of Minnesota.  For the past three decades, her research and clinical work focused on “ambiguous loss”—losses that remain unclear.  After 9/11, she was invited to NYC to share expertise in how to help families of the missing.  She was Visiting Professor at Harvard Medical School, 1995 – 96, and just recently, Moses Professor at the Hunter School of Social Work.  She is a Fellow in American Psychological Association and American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy.  Among many publications and books are the popular: Ambiguous Loss: Living with Unresolved Grief, Harvard University Press (1999), and her most recent: Loss, Trauma and Resilience: Therapeutic Work with Ambiguous Loss, WW Norton, 2006. She holds a PhD (1975) and M.S (1971) in Child Development and Family Studies, both from University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Renee Rongen (Afternoon Keynote)

Renee Wall Rongen is a professional speaker who has inspired thousands of people to live life from the inside out.  Renee has been featured in numerous national publications such as Better Homes and Gardens, Fortune, Minnesota Women’s Business Magazine, Parenting, and West Coast Publishing..  Renee received a Bachelor’s degree in 1983 from the College of St. Benedict/St. John’s University in Minnesota and completed graduate courses in management at the University of Mary, Bismarck, ND.  She did additional coursework at the University of Salzburg, Austria.  She has worked with numerous national and international companies in the capacity of marketing and coaching business executives in her signature approach of living life from the inside out.

Gail Nelson, M.ED., LAPC (Closing Keynote)

Gail Nelson has been a training professional for 15 years.  She specializes in programs for the workplace on conflict, stress and communication strategies.  She has held training and management jobs in St. Louis and Chicago.  She spent 10 years as a corporate trainer and management consultant for The Village Business Institute and Employee Assistance Program.  She is also a trained  mediator.  Gail is the owner and CEO of Blue Moon Training Workshops. Gail’s credentials include an M.ED – North Dakota State University, and a BSW – University of North Dakota.

Jane Monachelli, M.A., L.P.C.

Jane is a Licensed Professional Counselor who specializes in grief counseling and relationship therapy.  She has had a private practice in the Phoenix area for 25 years. Jane is a popular speaker and has appeared on radio and TV, covering subjects such as ‘Women and Depression,” and “Codependency and Recovery”.

John D. Shier RN, Ph.D

John Shier is a Registered Nurse with a message.  He entered the profession of nursing when he was sixty after having two prior careers.  He was an Assistant Professor of Philosophy at the University of Wisconsin – Green Bay for fourteen years.  Following that, he served eighteen years as the Executive Director of the Lake Michigan Area Agency on Aging and Executive Director of the United Way of Brown county.  Following the 1982 cancer death of a close friend, he became a hospice volunteer. John has a BSN from the University of Wisconsin, and earned both his MP and Ph.D – Philosophy from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

Vicki Schmall, PhD

Dr. Schmall is the Executive Director and Gerontology & Training Specialist with Aging Concerns in West Linn, OR.  She is also Professor Emeritus of Oregon State University, where she served as the Director of the Program on Gerontology and the Gerontology Specialist in the OSU Extension Service for 25 years. Dr. Schmall has a Ph.D. in Family Studies/Gerontology from Oregon State University.

Janet E. Witt, MS, RD, Grassroots Manager

National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare

Ms. Witt brings to the National Committee a background in citizen advocacy and grassroots organization.  As the Grassroots Manager for 12 states in the northwest, she provides educational programs and assistance implementing the national committee’s legislative strategy supporting social Security, Medicare and family financial and health issues.  Ms. Witt is a Registered Dietician with a masters degree in Family and Consumer Sciences.

Susan Johnson-Drenth, CELA, Attorney

Vogel Law Firm

Susan E. Johnson-Drenth is a shareholder in the Vogel Law Firm.  Sue primarily practices in the areas of estate planning, trust law, probate, elder law and medical assistance planning in North Dakota and Minnesota.  Sue is the first and only Certified Elder Law Attorney in North Dakota and northern Minnesota.  Sue is a frequent presenter at estate planning seminars, especially those focusing on estate planning, elder law, medical assistance planning and special needs trusts.  In addition to practicing law, Sue continues to hold a licensure as a Registered Nurse.  She received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration, and her Associate Degree in Nursing from North Dakota State University.  She received her Juris Doctor Degree, with distinction, from the University of North Dakota.

