Biographies
Randy Eken, MPA
With nearly 40 years of experience in health education, Mr. Eken brings strategic planning and development skills to NWHSU’s Board of Trustees. While at the University of North Dakota (UND) School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS), Mr. Eken was the longest-serving Principal Business Officer of all Association of American Medical College (AAMC) schools of medicine and increased the college annual budget from $18M to $130M in 33 years.
In addition to his work accomplishments, Mr. Eken has received numerous award recognitions including the North Dakota Medical Association’s “Friend of Medicine Award,” Mayville State University’s “Distinguished Alumni Award,” UND SMHS’ “Hippocratic Dignity Award,” and UND’s “Meritorious Service Award. Mr. Eken was elected to Northwestern’s Board of Trustees in 2020 and currently serves as a member of the Academic Affairs Committee and Finance, Facilities and Audit Committee.
Mark Garnett, DC
Dr. Garnett was elected to Northwestern’s Board of Trustees in 2022 and currently serves on the Academic Affairs Committee and the Institutional Advancement Committee.
Keith Johnson, DC
Dr. Johnson is a 1982 graduate of Northwestern College of Chiropractic and has been in private practice in Maple Grove, Minnesota since 1988. Dr. Johnson has been active in the Minnesota Chiropractic Association (MCA) for 30 years serving in a wide range of positions, including President from 2001-2002. He was the point man in the successful multi-year dispute with the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry for reimbursement equity for chiropractic physicians in the workers compensation arena. He has frequently testified before the Minnesota legislature regarding health care policy issues that are germane to chiropractic. He has also been a community faculty member at the University of Minnesota, CSH since 1998, educating medical students and residents about the appropriateness of chiropractic care. The MCA has awarded Dr. Johnson Presidential Awards in 1994 and 1998, the Outstanding Leadership Award in 1999 and the Past Presidential Award in 2002, Chiropractor of the Year Award in 2002, and the Educator of the Year Award in 2011. Northwestern Chiropractic College also named Dr. Johnson the Distinguished Alumnus of the Year in 1997. Dr. Johnson served on the Board of Trustees from 2011 -2021 and served as Chair of the Board from 2016-2018. Dr. Johnson was recently re-elected to the Board and serves as Chair of the Board of Trustees.
Lori Lauber, MBA
Lori Lauber is a senior director in the Twin Cities offices of Broadridge Financial Solutions, a global financial services technology business where part of her role involves working with corporate boards and governance officers. She also worked for many years as a vice president and shareowner services sales representative for Wells Fargo. She holds an Associate of Arts degree from Itasca Community College, a Bachelor of Science degree in computer science from the University of Minnesota Institute of Technology and an MBA from the University of St. Thomas. Lauber was appointed to NWHSU’s Board of Trustees in 2019. Ms. Lauber serves as Chair of the Institutional Advancement Committee and as a member of the Executive Committee and Committee on Trustees.
Michael J. Offerman, EdD
Michael J. Offerman joined the NWHSU’s Board of Trustees in February 2022 and serves as Chair of the Academic Affairs Committee and a member of the Finance, Facilities and Audit Committee and of the Executive Committee. He was the Dean of Continuing Education, Outreach and E-Learning for the University of Wisconsin-Extension, where he founded the University of Wisconsin Learning Innovations Center, and the President of Capella University. He served on the boards of Regent Education and My College and was a consultant with HCM Strategists, Washington D.C. and Lumina Foundation for Education.
Molly J. Magnani, DC, MMA
Dr. Molly Magnani is a 1992 graduate of National University of Health Sciences. In 2002, she received a master’s degree in medical management from the University of St. Thomas where she currently serves as lead faculty for the Chiropractic Leadership Institute. Magnani is the lead chiropractor and program coordinator of Chiropractic and Integrated Medicine at Allina Medical Clinic in Edina, Minnesota, and serves on the board of Chiropractic Care of Minnesota, Inc. Dr. Magnani was elected to NWHSU’s Board of Trustees in 2013 and serves as a member of the Committee on Trustees and Finance, Facilities and Audit.
Tamara Timmons Taylor, MOm
Tamara Taylor is a 2001 graduate of the Minnesota College of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. Taylor worked as a practitioner in private practice for a number of years, and also founded and supervised the Acupuncture Clinic at Courage Center Residence in Golden Valley, Minnesota. She was president of the Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Association of Minnesota from 2001-2003. Taylor is now working as Senior Healthcare Account Manager for a global healthcare technology manufacturer. Ms. Taylor served on the Board of Trustees from 2003-2013 and was re-elected to a second term in 2015. Ms. Taylor was recently elected Vice-Chair of the Board and serves as Chair of the Committee on Trustees and as a member of the Executive Committee and the Institutional Advancement Committee.
Nichole (Nikki) Vanecek, MAcOM, LAc, Dipl Ac (NCCAOM)
Nikki Vanacek was elected to Northwestern’s Board of Trustees in 2022 and currently serves on the Academic Affairs Committee and the Institutional Advancement Committee. Ms. Vanacek is the owner of EastWest Acupuncture and Professional Sports Acupuncture. She is paving the way for the collaboration of acupuncturists and Chinese medicine in modern medical health care. She has a bachelor’s degree in Health Sciences and a Master’s degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine from Northwestern Health Sciences University. In addition to her training and education in the United States, Nikki studied at Tianjin Medical University, a top-ranked medical college, in Tianjin China. Nikki provides exceptional care to her clinical patients and is the Acupuncturist for the Minnesota Twins.
Brent L. Wilde, MBA
Brent Wilde is currently the chief executive officer of Stellis Health in Buffalo, MN. Prior to joining Stellis Health, he was vice president of Corporate Solutions at Cresa, a corporate real estate advisory firm, president of Minnesota Eye Consultants, CEO at Kidney Specialists of Minnesota, and chief financial officer at the University of Minnesota Physicians. Wilde is highly skilled in leading organizations; strategic, operational, and financial planning; and creating high-performing teams. He has a Master of Business Administration in New Venture Management/Entrepreneurship from the University of St. Thomas and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Finance and Accounting from Bethel University. He has served on many healthcare and community boards. Mr. Wilde was elected to Northwestern’s Board of Trustees in 2014 and serves as Chair of the Finance, Facilities, and Audit Committee and as a member of the Executive Committee.
Desiree Whitney, BS
Desiree Whitney brings a diverse mix of entrepreneurial, nonprofit, fundraising, and business experience to the Board of Trustees. Whitney owns a yoga studio and school in Boerne, Texas, and works as a consultant after serving in philanthropic fundraising positions in Minnesota and Texas. She also started a nonprofit organization focused on health and healing. Whitney’s experience includes work at the Minneapolis Foundation, where she helped nonprofits with fundraising and governance. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from the University of Southern California. Ms. Whitney was elected to NWHSU’s Board of Trustees in 2019 and currently serves on the Institutional Advancement Committee.