Site Leadership
Leading with Purpose
Vista Prairie Communities’ Aspire Lifestyle™ embodies our commitment to honor residents and enhance their quality of life in five critical areas, throughout their stay with us. Vista Prairie Communities looks forward to the gifts, passions, and talents you’ll bring to the community that you call home. We provide a joy-filled environment where we value and celebrate your purpose and where you get room to grow. At Vista Prairie Communities, you’re family.
Rita Gronski
Brentwood
September 27, 2021
Executive Director Rita Gronski is a veteran Brentwood leader with more than thirty years of experience in senior care and business ownership. She assumed her new role after managing the culinary department for more than 10 years. High quality nutrition is part of the foundation of Brentwood’s excellent reputation.
Rita earned her certification as a dietary manager from the University of Wisconsin at River Falls. She learned her characteristic work-ethic growing up on a dairy farm.
Rita also is a well-known civic leader in Rice Lake, WI where she currently serves as the Loyal Knight for the local Elks Lodge.
Kristy Enger
Copperleaf
Kristy was promoted to Executive Director of Copperleaf after serving as a Registered Nurse in the community. She brings over 20 years of healthcare leadership experience, including chronic care management and population health. Her deep commitment to fostering quality care and operational excellence positions her to lead Copperleaf.
Kristy values the strong relationships she has built with residents, families, and staff, and she approaches each day as something new and different. She is committed to continuing to build on Vista Prairie Communities' Aspire program, aiming to enrich residents' lives by helping them find purpose and joy-filled living.
In her personal time, Kristy enjoys life on her family’s farm near Clara City, MN, with her husband and three children, engaging in activities such as baking, gardening, reading, and spending time outdoors.
Calvin Diekmann
Fieldcrest
May 11, 2016
Cal joined Vista Prairie Communities in 2003, in the Memory Care unit of Goldfinch Estates, our Fairmont Minnesota community. In 2012, Cal moved to Fieldcrest Assisted Living in Sheldon Iowa as the Executive Director. Prior to Vista Prairie Communities, Cal worked in Mental Health for 20 years and found he most enjoyed working with older adults.
The job of Executive Director keeps Cal very busy but he still finds time to stop and visit with residents and staff. One of the most enjoyable parts of Cal’s job is giving tours to potential residents. “I get to show off our community and staff."
Cal earned his Validation Teaching Certificate in 2010. One of his goals for Vista Prairie Communities is an expansion of the Memory Care program to include a Validation Training Program for staff and families. Cal has been an Alzheimer's Support Group Facilitator for over 10 years and has also mentored Adults with Mental Health Challenges for the past 20 years. In 2007, the Minnesota Health and Housing Alliance named Cal its Caregiver of the Year.
When Cal is not working, he enjoys spending time with family and friends, visiting zoos, watching movies and cooking fun meals. “Fieldcrest is my family. I am very lucky to work with such a great team. The residents and staff are a huge blessing for VPC.”
Colleen Marcus
Garnette Gardens
December 3, 2021
Colleen Marcus was promoted to Executive Director of Garnette Gardens after serving nearly six years as its Sales and Community Outreach Manager, welcoming new residents and ensuring that they became comfortable in their new home. With more than 24 years of experience in hospitality, online marketing and senior housing, Colleen is well prepared for this role. She started her senior care career in 2015 as a regional sales leader for Vista Prairie Communities (VPC). Early in her VPC tenure she also was an online marketing consultant for Redwood Valley Technical Solutions. Sales and catering leadership for the nearby Jackpot Junction Casino Hotel rounds out Colleen’s hospitality experience.
Colleen holds a certificate in Sales and Marketing from Minnesota West Community and Technical College.
Ann Logan
Goldfinch Estates
May 2024
Ann brings a wealth of experience and dedication to her role as the Executive Director at Goldfinch Estates. Her tenure at Vista Prairie Communities (VPC) includes roles as Resident Assistant, Sales and Marketing Manager, and Business Office Manager. Through these positions, Ann has developed a deep appreciation for the growth and experiences they have offered.
