Far more than a business memoir, “From Boxing Ring to Boardroom: 5 Essential Virtues for Life and Leadership” follows Héctor Colón from his challenged childhood through his international success in boxing, up to his current position as President and CEO of Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan, Inc. (LSS), one of the Midwest’s largest nonprofit organizations.
Under Héctor’s visionary servant leadership, LSS has adapted new models and business strategies to increase relevance and operational efficiency. Over his past three years leading the organization, LSS has seen tremendous organizational success, to include multi-million dollar surpluses with a gain of $2.4 million in 2019. He was also recently named Nonprofit Executive of the Year by BizTimes Media and Hispanic Man of the year by UMOS.
During this webinar, Héctor will share five essential virtues you can use to be an exceptional leader, achieve personal fulfillment, and overcome adversity in work and life. If you would like more information about Héctor, or would like to order his book, “From Boxing Ring to Boardroom: 5 Essential Virtues for Life and Leadership,” please visit his website
hectorcolonmke.com.
The COVID-19 crisis has brought to the forefront of senior living the importance of staying connected, and the consequences of being isolated. Come see how the pairing of technology and creative leadership can lead to successful outcomes and improve the quality of life for everyone involved. Hosted by Jack York, President and co-founder of iN2L, Dave Gehm, President and CEO of Wellspring Lutheran Services, and Kevin McFeely, President and CEO of Tacoma Lutheran, will share their own experiences and expertise on creative ways they have kept their residents, families and staff connected and engaged through the pandemic.
The webinar highlights innovative technologies and the evolving ways technology can help keep residents and families connected in the virtual world (and beyond) and include a myriad of resources, many of them free, that keep the connections alive and blossoming. The session is 100 percent designed for non-technical individuals, and you will walk away with multiple ideas and solutions for your own setting. You will walk away with a new set of resources to utilize, and stories of inspiration you can emulate.
Join us for Member Innovation Spotlight — a virtual forum designed specifically for Lutheran Services in America members to share their innovations and foster business opportunities. In this webinar Lutheran Services in America member
Lyngblomsten shares eMenuCHOICE, a product they developed to transform the dining experience and increase operational efficiencies. eMenuCHOICE is used in over 150 communities across the United States and Canada including Lutheran Services in America members
Ecumen and
Cassia.
eMenuCHOICE enables care providers and senior living communities to place meal orders safely and swiftly. The innovative app takes into consideration food allergies and other dietary restrictions, tracks preferences over time, and is intended to prevent order mistakes while promoting more choice for residents. eMenuCHOICE also greatly improves back office functions such as billing for resident, guest and employee meals and is integrated with popular health record providers like PointClickCare, Eldermark and Residex.
Jazmin King from Ecumen will join Matt Stenerson and the team from Lyngblomsten as they share how eMenuCHOICE helped transform their residents dining experience.
Do you have a product or innovation to share? Contact Swathi Mannem at
smannem@lutheranservices.org and we can partner to get the word out.
The webinar will occur at
10 a.m. EST on Dec. 10.
The LeadingAge Annual Meeting + Expo is an important source for the latest technology, products and solutions for senior services leaders. For those who attended the conference, we held a special Lutheran Services in America member reception at the Hyatt Regency Denver at Colorado Convention Center to continue the discussion advancing your organization’s work to improve the lives of older adults.
The reception is not only an opportunity to connect with contemporaries from one of the largest senior services networks in the country, but a trusted space to share experiences as peers and not competitors.

Our thanks to everyone who joined us for a special evening filled with food, fellowship and great conversations!
Reception Location
Granite room, Hyatt Regency Denver at Colorado Convention Center
650 15th St.
Denver, CO 80202
View the floor map.
Panelists
Check out your Lutheran Services in America colleagues who spoke at the LeadingAge Annual Meeting + Expo.
- Mark Anderson, President & CEO of Knute Nelson
- Lindsey Sand, Vice President of Population Health at Knute Nelson
- Dave Gehm, President & CEO of Wellspring Lutheran Services
- Adam Marles, President & CEO of Lutheran Senior Services
- Brooke Rivera, Executive Director of HCBS at St. John’s United
- Christy Zeitz, CEO of Fellowship Square Foundation
SPONSOR

Contact Christopher Findlay for more information about the reception and learn more about our work to empower older adults.
