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Policy Roundtable

Learn about our efforts to mobilize collective expertise and networks to develop and advance transformational aging policy and initiatives.

Dialogue on Legislative Affairs Impacting Aging

Minnesota Leadership Council on Aging Delegates, their key policy staffers, and our invited guests hold meetings during each Legislative Session to share timely updates and information about aging issues and legislation unfolding at the Minnesota State Capitol. This group is grounded in the members of our Policy Committee and others from the community.

You can request to join and get log-in credentials by contacting adam@mnlcoa.org.

Policy Committee Chair

Kimelyn Knight, Director of Aging Services, Amherst H. Wilder Foundation

Policy Committee Staff

Adam Suomala, Executive Director

MN Leadership Council on Aging

2026 Contributors

Jane Pederson, Chief Medical Quality Officer, Stratis Health

Rajean Moone, Associate Director of Policy, Center for Healthy Aging and Innovation, University of Minnesota

Kristin Knudsen, Social Worker, Caregiver Support & Service Coordination, DARTS

Dawn Simonson, President and CEO Trellis (Minnesota Association of Area Agencies on Aging)

Shelli Bakken, Director of Housing Policy and Expert Support, LeadingAge Minnesota

Amy Gavanda, Director of Aging

and Disability Services, Catholic Charities Twin Cities

Cathy McLeer, State Director

AARP Minnesota

Thomas Elness, Associate State Director - Advocacy, AARP Minnesota

Adrián Rafael Magaña, Director of Public Policy and Community Relations

Amherst H. Wilder Foundation

Amanda Vickstrom, Executive Director, Minnesota Elder Justice Center

Sean Burke, Senior Consultant

O'Connell Consulting LLC and

Consultant, Minnesota Elder Justice Center

Patrick Rowan, Executive Director Metro Meals on Wheels

Margaret Rog, Advocacy Manager, Alzheimer's Association - Minnesota and North Dakota Chapter

Erin Sutton, Senior Director of Advocacy

Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota

Mikayla Smith, Public Policy and Community Relations Manager

Amherst H. Wilder Foundation

Anjuli Cameron, Executive Director

SEWA-AIFW

Jarrod Peterson, Public Policy Chair

Minneapolis Area Senior Workers Association

and St. Paul Senior Workers Association

George Schoephoerster,

Past President, MN Association of Geriatrics Inspired Clinicians

Toby Pearson, President and CEO

Care Providers of Minnesota

Kari Thurlow, President and CEO

LeadingAge Minnesota

Erin Huppert, Vice President

of Advocacy, LeadingAge Minnesota

Kathy Messerli, Executive Director

Minnesota Home Care Association

Anni Simons, Senior Government Affairs Specialist, Fredrikson and

Consultant, MN Home Care Association

Anjali Daverey, Policy Researcher

MN Leadership Council on Aging

Effective Advocacy

Media Relations

Policy Archive

The AGEnda

Minnesota Leadership Council on Aging

PO BOX 4636, ST. PAUL, MN 55104

© 2026 Minnesota Leadership Council on Aging. All Rights Reserved.

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