Ann received her Business Management degree in 2021 and has a passion for process optimization, problem-solving, and efficiency improvement. Her mission-focused approach and commitment to VPC's vision and values have been instrumental in meeting the needs of residents and enhancing their quality of life.
Ann cherishes the strong relationships she has built with residents, staff, and families, and she is passionate about advocating for the community. She finds great joy in her work, continually striving to improve and support the vibrant community at Goldfinch Estates.
Kim Putz
North Pointe
January 23, 2023
As Executive Director of Vista Prairie at North Pointe, Kim combines impressive academic credentials with more than 12 years of healthcare management experience to provide strong leadership and caring service for older adults. She leads one of Vista Prairie’s largest communities, with 86 one-and-two-bedroom assisted living apartments and 12 care suites, providing 24-hour continuous senior care.
Kim holds a BS degree in nursing and a Master’s in Business Administration. She also is an adjunct clinical instructor for the nursing department at Mankato State University.
Executive Director at Windmill Ponds
Stephanie Morley
Emerald Village
March 2023
Stephanie assumed her role as the Executive Director of Emerald Village in North Olmsted, Ohio in 2023 as a veteran senior care provider. She has served in similar positions elsewhere in Ohio, as well as Texas and Pennsylvania. In Ohio she has served primarily as an Administrator or Executive Director in Skilled Nursing or Assisted Living facilities.
At Emerald Village she quickly recognized what a special community it is, with amazing staff members as well as families and residents who she is thoroughly enjoying.
Stephanie is a Licensed Nursing Home Administrator with academic credentials including an MBA with Healthcare Emphasis and a BS in Nutrition Education.
Clayton Kalmon
Ridgeway
February 2024
Clayton enters his new role with a history of more than 28 years of leadership and operations management experience in long-term care. Clayton’s professional licenses include Nursing Home Administrator in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa, and Assisted Living Director in Minnesota. Over the years Clayton has served as a Licensed Practical Nurse, Assisted Living Director, Nursing Home Administrator, Regional Director of Operations, and Consultant. Clayton has a true passion for senior care and his values align with our mission of providing quality care in joy-filled environments.
Melissa J. Plachecki, RN, BS
Organizational Director of Health Care
November 26, 2018
Melissa Plachecki has 25 years of leadership experience as a Registered Nurse in Assisted Living and Home Care settings. Melissa has served in the development of Assisted Living programs, quality improvement initiatives and has provided leadership to several large assisted living organizations. Melissa was appointed to the Minnesota Department of Health, Home Care and Assisted Living Provider Council, which allowed her to make recommendations to the legislature on ways to improve the delivery home care and assisted living services. When not working Melissa enjoys teaching Spinning classes as a certified Spinning instructor and spending time with her family hiking, kayaking and making wine. Melissa brings to the Vista Prairie Communities team passion, leadership and knowledge of the senior living field.
Jennifer Marcus
Regional Director of Operations
Jennie was promoted to this newly created position, following four successful years as the executive director of Vista Prairie at Copperleaf. Her passion for seniors was influenced by her mother’s work in the field. After college in Mankato, Jennie began her career working direct care with REM-The Mentor Network where she remained for 15 years. Jennie obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in speech communication, technical writing and marketing from Minnesota State University in Mankato. Her post-graduate study includes a certificate from the Institute on Community Integration from the University of Minnesota and a Senior Living Certification as a Certified Assisted Living Executive Director.
Reed Mainquist
Controller
June 20, 2017
Reed joined Vista Prairie Communities as controller in June 2017. He began his professional career as an Audit Associate for KPMG after obtaining his Master’s in Accounting from the University of Minnesota in 2011 and undergraduate degrees in accounting and economics in 2010.
While at KMPG he received Encore Awards for exhibiting core values while serving clients and working in teams. After leaving KMPG, Reed worked for Eide Bailly as an audit senior. Reed served as a senior accountant at North Memorial Hospital in Robbinsdale, Minnesota where he managed and supervised the accounting for all capital acquisitions. He has worked with a number of clients including Ronald McDonald House, The St. Paul Chamber Orchestra and General Mills.
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