The American Diabetes Association office serving North Dakota and Northwestern Minnesota announces the appointment of three new Community Leadership Board members.
“We are happy to welcome these dedicated individuals to our board. These members will use their unique knowledge and skills to work to achieve public awareness, advocacy and recruitment through a commitment to the Association’s mission: To prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes,” said Michael Little, ND/MN American Diabetes Association Community Leadership Board Chair.
New members include:
John Hagen – ADA Community Leadership Board member John was diagnosed with type-1 diabetes at age 11 and attended Camp Sioux (which is a camp the ADA on ND/MN runs for children with diabetes in Park River, ND) for three years as a teenager. John remained involved with camp by becoming an ADA Camp Sioux staff member for 8 years. Diabetes runs in his family and he’s passionate about helping raise money for Camp Sioux as he encourages every child who has diabetes to attend camp as he believes it’s a life-changing experience.
John is a real estate agent at EXP Realty, focusing mostly in the Fargo-Moorhead area. Originally, from Plummer, Minn., he attended MSUM for college in 2006 and has lived in the F-M area ever since. He received a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. During college he worked at a group home for adults with mental disabilities. After college he held a job at a marketing agency for five years. John enjoys helping others, making people laugh and spending time with friends, family and his wife.
Lynn Holum – ADA Community Leadership Board member Lynn has worked for 14 years as a licensed registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator at the Altru Heath System’s Diabetes Center. She has several family members with type 2 diabetes and is passionate about educating and supporting those who deal with diabetes on a daily basis. Lynn grew up in Rolla, North Dakota, attended college at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, N.D. and continues to enjoy following UND sports with her husband and two sons. Kayla Schwartz – ADA Community Leadership Board member Kayla is a graduate of Dickinson State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. Kayla is a Territory Account Specialist for Thrifty White Pharmacy. In her almost 18 years with the company, she has lived and worked in multiple locations across her home state of North Dakota and also into Minnesota. Her career with Thrifty White Pharmacy has ranged from store management and multi-unit management to marketing. When she’s is not working, she enjoys spending time with her husband and their three children.
The three new members join a 9-member board that focuses on leading the community’s high level recruitment, recognition and cultivation of key community leaders to become ADA volunteer leaders, and in turn, enhance and advance the Associations mission within our community.