About us

Agencywide organization

The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) helps provide essential services to Minnesota's most vulnerable residents. Working with many others, including counties, tribes and nonprofits.

Commissioner

Shireen Gandhi 651-431-2907

Assistant to the Commissioner, Angie Goserud 651-431-2907

Office of the Commissioner

  • Assistant Commissioner, Josh Syrjamaki 651-431-4268
  • Executive Assistant, Kim Motz 651-431-2923

Areas included in this part of the organization:

Business Solutions Office

  • Business Transformation Officer, Jeffrey Jorgenson 651-431-2118

Chief Financial Office

  • Financial Officer, Vacant
  • Deputy Chief Financial Officer, Sarah Orange 651-431-2151
  • Administrative Assistant, Marya Barsanti 651-431-4016
  • Budget Analysis Director, Elyse Bailey 651-431-7046
  • Financial Operations Director, Carmen Patton-Minder 651-431-3742
  • Management Operations Director, Roger Ehresmann 651-431-2936
  • Procurement and Acquisitions Manager, Mike LaValle 651-431-3636
  • Reports and Forecasts Director, Shawn Welch 651-431-2939

Chief Services Transformation Officer

  • Chief Service Transformation Officer, Vacant
  • Executive Assistant, Angela Burrage 651-431-5741

Complex Projects

  • Director, Josh Syrjamaki 651-431-4268
  • Safety, Health and Emergency Management Manager, Michelle Lakso 651-431-3011

Compliance Office

  • Compliance Officer, Jessica Geil 651-431-2917                                               
  • Executive Assistant, Angela Burrage 651-431-5741
  • Appeals Director, Steven Collins 651-431-2301
  • Contracts and Legal Compliance Director, Brynn Rhodes 651-431-2275
  • Deputy DHS Compliance Officer, Rosalie Vollmar 651-431-2832
  • Internal Controls and Accountability Director, Gary L. Johnson 651-431-3623
  • Organizational Integrity Office, Nikki Thompson 651-431-4248
  • Olmstead Plan Compliance Manager, Mike Tessneer 651-431-3763

General Counsel’s Office

General Counsel’s Office

  • General Counsel, Andrew Johnson 651-431-4855
  • Executive Aide, Marie New 651-431-5726
  • Interim Equal Opportunity and Assess Director, Richard Nymoen 651-431-3456
  • Quality Assurance and Disability Compliance Services Director, Margaret Fletcher-Booth 651-431-5776

Management Services

  • Director, Interim Heather Holt 651-431-2166
  • Executive Assistant, Vacant
  • Deputy Director, Vacant
  • Improvement and Implementation Services Manager, Lisa Dejoras
  • Vendor, Fiscal, and Project Management, Tony Isenberg 651-478-8070
  • Workplace Enterprise Services Manager, Jennifer Smith 651-431-2207

Office of Inspector General

  • Inspector General, James Clark, Inspector.General.DHS@state.mn.us
  • Background Studies Division, Deputy Inspector General, Dawn Davis 651-431-2113
  • Chief Legal Counsel, Betsy Schollmeier 651-431-6577
  • Business Integration and Analytics Director, Eric J McCool 651-431-6586
  • Equity and Inclusion Director, Micah Tran 651-431-6611
  • Program Integrity Oversight, Deputy Inspector General, Amanda Novak (WOOC) 651-431-6378
  • Licensing, Deputy Inspector General, Alyssa Dotson 651-431-6560
  • Enterprise Operations and Policy Director, Patrick Holman 651-431-6411

Office of Strategy and Performance

This division is responsible for data analysis, research and performance measures to evaluate health care programs, and oversees managed care quality assurance and improvement.

  • Director, Marisa Hinnenkamp 651-431-2935
  • Project Coordinator, Shanan Ross 651-431-2689

Deputy Commissioner Agency Culture and Relations

  • Vacant
  • Executive Aide, Denise Flock 651-431-5726

Areas included in this part of the organization:

Communications

The Communications Office leads department communications efforts. Communications responds to inquiries from the news media and prepare information that helps the general public understand department services and human services policies. All news releases and fact sheets can be found on the department website.

