Jessica Wald, MA CCC-SLP,  has been a medical Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) for the past 20 years. She earned her  Masters Degree in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of MN -Twin Cities. While in graduate school, Jessica completed a student internship with a MnCAN aphasia conversation group. This experience helped ignite her passion and interest in working with individuals with aphasia. Jessica has  worked in acute care, inpatient rehabilitation and outpatient settings and specifically enjoys connecting with individuals with aphasia and their family members with a goal of improving communication and essentially quality of life! She has over 10 years experience in a leadership position at United Hospital and currently a casual SLP at multiple Allina Hospitals.

In August of 2023, Jessica was named MnCAN Co-Executive Director of Advancement and Operations; she will continue to facilitate MnCAN aphasia groups.  She has a passion for education and has taught classes on empathy, communication and patient experience, helped to supervise graduate students and mentor many SLPs alongside her colleagues.

Jessica looks forward to bringing her clinical experience, her strong sense of compassion and humor to MnCAN in order to improve functional communication skills and life participation to MnCAN’s communication group participants.

Cindy Busch, PhD, CCC-SLP,  earned her doctorate in Speech Language Pathology from the University of Minnesota in 1985 and served as Associate Professor in the Department of Communication Disorders at Minnesota State University Mankato for 19 years.  She developed and facilitated aphasia conversation groups from 2000 to 2015 and worked closely with graduate students in training the social model of aphasia intervention, supported conversation strategies and life participation approaches to aphasia. Cindy is responsible for initiating the aphasia conversation and  life participation approach to aphasia in the metro area that eventually developed into MnCAN.   Read more about Cindy here.

Jeannie Bridgeman holds a BS in accounting and business administration with an emphasis in computer science and graphic arts.  Jeannie has over 25 years’ experience in accounting, financial analysis and development for private, public, nonprofit and governmental organizations.  She has demonstrated success in grant writing and administration, fundraising, marketing, donor development and acting as a communication liaison to nonprofit boards.  Jeannie was Director of Finance for a large nonprofit when she had a stroke in October 2019.  Jeannie is a stroke survivor with aphasia and has been involved with MnCAN programs since her stroke.  She recently participated in the development of a new MnCAN program, Confident Communicators Gavel Club, and serves as its President and co-facilitator. On becoming a board member, Jeannie states “when I saw how much MnCAN was helping me on my recovery I wanted to be part of the organization in a meaningful way and wanted to get back to using those skills I had developed in my 30 years in nonprofits.”

Linda received her PhD in Communication Disorders in 1987 from the University of Minnesota.  Prior to that, Linda worked at the University of Southern California at a speech clinic specializing in the treatment of stuttering for 10 years.  Linda joined 3M as a research assistant in 1988  in the department developing the first cochlear implant and digital hearing aids.  After that experience, she decided research was her calling and has worked  in a variety of academic and clinical research settings ever since.  Linda has expertise in outcomes research and program management and is eager to work with MnCAN on expanding their outcomes assessment capability and applying for grant funding.  Linda is excited by the approach MnCAN takes in helping stroke survivors and their caregivers achieve their communication goals and enjoy meaningful social interaction and interpersonal relationships.

Eric has over 20 years of experience in finance and banking and has worked with management teams from hundreds of different companies in numerous industries. Eric has a versatile skill set and places an emphasis on problem solving, efficiency and innovation. Eric earned his BBA in Finance from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh where he later served on the Board of Directors for the College of Business Alumni Association. Eric has seen the impact aphasia has on individuals as well as the caring support that MnCAN provides and as a board member, will use his experience to help further advance MnCAN’s mission and goals.

Jane earned her MBA from University of St. Thomas and BS in Genetics and Cellular Biology from University of Minnesota.  She is passionate about the Environment and co-founded a non-profit organization addressing water quality on Lake Minnetonka.  For the past 20 years, she has worked with physicians’ treatment of acute ischemic stroke, providing technical support during the procedure to remove the clot blocking the artery in the brain.  Jane has a robust background in sales, marketing, and clinical education.  The skills she brings from other non-profit organizations in fundraising, program awareness, and connecting will undoubtedly benefit MnCAN.

