Steve Kann - President
Steve is a 1987 graduate from UW Stout in Menomenie, Wisconsin, with a degree in Manufacturing Engineering. He's been working at IBM in Rochester for 18 years holding several positions, with the most recent being New Products EMI. His involvement in other areas include: contributing to IBM’s ECCC campaign, he's a member of the site core team for ECCC for three years, Department Advocate, Division Lead for ECCC for two years and Site Coordinator in 2004, and United Way Campaign Cabinet in 2004. His wife Brenda was a Supported Employment Supervisor for the ABC Errand Service at IBM from 1991 through 1993. Brenda and Steve have two daughters: Ally who is 9 years old and Maria. Maria was born six years ago with Down’s syndrome. The Kann family has been active with the Olmsted County ARC since 1999. “Since 1993, I’ve been blessed to know several of the ABC errand and messenger service employees who work at IBM. I consider Tara, Josephine, Rick, Christina, Renee, Melodie, and Suzanne to be my dear friends.”

Dr. Thomas Bergquist - Vice President
Thomas F. Bergquist, PhD, LP, ABPP is Assistant Professor of Psychology in the Mayo College of Medicine and Program Director of the Mayo Brain Injury Outpatient Program. He is board certified in Clinical Neuropsychology. He has given numerous regional, national and international presentations in the areas of brain injury rehabilitation and disability, and has authored several publications in rehabilitation and medical journals. He is active as a leader in his son's Boy Scout Troop, active in his church, enjoys running, camping, and reading.  He lives in Rochester with his wife Kathy and their 3 children.

Dick Quinn - Treasurer
Dick is a graduate from the University of Nebraska-Omaha with a degree in Engineering and Business. After working for a time in Omaha, he came to Rochester as a Development Computer Programmer for IBM. Now retired, Dick enjoys traveling, spending time with his spouse, children, and grandchildren, and his involvement with various community organizations.

Dick previously served on the ABC Board of Directors for 12 years, including positions as Treasurer, Vice President, and President, and has served on various ABC Committees. Dick also serves as a Deacon in the Diocese of Winona.

“I think it is a privilege to serve on the ABC Board. I certainly receive more than I give. It’s a great joy to see the positive results that come about for the participants of the various rehabilitation and employment services of ABC.”

Angela Murphy - Secretary
Angela is one of three representatives from Houston County to serve on the ABC Board. My husband and I published The Caledonia Argus for 26 years and sold the paper in 1998. Our son John is 27 years old and has been in the ABC community first through the School to Work program when he was at Woodland Industries and now at ABC Works in Caledonia. As parents of a special needs child, our most overriding concern is for John. It is important to us that those who serve his needs be committed to high standards. “As a member of this Board, I have seen first hand that dedication to quality and believe that ABC sets the bar high and continually evaluates if standards are met.”

Phong Luong - Past President
Phong has served on the Board since 2003. “It is an honor for me to be affiliated with ABC because of the wonderful services it provides to Southeastern Minnesota communities, as well as to the program participants. By providing rehabilitation and employment training to people with disabilities and special needs, ABC’s programs are invaluable assets in helping the participants attain independence and gain confidence in their skills. To witness the energy, dedication and positive attitudes of our participants has been very rewarding for me.”

Judy Tollefsrud
Judy has been serving on the ABC Board for the past 14 years. She is also serving on the Woodland Advisory Team, is Secretary for Arc SE MN Board of Directors, Quality Assurance Team Member and recently completed a 5 year term on the Review Council, Treasurer of Garness Trinity Lutheran Church in rural Mabel, Promotion Chairperson for the MN Cattlewomen and the American National Cattlewomen, Secretary/Treasurer for the Houston County Cattlemen, and Member of the Spring Grove Commercial Club. She is self-employed as an insurance agent. Prior to that Judy worked at ABLE as a direct care staff for 15 ½ years. She and Jeff Gerard live on a crop and beef farm 2 miles SE of Spring Grove. She has 3 married children and 7 grandchildren. Hobbies include quilting, outdoor flowers, camping and bike riding.

Tom Murphy
Tom Murphy from Caledonia joined the ABC Board in August of 2006. He was publisher of the Caledonia Argus, a weekly newspaper, for 26 years, selling the paper in 1998. He is now working for Mutual of Omaha. He also serves as president of the A.B.L.E. board in Houston County. A.B.L.E. provides housing and non-work ativites for the disabled in Houston County.

"It has been the most satisfying and important volunteer work I have ever done to be involved with the programs that serve the disabled and I will bring dedication and committment to the ABC baord," he said.

He and his wife Angela, currently secretary of the ABC board, are the parents of John, 27, who is autistic, and a particapant in both the ABC and A.B.L.E. programs.

