Current Board Members & Program Managers
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.
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.
EMILY RILEY – 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.
ERIC MINOR – VICE 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.
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.
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.
LISA DOCKEN– BOARD MEMBER
Lisa has lived in La Crescent for 36 years. While raising her family she was a board member for the La Crescent-Hokah School District and the Hiawatha Valley Education District. Now, mostly retired, she enjoys substituting as a preschool teacher assistance for Community Education and serving as a volinteer driver for Neighbors in Acvtion. She hikes with the Driftless Drifters and is grateful to the La Crescent Community Bike Shoppe for fixing up her well-used bike. She loves to read, appreciates the library's book club, and has served as a board memnber for both the La Crescent Public Library and Friends of the Library. Lisa can be reached at lisa.docken@lacrescenthcp.org.
NICOLE BREYER– BOARD MEMBER
Nicole has lived in La Crescent her whole life. She works as a registered nurse for Inclusa. She is a passionate nurse who enjoys serving and educating vulnerable adults to assist them to remain active in their community. She enjoys being on the river, playing with her dog, and attending concerts. You can contact Nicole at nicole.breyer@lacrescenthcp.org
LINDA LARSON – PROGRAM MANAGER, LA CRESCENT COMMUNITY BIKE SHOPPE
Linda has been a resident of La Crescent for 40 years. She came to Healthy Community Partnership in 2007 as a representative for Gundersen Health System. She is now enjoying retirement. Linda is currently 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.
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.
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.
MASERAY BANGURA -- PROGRAM MANAGER, LA CRESCENT GARDEN TOUR
Maseray has lived in La Crescent for over 14 years and is an active member of the community. Along with raising three children, Maseray is also a speech language pathologist for the La Crescent School district and Mayo. She also volunteers on the Bike/Ped committee, the Parks and Rec Committee, and is a member of the community garden. In her spare time, Maseray enjoys being outdoors, exercising, cooking and spending time with family and friends. Maseray joined HCP in 2023 as the lead organizer of the La Crescent Parade of Gardens and hopes this annual event brings community members together and educates them on the joys of gardening.
CARLY ZADOW- PROGRAM MANAGER, NEIGHBORS DAY
Carly and her husband, Ben, both grew up and graduated high school in La Crescent. In 2021, after 8.5 years of working at Quillins', she decided to pursue a job at Neighbors in Action as the Billing Specialist. It was through Neighbors in Action's Program Manager, Linsie, that she was introduced to Betsy, the previous Program Manager of Neighbors Day, who was looking for someone to take over her role. After joining the committee as the Program-Manager-in-Training for Neighbors Day 2023, she decided to officially take on the role. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, baking, canning, embroidery, and volunteering through her church. You can contact Carly at carly.zadow@lacrescenthcp.org.
