Saint Paul – Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced the appointment of Leonard Axelrod, Norby Blake, Sylvia C. Garcia, Larry K. Houk, and Jeanne Lukas; and the reappointment of Susan E. Humphers-Ginther, Ph.D., Michael R. Klatt, and Mary Jane Thompson to the Minnesota Board on Aging.

Axelrod, of Eagan, is a senior management consultant with CMC Justice Services, Inc., in St. Paul. Previously, he was the deputy-in-charge of the St. Paul division of the United States Bankruptcy Court, senior court manager with Hennepin County District Court, and held a number of other court administration and consulting positions prior to that. Axelrod earned his law degree from Hamline University School of Law in St. Paul, his master’s degree in public administration from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, and his bachelor of arts degree from Indiana University in Bloomington. Axelrod has been a member of the Hearing Society of Minnesota Board, Minnesota Petrofund Board, and served on a number of committees at Hamline University and its law school. Axelrod replaces Jayne Hager Dee on the Board on Aging and is appointed to a four-year term that expires on January 6, 2014.

Blake, of St. Paul, is the executive director of Inter-Tribal Elder Services, Inc. in Minneapolis. Previously, she has held positions with the Minnesota Department of Human Services as a senior planner for American Indian chemical health programs, program adviser, and a program consultant with its Mental Health Division; multicultural consultant with the Hennepin County Mental Health Adult Services; and a mental health services provider with Community University Health Care Clinic. Blake has chaired the Minnesota Mental Health Advisory Council, served on the Governor’s Task Force on Mental Health, Minnesota Indian Affairs Board, Phillips Improvement Association, Minneapolis Children’s Hospital, United Way of Minneapolis, and Family and Children’s Services. Blake replaces Carol Lee Bratter on the Board on Aging to complete a term that expires on January 3, 2011.

Garcia, of Moorhead, is currently pursuing her master of liberal arts degree at Minnesota State University (MSU), Moorhead. She holds a bachelor of arts degree in American Studies from MSU Moorhead. Professionally, Garcia held a number of positions with the Fargo-Moorhead Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB), including director of tourism sales and marketing, and director of convention and visitor services, and was a member of the Destination Marketing Association International, Professional Conference Management Association, and Association for Convention Operations Management while with the Fargo-Moorhead CVB.  Garcia is a member of the Fargo AirSho, Inc. Executive Committee, was a member of the Moorhead Citizen Police Academy Task Force, West Central Initiative Board, Red River of the North Riverkeepers Board, YWCA Board, Plains Arts Museum Board, and the Moorhead Citizen Advisory Committee. Garcia replaces Beth Nelson on the Board on Aging and is appointed to a four-year term that expires on January 6, 2014.

Houk, of Roseville, is a private practice attorney in St. Paul, whose work includes estate planning and elder law. He previously was a special assistant attorney general in the Minnesota Attorney General’s office. Houk earned his law degree from the University of Minnesota Law School, and his bachelor of arts degree from Bethel University in St. Paul. He authored a book titled, “A Layman’s Guide to understanding Wills, Trusts, and Probate”, and co-authored a book titled “To Tax or to Ration – Medicare, Medicaid, and Our Long Term Healthcare Crisis” and earlier co-authored another book on Medicaid law. He has also lectured extensively to national as well as local civic organizations, including a number of workshops at the Minnesota Society of Certified Public Accountants at its annual tax conference. Houk replaces Judge Terry Dempsey on the Board on Aging and is appointed to a four-year term that expires on January 6, 2014.

Humphers-Ginther, of Moorhead, is a professor of sociology at Minnesota State University (MSU) Moorhead, where she is the coordinator of Minnesota’s only undergraduate major in gerontology. She earned her doctorate degree in medical sociology from the University of California at San Francisco where she was awarded a five-year predoctoral fellowship in sociocultural gerontology from the National Institute on Aging. She has done post-graduate research work at the Northern California Alzheimer’s Disease Center in Berkeley, and the Institute for Health and Aging in San Francisco. She holds a bachelor of arts degree in sociology from the University of California at San Diego in La Jolla. Humphers-Ginther is a member of the Minnesota Gerontological Society Board of Directors, the Leadership Council of the Minnesota/North Dakota Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, the North Star Regional Geriatrics in Education Center Board of Directors, and the Northern Plains Conference on Aging and Disability Steering Committee. Humphers-Ginther, who has been a member of the Board on Aging since 2005, is reappointed to a four-year term that expires on January 6, 2014.

Klatt, of Belle Plaine, is the president and chief executive officer of The Lutheran Home Association. He has also been the chief operating officer, assistant to the CEO and community services director with The Lutheran Home Association. Klatt earned his master’s degree in organizational leadership as well as his bachelor’s degree in organizational studies from Bethel University in St. Paul, and holds a certificate in long term care administration from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. Klatt’s community activities have included serving as vice president of the Belle Plaine Economic Development Authority, founder of the Belle Plaine Community Foundation, and a member of the Minnesota Health and Housing Alliance Board of Directors. Klatt, who has been a member of the Board on Aging since 2006, is reappointed to another four-year term that expires on January 6, 2014.

Lukas, of Minnetonka, is a partner of strategic resource partners and the founder and president of MISSION TO Market, a marketing and research consulting firm focused on healthcare and issues of aging for profit and non-profit organizations.  Previously, Lukas was vice president of marketing with Evercare Senior Management, a UnitedHealth Group business; founder, chief operating officer, and chief marketing officer with The Loring Partnership, and vice president of marketing with Ralston Purina Company. Lukas studied advanced marketing at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management in Evanston, Illinois, and her bachelor of science degree from the University of Minnesota. She is a member of the Alzheimer’s Association of Minnesota/North Dakota Board of Directors, where she chairs the Marketing Committee and serves on the Executive Committee. Lukas replaces Maree Gilbert on the Board on Aging to complete a four-year term that expires on January 7, 2013.

Thompson, of St. Paul, is a retired registered nurse whose professional background included serving as president of the MJT Management Consulting Firm, director of nursing at North Ridge Care Center Senior Campus in New Hope, a staff RN at North Memorial Medical Center in Robbinsdale, and at Hennepin County General Hospital in Minneapolis. Thompson earned a bachelor of science degree in human services from Metropolitan State University in Minneapolis. She is a member of the American Nurses Association, Gerontological Society of Minnesota Hennepin County Medical Center Service League, North Hennepin Community College Foundation, Hennepin County Alumni Association, Women’s Health Leadership Trust, and Global Volunteers. Thompson, who has been a member of the Board on Aging since 2006, is reappointed to another four-year term that expires on January 6, 2014.

The Minnesota Board on Aging develops, coordinates, evaluates and administers federal and state funds for programs for the aging; makes grants to seven area agencies on aging and non-profit agencies; and serves as an advocate for older persons. The board consists of 25 members appointed by the Governor.