Leading the Charge
We provide services, connections and innovations to help people thrive as we age.
Through partnerships with community organizations and healthcare organizations, we work to bridge social care and medical care to produce more positive outcomes for individuals and communities. We are committed to reducing disparities in access and ensuring equity and inclusivity.
Our mission: To assist individuals to age well and develop the capacity of communities to care for an aging population.
Get to Know Trellis
Watch our brief video to learn more about how we advance innovation and equity in aging services.
Impacting individuals and organizations in a broad geographic area
In our role as the designated Area Agency on Aging for the Twin Cities metro area, we serve individuals and organizations in Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott and Washington counties. Many of Trellis’ initiatives and activities have a broader geographic reach, across the state of Minnesota and, in some cases, across the nation.
In the forefront, turning ideas into action
Trellis strives to meet opportunities and challenges of an older population with new solutions and partnerships. We are leading the charge on integrating health and social care to produce better life and health outcomes — and doing so in a way that delivers crucial services while containing exploding costs.
Being a catalyst for collaborative action
Trellis brings people and organizations together in community-wide efforts to address some of our most vexing issues. We help build age-friendly and dementia-friendly communities. We support the Volunteer Driver Coalition, protecting a vital transportation option. And, as a founding member of the Minnesota Leadership Council on Aging and in other leadership roles, we’re having an impact on policy development and systems change.
“If we are going to meet the needs of the next generation of older adults, it is essential that we experiment with new ways of doing business and forge new partnerships.”
—Dawn Simonson, President and CEO, Trellis
Trellis board of directors
Officers and Committee Chairs
Mike Rothman
Chair and Executive Committee Chair
Attorney at Law, Rothman Law and Consulting, LLC
Jeff Bangsberg
Vice Chair and Planning Committee Chair
Retired Public Policy Initiative Leader, Minnesota Home Care Association
Alison Colton
Secretary and Governance Committee Chair
Retired Deputy General Counsel,
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota
Adeel Lari
Treasurer
Retired Director, Researcher, Institute for Urban and Regional Infrastructure Finance
Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs
Vanne Owens Hayes
Immediate Past Chair
Cultural Consultant and Health Educator
Ellie Zuehlke
Development Committee Chair
Director of Operations, Allina Health Foundation
Members
Josh Berg
Director of Services & Strategic Growth, Accessible Space, Inc;
Council Member, City of Elko New Market; Adjunct Faculty, University of Minnesota – CCAPS
Paurvi Bhatt, MPH
Health Access Strategist, CEO, ThirdEyeFocus
Lisbeth Cachima
Medical Assistant,
Venezuelan MD
Sreeni Checka
Consultant, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota
Kathleen Dempsey
Founder, CEO, Care Manager,
Pathfinder Care Management
Natalie Halverson
Public Health Supervisor, Scott County Public Health
Joanne Hill
CRNA, PHN, Abbott Northwestern Hospital
Matt Koncar
Owner
Rose Hill Stay-at-Home Services
Marty McCusker
Retired Staff Physician, Hennepin Healthcare
Ram Rajagopalan
Global Business Consulting Head, Sonata Software
Becky Stibbe
Director of Family Philanthropy, Myriad USA
David Van Sant
Project Executive
Netsmart Technologies
Interested in joining our board of directors? Learn more and apply online!
Innovations for Aging board of directors
Innovations for Aging, LLC, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Metropolitan Area Agency on Aging, Inc. Both legal entities do business as “Trellis.”
David Van Sant
Chair
Project Executive, Netsmart Technologies
Josh Berg
Director of Services & Strategic Growth, Accessible Space, Inc; Council Member, City of Elko New Market; Adjunct Faculty, University of Minnesota – CCAPS
Monica Engel
Founder, CEO, ME Strategic Consulting, LLC
Adeel Lari
Retired Director, Researcher, Institute for Urban and Regional Infrastructure Finance
Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs
Ram Rajagopalan
Global Business Consulting Head, Sonata Software
Ellie Zuehlke
Director of Operations,
Allina Health Foundation
“As a board member, I had the opportunity to shape the future of elder care in ways that respond creatively to the unique needs of diverse individuals, families and communities.
—Iris Freeman, former board member
Our leadership
Dawn Simonson
President and CEO
Dawn Simonson has more than 20 years of experience in the fields of aging, healthcare and advocacy. Dawn is recognized for her leadership as an innovator and collaborator. She chairs the Minnesota Leadership Council on Aging’s Age-Friendly Communities Committee and is past president of the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging, currently serving on their Core Competencies Committee. Dawn has a Master of Public Affairs degree from the Humphrey School of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota. She was named one of the 100 most influential healthcare leaders in 2024 by Minnesota Physician magazine and is a member of the Partnership to Align Social Care. Email.
Andy Brown
Vice President of Communications and Engagement
Andy Brown develops communications that connect people to Trellis’ mission and impact. He has 15 years of experience in nonprofit communications, specializing in strategies that foster and strengthen relationships. He is passionate about sharing stories that connect people across difference toward a common purpose. Prior to joining Trellis, Andy served in communications roles at the Amherst H. Wilder Foundation and Tubman. He holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Gustavus Adolphus College. Email.
Mark Cullen
Vice President of Strategy and Business Development
Mark Cullen cultivates healthcare sector partnerships and drives strategic organizational growth in his role with Trellis. Prior to coming to Trellis, Mark served as a program officer at the Corporation for National and Community Service where he administered the Federal Government’s investments in AmeriCorps VISTA and Senior Corps programs. He has also held positions with United Way and Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota. Mark holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s degree in public administration from the University of South Dakota. Email.
Mike Frazho
Vice President of Finance
Mike Frazho brings to Trellis over 30 years of experience in finance and operations, specializing in building relationships within organizations and the community. He is passionate about helping people and animals in need by utilizing his knowledge gained throughout his career. Prior to joining Trellis, Mike has served in executive roles in for-profit organizations, healthcare organizations, and non-profit rescue organizations. He holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Michigan State University. Email.
Advisory Committees
Two advisory committees inform Trellis’ work.
Members of Trellis’ Community Advisory Committee
Community Advisory Committee
This committee ensures communication and collaboration with older adults, their families and caregivers and the organizations that serve them. It reviews and offers feedback on Trellis’ Area Plan, which is prepared annually for the MN Board on Aging. In addition, the Community Advisory Committee informs our strategic direction and provides information and advice to support our mission.
Public Programs Advisory Committee
The Public Programs Advisory Committee comprises staff leaders from each of the seven metro counties, who advise and assist Trellis about services that we fund or deliver to older adults and their family caregivers.
Annual reports
Financial information
Please email info@trellisconnects.org for Form 990s.
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