It is with mixed emotions that I say goodbye as the CEO of The Wellbeing Partners. After seven years of not-for-profit leadership, I am leaving in early March to pursue new adventures. I am grateful for the time I have had to serve as founding CEO of the organization. I will miss working with partners, members, and the Board directly and I plan to remain in the community and always advocate for The Wellbeing Partners.

I am now excited to announce that Melinda Sorenson, MS, current Director of Workplace Wellbeing, will serve as the Interim CEO beginning March 4, 2022. Melinda is trained in organizational psychology and worked with the Greater Omaha Chamber. Her experience in change management, organizational health, and business development is just what the organization needs to navigate through this next phased of growth. The Board has launched a search committee and is partnering with Mission Matters to conduct a CEO search.

The Wellbeing Partners serve as system architects to guide employers, schools, teams and individuals to partner on big, sustainable changes that create more health for all. This group of dynamic, caring, strategic and committed team members, board members and partners are making a difference by working together.

Since the launch of The Wellbeing Partners, the organization has grown to a $1.4M budget, increased membership and sponsorship by 15%, and launched key initiatives such as the What Makes Us mental wellbeing campaign, which achieved 10.3% reduction in mental health stigma in its first year, and launched the region’s first comprehensive mental health resource directory. The Wellbeing Partners serves as the public health partner to convene and support Douglas, Sarpy/Cass, and Pottawattamie County Health Departments to engage businesses and community to address key wellbeing issues,

and serves as a powerful convening and education resource for more than 71 workplace and partner member organizations across Nebraska and Iowa. 

Please join me in celebrating all this success as we look forward to the incredible, ongoing work ahead for The Wellbeing Partners across Nebraska and Iowa!

Sarah Sjolie, MPA

CEO