Staff
Click staff names to contact via e-mail or call 920-225-1711 to get in touch with any staff member.
Mike Rohrkaste
Mike has a personal passion for supporting people with dementia and their families. After successful careers in human resources at Oshkosh Corporation and Menasha Corporation, and serving in the Wisconsin State Assembly, Mike joined Fox Valley Memory Project as Executive Director in 2019. He also serves on the boards of Valley VNA and MHS Heath Wisconsin.
Carrie Esselman
Carrie joined Fox Valley Memory Project in 2022. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Therapeutic Recreation from University of Minnesota State, Mankato. She has over 15 years of experience working in Long Term Care, specifically Memory Care. Carrie has gained a wealth of knowledge of Dementia over the years and looks forward to, not only sharing, but growing her knowledge while overseeing the Memory Link program.
Carissa Paul
Carissa joined Fox Valley Memory Project in 2022 as the Program Manager. She graduated from UW-La Crosse in 2017 with a B.S. in Therapeutic Recreation and became a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) shortly after. In 2021, she graduated from Lakeland University with her Master's in Business Administration. Before Carissa joined FVMP, she worked in Long Term Care for five years. With her school and work experience and her passion to help others, Carissa is a great addition to FVMP in helping other organizations build communities that welcome, include, and support persons with dementia and those who care for them.
Kristy Millar
Kristy joined Fox Valley Memory Project in 2022 as a Resource Navigator supporting those living with dementia and their care partners. Kristy has over 10 years of experience working in Memory Care. She is a Certified Dementia Practitioner and Certified Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Care Trainer through the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners. Kristy has a passion for supporting and educating care partners and their loved ones affected by dementia. Her background in Memory Care allows her to provide compassionate support to families and care partners as they face challenges caused by dementia.
Sarah Swant
Sarah joined The Fox Valley Memory Project in 2022 as a Resource Navigator for the Memory Link Program. Sarah has experience working with people with disabilities and their families, caregivers, and service providers, to facilitate and maintain safety, independence, and self-determination.
Kyle Hicks
Kyle joined Fox Valley Memory Project in 2021 as an intern and moved to a Program Coordinator in 2022. Recently he graduated with Master of Social Work degree from UW-Oshkosh in the Spring of 2022. Kyle is dedicated in helping people living with dementia and their care partners.
Kayla Weyker
Kayla joined Fox Valley Memory Project in 2022 as a Program Coordinator. She previously worked in Memory Care for four years and has experience in developing engaging programs for people with dementia. Kayla's background in Memory Care allows her to provide meaningful programs that are cognitively stimulating and promote social engagement.
Amber Ross
Amber joined Fox Valley Memory Project in 2022 as a Program Coordinator. Amber has a background in social work and life enrichment in long term care. Her experience in both fields allow her to create and implement successful programs for people with dementia.
Casey Auer
Casey joined Fox Valley Memory Project in 2023 as a Program Coordinator. Casey has a background in social work in a Hospital setting and has been a long time volunteer of the Mindworks Program in Menasha. Her hands on experience allows her to create engaging programs and many moments of joy for people with dementia.
2024 Board of Directors:
- Jim Reid (Retired, American Digital Cartography Inc.) – President
- Dr. John Barkmeier (Retired, ThedaCare) – Prior President
- Mike Hablewitz (IVI Inc.) – Treasurer
- Lori Ohland (Retired, WI Department of Revenue)
- Eric Broten (Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce)
- Tara Crawford (Ascension)
- Tara Heindl (Rawhide Youth Services)
- Dr. Lisa Kokontis (Neuroscience Group)
- Keith Kostecke (Retired, Attorney)
- Jonathan Krause (Woodward Radio Group)
- Ted Regalia (VP Pharmacy, Network Health)
- Paul Larson MD (Retired)
- Jim Heiting (Retired CFO, Voith)