[ST. PAUL, MN] – Yesterday, Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan announced the appointment of Jodi Harpstead as Commissioner of the Department of Human Services. Minnesotans statewide have since voiced their support and excitement for Incoming-Commissioner Harpstead.

“Governor Tim Walz has made an outstanding appointment in selecting Jodi Harpstead as Commissioner of DHS,” said Bill George, Harvard Business School Professor and former Medtronic CEO. “Having worked closely with Jodi for over twenty years at Medtronic and Lutheran Social Service, I have experienced her extraordinary leadership in empowering people and in achieving superior results. She will be a great leader for DHS.”

“I have served on the Board of LSS through Jodi’s entire tenure as CEO, including three years as Board Chair. I can attest that Jodi’s time at Medtronic brought to LSS a private sector business-sense that has translated into the world of social services in the most unique ways,” said Greg Vandal, retired school administrator and former Chair of the LSS Board. “Jodi has been able to apply business metrics to a side of the industry that is traditionally softer in terms of measurement and outcomes. She has done this while continuing to embrace the human side of LSS work and to center our efforts in the authentic stories of people who deserve support. Jodi is a person of great intellect; she is innovative and spirit-driven. Jodi has done a marvelous job on behalf of the persons served by LSS. While I am delighted for the State of Minnesota, I am, at the same time, sad for LSS for she will be missed.”

"I remember the day that Jodi Harpstead was installed as the CEO of Lutheran Social Services of Minnesota.  She washed the feet of a group of people who represented the varieties of services LSS of MN provides support through their services.  It was a powerful moment embodying the servant leadership she aspired to provide for LSS of MN,” said Bishop Jon Anderson, Southwestern MN Synod, ELCA. “In the years that have followed Jodi has been a courageous and visionary leader for LSS of MN.  For people in rural Minnesota that support has looked like the daily Meals on Wheels that provide both physical and social nourishment for our seniors while engaging large numbers of volunteers.  Our pastors and people have been supported by work that happens addressing the financial challenges by LSS Financial Counseling. The Southwestern Minnesota Synod of the ELCA is grateful for her service at LSS of MN and trust that she will enhance and sustain the work of the State of Minnesota’s Human Services as Commissioner. "

"Jodi Harpstead is an exceptional leader whose values are grounded in loving and serving the neighbor. Giving expression to those values is what motivates her work,” said Mark Peterson, former CEO of Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota. “Jodi also cares deeply about the well-being of the organizations she leads, and she cherishes the opportunity to empower her staff to achieve more than they thought they could.  I look forward to seeing her leadership in action at DHS."

“Jodi served on the Board of Regents at Augsburg University for 12 years and as Chair for 2 years. What’s key for me about Jodi is the combination of her deep attention to mission and purpose combined with her vast management and leadership experience, both in profit and not-for-profit organizations,” said Paul Pribbenow, President of Augsburg University. “She showed incredible passion for Augsburg’s mission to educate students and helped hold us accountable to concrete actions toward that mission. In particular, she is committed to what she calls breakthrough thinking, a model that pushes people to set higher expectations for themselves and their organizations, and then looks at how we make that happen. That breakthrough thinking is exactly what’s going to be needed at DHS.”

“I greet the news of Jodi Harpstead’s appointment with a mixture of sadness and delight:  sadness at losing her as our extraordinary CEO of LSS of MN—and delight in imagining the exciting leadership she will bring as Commissioner of the Department of Human Services,” said Bishop Larry Wohlrabe, Northwestern Minnesota Synod, ECLA. “Jodi’s long tenure at LSS was marked by her fertile imagination, her heartfelt dedication, her expansive vision, and her amazing ability to grow the “footprint” of Lutheran Social Service. She will bring to her new work at DHS a keen awareness of the breadth and depth of human need across our state. I know this because Jodi has regularly visited every corner of Minnesota, giving her first-hand knowledge of all the needs and opportunities that are out there.”

“Jodi is an experienced cross-sector leader with a track record of success,” said MayKao Hang, CEO of the Wilder Foundation. “We are very pleased that Jodi has agreed to serve as our next Commissioner of Human Services for Minnesota.”

