Ms. Andress believes that collaborative thought done in the spirit of community is the key to being effective and building the necessary trust to maintain relational sustainability. This is a valuable understanding Andress has learned on her journey as a leadership advisor, working with a variety of business and non-profit organizations. Her book Kai-Zen: Breathing Life into Leadership communicates how these principles breathe life, not only into leadership, but also inspire people to work together for the well-being of all.

After moving to the Lutsen area of Cook County from Denver, Inger sensed a calling to understand how to come alongside this community and encourage collaboration. For Andress, it has been a joy to participate in local events, consult businesses and meet with a variety of leaders, listening to the heartbeat of what makes Cook County tick.

“These are exciting times, and I am glad that NSHCF has been a part of leading the way in exemplifying how to serve the community of Cook County.”

Mr. Lilja’s career has been in Community Mental Health. He worked as a Clinical Social Worker at the Human Development Center in Grand Marais for five years before retiring in 2011. Prior to that he worked in other Mental Health treatment agencies in St. Paul and Austin, MN.

Once a month he hosts Tuesday Classics on WTIP North Shore Community Radio and volunteers with Workers on Wheels, a bicycle loaning program for international workers in Cook County. He has served on the Cook County Public Health & Human Services Advisory Committee since 2009, including several years as Chair. The North Shore Health Care Foundation is a major focus and commitment for him at this point in his life.

Jerry is grateful to be a husband, father and grandfather and his favorite pastimes include woodworking, X/C skiing, and canoeing on our beautiful lakes. He also enjoys singing with the Borealis Chorale and is proud to call Cook County, Minnesota home.

Our Executive Director, Valerie, is an energetic, visionary leader with an innate ability to make things happen, bring ideas to life and bring people together. A former Director of the Office of Emergency Management & Public Information for Cook County, she served as the Emergency Manager and Communication Director for the Sheriff’s Office and county government. Valerie also chaired the Pigeon River International Emergency Management Committee which brings together all emergency services agencies including Law Enforcement, Fire, EMS, Homeland Security & Emergency Management, Public Health and Customs/Border services between Cook County, Minnesota and Thunder Bay, Ontario, and helped execute the first-ever MN/ON international cross-border emergency services mutual assistance agreement, recently signed in 2019.

Prior to coming back to her home state, she served with the City of Thunder Bay as the Supervisor of Corporate Communications and PIO for the Emergency Operations Control Group and a member of the City Manager’s leadership team for more than a decade helping to develop and implement many capital projects and community development programs for the city of 120,000. In 2003, after immigrating to Canada from Minneapolis, she co-founded and operated a private public relations and marketing firm. She is an honor graduate of the University of Minnesota Duluth and La Universidad de Guadalajara Mexico, and holds a double BA in Communications & Public Relations and Spanish.

Mike Boomer lives in Grand Portage MN with his wife of 31 years Lori, “Sam”.  Mike and Lori own and operate Ryden’s Border Store & Duty Free.  This is a 3rd generation business actively involved in the Grand Portage community.  Mike and Lori have two children, Brea and Kale both growing up in Cook County attending Grand Portage schools and graduating from I.S.D. 166.  Brea and Kale went on to get college degrees and are now pursuing life dreams and challenges. 

Mike was an assistant Football coach for the Cook County Vikings for over 23 years coaching under Lyle Anderson, Mitch Dorr and Mike Prom.  He continues to have positive interactions with many of the young men he coached and holds those relationships in very high regard.  Boomer was also part of the leadership team that built the Mt Rose Community Church (Maamawiitawin) in Grand Portage.  Mike also developed a course for dads who attended Early Childhood Development classes offered by Adult Community Education called F.A.N. (Fathers Are Needed) and taught this for several years.

I have always been on the other side of non-profits (Okontoe and Coldwater) either via financial support or volunteering in some form.  I am looking forward to being more involved in nuts and bolts of the North Shore Health Care Foundation. I am also interested in helping bridge the east end of the county with Grand Marais.  We can be isolated out here, and I look forward to positive, results-orientated resolutions to issues effecting all families in our community.