Meet ABC’s

Board of Directors


  • Past President

    Courtney is an estate planning, probate, and litigation attorney with the law firm of Wendland Utz, Ltd. Courtney focuses on working with families who have suffered loss and conflict. Courtney helps families navigate their way through the complicated and overwhelming legal system – or to avoid it altogether with an estate plan. Courtney recently co-wrote a chapter on the SECURE Act for MinnCLE, Minnesota’s leading CLE resource for attorneys. Courtney also regularly presents at CLEs for state and county bar associations throughout Minnesota.

  • President

    Brad retired from IBM after a 35 year career in finance and business transformation. Originally from Michigan (go Lions), his IBM roles led him to New York, Connecticut, London, and Rochester. He was most recently a VP of Transformation and Operations in IBM's sales organization. Brad has served on the ABC Board for Directors since 2017, except for a 2 year stint from 2022-2024 when he was the ABC Interim Director of Finance.  Brad enjoys time with family, travel, hiking, kayaking, and skiing. 

  • Jeff is a former neuropsychologist at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, where he worked since 1988 up until his retirement in 2018. Before coming to Rochester, he worked at the Clinical Science Center at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. Since the mid 1970’s, Jeff’s career has focused on working with people who have disabilities. He has had a particular interest in working with people who have acquired brain disorders, including traumatic brain injury. Jeff has served on the board of a number of nonprofit organizations, and just completed six-year terms on the boards of Minnesota Brain Injury Alliance and Minnesota Stroke Association.

  • Dennis built a career in the medical device industry, where he has worked as a manufacturing representative and VP of Sales and Marketing and Founder with startup medical device companies. He grew up in Rochester and lived in the area until relocating his family to Eden Prairie, where he and his wife raised three boys, the youngest being non-verbal with Cerebral Palsy and hearing loss. After returning to Rochester in 2010, Dennis became active in the community serving on neighborhood boards, Rochester Civic Music board and Veterans and Emergency Services Museum board.


  • Judy Tollefsrud is a long time resident of Houston County with an extensive background in the disability field having worked at ABLE and as a past ABC Board Member. Judy is currently a tax professional with H&R Block. She has recognized the need and importance of having board representation from Houston Co and is excited to be re-joining the ABC team.

  • At-Large Member


    After 42 years at Mayo, Michael O’Brien retired in 2019 to spend the summers with his two grandsons in Rochester. At Mayo, Michael worked as a Social Worker for 21 years and the remainder of his career as an Administrator. In both roles, Michael had interactions with ABC Leadership.

  • Sherry Irvin has been DSP with Cardinal of MN for fifteen years working with individuals with developmental disabilities. Sherry is a native of Rochester and is married and has two grown sons and loves to spend her free time reading, writing, and traveling. Sherry is an Ambassador with the Rochester Chamber of Commerce, an active member of The Rochester Elks Lodge, The Rochester Exchange Club, and also independently reviews local businesses as well as a published freelance writer.

  • Vice President


    Eric Crockett is the Regional Chair – Administration for the Southeast Region of the Mayo Clinic Health System. In previous roles at Mayo, Eric served as the vice chair, Midwest Region, for Provider Relations. In this role, he led the administrative structure for the Provider Relations staff and the Mayo Clinic Care Network members in the Midwest. Additionally, he has served as the administrator for the Department of Neurology on the Rochester campus, working on neurology service line development and integration activities. Eric has also served as director of Radiology and has spent the last 20 years of his career in health care administration, primarily in Radiology.

  • Secretary

    Julie Hobbs is a practice administrator at Mayo Clinic with a deep commitment to Equity, Inclusion and Diversity. With a comprehensive background in physical therapy, health promotion, and preventive medicine, Julie is passionate about advocating for all. She has served on several community and professional boards pertaining to advocacy. As a physical therapist, she serves as a volunteer clinical director for Minnesota Special Olympics and a site visitor for the Commission on Accreditation of Physical Therapy Education.

    Julie holds a Bachelor of Science and a Doctorate in Physical Therapy, a Master of Science in Health Education and Promotion, and a PhD in Preventive Medicine and Community Health. In her spare time, she enjoys boating, hiking, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.


  • Rob has been an advocate for ABC, Inc. for a number of years and is very happy to be a member of our Board of Directors. Rob has been in banking since the mid-90s and is currently the Chief Credit Officer for the First National Bank in Moose Lake, MN.

    He has both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Business Administration. Rob and his wife split their time between their homes near Moose Lake and rural Byron, MN. They enjoy snowmobiling, ATVs, and riding motorcycle whenever possible.

    Rob is also on the Board of Directors for the Moose Lake Area Food Shelf and has taught first time homebuyer courses for a number of years.

  • At-Large Member

    Alisha is a board-certified rehabilitation psychologist currently employed at Mayo Clinic Rochester on their inpatient rehabilitation unit. She specializes in working with individuals recovering from traumatic and acquired brain injury. Working in the field of rehabilitation, she is passionate about community integration and inclusion for those living with disability. Her work with disability spans the fields of direct clinical services, teaching, and research. She is excited to join the team at ABC and continue the valued work of supporting and advocating for the disability community.

    Alisha is originally from central Illinois, but navigated through Ohio and Washington state before finding her way back to the Midwest. She is happy to bring her family closer to home and enjoy the variable Midwest weather.


  • Megan Malugani is the owner of Malugani Communications LLC, where she partners with clients to deliver strategic communications and brand storytelling. She brings more than 30 years of experience in journalism, marketing and corporate communications to the Board. A Minnesota native, Megan is honored to support ABC’s mission and contribute her communications expertise to help empower people with disabilities to thrive. She lives in Rochester and enjoys spending time with husband and three children, Minnesota sports, podcasts and coffee with friends. 


  • Kari Thoreson is an attorney at Sebo Savica Law Firm with a professional focus on disability advocacy, guardianship, and estate-related matters. She is deeply committed to inclusion for all people with disabilities, inspired by her lifelong experiences as the sibling of a person with Down Syndrome. Kari has volunteered with organizations such as Special Olympics Minnesota for over a decade and True North AmeriCorps in Duluth, MN after she graduated college. She is passionate about creating spaces where individuals of all abilities are valued, supported, and empowered. Outside of her professional work, she enjoys baking, traveling, reading, playing pickleball with her partner, and spending time outdoors with her dog. She is honored to serve on the Board and support the organization’s mission.