Walker Methodist is a faith-based non-profit that owns, operates, and manages a number of senior living communities in Minnesota and Wisconsin. We help older adults find the perfect community to call home, and we provide healthcare, rehabilitation, and services to seniors and the people who support them.
Additionally, Walker Methodist inspires people in the field of older adult services by establishing careers that create environments that enhance the lives of the people we serve.
Valuing People. Value people for who they are, not for what they give the organization.
Humility. Do not promote self. Put others first.
Listening. Seek first to understand before seeking to be understood.
Trust. Give trust to co-workers and team members.
Caring. Display kindness and concern for others.
Walker Methodist’s executive leadership is a passionate team of professionals committed to the mission, vision, and values of Walker Methodist. Together, this skilled and experienced group leads with imagination, collaboration, and respect. Get to know each of them personally through their biographies below.
Servant Leadership Trait: Leading with confidence and courage
Scott Riddle, Chief Executive Officer and President, leads all aspects of Walker Methodist's operations, mission, vision, and strategy.
As Chief Executive Officer and President, Scott leads the development of organizational strategies, as well as oversees the creation and implementation of the organization’s mission, vision and direction. He joined the organization as Chief Financial Officer in April 2013 and was named Chief Executive Officer and President in 2014.
Prior to joining Walker Methodist, Scott worked as the Vice President of Finance at Ecumen. His professional experience includes Finance roles at International Multifoods and Northwest Airlines and in diverse industries such as consumer auto rental and medical device, among others. He holds an MBA from the University of St. Thomas and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Bethel College. He volunteers his time as a Member of the Board on the Finance Committee for Aging Services of Minnesota.
Servant Leadership Trait: Committed to faithful stewardship
Russ joined the leadership team in January 2017. Russ was most recently CFO with Bloom Health Corporation and formerly with International Dairy Queen as Vice President of Financial Services. He holds a Bachelors of Business and Public Relations in Accounting from the University of North Dakota.
He leads all financial aspects of Walker Methodist including internal and external reporting, budgeting and financial analysis, cash & investment management, revenue cycle management, audits, and risk management. In addition, Russ oversees the Environmental Services and Informational Technology teams.
In his free time, Russ enjoys running, tending to his perennial garden, as well as spending time with his wife Karen and their three sons at home or up at the family cabin. He is also an active volunteer for the Eden Prairie Boys Basketball Association and serves on the Stewardship Council at Pax Christi Catholic Community.
Servant Leadership Trait: Building strong teams
Servant Leadership Trait: Casting an inspiring vision
With more than 15 years of experience in broad-based fundraising, community relations, and marketing, Karin Meier leads the Walker Methodist Foundation with passion and wisdom. She worked in the private sector, non-profit, and health care industry before joining the Walker team in 2022.
She graduated from Bemidji State university with a Bachelor of Science in Mass Communications with a concentration in marketing, and she earned a Mini MBA Program Certificate from University of St. Thomas Center for Business Excellence, and a Grant Writers Certificate from Grantsmanship Center.
Servant Leadership Trait: Inspirational leadership
Brenda Schrupp
Servant Leadership Trait: Encouraging and helping people realize their potential
Steve has been an integral leader with Walker Methodist for many years. His time at Walker Methodist began as the Executive Director of Highview Hills. He was promoted into the role of Regional Director of Operations, and today leads as the Vice President of Operations.
Steve is a fierce advocate for all those whom he serves and leads, and he is always looking for ways to help and encourage team members to learn and grow. He has become an established source of wisdom and steady devotion for our leaders.
We celebrated 75 years of serving seniors in 2020. Learn more...
Walker Methodist is proud of its deep roots dating back to 1876. Predecessors to today’s Walker Methodist are Bethany Home and Harriet Walker Maternity Hospital.
Between 1876 and 1930, Harriet Walker, Abby Mendanhall, Charlotte Van Cleve, and Euphemia Overlock established the original Bethany Home for unwed mothers where Walker Methodist Health Center now stands.
Between 1930 and 1945, Bethany Home became The Harriet Walker Maternity Hospital and broadened its services to include married women with limited resources seeking maternity care and older women seeking board and care.
As needs in the community changed, Walker Methodist shifted services to older adults. In 1945, the Walker Methodist Home opened its doors following the merger of the maternity hospital with the Elim Home for the Aged.
Walker Methodist Health Center opened in 1965 and became one of the largest health care communities in Minnesota. To provide a comprehensive array of services, a new housing community, Walker Methodist Place, opened in 1983. Today the Walker Methodist Health Center provides innovative service and healthcare to support the physical, social, emotional, and spiritual wants, needs and dreams of our customers.
The Walker Methodist Foundation was established in 1975 to ensure high quality programs and services are provided for our residents and patients.
The Foundation provides funding to support programs and services for residents and patients and for the capital needs in our housing communities. In addition, our staff is supported through the Foundation with training opportunities and a Pay It Forward Fund - an emergency assistance fund open to all employees. It is our hope to provide a lasting legacy for Walker Methodist for decades to come.
With the opening of the Westwood Ridge in 1987, Walker expanded the continuum of care to include independent living, assisted living, care suites, skilled nursing care, memory care, affordable senior housing, physical therapy and rehabilitation, fitness and wellness programs, and adult day care. We now serve customers at additional sites throughout the Twin Cities at Plaza and River in Anoka, Highview Hills in Lakeville, Care Suites in Edina, Kenzie in St. Anthony, and Lyndale in Minneapolis. 2017 saw the opening of Levande in Cambridge.
To reflect changing consumer expectations and preferences, we adopted a new Mission statement in 2012 to guide the organization's continued service and growth: Life. And all the living that goes with it. This Mission is accompanied by updated values: Respect. Imagination. Collaboration.
We are the leading provider of lifestyle, homes, healthcare and rehabilitative services for older adults and own, operate, and manage 19 senior living communities in the Twin Cities Metropolitan area and Wisconsin. Our Mission guides our creativity and innovation as we seek opportunities to build programs, service offerings, and residences in the future. Meaningful collaborations include Music & Memory and the Parkinson's Foundation.