“Jodi Harpstead is that rare leader who is equal parts strategist, achiever, listener, and doer,” said Marcia Ballinger, Co-Founder and Principal of Ballinger Leafblad. “My reaction to Jodi's appointment is two-part: gratitude for all she has accomplished as the CEO of Lutheran Social Service and relief that she will continue to use her considerable skills for the people of Minnesota. I truly cannot think of anyone better suited to be Commissioner of DHS role, and her appointment is a great achievement for the State of Minnesota.”

“I want to congratulate Governor Walz on such a strong choice to lead the Department of Human Services in Jodi Harpstead. As a leader of one of the largest private-sector human services organizations in Minnesota, Jodi has the breadth of experience to not only return stability to the department, but effectively manage the complex and critical agency. She has the credibility of a leader who has worked with, and improved the lives of, the people she will ultimately serve as commissioner,” said Sue Schettle, CEO of ARRM. “Moreover, Jodi is well positioned to take on the significant challenges which now face Minnesota’s human services systems, with her track record of driving innovative thinking to efficiently allocate resources and achieve the outcomes which matter most to vulnerable populations. Our association looks forward to working with her and her team to address issues like the critical shortage of disability support professionals and continue supporting greater inclusiveness and independence for Minnesotans with disabilities.”

“One of the things I admire about Jodi Harpstead is her fearless focus and persistence when she is convinced something needs to be done,” said Bishop Patricia Lull, Saint Paul Area Synod, ECLA. “One particular example: there was a time Medicaid reductions seemingly were on the table and she was able to rally both the Lutheran and Roman Catholic bishops to speak in a timely fashion and to speak together. Reflecting the urgency of the moment, she wrote an op-ed, tracked us all down, and persuaded us to sign on. I’m convinced that she will bring that same focus and commitment to coalition-building to this new role at DHS.”

“Every citizen of Minnesota will benefit from the intelligent, compassionate, and visionary leadership Jodi Harpstead brings to this role.  She listens; she learns; she leads,” said Becky Roloff, President of St. Catherine University. “The dedicated team of Minnesota citizens who work in the Department of Human Services will find their commissioner to be strong advocate for them, and thus the people they serve.  Commissioner Harpstead is a bridge builder who will help to improve the systems that serve us all.”

“Jodi is a visionary leader who brings out the best in others,” says Terry Rasmussen, President and CEO of Thrivent. “As a board member at Lutheran Social Services, I saw firsthand how Jodi enabled people to see and achieve the brightest possibilities. Her leadership will be an asset to the state of Minnesota.”

“Jodi is the perfect person to serve as commissioner of the Department of Human Services at a time when the agency is looking for stability,” said Bishop Ann Svennungsen, Minneapolis Area Synod, ECLA. “As CEO of the 2,300-employee Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota, Jodi has successfully strengthened the organization in every indicator: bold innovation, expanding services, employee satisfaction, continuous improvement, fiscal sustainability – all in the service of the LSS vision that works to ensure “all people have the opportunity to live and work in community with full and abundant lives.” Governor Walz truly made an excellent choice for his new DHS Commissioner.”

"Jodi Harpstead is a courageous leader with a demonstrated track record of innovation and achieving break through results in social and human services,” said Tim Marx, President and CEO Catholic Charities of St. Paul and Minneapolis. “Catholic Charities and I have had the opportunity to work with Jodi and Lutheran Social Service on several efforts that benefit vulnerable people and the entire state. Break through, transformational leadership is required to meet the human services challenges of today and tomorrow. Jodi is up to the challenge and will inspire the creativity and collaboration necessary for meaningful and sustainable change."

"Jodi is an extraordinary partner who has the experience, acumen, and relational equity in community to assist the Governor’s Office in achieving its goals,” said Dr. Charles Morgan, CEO of Union Gospel Mission Twin Cities. “I believe the Governor has made a great choice for this appointment!"

"Jodi Harpstead is the best of what Minnesota business has to offer to the public sector,” said Paul Batz, CEO of Good Leadership Enterprises.“She was a fabulously successful executive at Medtronic, a mission-driven organization, and then made the leap in ways that are extraordinary over to the non-profit side where she built arguably the most successful human services charity non-profit in the state of Minnesota. I feel really great about the choice that Governor Walz made and I think the state of Minnesota is in outstanding hands."