Board of Directors

2023 Board Members

James Green, Board Chair, 

Jay Coughlan, Vice Chair is Chief Executive and Managing Director of Coughlan Consulting, a company that provides CEO coaching to leaders of emerging growth companies. Jay has successfully led two emerging companies through turnarounds, business integrations, periods of rapid business growth, and mergers and acquisitions. With more than 30 years in leadership, including 12+ combined years as a two-time CEO, Jay became widely recognized as a leader who both took a strategic view in the most challenging business enivronments and maintained strong top and bottom line performance. Jay has served as chairman and director in both the private and public sectors. During his tenure as board chair of Minnesota Teen Challenge, the organization doubled in size, becoming one of the largest non-profits in the State of Minnesota. 


John Clymer, Immediate Past Chair, John holds an MBA in finance from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He began his career in investments at Minnesota Life Insurance Company and was appointed president in 1991. He went on to be President of Resource Capital Investors, a Minneapolis-based banking, trust, planning, and investment firm, and later served as Regional Chief Investment Officer for U.S. Trust. In 2008, he joined Marvin Windows and Doors in the Office of Strategy Management. He serves on the Board of Directors for several entities, including Marvin Companies, Trustmark Insurance Company, the Phipps Foundation, and the YMCA Retirement Fund. 



Theodore Chien is in his second 9 year term and has extensive experience in the area of strategic planning, HR, benefits and health care fields, Health Care Reform and Health Care Delivery Systems. Ted is currently the President and CEO of Sullivan, Cotter and Associates, Inc., an independent consulting firm specializing in executive, employee, and physician compensation, governance and Health Care System Management. Previously, Ted was Executive Vice President of Corporate Client Relations for United Health Group, as well as President of Ingenix, where he led the Consulting and Employer Solutions business unit at United Health Group. In addition, Ted has served as the Global Director for the Group and Health Care practice for Watson Wyatt.


Brad Hewitt is the former CEO of Thrivent Financial. In 1993, he was named CFO of Diversified Pharmaceutical Services, and later became president and CEO. He also served as chief administrative officer of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Brad recently served as interim CEO for the Wilder Foundation in St. Paul. He serves as Chair of the Itasca Project, Board Chair for Habitat for Humanity Internationa, and is a board member of the International Cooperative and Mutual Insurance Federation. He volunteers as a mentor, and frequently speaks on financial stewardship, leadership, and ethics. Brad holds a BS degree in mathematics from the University of Wisconsin–River Falls and completed the Harvard Business School's program for management development.


Molly Lagermeier is a healthcare leader who is passionate about engaging the individual in their health while using information and technology to improve outcomes and drive down healthcare costs. She currently leads the consulting practice Engaging Solutions Group, Inc. Prior to that, she held roles at IBM as Global Portfolio Leader for Healthcare & Life Sciences in Consumer Engagement and at UnitedHealth Group, Optum, as VP of Operations Strategy & Sr Director Case & Disease Management, leading a team of over 1000 nurses. She brings both a Masters in Health Informatics and an MBA from the University of Minnesota. She has served on the board of directors of Global Health Ministries, the Junior League of Minneapolis, and Headway Emotional Health Services (formerly The Storefront Group).


Laura McKnight graduated from Bethel University in 1973 and earned her law degree from William Mitchell College of Law in 1979. She worked as a litigator, focusing on employment law, at Moss & Barnett, Bassford Remele, and most recently Jackson Lewis. Laura was selected to Super Lawyers for 1999 - 2022, and Best Lawyers in America from 2015 to present. Laura has served on the Board of Trustees at Bethel University, and the Board of Governors. She served on the Board of Directors of Avinity from 2011 to 2016 and was the Vice Chancellor of the Episcopal Church of Minnesota from 2012 to 2021. Laura was also on the Board of Directors and Past President of the Minnesota Visiting Nurse Association in the mid 90’s. 


