Meet Our Team, Shakopee, MN

We are delighted to introduce our dedicated care team, here to provide personalized care and unparalleled support. They are not just here to assist; they are here to enrich and enhance the lives of each resident, with a commitment to:

Maddisen Belpulsi

Campus Administrator

Maddisen, the Campus Administrator for Benedictine St. Gertrude’s and The Gardens, has been in health care for over ten years. Her passion lies in the long-term care industry, which she entered with a desire to make a difference in the lives of seniors and their families. This is a core attribute that she cherishes, as she now leads a team that values compassion, empathy and service with the motivation and dedication to deliver the best care possible. Associates at St. Gertrude’s and The Gardens positively impact lives every day. Sometimes, she can get caught up in operational duties, but her goal is to connect personally with residents and staff on a daily basis.

Maddisen is a graduate of Purdue University where she received a Bachelor of Science in Public Health. She has her MA in Heath Care Communications and Public Relations, LNHA, and LALD. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends, being at the lake, football and being active with the seasons. Movement is medicine!

Maria Jonason

Director of Nursing

Maria is the Director of Nursing at Benedictine St. Gertrude’s. Her passion for healthcare began at a young age and she obtained her Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing. In addition to being a registered nurse, she also holds a public health nurse certificate and is wound care certified. Maria joined Benedictine in 2014 as a nurse leader and continued to grow in nursing leadership with the Director of Nursing role.

Maria enjoys collaborating with residents and their families to provide individualize care and meet common goals. Outside of work, Maria enjoys spending time with her husband and 2 daughters. She enjoys going to her cabin, spending time with family and friends and watching hockey and football.

Brooke O’Kane

Housing Director

Brooke’s desire to work in senior care began in high school when she volunteered at a local long-term care facility in Woodbury, Minnesota. During her time at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, she worked as a care giver at a group home for people with mental and physical disabilities. This is where she realized her passion for connecting with and caring for older adults! After graduating she began working in various administrative roles within long-term care, including admissions and human resources.

Brooke is proud to work for Benedictine because of their dedication to humbly serving residents with respect and dignity. While Brooke is fairly new to Benedictine The Gardens, she always finds time to catch up with residents or talk with families. Brooke is passionate about making every resident feel at home and putting family members at ease! Outside of work you can find Brooke spending time with her adorable dog Millie, catching up on true crime TV shows or enjoying live music with friends!

Michael Longanecker

Spiritual Care Director

Michael is the Spiritual Care Director at Benedictine St. Gertrude’s and The Gardens. He earned a BA in Bible Literature at Northwest University in Kirkland, WA and an M. Div. at Sioux Falls Seminary in Sioux Falls, SD. Michael was career Supervisory Chaplain with the Federal Bureau of Prisons, and after retirement continued for several years providing spiritual care with various hospice agencies.

Through the years his service has covered a wide variety of ministries. Because of those experiences, he continues to reach out to individuals and families that benefit from the life affirming services that spiritual care provides. He is excited to be part of the Benedictine family, and to be affiliated with such a professional and highly regarded organization.

Yvonne Anderson

Marketing Director

Yvonne is the Marketing Director at Benedictine St. Gertrude’s and The Gardens and does philanthropic work with the Saints Foundation. Yvonne enjoys connecting with people and helping them in their life journey. Yvonne grew up in Shakopee and has been engaged in a variety of community activities throughout the years.

In addition, Yvonne spent 30 years working with the Minneapolis YMCA in youth, teen and camping programs. Yvonne has her BA from Metro State University and MA from Concordia University in St. Paul. When not working, Yvonne enjoys time with her husband, Ritch, and her grandchildren.

Jasmine Cosey

Human Resource Manager

Jasmine has worked in the human resources field for over six years. She holds a Master’s Degree in Human Resource Management with a focus on Health Information Management and a Bachelor’s Degree in Health Care Administration. She truly enjoys making connections, building relationships and engaging with people in her role as Human Resource Manager. She loves watching new hires become a part of the team and current employees grow and evolve within the organization. In HR she has the opportunity to make an impact with employees, which will then make a difference in the lives of residents.

