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 Grundhauser is an accomplished a versatile executive leader with a strong finance and accounting background. Russ has been with Walker Methodist since 2017, and he is highly regarded by his team and known for his commitment to faithful stewardship.
He leads all financial aspects of Walker Methodist’s parent corporation, controlled affiliates and subsidiaries. These areas include internal and external reporting, budgeting and financial analysis, cash and investment management, revenue cycle management, audits, and risk management. Additionally, Russ oversees the Environmental Services, Information Technology, and Development Teams.
He has a 30-year proven track record of strong leadership and outstanding business results in fast-paced and rapidly changing environments. Prior to Walker Methodist, Russ was the CFO with Bloom Health Corporation and Vice President of Financial Services with International Dairy Queen.
Russ has a Bachelor of Business and Public Relations in Accounting from the University of North Dakota. In his free time, Russ enjoys running, tending to his perennial garden and spending time with family at their cabin. He is an active volunteer with the CFO Leadership Council, serving as Co-Chair of the Steering Committee.
Servant Leadership Trait: Building strong teams
Veronica Barnas is a highly driven and motivated leader who joined Walker Methodist in 2019 as a Benefits Manager. In a short time, she was promoted to the Director of HRIS, Benefits, and Compensation, and in 2022, she took on the role of Vice President of Human Resources.
Known for her cool head in the midst of challenges, Veronica is a trusted leader. With an impressive command of the details and nuances of employee benefits and human resource laws and regulations, Veronica is thorough and conscientious in all aspects of her work, never allowing the details to slip through the cracks. She has demonstrated mastery of coaching, benefits, acquisitions and divestitures, process implementation, compensation, leave management, onboarding, payroll, and building relationships. She handles the more difficult aspects of human resources, choosing to manage difficult conversations with both clarity and empathy.
Before coming to Walker Methodist, Veronica service in a variety of Human Resources and Benefits roles in a number of organizations, including Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Science Museum of Minnesota, Robert Half Management Resources, Kraft Foods and Nestle. Veronica earned a Bachelor’s in Human Resources Management from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota.
Servant Leadership Trait: Casting an inspiring vision
When Karin Meier joined Walker Methodist in September 2022, she came ready, eager, and equipped to make big things happen for the Walker Methodist Foundation. Karin casts an inspiring vision and encourages others to join in—a skill that has brought successful results for the Foundation and for past organizations.
As Vice President of Fund Development, Karin provides leadership and oversight for all of Walker Methodist’s philanthropy, fundraising, and advocacy activities. In addition, she works to develop strategies that enhance corporate and foundation support.
Karin has an extensive background in broad-based fundraising, community relations, and marketing. Prior to Walker Methodist, Karin served in development roles with Project for Pride, Hennepin Healthcare Foundation, and the Institute for Trafficked, Exploited, and Missing Persons.
Karin graduated from Bemidji State University with a degree in Mass Communications. She also holds a Mini MBA Program Certificate from the University of St. Thomas and a Grantsmanship Center Grant Writer’s Certification.
Servant Leadership Trait: Inspirational leadership
Brenda Schrupp has been a part of the Walker Methodist family for a decade, having worked in several leadership roles, including Campus Administrator for seven years at Walker Methodist Westwood Ridge (West St. Paul), and Quality and Corporate Compliance. She brought with her to Walker Methodist a wealth of experience gained from her time as a social worker and growing into director, starting up a transitional care, and administrator roles in other care centers. Her experiences have allowed her to oversee a full continuum of care, ranging from Independent Living to Skilled Nursing/Transitional Care and everything in between.
In her current role, Brenda works to ensure that residents are getting the best care possible while also meeting regulatory standards. She does this by working with leaders to find efficiencies and create sustainable processes and manageable workloads.
Brenda is a passionate advocate of finding work/life balance—so passionate that she did her graduate research project on the topic. “I truly believe that part of my role as a servant leader is to care for those in my charge, and one of the best ways to do that is to make sure that people are caring for themselves so that they can better serve others and sustain as leaders,” says Brenda.
Brenda earned a Bachelor’s degree from University of Wisconsin—Eau Claire, completed her Long-Term Care Administration from the University of Minnesota—Twin Cities Carlson School of Management, and her Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership from St. Catherine University—St. Paul. When she is not working, you’ll likely find that she’s traveling the globe—filling her soul and finding her own work/life balance.
Servant Leadership Trait: Encouraging and helping people realize their potential
Steve Wilson is a fierce advocate for all those whom he serves and leads, and knowledgeable operator and leader. He has been with Walker Methodist since 2014, and has since taken on increasing responsibilities, growing from an Executive Director of one community to a Regional Director of Operations for several communities, and was appointed to the Vice President of Operations for all of Walker Methodist.
Steve is an encourager and helps people realize their potential, which has helped Walker Methodist’s leaders and communities tackle complex issues and handle difficulties, knowing they have a solid source of knowledge walking with them through the process. He is an established source of wisdom and his steady devotion to our residents and team members has solidified his position as an integral leader whom others want to follow.
Steve holds a bachelor’s degree from Concordia University—St Paul. In his free time, he loves spending time with his wife Jodi and their grandchildren, making wine with his father-in-law, and is an avid runner.
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.
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.
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 and into Wisconsin. Here is our current list of housing communities: Plaza and River in Anoka, Highview Hills in Lakeville, Care Suites in Edina, Kenzie in St. Anthony, Lyndale in Minneapolis, Levande in Cambridge, Pioneer Manor in White Bear Lake, River Heights in South St. Paul, and Walker Place in Minneapolis, and Westwood Ridge I and Westwood Ridge II in West St. Paul.
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.