CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS
Our sincere thanks to all who serve on the HCP Board, past and present!
LINSIE HEMPLEMAN - EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR and PROGRAM MANAGER, NEIGHBORS IN ACTION
Linsie serves as the Executive Director of La Crescent Area HCP & Neighbors in Action. She has lived in La Crescent since July of 2019. Linsie has an Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice and a Bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Family Studies. She is passionate about providing services to the elderly in our community to ensure health and safety. She enjoys the natural beauty the La Crescent area has to offer. In her free time, she stays busy with her two dogs exploring, hiking, and being on the river. Her other hobbies include biking, snowmobiling, CrossFit, yoga, and traveling. You can contact Linsie at Linsie@neighborsinaction.net.
ERIC MINOR – PRESIDENT
Eric Minor moved to La Crescent in 2017 with his wife Amanda and their son. Both Eric and Amanda were raised in a small town in northern Wisconsin and are happy to be back in a small town with a strong community focus. As a Financial Advisor with Edward Jones Eric has always had a passion for helping others. Eric also serves on the ABLE board, and is a member of the Lions club. In his free time he enjoys traveling to sporting events with his family, playing volleyball, and snowmobiling. You can contact Eric at eric.minor@edwardjones.com.
EMILY RILEY – VICE PRESIDENT
Emily has been a La Crescent resident her whole life, and is a recent graduate of Luther College in Decorah, IA. She is excited to serve on the HCP board and give back to the community where she grew up. Emily is the Library Assistant at the La Crescent Public Library, and is also an organist and pianist. She enjoys music, reading, and spending time outdoors. You can contact Emily at emily.riley@lacrescenthcp.org.
LINDA LARSON – PAST PRESIDENT and PROGRAM MANAGER, LA CRESCENT COMMUNITY BIKE SHOPPE
Linda has been a resident of La Crescent for 25 years, raising two children here. She came to Healthy Community Partnership in 2007 as a representative for Gundersen Health System where she worked as an clinical exercise physiologist and wellness educator. She is now enjoying retirement. Linda has served as Secretary and President of HCP and is also the program manager for the La Crescent Community Bike Shoppe. She is passionate about helping La Crescent be a safe, active community with opportunities for everyone to live a healthy life. Linda enjoys the beauty of our area by walking and biking in our neighborhoods, hiking in the bluffs and gardening in her own backyard. You can email Linda at linda.larson@lacrescenthcp.org.
DIANE PALM – BOARD SECRETARY and PROGRAM MANAGER, LA CRESCENT COMMUNITY GARDEN
Diane and her husband Dave moved to La Crescent in 2017 from rural Winona. She is a retired Nurse Practitioner and has worked with both Gundersen and Mayo Health Systems. She was the director of Student Health services at Winona State University and very involved with Healthy Campus initiatives during those years. Since moving to La Crescent she has enjoyed volunteering with the Community Garden and the La Crescent Food shelf. Her hobbies include golfing, gardening, hiking and biking. Contact Diane at: diane.palm@lacrescenthcp.org.
BOB PITEL – BOARD TREASURER and PROGRAM MANAGER, APPLESEED COMMUNITY THEATRE
Bob Pitel and his wife Jackie have been La Crescent residents since 1980. They raised four children in La Crescent and now have six grandsons. Bob taught math, computer programming, and physics at La Crescent High School for 29 years before retiring. He is currently teaching math at Globe University. Bob was one of the founding members of Appleseed Community Theatre in 2002 and is currently ACT’s president. He joined the HCP board when Appleseed became a program of HCP and is currently serving as treasurer for HCP. Bob can be contacted at bobpitel@gmail.com.
BEN WHITE – FINANCIAL MANAGER
Ben joined HCP in January of 2023. He was raised in Winona and lives there with his fiance, Elyse, who is originally from La Crescent. He graduated in 2010 from Winona State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Management of Information Systems. He worked as a tax consultant for six years. Currently, Ben works as the treasurer for the American Society of Tax Professionals, and also works as a self-employed computer tech support technician as needed for area residents. He also works for the Winona Post delivering papers by car to Winona and surrounding communities. On Sunday mornings, he volunteers for St. Paul's Episcopal Church for their community breakfast. In his free time, he enjoys gaming, birding, reading, and hiking around local areas and anywhere beyond. You can contact Ben at ben.white@lacrescenthcp.org.
