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Leadership Team

Leadership Team

Our Leadership Team

Ty Hegland, Chief Executive Officer

Ty Hegland, MBA, is a North Dakota native with over 15 years of healthcare experience. Previously, Ty served as the President/CEO of ShareHouse, the largest SUD provider in the state of North Dakota. Prior to that he served as a Vice President/Executive Director for Sanford Health where he led philanthropic activities and served as a Senior Executive for the healthcare services division for the Fargo Market. Ty’s experience includes substance use disorder, mental health, co-occurring adolescent treatment, patient assistance, business development, public relations, marketing, public policy/governance, and organizational development. Ty serves on the board of the YMCA of Cass Clay and has won received numerous awards throughout his career including being named a Bush Fellow. Ty is married to Kiersten and has two daughters, Hadley (16) and Ella (3).

Education

  • MBA, University of Mary – Bismarck, ND
  • B.S. Psychology – North Dakota State University – Fargo, ND
  • Certification, Consulting – Harvard University – Cambridge, MA
  • Certification, Lean Healthcare Engineering – University of Michigan – Ann Arbor, MI

Carol Frovarp, Chief Financial Officer

Carol Frovarp began working at Prairie St. John’s in July, 1997 as a payroll specialist. Over the next 10 years she learned as much as she could about the finance department advancing her way to Controller, and then on to Business Office Director.

Over the past 20 years Carol has served in most areas of the finance department and is now
the CFO at PSJ.

Carol enjoys working with everyone in the company and feels a strong sense of satisfaction knowing that her work at Prairie St. John’s helps us to continue to meet the needs of the community and be the place that people come to when they want to get back to life.

Education

  • Bachelor’s Degree, Accounting
  • University of Mary

Elysia Agnew, Director of Assessment and Intake

Elysia Agnew started her career at Prairie St. John’s in 2003 as a Behavioral Health Technician since then has worked her way up the ladder to Director of Assessment and Intake. “I’ve found nothing more rewarding than being a part of stabilizing a patient’s crisis and guiding them to the help they need. I look forward to watching patients leave our facility with a sense of hope and relief because they have found a path to a better place. Becoming the Needs Assessment Director has provided me with the opportunity to manage an entire department of professionals that have similar goals and share rewarding experiences with patients”. Elysia’s professional goal is to obtain her Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) Licensure.

Education

  • Master’s Degree: Counseling, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, North Dakota
  • Bachelor’s Degree: Psychology, North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota

Licensure

  • LPC, North Dakota Board of Counselor Examiners

Tim Mathern, Director of Public Policy

In his position as Director of Public Policy, Tim Mathern works with government agencies and private organizations regarding public policy concerns of behavioral health. Tim has been a North Dakota State Senator since 1986 and has more than 30 years experience as a social worker and agency administrator. He is well equipped to guide Prairie St. John’s efforts with regards to public policy.

Tim says, “My professional goals are to work with others in creating a world where each person has access to affordable, timely health care. This requires proper reimbursement to health care providers so that comprehensive services are available. Like other illnesses, mental illness and addictions can be treated. We need supportive public policy to ensure treatment is available. Every person has intrinsic worth. Sometimes, mental illness or addictions make it difficult for this intrinsic worth to shine. At Prairie St. John’s, we have the opportunity to help our patients discover their worth and experience a life of improved mental health and freedom from addiction.”

Education

  • Master’s Degree: Public Administration, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts
  • Master’s Degree: Social Work, University of Nebraska, Omaha, Nebraska
  • Bachelor’s Degree: Sociology, North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota

Licensure

  • North Dakota Board of Social Work, LCSW

Board Activities

  • University of North Dakota Medical School
  • Advisory Council
  • Commission on National and Community Service
  • Prairie Roots Food Cooperative

Memberships

  • Council of State Governments
  • Mental Health America
  • National Alliance on Mental Illness
  • National Conference of State Legislatures
  • National Association of Social Workers

Jeana Scheffler, Director of Clinical Services

Jeana Scheffler started at Prairie St. John’s as a therapy intern in 2016. She was hired as an adult inpatient therapist in 2017. Jeana transitioned to the Director of Performance Improvement role in 2019 where she managed the hospital’s quality assurance and performance improvement program, began overseeing regulatory activities and became the facility compliance officer. Jeana moved into the Director of Clinical Services role in 2022 where she supervises medical records, therapy, substance use programming, activity therapy, outpatient services, and discharge planning.