Paula Norbom is the CEO and Founder of Talencio, an executive recruiting and staffing company serving the U.S. Health Technology community. Paula has a strong financial background, having served in CFO and VP of Finance and Operations roles within the health technology industry. Paula has been recognized as a Woman to Watch by the Minneapolis St. Paul Business Journal and is frequently featured in several local periodicals such as the Star Tribune, the Minneapolis St. Paul Business Journal and Med City News.




John H. L. Odom, Jr. is a medical doctor who specializes in sports medicine. He founded Odom Health & Wellness in 2006 and Odom Rehab in 2011, an outpatient practice predominantly serving the senior housing industry. Ministry, medicine, and the mission field are all passions that came together to shape Dr. Odom’s career. His private practice addresses health and wellness by incorporating cutting edge technology and a holistic approach to optimize health. Dr. Odom has been team physician for Northwestern College, medical director of the USAT National Championship Triathlon, the Liberty Triathlon, the USA team elite triathlete physician, team physician for USA Ski and Snowboard, as well as medical director at Wellspring Health Center. Dr. Odom enjoys serving a large variety of patients, from inner city kids to Olympic athletes.


Jeffrey Rageth joined the 3M Company in 1997 and was appointed Global Vice President of Government Affairs in 2007. This position combines International Government Affairs and Markets, U.S. Federal and State Government Affairs, and Global Issues Management. Jeff has held various public sector executive management positions prior to 3M and most recently was Deputy Commissioner, MN Department of Trade and Economic Development. Jeff has served on the Board of Directors of United States Chamber of Commerce, United States Council for International Business, Business Council for International Understanding and US-ASEAN Business Council. Jeff also served as a member of the German-American Business Council, Washington International Business Council, Emergency Committee for American Trade, Potomac Exchange, and American Council for Young Political Leaders.


Sheryl Ramstad has led a distinguished legal and business development career, and is currently pursuing her PhD in nursing from the University of Minnesota. Ms. Ramstad has served as Chairman of the YMCA of Metropolitan Minneapolis, Chair of the University of Minnesota Law School Board of Visitors, and Chair of the University of Minnesota Women’s Athletic Advisory Committee. Ms. Ramstad has served on the National Advisory Board for the National Institute of Corrections and the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Advisory Board. Additionally, Ms. Ramstad served on the boards of directors for the Union Gospel Mission of the Twin Cities, ClearWay Minnesota, the Center for the Victims of Torture, the Minneapolis Children’s Medical Center, and Search Institute.


Janet Sommers is the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at the University of Northwestern in St. Paul, MN. She joined in 1991 and served as chair of the Department of English and Literature. Dr. Sommers oversees undergraduate education, Adult and Graduate Studies, Online Learning, Academic Assessment, Career Development, and more. Her influence has extended to the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities. She is passionate about developing aspiring leaders and has served as a resource leader and mentor for several CCCU Leadership Development Institutes. Sommers earned a bachelor's degree in English education from Gwynedd-Mercy College, a master's degree in English from the University of Toledo, and a doctoral degree in English from the University of Minnesota.


Barbara Stinnett is the founder and CEO of the Timmaron Group, a global applied technologies firm which has the purpose of bringing better healthcare to all.  One of the key pillars of the firm is to design, build, and serve technology advisory & governance boards.  She is recognized as an advocate for building communities of care and specialized programs that address the full spectrum of ‘the human element’, by bringing clinical, behavioral, and all ancillary services together that allow a community to thrive. She has served on multiple boards for technology and service companies throughout her career. Barb is certified in APICS, Six Sigma, Six Sigma Lean, HOSHIN, PACE, and other key operational business processes.  She has a degree in Computer Science & International Business from the University of Wisconsin and a degree in Global Supply Chain from the MIT Sloan School of Management
 

Ex-Officio

Elona Street-Stewart is the Synod Executive for the Synod of Lakes and Prairies in the Twin Cities area and serves as Ex-Officio on the PHS Board.

Officers