OUR BOARD
RUTHANN BREKKE
President & Treasurer
Ruthann is the founder of Med City Apraxia Awareness. She wanted to raise awareness for apraxia after her grandson was diagnosed. She wrote a book in honor of her grandson and the hard work he put into finding his voice, Zachary Finds His Words. She is the grandmother of 9 grandchildren. Happily retired after 20 years at Mayo Clinic. She lives in Rochester with her husband Frank.
JEFF DUNCAN
Board Member
Jeff Duncan is an AV Technician at a large regional medical institution. He has experience in working with charities and organizing fund raisers. During his spare time, Jeff is a magician, motivational speaker and a balloon artist. Jeff lives in Rochester with his wife Lisa and daughter Grace.
JASON GANSEN
Board Member
Jason went to college, graduated in aviation/airport management and received his BS in business administration. He flew as a professional pilot until he lost his medical in 2009.
Jason has been a professional speaker and trainer in various industries for 30 years, and has done instructional design. As a full time dad, he is able to spend more time at home with family and get a lot of projects done around the house. Jason is an author, painter, do-it-yourselfer and all around handy man. Jason is the uncle of a child with apraxia and one of his daughters is autistic. He lives in Northfield with his wife Shauna and two daughters Kate and Ava.
JEFFREY GANSEN
Vice-President
Web Maintenance
Jeff is a father of a son, Zach, that was diagnosed with Apraxia. Although Zach has improved to the point that he no longer needs speech therapy, Jeff continues to want to help other families that struggle with apraxia. Jeff & his wife Heather live in Byron. They have two children, Lydia and Zachary.
LAUREN GLESSING
Secretary
Speech Therapy Consultant for
Med City Apraxia Awareness
Lauren is owner and Speech Language Pathologist at OWL Therapy Services, serving Rochester and the surrounding areas. Lauren is also the guardian of her sister with special needs, so she understands both the therapeutic and personal side of communication impacts. Lauren lives in Mantorville with her husband Jeff and also has three stepchildren,
Cailyn, Garin and Mallory.
In her spare time, Lauren enjoys catching up with friends and family or relaxing at home. Lauren loves professional and personal development and if you see her she will almost always be jotting things down in a notebook planning for her next big idea.
BRENDA STIER
Board Member
Brenda and her husband Matt are from Spring Valley, MN. She is known as a "Daycare Grandma," and has been watching 2 of her grandchildren every day since they were each three months old....they are now ages 5 and 3. On weekends, you can find her and her husband playing music in the area as "Matt and Brenda Stier." They enjoy playing at local breweries and restaurants, town festivals and celebrations, fundraisers and events. They also enjoy playing for the residents in local Care Centers and Assisted Livings. Along with being on the Med City Apraxia Awareness Board, Brenda is also a member, and current Board Member, of the Kiwanis Club of Spring Valley.