Jeana enjoys working with all the teams at Prairie, collaborating with different disciplines to improve the patient experience, and making positive changes to the field of mental health. “The work we do is uniquely challenging but endlessly rewarding.”

Education:
Master’s Degree: Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Minnesota State University Moorhead, Moorhead Minnesota
Bachelor’s Degree: Emergency Management, North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota

Licensure:
LPCC, North Dakota Board of Counselor Examiners
LMHC, Iowa Board of Behavioral Health

Jasen Walker, Chief Financial Officer in training

Jasen Walker started at Prairie St. John’s in 2022. Prior to that he has served in various roles over the last 10 years among some of the largest employers in Fargo. Jasen is married to Amanda and has two daughters, Alyza (3) and Jocelyn (1). He enjoys playing with his kids, reading, running, and traveling.

Education
• Master’s Degree: Accountancy, North Dakota State University – Fargo, ND
• Bachelor’s Degree: Biology with Health/Medical Sciences Emphasis, Minnesota State University Moorhead – Moorhead, MN

Josh Sayler, Director of Business Development

Josh started working at Prairie St. John’s in June of 2017 in the intake/needs assessment department. He transitioned to his current role in July of 2020. Josh and his team work with referents and community partners across the tri-state area to ensure effective working relationships and positive patient outcomes. The business development department also works to build formal and informal partnerships to help serve the behavioral health needs of the region in addition to offering behavioral health education and resources free of charge to any interested parties.

Josh has worked in the behavioral health field for over 18 years, primarily providing community mental health care and case management in addition to other supportive behavioral health services.

Josh and his wife Kari have two daughters and have lived in the F-M community for over 20 years.

Education:

  • Master’s Degree: Psychology, Sacred Heart University, Fairfield, CT
  • Bachelor’s Degree: Criminal Justice, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND

Lori Whitten, Human Resources Director

Lori has over 20 years as a Human Resources leader including serving as the Vice President of Human Resources at ShareHouse, Managing Director at Xtreme Consulting, Branch Manager & Corporate Training Manager at True Blue, and also served in the Army National Guard. She is a dynamic recruiter with experience recruiting individuals in healthcare, technology, and construction. Lori truly believes in creating a culture that values individuals and creates a sense of team throughout the organization. Lori has lived in Moorhead, MN for 33 years and has children ranging in ages from 32 to 7 years old.

Education:

  • Master of Business Administration (MBA) – University of Mary Bismarck, ND
  • Master of Management – University of Mary Bismarck, ND
  • Bachelor of Science in Sociology – NDSU Fargo, ND

Certifications:

  • Technical Services Certified (TSC) –American Staffing Association
  • Certified Staffing Professional (CSP) – American Staffing Association
JoDee Eckart

JoDee Eckart, Director of Nursing

JoDee started as a Mental Health Technician at Prairie St. John’s in 2007 as she pursued a career in nursing and has functioned in all roles of nursing throughout her tenure. She has demonstrated leadership in nursing management, recruitment, retention, mentoring and precepting prior to her recent transition to Director of Nursing. JoDee shares her knowledge about mental health nursing and has presented on mental illness to local businesses and the tristate nursing colleges. She is currently earning her MSN as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.

JoDee and her husband Greg have one daughter and two sons. They enjoy traveling and spending time at Pelican Lake in the summer.

Education

  • LPN Degree: MState, Moorhead, MN
  • ADN RN Degree: MState, Moorhead, MN
  • BSN Degree: North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota

Hope and Healing are a Phone Call Away

Prairie St. John’s provides a number of services for children, adolescents and adults facing mental health issues, substance use disorder or co-occurring disorders. For a confidential, no-cost assessment call 701-476-7200 anytime, day or night.