Mission Statement

Owner

Chair of the Board 

Alaina  is the Executive Project Manager for the Innovation Grant with ARRM, which aims to increase the awareness, access to, and usage of Assistive Technology and Remote Support. She is also a Business Consultant with NextGen Assistive Technology, where she helps Residential Service Providers prepare to become independent Remote Support Providers. 

Alaina loves high adventure activities, traveling, and spending as much time in the outdoors as possible.

Vice Chair of the Board  

After 12 years as a special education teacher for high school students with developmental disabilities, and years as a program manger with Living Well Disability Services, Kit Piltingsrud is now a training specialist with Mt Olivet Rolling Acres. Kit has a Master’s of Science degree from St. Cloud State University in Developmental Disabilities and Special Education.

Kit spent many years as a musician playing the bassoon in symphonies but now enjoys time outside with friends and family canoeing, kayaking, and hiking or inside quilting, and baking.

Co-Founder

Secretary of the Board

 Sean supports everyone in Hammer’s residential services to attain greater independence, safety, and life fulfillment through the use of supportive technology. He also creates meaningful insights from the data systems Hammer utilizes to create efficiency and prepare for the future .

In his free time, Sean enjoys playing and recording music in his tiny home office.

Treasurer

Leah is an Assistive Technology Specialist with 8 years of experience supporting individuals with disabilities. She has knowledge of assistive technology, environmental accessibility, and person-centered support planning. She is involved in various avenues of adaptive fitness and advocacy.

Leah enjoys body building, coaching lacrosse, and spending time outdoors with her husband and daughter.

Owner & Co-Founder

Board Member

Matt Hansen worked for six years as a Direct Support Professional, as Director of Assistive Technology for a Minnesota non-profit and understands the dynamics of supporting people in their own home. Matt is a certified Assistive Technology Professional, Environmental Accessibility Specialist, the owner of Mercarik and has his MBA and Bachelors from the University of St. Thomas.

Matthew enjoys sports of all kinds and travels around the US to run long distance races.

DHS Representative

Board Member 

 Anna has a Master’s Degree from the University of Wisconsin-Stout in Rehabilitation Counseling and Vocational Evaluation and an Assistive Technology Certification. She has over 25 years’ experience working with people with disabilities in a variety of capacities; Currently at  MN-DHS’ as the Waiver Policy Lead for Assistive and Monitoring technology/remote support. 

Anna enjoys gardening, being on the water, traveling (especially if it involves a beach) and spending time with family and friends.

Board Member

Sue Redepenning is the owner of LiveLife Therapy Solutions and the Program Director for Technology for HOME, a state-funded program which provides assistive technology (AT) for people with disabilities throughout Minnesota. Sue leads a team of twelve AT consultants (Occupational Therapy, Speech-Language Pathology, Physical Therapy, Nursing and Engineering). 

Sue  raised all boys, 4 of them, that keep her busy and make life fun/never boring.

Board Member

Chanell is a Case Manager and AT Specialist with Olmsted County’s Children’s Developmental Disabilities Services Unit and has over 20 years of experience providing supports for individuals with disabilities.  She has her bachelor’s degree in Family Services from the University of Northern Iowa and AT Specialist Certification through California State University of Northridge.

Chanell enjoys traveling and seeing new places, being on the water, animals, and love spending time with friends and family.  

Board Member

Kathy is the Director of Remote Supports and Assistive Technology for REM Minnesota. Kathy has held

diverse rolls within REM including Clinical Director and Director Brain Injury and Specialty Support

Services. Her love of rehabilitation services lead her AT to

help individuals achieve greater independence.

Kathy loves being outside doing any sort of water related activity including swimming, boating or just enjoying the sun. She is a hack golfer who dreams of a hole-in-one. She enjoys solving puzzles especially the puzzle that is repairing and driving her 1929 Ford Model A. 

Board Member

Michael is Director of Development at Night Owl Support Systems, where he helps increase awareness of how to increase independence for individuals with disabilities through Remote Support services. With MN NEAT, he is able to educate Minnesota providers, caregivers, families, and individuals alike on the benefits of services like these.

Outside of work, Michael fosters shelter dogs, plays ice hockey, and annoys his loved ones with puns and bad jokes - all of which provide him with much joy.