Leadership Wisconsin Outstanding Alumni Awards

George Johnson is known throughout Wisconsin for his 35+ years as hospital administrator in Reedsburg, WI. Truly, George’s leadership turned a small local hospital into a state-of-the-art medical center (Reedsburg Area Medical Center). Skilled at forging partnerships and collaborations, George became known over the years as someone who could be counted on to tackle a new initiative, approch, or critical issue and then implement change in a systematic way. Through his leadership the Reedsburg Area Medical Center grew as a facility that has led small rural hospitals in areas of excellence. He effectively shared the vision with others to achieve a common goal of improving the healthcare of the community. He is known for showing respect for whomever he encounters for their opinions and ideas.

It was apparent that George’s consistent, meticulous, and measured growth of Reedsburg Area Medical Center, led to “ahead of the curve” healthcare services for the surrounding community. With that more businesses came into the community, more professional services settled to the locale, and more educational offerings are happening at MATC-Reedsburg and UW-Baraboo to accommodate workforce needs, bringing hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars in economic development revenues to the surrounding community.

George’s approach to hospital development and staff development served as a model to other employers of the value of social capital and community-building. The growth at RAMC and his coordinated work with other rural healthcare facility administrators led to the Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative. There, too, George’s quiet, persistent, steadfast approach to solution-seeking rather than just problem-solving set the tone for productive change. Tim Size of the Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative and Steve Brenton of the Wisconsin Hospital Association can attest to that fact. However, not one to be impressed by hype, George would probably be the first to give the credit wholly to his staff or WI Hospital Association colleagues rather than claim any for himself. Yet, the reality is that throughout Wisconsin, he set the pace and kept the pace for rural hospital organizational development.

As a member of the Lions Club of Reedsburg, his personal church as well as participation in many organizations he is a well known member of the community. One of the most sincere community stewardship actions he took recently related to his decision to permit use of the vacant RAMC nursing home facility for a period of time for homeless housing. For George it was the right thing to do.

George has also made significant contribution to the Leadership Wisconsin Program as a Board of Director, Board President, and donor. As Group VI participant graduating from the program in 1996 he saw the benefits of having a program such as this to help build local community leaders. It was through his experience that he, along with other leaders in Sauk County, used Leadership Wisconsin (formerly called WRLP-Wisconsin Rural Leadership Program) to role model the development of the Sauk County Institute of Leadership that will be celebrating 10 years of building leaders this year.

In January of this year George retired from his role as President of the Reedsburg Area Medical Center. His retirement was well deserved however the corridors of RAMC are not quite the same. He left behind a legacy of achieving excellence by teaching those around him to develop their own leadership skills, to lead by example, and to respect what others have to offer.

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The Jefferson County Animal Agricultural Alliance is an example of Daphne’s passion and innovation for Wisconsin agriculture. Daphne’s vision led her to pull together a coalition to address educating non-farm local leaders about the importance of agriculture to the community. This group regularly communicates with local elected leaders, has developed useful support materials and created positive visibility at community events. Daphne is a bright, intelligent and innovative woman. Dependable, capable, visionary, articulate and outstanding farm business partner are all terms that describe Daphne Holterman.

Ruth Lindegarde

Ruth is an alumnus of group VIII is currently the owner of CHD Associates and the Executive Director of High Expectations. Throughout Dodge County, the state and country more and more we see the need to provide constructive activities for youth. Ruth started High Expectations in 1998 showing her commitment to lowering high risk behaviors in youth. She is a trainer, a Community leader, a community organizer of several grassroots community organizations for Restorative Justice, Public Health Community Assessment and youth services.

Ruth is an advocate for youth throughout Dodge County in various areas of youth with special needs, schools and community organizations. She tirelessly works to help change community norms that support youth to becoming mature and responsible adults.

Norm Monsen

Norm is an alum of Group VII. He works as an economic development consultant for the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, DATCP. During the past seven years, Norm has served at the forefront of statewide efforts to revitalize Wisconsin's dairy industry, a huge economic engine for Wisconsin. In fact, dairy means more to Wisconsin than citrus does to Florida, or potatoes do to Idaho, contributing $20.6 billion annually to Wisconsin’s economy.

Norm works hard to support and encourage Wisconsin cheese companies that make the decision to shift to specialty cheese, as well as to dozens of new farmstead dairies where farm owners are building their own facilities and creating their own marketing approaches to connect with urban consumers. The result has been a true renaissance in Wisconsin's dairy industry. For the first time in decades, the dairy industry in Wisconsin is again growing, and Norm has played a significant part in this turn of events. Rod Nilsestuen, Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, said about Norm's impact: “Every dairy plant operator, big or small, that I encounter in my travels, knows of Norm Monsen and his abilities to help connect them to the great resources that Wisconsin has configured to help dairy plants with new ventures. Norm is a true "ambassador" for dairy development in Wisconsin. His role is vital and irreplaceable".

Norm created the Wisconsin Dairy Artisan Network. The network provides a forum for small, similarly situated dairy entrepreneurs to share information, seek regulatory reforms, and publicize their offerings to better market their products. Will Hughes, Administrator of the Division of Agricultural Development, says this of Norm's work to fuse the myriad of dairy interests in America’s Dairyland: "Norm's work is magical. Somehow he brings folks from such disparate dairy interests together- small and large, cow and sheep, cheesemakers and bottlers--you wonder what might result. What has resulted is a true and deep respect for how important each is to the other. Now the dairy industry is one when it comes to quality and image. Norm's work is powerful."

Martina Stanton

Marty of Group IX has been a leader and mentor in many different ways. Marty’s leadership qualities consist of being a solid team leader of High Expectations and the Teen Center of Beaver Dam. Marty has the ability to look at a situation, activity or program from many different angles and take staff’s suggestions to create an activity or program to meet the goals and objectives.

She is a coordinator and trainer, she’s has presented several state conferences. She is a successful Grant writer, Administrator and mentor. She has provided leadership and stability in her work in youth development. She has made a huge difference in the lives of the youth of Dodge County community.