Leadership
Our owners and management team are experienced professionals who lead with care and compassion.
Leadership
Introduction
Meet Our Owners
Hal Baumchen | PSYD, LP, LADC
President, Clinical Director, and Co-Occurring Disorders Specialist
Jason Vanderscoff | LADC
Chairman of the Board
Jason is the Chairman of the Board of NorthStar Regional and was formerly the CEO NorthStar Regional and Five Stars Recovery Center. He is a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC). His responsibilities include overall strategy, program development, financial oversight and provider contracting. Jason has also served as the CEO of CD Recovery Services, DRS Acquisitions, and Cx Technology Services. He is a graduate of the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities.
Introduction
Meet Our Executive Team
Tim Walsh | M.A., L.P. DPA
Chief Executive Officer
Tim Walsh is the NorthStar Regional’s Chief Executive Officer. He completed his doctorate in public administration at Hamline University in 2012. He received his Master of Arts degree in counseling psychology from St. Thomas University in 1993. Tim earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with double majors in Social Sciences/Psychology and Biblical Studies from the University of Northwestern, St. Paul.
Tim has been licensed as a psychologist since 1998. He also has over 28 years of experience as an administrator in the fields of behavioral health, human services, and corrections. He is a former executive leader with Minnesota Adult and Teen Challenge. Tim’s heart is to have a significant, positive impact on people, in their journey to life recovery and transformation.
John McGinnis | LADC
Chief Operating Officer
John has worked in the health care field for thirty years, twenty-seven of those years have been spent in the CD field. He has held several roles in the field of Chemical Dependency and MICD. He has gained a wealth of experience working with adolescents and adults at NorthStar Regional, Five Stars Recovery and other institutions in the state of Minnesota.
John has been a leading force in the quality of our client care. Client care and the client experience in treatment have long been John’s passion. As COO, his goal is to bring his experience, knowledge and leadership experience to all NorthStar Regional Programs and Corporate Operations.
Jonathan Holt
Chief Marketing Officer
Jonathan Holt serves as the Chief Marketing Officer at NorthStar Regional, where he brings more than three decades of profound expertise in marketing, communications, and operational strategies, spanning both traditional and digital marketing landscapes. Before assuming his current role, Jonathan held the position of Director of Marketing at ESCO. Prior to that, he led international marketing endeavors at Starkey Hearing Technologies, making a substantial impact on the company’s global presence.
Jonathan’s educational background includes a degree in Advertising, which he earned from Collins College in Tempe, Arizona. His career journey is marked by an unwavering commitment to driving strategic marketing initiatives, fostering organizational growth, and achieving impactful results within the dynamic and ever-evolving field of marketing and communications.
Introduction
Meet Our Director Team
Sarah Brown
Vice President of Operations
Sarah Brown, recently promoted to Vice President of Operations at NorthStar Regional, brings a wealth of leadership experience and a proven track record of success. In her previous role overseeing the Admissions Department, Sarah played a key role in driving significant growth in administrative processes and fostering a supportive team culture. Now, as Vice President of Operations, she focuses on building efficiencies, working directly with leadership on expansion initiatives, and collaborating with various departments to support the overall growth of our organization. Sarah’s dedication to NorthStar’s mission, vision, and values is evident in her leadership on projects that encourage and support staff. Her expertise in data-driven decision-making further positions her as a valuable asset to the executive team. Her promotion recognizes her outstanding contributions to building strong teams, fostering teamwork, and ensuring the continued success of NorthStar Regional.
Riko Armstrong
Compliance Officer
He attended Northern Colorado University and earned a BA in Journalism and Sociology. After undergrad, he joined the US Navy and obtained a master’s degree in Criminal Justice with an emphasis in Fraud Management from Colorado State University. As a Navy Veteran with a decade of experience in the compliance field. He did two deployments to the Persian Gulf, a special assignment in the Naval Recruiting District, and a tour in Bahrain. Additionally, he was a career counselor, mentorship coordinator, security officer, and suicide prevention, coordinator. He has earned a certificate in Leadership in Professional Ethics and Compliance. He is a former Compliance Director at MNTC. He has a passion for helping people and is currently working on becoming a licensed mental health professional.
Justin Michaud
Director of Revenue Cycle
A graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2014, Justin holds dual degrees in Economics and Communications. Following his graduation, he gained valuable experience as a Quality Assurance Analyst at Epic, a leading medical Electronic Health Records company, along with a 5-year tenure as a Billing Manager at Procentive. During this time, he played a pivotal role in catering to the billing needs of over 130 mental health, SUD, EIDBI, and ARMHS agencies across Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Washington. Justin is a valuable contributor to the growth and success of NorthStar Regional, enabling us to serve an increasing number of clients each year. He is deeply committed to facilitating access to essential care and simplifying the ever-present complexities of insurance, ensuring everyone has the opportunity to receive our crucial healthcare services.