  • Director, Greta Bergstrom 651-431-2912
  • Administrative Assistant, Yvette Kanzler 651-431-4016

Community Relations

The community relations director supports, develops and facilitates relationships between DHS and the community and county, community and legislative relations.

  • Director, Helen Ghebre 651-431-2762
  • Administrative Assistant, Kelly Barnebey 651-431-3230

County Relations

The county relations director takes a lead role in the department's relationships with Minnesota's 87 counties, which provide most of the services the department administers.

  • Director, Eric Ratzmann 651-431-2020
  • Administrative Assistant, Kelly Barneby 651-431-3230

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  • Assistant Commissioner, De Anna Conover 651-431-3125
  • Executive Assistant, Beth Dansie 651-431-2764
  • Agency-wide Development and Learning Director, Crate Darden 651-382-6762
  • Interim Human Resources Director and Agencywide Functions Director, Jessica Page 651-431-3025
  • Interim Deputy HR Director and Workforce Strategy and Planning Director, Jennifer Worthington 651-431-4439
  • Diversity Recruitment and Inclusion Director, Sean McMoore 651-5697
  • Minnesota Merit System Supervisor, Melisa Bryant 651-431-6962
  • Direct Care and Treatment Director, Cindy Jungers 218-565-6156

Equity and Inclusion

  • Equity Officer, Vacant
  • Equity and Inclusion Director, Hli Vang (WOOC)
  • Administrative Assistant, Yong Her 651-431-4584

Federal Relations

  • The director of federal relations serves as a key link to the federal government and Minnesota’s Congressional delegation on emerging issues, legislation and executive branch actions.

    • Director, Tamir Elnabarawy 651-431-6439
    • Administrative Assistant, Kelly Barneby 651-431-3230

Legislative Relations

  • Director, Interim Kristy Graume 651-431-2390
  • Administrative Assistant, Yvette Kanzler 651-431-4016

Office of Indian Policy

The director of Indian policy is responsible for providing coordination of ongoing consultation with tribal governments and, where appropriate, state and federal agencies, relating to the implementation of DHS services on American Indian reservations and urban Indian communities.

  • Director, Angie DeLille 651-200-7669
  • Administrative Assistant, Kelly Barneby 651-431-3230

Operations Director, Equity and Inclusion

  • Director, Nate Carter 651-431-2204
  • Executive Assistant, Angela Burrage 651-431-5741

Deputy Commissioner and State Medicaid Director

  • John Connolly 651-431-2438 
  • Executive Aide, Denise Flock 651-431-5726

Areas included in this part of the organization:

Aging and Disability Services

  • Interim Assistant Commissioner, Mor Vue 651-431-4908
  • Interim Deputy Assistant Commissioner, Rachel Shands 651-431-9175
  • Executive Assistant, Toni Gillen 651-431-2598
  • Aging and Adult Services Director, Reena Shetty 651-587-4597
  • Aging and Adult Services Deputy Director, Rachel Shands 651-431-9175
  • Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing State Services Director, Dan Millikin 651-964-1452
  • Minnesota Commission of the Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing Executive Director, Darlene Zangara 612-405-5618
  • Disability Services Director, Heidi Hamilton 651-431-2710
  • Disability Services Deputy Director, Calla Oftedahl 651-431-4820
  • Equity Director, Deqa Sayid 
  • Fiscal Analysis and Results Management Director, Miriam Hirma 651- 431-2548
  • Grants, Equity, Access and Research (GEAR) Director, Carol Anthony 651-431-6334
  • HIV Supports Manager, Darin Rowles 651-431-2560
  • Nursing Facility Rates and Policy Director, Kim Brenne 651-431-4339
  • Operations and Central Functions Director and Chief Administrative Officer, Colin Stemper 651-431-4262
  • Transitions, Tribal & Transformations Director, Amy Petersen 651-431-2443

