Bethesda Board of Directors re-elects officers, welcomes three new members

Milwaukee – At its most recent meeting, officers of the Bethesda Board of Directors were re-elected to their current roles and three new members joined the Board. Each leader brings significant expertise and a shared commitment to the mission of Bethesda, which in January 2022 will become AbleLight.

Re-elected were Cesar Villalpando, Chairman; Rev. Jay DeBeir, Vice-Chairman; Randy Odzer, Treasurer; and Cathy Brondos, Secretary.

In addition, the following were elected to the Board:

  • Thor Misko, Vice President of Project Development and Minority Owner – Selzer Ornst Construction Company, and previously with the Kern Family Foundation and Project Lead The Way, the nation’s largest K-12 STEM education program. He earned his bachelor’s degree in architectural engineering from the Milwaukee School of Engineering and lives in Greendale, Wis.
  • Mindy Perry, most recently Chief Marketing Officer for Austin, Texas-based jewelry and accessories brand Kendra Scott. She previously served as Vice President of Integrated Brand Marketing for Neiman Marcus Group and as an executive with Fossil Group. Perry earned a bachelor’s degree in communication arts from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and lives in Austin.
  • Michael Toedt, MD, Founder and CEO of Toedt Health Solutions LLC, and retired as Chief Medical Officer for the Indian Health Service, an agency of the federal Department of Health and Human Services. A family physician by training, Dr. Toedt spent much of his career with IHS and was a ready responder for the National Health Service Corps. He earned his MD from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and his bachelor’s degree in applied physics from Georgia Institute of Technology. He lives in North Bethesda, Md.

“Bethesda, soon to be AbleLight, has ambitious plans to transform the organization and the lives of millions of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities across the country,” said Chairman Villalpando. “Through expanded services that meet the needs of the whole person, AbleLight will make it possible for people with disabilities to experience lives of more independence and promise.”

Added Dave Sneddon, Interim President and CEO, “I am excited to work with our new and returning directors and officers, a group of nationally recognized experts in a variety of fields who will guide us toward a bright future.”

 Continuing to serve on the Board of Directors are:

  • Karen Carter, formerly with Riverfront, Inc., Whitehall, Wis.  
  • Malcolm Conner, Corporate Council Member, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Malvern, Pa.
  • Jim Rymarcsuk, Distinguished Career Institute Fellow at Stanford University, Bethesda, Md.
  • Christine Tricoli, Head of Human Resources, H.W. Kaufman Group, Broomfield, Mich.
  • Ellen Trytek, formerly with WipFli, LLP, Elm Grove, Wis.
  • J. Larry Tyler, CEO and Chairman, Practical Governance Group, Sandy Springs, Ga.
  • John Wiktor, J.D., Partner, Horwood Marcus & Berk Chartered, Valparaiso, Ind.

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About Bethesda

AbleLight is a national leader in pioneering life-changing services that empower people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to thrive. Founded in 1904 in Wisconsin as a Christian mission, AbleLight promotes independence and inclusion across the U.S. through comprehensive and individualized supports that include housing, employment, spiritual life and much more. For details, go to AbleLight.org, like our Facebook page and follow us on LinkedIn.