Staff Team
Adam Suomala
(he/him)
The Minnesota Leadership Council on Aging Board of Directors named Adam Suomala President and Executive Director in April 2020.
Adam came to the role with a deep respect for the Council's work, having served 20 years at LeadingAge Minnesota - most recently as Vice President of Membership and Strategic Affiliations - and as a past President of the Minnesota Gerontological Society.
From his aging policy work in the halls of the State Capitol and coordinating grassroots advocacy in communities across the state to his thought leadership on workforce solutions or person-directed services, Suomala has been dedicated to the field of aging since 2000.
In his role, Adam leads the collaborative in its strategic priorities and is responsible for managing all critical business functions, staff, grants and contracts for the nonprofit. He also serves as Co-Convener of the Finish Strong Funders Network.
Suomala holds a BA in Political Science from the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities and a Masters of Public Affairs (MPA) from the Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs.
Kate Seng
(she/her)
Kate joined the staff team in April 2024 to serve as Co-Convener of the Finish Strong Funders Network. In this role, she provides support and technical assistance to Minnesota’s public and private funders.
Kate is an experienced professional in the nonprofit sector, with deep skills in strategy, program development, facilitation, grant review, and governance. In addition to her own consulting practice, she has held several leadership positions in philanthropy, including at the GHR Foundation, Arbor Philanthropy, Opus Philanthropy Group, and United Way.
Seng holds a BA in Political Science from St. Catherine University and a Masters of Public Affairs (MPA) from the Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota.
(she/her)
Vanesa joined the staff team as Accountant in January 2026 as part of our contract with Studio501 for our accounting systems, reporting, internal controls structure, and compliance. She is responsible for our bookkeeping, financial reports, and other accounting services.
From owning her own restaurant to her experience across corporate and nonprofit accounting, her focus today is "giving back to the community behind the curtain." She believes "we can make a difference in our communities through accounting."
Rodríguez holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Accounting from Rasmussen University.
Charles "Tysen" Tyson
(they/them)
Tysen joined the staff team in October 2025 as a Research Consultant through the University of Minnesota's Robert L. Kane Endowed Chair in Long-Term Care and Aging Internship Program.
In their role, Tysen leads research initiatives that strengthen the aging sector's efforts to advance the well-being and quality of life for older Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) communities, with a focus on sexual and gender minorities.
Tyson holds a BA in Communication Studies from James Madison University and a Master of Social Work (MSW) from the University of Pennsylvania. They are pursuing a Ph.D in Social Work from the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities.
Anjali Daverey
(she/her)
Anjali joined the staff team in October 2025 as a Policy Researcher through the University of Minnesota's Robert L. Kane Endowed Chair in Long-Term Care and Aging Internship Program.
In her role, Anjali works with the leadership of our Policy Committee and staff on policy projects, including the Policy Roundtable, our annual policy endorsements for the 2026 Legislative Session, cross-sector collaborations and policy events.
Daverey holds a Bachelors of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery from Hemavati Nandan Bahuguna University and an MD in Pharmaceutics and Latrochemistry from Uttarakhand Ayurved University. She is pursuing a Master of Health Services Research Policy and Administration from the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities.
Vera Ndumbe
(she/her)
Vera joined the team in August 2021 to serve as Interim Director of Equity, where she played an integral part in developing statewide efforts to create diverse, equitable, and inclusive communities in which to age. In this role, she wrote grants, provided staff support to the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, provided education trainings, and supported the Minnesota Diverse Elders Coalition.
Today, "Dr. V" continues to work alongside the Leadership Council and our members as an ally and contractor on special projects.
Ndumbe holds a BA in Social Work from Winona State University, an MA in Gerontology from Minnesota State University - Mankato, and a Doctorate in Leadership and Education from St. Mary's University.