Behavioral Health Administration

  • Assistant Commissioner, Teresa Steinmetz 651-431-6290 
  • Deputy Assistant Commissioner, Kristine Preston 651-431-2618
  • Executive Assistant, Fatima Acosta-Mendoza 651-431-7219
  • Business Integration and Alignment Director, Tom Gosset 651-431-2601 
  • Chief Administrative Officer, Sara Rose 651-431-6972 

Health Care Administration

  • Assistant Commissioner, Vacant
  • Deputy Assistant Commissioner of Medicaid, Coverage and Service Delivery, Diogo Reis 651-431-2106 
  • Executive Assistant, Chris Wasieleski 651-431-2182 
  • Chief Administrative Officer, Jill Sweiven 651-431-4090 
  • Deputy Federal Relations Director, Leah Montgomery 651-431-3540 
  • Equity Director, Vacant 
  • Federal Relations Director, Patrick Hultman 651-431-4311
  • Health Care Budget and Finance Director, Troy Mangan 651-431-2138 
  • Health Care Eligibility and Access Administration Division Director, Karen M. Gibson 651-431-2297 
  • Health Care Eligibility Operations Director, Tamara Smith 651-431-2296 
  • Health Care Research and Quality (HRQ) Director, Mathew Spaan 651-431-2495 
  • Managed Care Rates, Jeffrey Provance 651-431-2349 
  • Medicaid Medical Director, Dr. Nathan Chomilo 651-431-2481 
  • Medicaid Payments and Provider Services Director, Matthew Woods 651-431-2315 
  • Member and Provider Services Health Care Integrity and Accountability Division Director, Britt Kringle 651-431-3151 
  • Operations Deputy Assistant Commissioner and Deputy Medicaid Director, Vacant 
  • Pharmacy Program and Medicaid Decision Support, Chad Hope 651-431-2504 

Homelessness, Housing and Support Services Administration

  • Interim Assistant Commissioner, Andrea Simonett 651-431-6327 
  • Executive Assistant, Kristen Joseph 651-431-2324
  • Housing and Support Services Director, Andrea Simmonett 651-431-6327
  • Equity Director, Shavana Talbert 651-431-6444
  • Business Integration and Alignment Director, Tom Gosset 651-431-2601

Business areas

Areas included in this part of the organization:

Aging and Disability Services

  • Interim Assistant Commissioner, Mor Vue 651-431-4908
  • Interim Deputy Assistant Commissioner, Rachel Shands 651-431-9175
  • Executive Assistant, Toni Gillen 651-431-2598
  • Aging and Adult Services Director, Reena Shetty 651-587-4597
  • Aging and Adult Services Deputy Director, Rachel Shands 651-431-9175
  • Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing State Services Director, Dan Millikin 651-964-1452
  • Minnesota Commission of the Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing Executive Director, Darlene Zangara 612-405-5618
  • Disability Services Director, Heidi Hamilton 651-431-2710
  • Disability Services Deputy Director, Calla Oftedahl 651-431-4820
  • Equity Director, Deqa Sayid 
  • Fiscal Analysis and Results Management Director, Miriam Hirma 651- 431-2548
  • Grants, Equity, Access and Research (GEAR) Director, Carol Anthony 651-431-6334
  • HIV Supports Manager, Darin Rowles 651-431-2560
  • Nursing Facility Rates and Policy Director, Kim Brenne 651-431-4339
  • Operations and Central Functions Director and Chief Administrative Officer, Colin Stemper 651-431-4262
  • Transitions, Tribal & Transformations Director, Amy Petersen 651-431-2443

Behavioral Health Administration

  • Assistant Commissioner, Teresa Steinmetz 651-431-6290 
  • Deputy Assistant Commissioner, Kristine Preston 651-431-2618
  • Executive Assistant, Fatima Acosta-Mendoza 651-431-7219
  • Business Integration and Alignment Director, Tom Gosset 651-431-2601 
  • Chief Administrative Officer, Sara Rose 651-431-6972 

