When Rise announced in May its President and CEO Lynn Noren would be retiring this year, it felt as though the earth had shifted a bit. It is no small feat to begin and sunset a 45-year career at the same organization, much less a non-profit organization dedicated to serving adults with disabilities.
Our membership is filled with talented leaders throughout Minnesota. I am taking this time to recognize Lynn not only for her long career with Rise, but as an integral part of MOHR’s leadership team.
Over the years Lynn’s deep familiarity with DWRS from top to bottom has been critical as MOHR advocates on behalf of our membership. As the vision of Waiver Reimagine takes shape, Lynn is part of a team that ensures MOHR members have a voice in a process that is critical to their ability to fully serve the people in their communities.
Lynn’s advocacy on behalf of disability employment and community-based support services throughout the region make Lynn a familiar face at the State Capitol. While chair of the Government Affairs Committee, Lynn was instrumental in helping define the legislation that was most important for our membership. Her ability to form respectful relationships with DHS, state legislators and other organizations is unparalleled.
Personally, I have found Lynn to be a wonderful and trusted mentor. I am so fortunate to have been on MOHR’s Board of Directors with Lynn for eight years now, always learning from her expert approach to challenges. Whenever I am faced with a difficult decision in this field, I ask myself, “What would Lynn do?” It usually guides me to the correct answer. So many people have made an impact on me as a board member, and Lynn is at the top of that list.
Most of all, Lynn has shown all of us how to have a respectful working relationship with our many partners, state agency staff, legislators and their staff – fully capable of articulating points of disagreement while still maintaining healthy, working relationships. Lynn knows when to speak up, as well as the value that comes with being a good listener.
I notice when I mention Lynn’s name, people smile. I know it is likely because of their own positive interactions with her.
While Lynn is irreplaceable, she is a willing teacher, and I know MOHR will continue to be well-served by the people who have been working alongside Lynn, and the people who have grown under her mentorship. Respect is earned, and Lynn has definitely earned the respect that so many feel for her.
Lynn is now looking forward to a well-deserved retirement, and I know she won’t be far away if any of us need her guidance. I also know for as much as we have gained from Lynn’s leadership with MOHR, she feels just as blessed for her experiences in her much-celebrated career, as evidenced by this quote from a 2021 interview:
“If you think about a job where you can go every day and you get to witness, learn from people, get to see accomplishments, get to have those relationships with our staff, team members, the families of people we support – it’s really quite remarkable.”
