The Camp Odayin Board of Directors provides the direction and oversight needed to ensure the continued growth and
success of the camp and its mission, while maintaining the fiduciary and governance oversight to protect the interest of
the camp's donors. Each Camp Odayin board member signs a Conflict of Interest statement annually. Please contact our office
if you'd like to review these documents.
Tom Armitage
Tom is a 20 year veteran of Medtronic. He currently serves as the Vice President
of Clinical Research and Regulatory Affairs for the Medtronic Structural Heart Disease Business. His position has
enabled him to be involved in the development of medical devices that serve children with cardiac diseases. Outside of
his career Tom has had the opportunity to work on children's cardiac care issues internationally through his
participation on the board of Children's HeartLink, a local non-profit with its headquarters in Edina. Tom's service
to Children's HeartLink includes two years as board chair from 2005 - 2007. Tom is looking forward to serving Camp
Odayin. He is inspired by the dedication of the staff and volunteers and he is grateful for the chance to make a
difference in the local community.
Dr. Charlie Baker
As a volunteer since the first week of Camp, Charlie has enjoyed the
rewards that participation has provided. The role of "Ol Doc Baker" at Camp has been a wonderful addition and contrast
to his role as a pediatric cardiologist at The Children's Heart Clinic and Children's Hospitals and Clinics of
Minnesota. "To see our patients participating in all aspects of Camp, especially free time during waterfront, is truly
amazing." A native of Rochester, Minnesota, Charlie's education has taken him from Madison, to Minneapolis, to Salt Lake City
and finally to Boston. He served as Medical Director of Camp Odayin from 2004 through 2007, and has been practicing at The
Children's Heart Clinic since 2000.
Amy Boyle
Amy joins the board with 22 years of experience in the cardiac medical device
industry and works as the Vice President of Corporate Brand and Marketing for St. Jude Medical. Her personal interest
in children with cardiac disease stems from the work she did in the 80's and 90's with the Hospital for Sick Children
in Toronto, which is a world renowned pediatric cardiac center. There she interacted with many of the kids with
pacemakers, defibrillators and other cardiac surgeries, their parents, and the medical team and gained a tremendous
appreciation for challenges and rewards that these very special patients and their families experience.
Bob Day
Bob grew up in the Twin Cities and currently lives in Plymouth, MN. He is the in-house intellectual property attorney for two local medical device companies:
ACIST Medical Systems, Inc., headquartered in Eden Prairie, and HLT, Inc., headquartered in Maple Grove. Before his current roles, Bob worked as a patent attorney
at the Fredrikson & Byron law firm in Minneapolis. Before law school, he was a technical product specialist for a company that makes implantable cardiac devices.
In addition to a law degree from the State University of New York, Bob has an MBA from the Carlson School of Management and an electrical engineering degree from
the University of Wisconsin at Madison.
Kris Flanagan, Vice President
Kris has experience working in Medical Device and Healthcare Industry marketing (Cardiac Surgery Business, Cardiac Rhythm Management, Abbott Northwestern
Hospital/Minneapolis Heart Institute) and currently works in 3M's Healthcare Division, Skin and Wound Care. As a US Marketing Manager - IV Site, she is passionate
about developing and building awareness around best practices in patient care, clinician relations and creative marketing programs. Working in the Medical
Device / Healthcare Industry opens a world of learning, educating and understanding of how heart disease impacts the lives of patients, families and friends.
Kris is excited and very proud to be part of the Camp Odayin team bringing children with heart disease together and sharing in experiences that last a lifetime!
Reed Gilbert, Secretary
Being a native of Minnesota, Reed has held business development positions in the technology and financial services industries in the Twin Cities for more than ten years. He has served as a volunteer for several non-profit organizations including Big Brothers Big Sisters, Habitat for Humanity and Sharing and Caring Hands. Reed began his Camp Odayin volunteer efforts several years ago at the Heart and Sole 5K. His involvement and enthusiasm for Camp Odayin has continued to grow. "It is an honor to serve on Camp Odayin Board of Directors and a great way for me to help further the mission of bringing children with heart disease together to share an experience they would otherwise not have had."
Chandra Gruber
After recognizing her passion for volunteerism and philanthropy at an early age, Chandra's job as a corporate giving manager at St. Jude Medical directly corresponds to her desire to give back to the community and those in need. With career experience rich in management and organizational skills, Chandra's job is to oversee and manage St. Jude Medical's Global Giving Programs, a sampling of which includes the St. Jude Medical Foundation, St. Jude Medical's Patient Assistance Product Donations Program and St. Jude Medical's Charitable Contributions and Professional Education Program. In her free time, Chandra is an active volunteer, eager to help make an impact on the lives of others.
Jeanne Kenady, President
Jeanne has worked at Boston Scientific Corporation for over four years. During this time, she has held positions in company operations and employee communications and currently serves as a Manager in the LATITUDE Clinician Support Group. After assisting with the Camp Odayin Heart and Sole 5K volunteer effort, Jeanne sought another opportunity to make a difference for kids living with heart disease. She often reminisces of her first visit to Camp Odayin when she truly discovered the magic that Camp Odayin creates for their campers. Jeanne hopes to use her leadership and energy to continue Camp Odayin's powerful mission.
Sara Meslow
Sara is the Executive Director and founder of Camp Odayin, a life long camper, and a heart patient herself. She has worked and volunteered at many camps and holds undergraduate degrees in Social Work & Communication, and a graduate degree in Youth Development Leadership.
Sara is very familiar with the cardiac care world. She herself has had a
catheter ablation to correct her supraventricular tachycardia, and has an implanted
Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) as a result of ventricular tachycardia. She believes in the positive impact summer camp can have on everyone, especially children with special heath concerns.
Beth Nelson
Beth is currently a part time marketing and communications manager
for Allina at their River Falls Area Hospital. She has extensive experience in creating effective marketing
plans that build businesses, while focusing on providing the optimal customer experience which is critical
for long term success. As a parent of a current Camp Odayin camper, she is excited and passionate about helping
to drive the continued success of the camp and to positively impact the lives of children who attend. "I believe
my past experiences as a parent of a child with heart disease, my leadership roles, my marketing and public
relations skills, and other non profit experience will help make a difference and I am excited to be a part of
this great board."
Steve Poucher
Steve has 22 years experience with Abbott Laboratories, including nine years as a cardiovascular and peripherial vascular specialist. He has served as a volunteer for several non-profit organizations including: Boy Scouts of America, Minnesota Stroke Association, Minnesota Dietetic Association, Minnesota Epilepsy Foundation, Camp Oz, Twin Lakes Preservation Association, and held various board member positions. Steve is currently active in "SOAR for Jobs," a job transition support group, as core committee member, speaker, mentor, and a small group facilitator. Steve and his wife lost their infant daughter, Erin, to congenital heart disease in 1990. " I believe that serving on Camp Odayin's board of directors is a great privilege and an extraordinary way to touch the hearts of many children and their families."
Jeff Weness
Jeff Weness has extensive experience at the intersection of the Healthcare, Technology and Retail sectors. He is currently Senior Director of Corporate Relations
for Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota. Jeff leads a team focused on creating innovative long-term partnerships with companies throughout the upper Midwest.
His work with the Geek Squad at Children's won the 2011 "Patient Care Innovation of the Year" from the Minnesota Hospital Association. Weness earned an M.B.A. from the
University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management and a B.A. in Russian, Business and International Relations from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN. His daughter
was born with heart disease and Jeff is excited to be a part of an organization that will enrich her life.