Jeanine Jackson
Director of Human Resources
Jeanine graduated from Metropolitan State University with a Master of Public and Nonprofit Administration (MPNA) in 2019, her undergraduate focus was Human Resource Management. She has over 11 years of experience in HR and compliance in the nonprofit sector, tribal/government sector. She is an Adjunct Professor/Community Faculty at Metro State where she teaches ‘Contemporary Native American Issues for Nonprofits and Government’. Her published work can be found in the Journal of Nonprofit and Public Affairs. She has a passion for and background in the recovery, mental health, SUDS community and sits on the Association of Recovery Schools board.
Jeanine has collaborated with the University of Chicago Chapin Hall in Washington DC on a national strategy to end homelessness, and was a presenter at the National Alliance to End Homelessness 2021. She has presented her research, taught, and designed coursework in many other capacities. She is an enrolled member of Lac Du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians her tribes are Ojibwe (enrolled), Potawatomi, and Cree descendent.
Jessica Hart | LADC
Women’s Residential Program Director
Jessica Hart is the director of NorthStar Regional’s Women’s Residential Treatment Center in Chaska, MN. A Summa Cum Laude graduate of Argosy University, she began working in the recovery field as a technician with Pride Institute in 2014, and has also served at The Haven in Shakopee, MN, at NSR’s Chanhassen Co-occurring Disorder program and at our Sugar Creek campus. She believes in fostering a supportive environment to help clients feel safe in order to build a good therapeutic alliance.
Rafael Lewis | LADC
Men’s Shakopee Residential Program Director
Rafael is a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC). Currently enrolled in the M.A. in Counseling and Psychological Services program at Saint Mary’s University in Minneapolis to pursue a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC). He is a proud husband and father too.
Rafael’s primary focus is Client services. He strives to ensure that individuals have a smooth experience and take advantage of NSR’s full suite of programs and services. Passionate about recovery, mental and physical health, and improving overall well-being.
Amy VanHouten | ADC-T
Men’s Riverwood Residential Program Director
Amy is an accomplished individual who graduated with High Honors from MCTC in May 2022, specializing in Addiction Counseling and Psychology. Currently, Amy is pursuing a double major at Metropolitan State. Amy gained valuable experience through internships at NorthStar Regional’s Maple Grove IOP facility and NSR’s Otsego (Riverwood) facility. Her involvement in various NSR programs at the IOP and residential stages of our continuum of care, allowed her to witness growth on a personal level before advancing to the role of Residential Program Director.
Amy’s proficiency in managing employees and ensuring compliance with DHS policies and procedures showcases her exceptional organizational abilities. She is devout to her field and is an absolute driving force behind the NSR programming at Riverwood.
Madilyn Myers | MA, LPCC, LADC
Men’s Riverwood IOP with Lodging Program Director
Madilyn Myers is NorthStar Regional’s Program Director for our Otsego location. As a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC), Madilyn has experience working with clients to build their insight on mental health and its impact on their addiction.
Throughout her career, she has kept client-centered care as a focus, working with clients to identify their strengths, increase resilience, and motivate clients to overcome their roadblocks in life. Madilyn is a graduate from the University of South Dakota with an undergraduate degree in psychology and communications, and a masters degree in clinical mental health counseling.
Neal Schmidt | BS, LADC
Chaska “Sugar Creek Campus” IOP Program Director
Neal Schmidt is a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC) since 2012, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Alcohol and Drug Studies from Minnesota State University – Mankato. He has proudly been with NorthStar Regional since 2018, becoming Program Director in 2023. He places client care as a top priority to ensure a positive treatment experience, contributing toward rebuilding and maintaining healthy lives during and after treatment.
Robert Squillace | MA, LADC
Director / Project Manager
Robert Squillace brings a robust background in Substance Use Disorder (SUD) and treatment, aligning seamlessly with NorthStar Regional’s ambitious growth plans. Over the past 12 years, he played a pivotal role in initiating and cultivating treatment programs in the Twin Cities and surrounding suburbs, showcasing dedication to advancing the field and fostering positive change—a valuable addition to the NorthStar Regional team.
Robert’s journey into behavioral health followed a successful tenure as a business owner. Initially drawn to a career in criminal justice, he earned degrees in criminal justice, psychology, and Christian Counseling from Northwestern, St. Paul. His passion for helping others led him to addiction services, where he began his impactful career at MN Adult and Teen Challenge. Committed to ongoing professional development, Robert obtained a degree in chemical dependency from Century College and earned a Master of Arts degree in Divinity, becoming a licensed Pastor upon graduation.
Emily Kruse | BSN, RN
Director of Nursing
Emily is a seasoned healthcare professional who has taken on the responsibility of managing the nursing departments across all NSR facilities. Prior to joining NSR, she garnered extensive expertise working in diverse healthcare settings, including a TCU, Urgent Care, and most recently as an ER nurse at M Health Fairview. Emily’s passion for serving others initially led her to a career as a 911 Dispatcher for Scott County, where she dedicated 15 years to ensuring the safety and well-being of the community.
Equipped with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a range of specialty certifications, including Trauma nursing (TNCC), Emergency Pediatric Care (ENPC), and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Emily’s commitment to excellence and ongoing professional development shines through in her work. Her diverse background and comprehensive skill set enable her to lead with confidence and proficiency in delivering exceptional patient care.