Jasmine enjoys her off time by traveling and spending time with family. She loves to see the world.

Janina (Yani) Denetelli

Human Resource Recruiter

Janina is Benedictine St. Gertrude’s and The Gardens’ Human Resource Recruiter. Her role is to connect with and interview potential candidates, as well as connect with universities, colleges and job fairs to promote work opportunities. Janina has a BA in Human Resources and has been in the field for more than seven years. Janina is new to healthcare but has many experiences in the human resource field and enjoys meeting with individuals seeking career opportunities.

Janina and her family recently relocated to the area from Iowa and her roots trace back to Germany where she was born and raised. Outside of work Janina and her family enjoy traveling, cooking and tackling home remodeling projects.

Jessica Holmes

Director of Social Services

Jessica is the Director of Social Services at Benedictine St. Gertrude’s. She has worked in long-term care for twelve years in various roles, such as a CNA, medication aide, and social worker for the past nine years. As Social Services Director, she enjoys providing families with resources to best serve their loved ones. Building trust and relationships is vital in long-term care, and very important to Jessica. 

In her spare time, Jessica and her boyfriend love camping and hiking with their two dogs. She also likes reading a good book and gardening. Jessica just obtained a passport and is starting to explore other parts of the world. 

Krista Kuehn

Case Management Director

Krista is the Case Management Director for our Admission team at Benedictine St. Gertrude’s. Krista’s background includes a degree in medical billing and coding. Her experience includes roles as medical records coder and health unit coordinator. Benedictine appreciates her attention to detail and care for incoming patients, families and connections with various hospital discharge planners.

Krista enjoys time with her family and often will be found at sporting or outdoor events with her husband, son and daughter. She also enjoys music and sharing a tune or two in a variety of venues.

William (Bill) Harrison

Food Service Director

Bill is the Food Service Director at Benedictine St. Gertrude’s and The Gardens. He has a degree in computer science, but has spent over twenty years in the food service industry. He enjoys working with people and appreciates the connections he makes with staff and residents. His insights on preparing food and creating appealing meals, while complying with government guidelines and regulations, are appreciated by the team at Benedictine.

Bill grew up on the east coast and spent quite a bit of time in Massachusetts. His family found their way to Minnesota due to his wife Amy’s roots. Ryan and Andy are their adult children who have each begun their own career paths. When not working Bill enjoys time with his family and enjoying peace and quiet in a variety of settings and activities.

Ed Barron

Director of Therapy

Ed has been providing therapy for over forty years. Following his graduation from The College of St. Scholastica with a physical therapy degree, he first worked for a company in the southern metro and outlying areas. He then began his own company and served individuals and skilled nursing facilities. Ed has been the Director of Therapy at Benedictine St. Gertrude’s for the past twenty-four years.

Ed is committed to the values and mission of Benedictine and lives them out in his daily work and life. In 2023 Ed was Benedictine St. Gertrude’s and The Gardens “Living a Legacy” recipient, in which his colleagues nominated him for the excellent work and servant leadership he provides as a therapist, teacher, leader and employee. Ed and his team meet each patient or resident where they are at and help them achieve their personal goals following an accident, illness or injury. Away from work, Ed enjoys time with family and friends at their lake cabin in northern Minnesota.

Chrisen Ramnarine

Environmental Services Director

Chrisen brings a variety of talents and skills to his role as Environmental Service Director. His past experience covers high/low voltage, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, hydraulics, and overall problem solving. Chrisen’s role requires balancing the needs of a large skilled nursing and assisted living community, including immediate repairs and planning for future capital projects. Benedictine benefits from the skill set Chrisen brings, his “can do” attitude and his positive interaction with contractors, staff and residents.

Chirsen enjoys his morning coffee, especially iced, and checks in daily with our housekeepers, maintenance team and others who help manage the care and services at Benedictine. Chrisen likes to be busy and when not at work spends time with his children, family and friends.