Alice Adamson
Alice has worked in the Human Services field in Austin and Rochester for the past 35 years.  For the past 16 years she has held several positions with Zumbro Valley Mental Health Center, currently is the Director for Housing and Residential Services.  She got her Master’s from St. Mary’s University in Health and Human Services Administration and has a long standing interest in rehabilitation and employment for adults with disabilities.  She lives in Rochester with her retired husband, Bob.  They have 4 adult children.

Roger Dearth

Roger was born and raised in Wisconsin but has resided in Minnesota for most of the last twenty three years.  Roger has an MBA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and spent most of his career in manufacturing and finance with IBM but for the last five years has been the Mayo Clinic Development finance director.  He is the former treasurer of the United Way of Olmsted County and just completed his term as president of Rochester Better Chance.  Roger and his fourteen-year-old son Daniel (who has CHARGE Syndrome) lead very active lives centered around school, sports, music, and travel.  “I was impressed by the pride and self esteem shown by the ABC mail workers at IBM years before I had a disabled child of my own, and hope Daniel can share in the ABC success story in the future.

Patty Simcox

Patty is a teacher at Century High School in Rochester and works primarily with autistic students. She was also a special education teacher in the Phoenix, Arizona school district for several years. She has experience working at several facilities that provide programs and services for people with disabilities, including Rise, Inc. (Anoka, MN), WACOSA (St. Cloud, MN), as well as group homes in Houston County.

Don Meiners
“I was happy to have been on the ABC Board during the transition when ABC became a provider for the DT and H Services in Houston County four years ago. It has been neat to meet and work with the ABC board and staff in Rochester. “I have enjoyed these past four years.”

Tom Murray
“Time really flies when you’re having fun and I’ve had fun working on the ABC board for more years than I can accurately count.” My first thoughts are about the wonderful people I’ve served with. From its earliest days, ABC recruited board candidates for the skills and experiences they could bring to our meetings. We have sought out folks that know about WORK and express themselves plainly. I’ve always marveled at their sincerity and efforts to learn. ABC enjoys a reputation for its tradition of broadly based boards of individuals organized as a cross section of its communities we serve who always put the mission of ABC ahead of any personal goals or bias. Most of us have never served on a board of directors of a non-profit agency before and we learned from each other and the staff as our business is conducted. It’s only when we look back that we realize how much has been done. ABC grew beyond anything the original board could imagine in 1956 and is constantly changing to serve new needs of customers and clients. My retirement makes an opening for new blood and ideas – something absolutely vital for all businesses and especially for an enterprise like ours. Dr. Mayo once said, “There’s no fun like work you enjoy.” And he was absolutely right.

Deb Garry
IBM asked me 12 years ago if I would be interested in fulfilling the remaining term of another Board Member who moved from the area. At the time, I thought it would be interesting and looked forward to the opportunity to serve ABC. Several terms later I can attest that being on the Board of Directors for ABC has been an absolutely incredible experience for me. This is a wonderful organization and one that I’m so proud to be affiliated with. It will be hard for me to say good-bye next year when my final term ends.

Bruce Remme
Bruce Remme, IBM Senior Manager with Finance and Integrated Supply Chain. Bruce joined the ABC Board in 1995 and has served as Treasurer, Vice President, and is currently the Board President. Bruce’s involvement with ABC was his desire to give back to the community. “Interacting with a special needs neighbor and the ABC messenger and errand team at IBM is my daily reminder that everyone benefits when people with disabilities work.”

David Stenhaug
David is the Regional Manager for Private Client Services for the Southern Minnesota region. He oversees four business lines of brokerage, trust services, portfolio management, and private banking and is a 20 year veteran of the financial services industry; he joined Wells Fargo in 1989. Beyond his management role, David specializes in the investment management of trust, agency and foundation accounts. David is a Past President and Board Member of Ability Building Center in Rochester, Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Rochester Area Foundation, and Chair of the Rochester Area Foundation’s First Steps Advisory Committee.

Jeff O’Toole
I’ve been a special education teacher in the Rochester Public Schools for 31 years. I have taught at the junior high, high school levels and at the Transition to Adult Program. Many of my present and former students are employed through the services of ABC. I am also the assistive technology coordinator for the school district where I use ABC’s PACTT services. “I am a board member because ABC is an asset to the community and to the clients it serves. ABC is a valued organization in Rochester and I am so proud to be on the Board.”

Father Virgil Duellman
While serving as Pastor at St. John’s in Rochester, the church was in need of someone to do light janitorial tasks. After advertising in the bulletin, a parishioner suggested that he contact ABC. Soon after he contacted ABC, a young lady was hired and did a great job. “With this experience I came to know the work of ABC and was very impressed. As its work was described, it became clear that this was more than hiring someone with a disability – this was and is a real ministry. It is amazing what many of these clients can do with the support of ABC. This is a ministry – helping God’s chosen ones and I am proud and happy to serve in this ministry.”