In November 2021 Gus had a stroke following heart bypass surgery. The stroke resulted in significant aphasia and apraxia of his speech. He is immensely grateful to his family, medical team and rehabilitation therapists and friends for their care and prayers.  As he continues to become better he can’t thank people enough as “it takes a village…”  His village includes his wife, two adult children and two grandchildren.

Since September 2022 he has been participating in conversation groups in MnCAN to improve his speech. Lately, he is working on a pilot “Life Participation Approach to Aphasia” with a SLP as a partner/consultant. 

Gus worked with the state of Minnesota Department of Human Services for thirty-one years in the Resettlement of Refugees and Asylees (Manager, 2001-2015) before retiring in 2015. He feels he brings to MnCAN his personal experience with aphasia and the perspectives of a brown person.  Also, he has extensive experience in organization development and strategic planning, program management and outcome evaluation, grant management, advocacy and helping organizations transition through culture change. 

He hopes to contribute to the MnCAN organization, the participants and their care partners so those with aphasia can move forward in achieving their life goals fully and successfully.   

Nancy Zugschwert is a communications trainer, speaker, and coach. She is the creator of The Ultimate Communication Cookbook: Your Guide to Connected, Confident, and Courageous Communication, and she brings dynamic training and keynote experiences to a wide range of organizations and audiences. Nancy’s lifelong passion for communication started when she first unlocked the power of words and discovered that her words and antics could make people laugh and smile. She holds a B.A. in Speech Communication and Spanish from St. Catherine University and a Master of Arts in Strategic Leadership from North Central University. Her career has included roles in sales, HR, training & development, and marketing & communications, including serving as the Director of Communications for North Central University prior to starting her communications consulting and training business. She also spent 14 years as a full-time mom to her four sons. Nancy learned about MnCAN when she met fellow board member Jeannie Bridgeman and witnessed Jeannie’s inspiring journey with aphasia. She is eager to apply her love of communication to support MnCAN participants in achieving their goals and raise broader awareness about aphasia and the opportunities MnCAN provides.

Dr. Asaithambi is a stroke neurologist with extensive experience in treating patients who have suffered from cerebrovascular disorders. Over the years, he has witnessed firsthand the profound impact that aphasia can have on stroke survivors and their care partners. This close connection to patients struggling with communication disorders fuels Dr. Asaithambi’s passion for raising awareness and providing support for those impacted by aphasia. By joining the board of MnCAN, he aims to leverage his medical expertise and compassionate care to advocate for better resources, education, and support systems for individuals living with aphasia. Dr. Asaithambi is committed to enhancing the quality of life for aphasia patients and their families through community engagement and informed medical practices.

Ken suffered a hemorrhagic stroke in April 2020, which was caused by a ruptured arteriovenous malformation (AVM) in his brain. After a successful surgery to remove the AVM, he was placed in a medically induced coma for ten days. He received physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy (inpatient and outpatient) for several months. He was paralyzed on his right side and had to learn to walk and use his right arm and hand again. Also, as a result of his stroke, he had aphasia, which limited him to single word answers at first and later improved to short choppy sentences. Because of his limited mobility and aphasia, his therapists and doctor recommended going on permanent disability.

Ken was serving as a senior administrator at the University of Arizona when he had his stroke. He previously was the Assistant Vice President for University Health and Safety at the University of Minnesota and held similar positions at Tulane University and Iowa State University. His positions required him to interact with research faculty and attend many meetings with other senior administrators, which would have been very difficult and frustrating with his aphasia.

Ken and his wife, Karri, moved back to Minnesota in 2022 and live in Woodbury. They have two daughters and three granddaughters, who are all the joys of their lives.

Before joining MnCAN, he had never met anyone else with aphasia and he now participates in a MnCAN Conversation Group and the Drama Club. He appreciates the opportunity to practice speaking in a safe environment and enjoys spending time with the new friends he has made through the meetings.

Ken is honored to serve on the MnCAN board and hopes to promote awareness of hidden disabilities, such as aphasia and apraxia. He plans to use his strategic planning, project management, and contingency planning expertise he developed from his previous work experience to help further the mission of MnCAN.