Homelessness, Housing and Support Services Administration

  • Interim Assistant Commissioner, Andrea Simonett 651-431-6327 
  • Executive Assistant, Kristen Joseph 651-431-2324
  • Housing and Support Services Director, Andrea Simmonett 651-431-6327
  • Equity Director, Shavana Talbert 651-431-6444
  • Business Integration and Alignment Director, Tom Gosset 651-431-2601

General Counsel’s Office

  • General Counsel, Andrew Johnson 651-431-4855
  • Executive Aide, Marie New 651-431-5726
  • Interim Equal Opportunity and Assess Director, Richard Nymoen 651-431-3456
  • Quality Assurance and Disability Compliance Services Director, Margaret Fletcher-Booth 651-431-5776

Health Care Administration

  • Assistant Commissioner, Vacant
  • Deputy Assistant Commissioner of Medicaid, Coverage and Service Delivery, Diogo Reis 651-431-2106 
  • Executive Assistant, Chris Wasieleski 651-431-2182 
  • Chief Administrative Officer, Jill Sweiven 651-431-4090 
  • Deputy Federal Relations Director, Leah Montgomery 651-431-3540 
  • Equity Director, Vacant 
  • Federal Relations Director, Patrick Hultman 651-431-4311
  • Health Care Budget and Finance Director, Troy Mangan 651-431-2138 
  • Health Care Eligibility and Access Administration Division Director, Karen M. Gibson 651-431-2297 
  • Health Care Eligibility Operations Director, Tamara Smith 651-431-2296 
  • Health Care Research and Quality (HRQ) Director, Mathew Spaan 651-431-2495 
  • Managed Care Rates, Jeffrey Provance 651-431-2349 
  • Medicaid Medical Director, Dr. Nathan Chomilo 651-431-2481 
  • Medicaid Payments and Provider Services Director, Matthew Woods 651-431-2315 
  • Member and Provider Services Health Care Integrity and Accountability Division Director, Britt Kringle 651-431-3151 
  • Operations Deputy Assistant Commissioner and Deputy Medicaid Director, Vacant 
  • Pharmacy Program and Medicaid Decision Support, Chad Hope 651-431-2504 

Office of Strategy and Performance

  • Director, Marisa Hinnenkamp 651-431-2935
  • Project Coordinator, Shanan Ross 651-431-2689

Office of Inspector General

  • Inspector General, James Clark, Inspector.General.DHS@state.mn.us
  • Background Studies Division, Deputy Inspector General, Dawn Davis 651-431-2113
  • Chief Legal Counsel, Betsy Schollmeier 651-431-6577
  • Business Integration and Analytics Director, Eric J McCool 651-431-6586
  • Equity and Inclusion Director, Micah Tran 651-431-6611
  • Program Integrity Oversight, Deputy Inspector General, Amanda Novak (WOOC) 651-431-6378
  • Licensing, Deputy Inspector General, Alyssa Dotson 651-431-6560
  • Enterprise Operations and Policy Director, Patrick Holman 651-431-6411

MNIT Services

MNIT Services @ DHS manages the technology to provide the department's information infrastructure and core information tools. IT supports the agency's mission by providing a workplace information environment that is secure, stable, powerful and technologically sound, by ensuring that new systems are coordinated across the department and with other agencies and by providing a high level of customer support.

  • Chief Business Technology Officer, George McNulty 651-431-6609
  • Deputy Chief Business Technology Officer, Michael Wright 651-431-3247
  • Executive Assistant, Susan Karp 651-431-2199
  • Application Services Director, Deb Tibstra 651-431-4074
  • BA/QA Deputy Director, Michelle Kieffer 651-431-5751
  • Central Functions Director/Chief Administrative Officer, Mae Sheryak 651-431-2664
  • Enterprise Architecture Director, Rashed Ferdous 651-431-4624
  • Information Security Director, Chris Luhman 651-431-4323
  • Java Application Development Director, Jim Gilsrud 651-431-4062
  • Mainframe Systems Development Director, Tony Bokhorst 651-431-4763
  • Microsoft Application Development Director, Thom Jones 651-431-4768
  • Program Management Director, Deb Hauerwas 651-431-5730
  • Transformation Team Director, Lisa Koenig 651-431-6072