Staff Leaders
President & CEO
Anne Marie Hansen
Anne Marie Hansen is the President and Founder of Gianna Homes, a residential care home for Alzheimer’s and other memory loss patients, since 1999. Prior to this she was the director of other metro area care facilities and has an extensive background in home care services. Her strong background in Aging Adult Care, Palliative Care with a special focus on dementia care and business administration studies through St. Thomas University have presented Anne Marie with opportunities to consult across the country for models of care similar to Gianna Homes. Her dedication to making a contribution in the field of memory loss and senior care comes from very personal experiences and she instills that commitment into each employee that works for Gianna Homes to provide unique, individualized care which preserves the dignity of each resident while providing for his or her medical, social and spiritual needs.
Anne Marie serves on several non-profit boards and is a life-long volunteer. In April 2010 she traveled to Haiti to aid in the relief efforts following a devastating earthquake, and has organized several charity gala events, all to benefit small local non-profits. She is a frequent guest speaker on Relevant Radio regarding aging issues, is very involved in pro-life work, has lobbied for senior quality care rights, and is a proponent of education in medical ethics.
She is an active member of E-Women Network, the National Association of Professional Women, the Catholic Medical Association, Christian Business Women’s Forum, The Minnesota Alzheimer’s Association, has been directly involved in teen evangelization, parish and education concerns in her community, and teaches Catechesis of the Good Shepherd at her church. Most notably, Anne Marie was the recipient of the 2009 Leading With Faith award.
Other volunteer commitments have included: the Courage Center, Catholic Youth Camp, St. Michael’s Academy, Steubenville North, Habitat for Humanity, Sharing and Caring Hands, St. Steven’s shelter, St Paul’s Homeless Initiative, Holy Family Residence and Our Lady of Good Counsel Cancer Home.
Her entrepreneurial spirit comes from growing up in a family owned business and owning and operating another company, Rose Ste. Maries Cakes and Pastries, for over thirteen years. In her spare time she enjoys a variety of pastimes, including competitive ballroom dance, gardening, cooking, sewing, the arts, reading, friends, and her large family of eight siblings and numerous nieces and nephews.
Director of Nursing
Bridget Hanson RN
Bridget Hanson is the Director of Nursing and primary Registered Nurse for Gianna Homes since January 2008. She brings a vast level of knowledge, including over 15 years of RN and supervisory experience in Long Term Care, Home Care and Hospice. Her commitment to the residents of Gianna Homes is evident in the kind and gentle, sometimes silly, ways she interacts one-on-one with them, and is truly an advocate for improving the quality of life of each resident, regardless of the individual’s cognitive being.
She is actively involved in Women’s Ministry and volunteers in planning various special events at her church. Bridget is also involved in Oasis World Ministry whose main focus is helping the people of India by drilling wells in rural areas which have no means of obtaining safe drinking water, and providing bible training to pastors in those areas.
Bridget and her husband, Mark, have been married nearly 20 years and have two adult sons, Paul and Eric. As a life-long Minnesota resident, she thoroughly enjoys the outdoors, including biking, hiking and camping.
Home Director
Mary McCarten
Mary is the Home Director of Gianna Homes and has been with the company since 2007. Her efforts help keep the house organized and running smoothly, and her tender ways make residents and their families feel welcome, loved and respected. She oversees most Gianna Homes staff and directs the home’s day-to-day operations, including training staff and ensuring that their coaching and growth are constant.
She has been a Certified Nursing Assistant for nearly 10 years, has been a long-term team leader/supervisor at a previous a memory loss facility, with plans further her education by attending nursing school in the future.
Mary was born in Kenya where she grew up in a family of five – her mother a teacher, her father a businessman. Mary’s sister Miriam also works for Gianna Homes, a place where staff really are (like) family! Prior to moving to the United States, Mary graduated from Bible College and owned and operated a beauty salon for 7 years. She also worked as a Youth Minister and helped to establish a Women’s Ministry in her parish at Ruiru, a small town outside Nairobi City, Africa.
Mary lives in Brooklyn Center with her husband Don, and values family very much. Mary enjoys walks with her husband, particularly on warm days which remind her of her native Kenya, entertaining family and friends, and arts and crafts, including sewing, crocheting, and painting. She volunteers at her church, Church of All Nations, mentoring youth, helping seniors with house repairs and yard work, and working with getting immigrants established in the United States.