DANIELLE CURTI – VALUED HCP PARTNER - DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS and VOLUNTEERS - NEIGHBORS IN ACTION
Danielle serves as the Director of Operations and Volunteers at Neighbors in Action. She is from the La Crosse area and holds a Bachelor's degree in Marketing from the University of La Crosse. She is excited to give back and join the La Crescent community. Danielle appreciates observing the beautiful area by hiking, kayaking, and boating on the Mississippi River. She also enjoys reading and listening to podcasts. You can contact Danielle at danielle@neighborsinaction.net
SHELLEY ELLINGSON – PROGRAM MANAGER, TOUCHING MOMENTS and WINDY RIDGE RANCH THERAPEUTIC CENTER
Shelley Ellingson lives in rural Hokah with her husband, cats and horses. Her hobbies include reading, scrapbooking, horseback riding, and traveling with her family. She enjoys living in the La Crescent area and has served the community through her church and youth organizations, including Girl Scouts and 4-H. As an HCP Board member, she has learned more about the wonderful services the La Crescent area has to offer and with her dedicated volunteers, she has made the Touching Moments Animal Assisted Activities and Windy Ridge Ranch programs very successful. You can contact Shelley by email at windyrr@goacentek.net.
BRENDON GROEN – BOARD MEMBER
Brendon moved to the La Crosse area from Sioux Falls, South Dakota to be with his now husband Brady in 2016. They moved to La Crescent in December 2019 and have enjoyed meeting wonderful neighbors. Wanting to be a part of the community, Brendon became a volunteer with the La Crescent Food Shelf and has also thoroughly enjoyed having a garden plot in the community garden. He is currently helping clean the food shelf. He enjoys serving on the HCP board. He currently works as a nurse practitioner at Mayo Clinic and is passionate about providing nephrology care. In his spare time he enjoys spending time with his husband, friends and family, baking, playing tennis, spending time with his cats and tending to his 50+ houseplants. You can contact Brendon at bkgroen@gmail.com.
BETSY KNOWLES – PROGRAM MANAGER, NEIGHBORS DAY
Betsy has been a resident of La Crescent since 1986. In 2005 she was involved in the Southern MN Initiative Town Hall Meetings where she and several others first proposed hosting an Annual Neighbors Day in La Crescent. Betsy has helped coordinate the day since 2006 – and through the tremendous support of the community, Neighbors Day has been a reality through rain, sun and even snow! Betsy is retired from the Economics Department at the University of Wisconsin La Crosse, and enjoys tai chi, long walks, camping, growing food and making lively music with her band. You can reach Betsy at 507-895-8866.
JENNIFER LIETZAU – BOARD MEMBER
Jennifer moved to rural Hokah with her husband, Ryan, and two daughters in 2016. As an occupational therapist, registered nurse and now nurse practitioner, Jennifer is passionate about promoting healthy lifestyles. She also has a strong desire to advocate for community well-being and has helped implement the mobile food shelf in Winona through Winona Volunteer Services. As a new board member, she has been involved in Neighbors in Action, and looks forward to further collaboration with the La Crescent Area Health Community Partnership. In her free time, Jennifer enjoys reading, being on the river, spending time with her children, playing cards and board games and doing craft projects. You can contact Jennifer at jennifer.lietzau@lacrescenthcp.org.
SUSAN ODDSEN – PROGRAM MANAGER, LA CRESCENT FOOD SHELF
Susan moved to La Crescent with her husband Logan Colby and their two children in 2009, for his teaching position at the La Crescent Middle School. She joined the Healthy Community Partnership board in 2012, because she shares the vision of creating a healthy, thriving community in La Crescent. Her passion is growing and eating healthy foods, so she stepped up to help grow the Community Garden, and the La Crescent-Hokah Elementary School Garden. Having volunteered at the La Crescent Food Shelf for several years, she recently answered the call to help grow this program as it comes under HCP’s umbrella. Her other interests include hiking and camping, travel, music, theatre, and following her children’s activities. Contact Susan at: susan.oddsen@lacrescenthcp.org.
BECKY KRONEBUSCH – BOARD MEMBER
Beckie Kronebusch, MS, APRN, AGCNS, has been a nurse at Mayo Clinic for 18 years, and is currently a clinical nurse specialist manager in MCHS SWWI region, based out of La Crosse. In this role, she supports the practicing my aligning clinical nurse specialist resources to provide high quality, safe and evidence-based nursing care. Her experience includes oncology, critical care, procedural care, and primary care. She lives in Plainview, MN and has 3 active children in 10th grade, 8th grade, and 3rd grade. You can reach Beckie at beckie.kronebusch@lacrescenthcp.org.