Lori Van Beek

Moorhead Transit Manager

Lori is the Transit Manager for the City of Moorhead, where she has been employed for 25 years.  Her transit duties are very diverse and include demand-responsive service for senior citizens and persons with disabilities. Lori graduated from Moorhead Area Vocational and Technical Institute (1978). 

Daryl Ritchison, Meteorologist, WDAY

Daryl has a Master’s Degree in Geography with an emphasis in Atmospheric Sciences and also a master’s Degree in Business Administration, both from Minnesota State University, Mankato.  Daryl joined the WDAY Storm Tracker team in 1996.

Ms. Jo Huey

She served as the Director of Social Services and the Licensed Nursing Home Administrator for an all Alzheimer’s Nursing Home, and is currently the Director of a group of specialized Residential Care Homes she implemented in New Orleans. Jo has a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications and Sociology and holds a Certificate in Gerontology from the University of Denver, and a Masters in Social Science from the University of Colorado.

Craig Mason, M.D.

Retina Consultants L.T.D.

Dr. Mason is practices at Retina consultants, Ltd in Fargo, ND. Dr. Mason is board certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology.  He is also a fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery, and the American Society of Retina Specialists.  He earned his Doctor of Medicine degree in 1979 from Yale University School of Medicine.

Joni Brandenburg

Great Plains Assistance Dogs Foundation

Joni is the Executive Director at Great Plains Assistance Dogs Foundation (GPAD) in Jud, North Dakota.  She started her career at GPAD as a secretary in 2003.  Joni has grown to love the dogs.  “Words can’t express how rewarding it is to see the way a service dog changes a person’s life.”

Michelle (Mitch) Doyle

Great Plains Assistance Dogs Foundation

Mitch is the head trainer at Great Plains Assistance Dogs Foundation.  She started her career by training her personal dog tricks and manners.  She started at GPAD in 2003 and her personal knowledge and on the job training has been her ongoing education.  “This is the most rewarding job I have ever had.  To be helping people of all ages and lifestyles by training a dog to do simple and complex tricks.”

Rabecca Caillier, M.D.

MeritCare Neuroscience Center

Dr. Caillier, neurologist, evaluates and treats diseases that affect the brain, spinal cord, nerves and muscles. These conditions include stroke, memory problems, seizures, brain tumors, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, and conditions causing numbness and weakness. Dr. Caillier earned her medical degree from the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks.

Zelko Leon, M.D.

MeritCare Adult Psychiatric Department

Dr. Leon specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of mental health and emotional disorders. Conditions treated include anxiety, depression and other mood disorders, alcoholism and substance abuse, personality disorders and schizophrenia. Dr. Leon received his medical degree from the School of Medicine, Belgrade, Yugoslavia. He completed his residency in psychiatry at the University of North Dakota School of Medicine, Fargo.

Nancy Abrahamson

Nancy has provided dementia education to thousands of people during her 22 year career. Currently she is Caregiver Support Coordinator for the Department of Aging, St. Croix County, Wisconsin. She managed the first dementia care unit in Minnesota.  She has also served on the Board for a Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Association chapter and as Program Director for the Minnesota-Dakota Alzheimer’s Association.

Marlowe Kro

AARP – North Dakota, Associate State Director, Community Outreach

Prior to joining AARP, Marlowe was the Administrator of Home- and Community-Based Services for the Aging Services Division of the North Dakota Department of Human Services. Marlowe has a BA from Concordia College and a MA from the University of Mary.

Janis Cheney

AARP – North Dakota, State Director

Prior to joining AARP, Janis worked for the North Dakota Insurance Department as the Director of the Life and Health Division and the Senior Health Insurance Counseling Program.  She served in the Governor of North Dakota’s office as the Director of Special Projects and Assistant to the Chief of Staff.  She has a BA from the University of Massachusetts and a MA from NDSU.

Heather J. Peters, Ph.D

University of Minnesota, Morris

Dr. Heather J. Peters is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of Minnesota, Morris. Dr. Peters received her Master of Arts Degree (2004) and her Doctorate of Philosophy (2006) in Clinical Psychology with a specialty in Sport Psychology from the University of Arizona. She completed her Pre-doctoral Internship and Post-doctoral Fellowship at the University of California-Davis.