We have a number of exciting, engaging sessions planned for our Lutheran Services in America-Disability Network Summer Meeting in Detroit, Michigan, August 3–5, 2022! The meeting will include a focus on advocacy strategies to move the needle on workforce issues on Capitol Hill featuring Erik Rasmussen of Meridian Government Affairs and creating a culture of excellence and attracting a diverse workforce with Tommie Lewis of Make It Plain Consulting.
View the agenda for more details.
Registration for the meeting will close on Monday, July 27.
What to Expect
The meeting will be held in-person at the offices of our LSA-DN member:
8131 East Jefferson Avenue
Detroit, MI 48214
Following a site visit to
Samaritas on Wednesday, we will hear from experts on Thursday and Friday on topics such as developing and implementing creative advocacy strategies to move the needle on Capitol Hill on the workforce crisis; creating a culture of excellence and attracting a diverse workforce; and what the end of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency means for providers and the people they support. Thursday night will also feature a group dinner at a local restaurant.
View Agenda
Book Your Hotel Room
We secured a group rate for the nights of August 3 and 4 at the following hotel:
Courtyard Detroit Downtown
333 East Jefferson Ave.
Detroit, MI 48226.
NOTE: To take advantage of the group rate, you must reserve your room by 5:00 p.m. ET on July 13.
Reserve Your Room
How to Attend
If you plan to attend, please follow these steps:
- Register for the event via Eventbrite by clicking the green “Tickets” button and following the instructions. Registration for the Summer Meeting is free, but if you wish to attend the optional dinner on Thursday night, there is a $55 charge. You can register for both the meeting and the dinner via the “Tickets” button.
- Make your room reservation directly with the hotel.
- Notify Sarah Dobson if you require an accommodation to participate in this event by July 5.
Registration for the meeting and optional Thursday night group dinner will close end of day Monday, July 27, 2022.
Questions?
Contact
Sarah Dobson, Senior Director of Public Policy and Advocacy.
Lutheran Services in America president and CEO Charlotte Haberaecker joined Héctor Colón, the president and CEO of Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin & Upper Michigan, on his podcast “In the Ring” to discuss the challenges and opportunities that organizations in the health and human services sector face. Charlotte highlighted three challenges: the ongoing workforce shortage, disproportionate outcomes in the child welfare system and a lack of focus on prevention services.
Our board member Dr. Antonio Oftelie of Harvard University joined the Annie E. Casey Foundation for an Instagram Live discussion about keeping children with their families and preventing out-of-home placements. Dr. Oftelie is the author of a white paper about transforming child welfare that offers valuable insights gathered through our Results Innovation Lab.
Lutheran Services in America holds an Annual Membership Meeting in the first half of each calendar year. At the Annual Meeting, the CEOs of social ministry organizations elect new members to the board of directors and approve the budget for the coming fiscal year. The annual budget must be approved by a majority of the Class A members present at the Annual Meeting and by the written concurrence of both Class B members.
To obtain a copy of any meeting materials not listed here, please contact Cristina Zegarra-Valente.
Upcoming Meetings
2025 Annual Meeting
Tuesday, January 28, 2025, 12:00–1:30 p.m. EST
Ponte Vedra Inn & Club in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida
Previous Meetings
2024 Annual Meeting
Tuesday, January 30, 2024, 12:00–2:00 p.m. MST
The Wigwam, Litchfield Park, AZ
2023 Annual Meeting
Tuesday, January 24, 2023, 12:15–1:45 p.m. MST
The Wigwam, Litchfield Park, AZ
2022 Annual Meeting
Tuesday, January 25, 2022, 1:30–2:00 p.m. EST
Virtual meeting
2021 Annual Meeting
Wednesday, March 24, 2021, 3:00–3:45 p.m. EDT
Virtual meeting
2020 Annual Meeting
Tuesday, January 28, 2020, 7:30–8:30 a.m. EST
One Ocean Resort, Atlantic Beach, FL
2019 Annual Meeting
Tuesday, May 1, 2019, 9:00–10:30 a.m. CDT
Westin Michigan Avenue Chicago, Chicago, IL