Human Resources
Michelle Barclay PHR, CSP
Michelle has provided Human Resources support to Gianna Homes since 2001, and brings nearly 15 years of diverse personnel and HR experience. After graduating from the University of Minnesota-Duluth, Michelle spent two years working as a Divisional Manager for Herberger’s department store in Virginia, MN. Upon relocating to the Twin Cities, she began working her way through the ranks with Express Personnel Services, first as a Recruiter, then as an Office Systems Manager for three of EPS metro-area offices. In 2001 she was promoted to Client Services Director for EXSOURCE, Inc., a Professional Employer Organization and division of Express Personnel Services. It is then that Michelle became the HR contact for not only Gianna Homes, but for 25 other area small businesses totaling nearly 350 employees, that outsourced their HR needs to EXSOURCE. In late 2007, Michelle became a stay-at-home-mom until late 2008 when Gianna Homes partnered directly with Michelle to become a part-time HR Consultant. Michelle’s duties include personnel guidance and compliance, training, and payroll, as well as benefits, workers’ compensation, and unemployment administration. She holds certifications as a Professional in Human Resources (PHR), Certified Staffing Professional (CSP), and as and is a member of the Society for Human Resources Management.
Michelle lives in Prior Lake with her husband, Aaron, and two small children. She is on the District #719 Early Childhood Family Education Advisory Council where she served as ’09-’10 Council President. Michelle is a member of Cross of Peace Lutheran Church in Shakopee, and enjoys spending time with her family and many weekends up north at the family cabin.
Massage Therapist
Wendy Ferril BS, CMT
Wendy Ferril has been Gianna Homes' massage therapist since 2003 – a small, yet integral, component of the comprehensive and personalized cares offered to residents of Gianna. She received her Bachelor of Science degree from University of Minnesota, Mankato in 1993 and from 1993 to 1998 worked as a recreation therapist whose purpose was improving the functional living competence of persons with physical, mental, emotional and/or social disadvantages. Wendy continued her education at The Minneapolis School of Massage, where she received her certification in massage therapy in 1998. She then went to work in a chiropractic office for some additional hands-on training.
Wendy's professional memberships include American Bodywork and Massage Practitioners and the Healthcare Providers Service Organization.
In addition to her work as a massage therapist, she enjoys camping, canoeing, biking, skiing and spending time with her family.
Wendy and her husband, John, have three beautiful children, including a set of twins!
Program Director
Claire Klein MT-BC
Claire Klein is a board certified Music Therapist and is the Program Director at Gianna Homes. She was trained in music therapy at the University of Minnesota, learning how to meet clients’ physical, emotional, social, spiritual, and psychological needs through creative uses of music. While focusing on voice as her main instrument, she also studied guitar, piano, and organ during her time as a Golden Gopher.
Before joining Gianna Homes in January 2010, Claire completed an internship at University Hospitals in Cleveland, OH where she explored the wide range of uses of music therapy throughout the hospital and in the community. She also expanded on research she started as an undergrad, investigating music therapy with caregivers of those with dementia and bereaved individuals.
Claire hails from Cleveland, Wisconsin, a small town on the shores of Lake Michigan nestled between cows and cornfields.
In her spare time, Claire enjoys testing her Merrell hiking boots out on the trails, camping, keeping up with her family, biking, watching movies, practicing yoga, hosting game nights with friends, and making music at her church. She also looks forward to singing with the Minnesota Chorale and directing the Merry Music Makers, a choir for individuals with developmental disabilities.
Registered Nurse
Sonja Amberson
Sonja Amberson is one of two primary RN’s serving the residents of Gianna Homes. She has over 15 years of experience in residential dementia care, having worked many of those years for small homes owned and operated by her parents. In addition to dementia care experience, Sonja has been an RN Case Manager assisting elderly individuals in navigating the health care system, and also has worked in acute hospital care settings.
In 2004, Sonja obtained her Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Minnesota, School of Nursing.
Whether camping or hiking, Sonja has a fondness for anything in the great outdoors. She volunteers on her church’s worship team, plays the guitar, and shares her vocal talents in the church choir. Sonja loves to travel and participates in mission trips to Namibia, Africa where she assists orphanages, provides emotional and spiritual support to hospice patients, and disciples young persons interested in learning about the Bible. During her mission trips, Sonja also provides nursing support, resources and education to Namibian RN’s, and volunteers her nursing skills wherever needed.
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