Leadership Team
Executive Leadership
Mark Peterson
CEO
Mark Peterson
CEO
Mark is Chief Executive Officer at Nystrom & Associates, leading the organization as it grows both regionally and nationally. He is known as a visionary leader who understands the importance of a mission-driven culture and a relentless focus on providing exceptional patient service and quality of care.
Mark’s professional experience includes over 30 years in the health care industry, with the past 20 in behavioral health as a founding partner in Genoa Healthcare. He retired as the CEO of Genoa in 2020.
Genoa partners with mental health and substance use providers across the country to provide behavioral health pharmacy and telepschiatry services. Nystrom and Genoa have had a long-standing relationship to provide care for the people they mutually serve.
Mark has also held leadership positions at Healthnexis, EMBION, Ingenix (Optum), Chronimed, and PCS (Caremark). He began his career as a pharmacist at United and Children’s Hospital.
Mark did Pre-pharmacy at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul and earned his Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis.
Mark is married and has four grown children. Along with spending time with family and friends, he enjoys the outdoors, hunting, fishing, and traveling.
Andrew Pipp
Chief Information Officer
Andrew Pipp
Chief Information Officer
Andrew joined the Nystrom leadership team in October 2020. He has more than 25 years of experience in healthcare information technology, including information security, IT operations, solutions design and delivery, cloud transformation, vendor management, continuity planning, and mergers and acquisitions.
Before joining Nystrom as Vice President of IT, Andrew served as Vice President of IT Operations and Support at RAYUS Radiology, (formerly Center for Diagnostic Imaging), a market leader in outpatient radiology services.
As Chief Information Officer at Nystrom, Andrew provides leadership and direction to Nystrom’s IT department, overseeing a diverse range of functions including information security, IT operations, health information technology, business intelligence, project management and implementations, and innovation and transformation. He is committed to fostering a culture of collaboration and innovation and is passionate about exploring new ways to use technology to improve patient care and streamline processes across the organization.
He has an associate degree in business and management from North Hennepin Community College, and also attended Brown College where he received a certificate from the LAN/WAN Administration Program.
Anh Kremer
Chief Strategy & Development Officer, General Counsel
Anh Kremer
Chief Strategy & Development Officer, General Counsel
Anh is a seasoned healthcare executive with experience leading multi-site field and corporate operations. Prior to joining Nystrom, Anh served in a number of executive roles (Chief Administrative Officer, Chief Strategy Officer, Chief Legal Officer and interim Chief Operating Officer) with the largest privately owned imaging services provider in the U.S.
Anh is responsible for oversight of Nystrom’s overall clinic operations and corporate functions (Human Resources, Payer Contracting, Legal & Regulatory Compliance).
Anh is a graduate of the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities and Mitchell Hamline School of Law.
In her spare time, Anh likes to read and travel with her family.
Doug Foote
Chief Operations Officer
Doug Foote
Chief Operations Officer
Doug joined the organization in October 2023. Prior to joining Nystrom, he served as the Chief Operating Officer for The Emily Program and Veritas, part of Accanto Health where he had direct responsibility for clinical site performance and staff, including site leadership, therapy, nursing, nutrition, and other teams. During his time at Accanto, Doug partnered closely with the Chief Medical Officer and Chief Clinical Officer on critical initiatives, including integrations and industry-leading treatment.
Before that, Doug was Chief Operating Officer at Premier Family of Companies of America, which served the healthcare and insurance industries.
As Chief Operations Officer, Doug leads Operations alongside Vice President of Medical Services, Mike Chappuis. His responsibilities include all clinic and program operations for Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Substance Use Treatment, Psychological Testing, Reside ntial Treatment, and Community-based Services.
Doug is married with a full house that includes five sons, three dogs, and two cats. He loves spending time with his family, playing games, traveling to the North Shore, and hiking. He is a veteran paid-on-call Firefighter/EMT of 16+ years and serves with the Excelsior Fire District.
Doug’s passion for mental health treatment and access to care is inspired by his own personal experiences with family, friends, and fellow first responders.
Jean Ysbrand
Chief Human Resources Officer
Jean Ysbrand
Chief Human Resources Manager
Jean joined the Nystrom leadership team in May 2022 after almost 15 years with DaVita Kidney Care, where she led the Human Resources function for the Upper Midwest. Most of her career has been in multi-unit business including healthcare and retail. Jean has experience strengthening organizational culture and capabilities to support business growth.
In her role, Jean is responsible for all areas of Human Resources including Shared Services (Payroll, Benefits, Employee Communications, Recognition), Talent Acquisition, Generalist Services, and Talent Development. Jean has a Bachelor’s degree from St. Cloud State University and holds a Sr HR Professional (SPHR) Certification.
In her free time, Jean likes to spend time with her husband Mike, camping, boating, supporting college hockey, and traveling to new places.
Mike Chappuis
Vice President, Medical Services
Mike Chappuis
Vice President, Medical Services
Mike joined the organization in June 2023. Before coming to the organization, he ran a successful healthcare consulting practice, served as Chief Administrative Office for Mercy Virtual, and was a Managing Partner at Medical Excellence. Prior to that, he spent nearly nine years as President and Chief Operations Officer at American TeleCare, a virtual clinic dedicated to serving patients with the highest needs.
As Vice President of Medical Services, Mike is responsible for the Psychiatry medical practice, collaborating with medical leadership to establish best practices and standards of care while ensuring optimal performance in partnership with other members of the Operations team.
He is dedicated to making a difference in his community through volunteer roles on the Boards of Directors at Sister Kenny Foundation and Courage Kenny Foundation. He also served on a Telemedicine Advisory Board and at the University of Minnesota’s Schmitt Center.
Shannon Beaudin Klein
Chief Marketing Officer
Shannon Beaudin Klein
Chief Marketing Officer
Shannon is Chief Marketing Officer at Nystrom & Associates, leading the organization’s marketing and communications. This includes branding, visibility and reputation, growth and go-to-market efforts, community outreach, and internal communications.
Shannon is a 30-year mission-driven leader in health care, focused most recently on behavioral health.
Prior to that, she spent 14 years at HealthPartners, the largest consumer-governed integrated health care organization in the country. There, she led marketing and communications for a health plan and a large inpatient and outpatient care delivery system.
Shannon also held leadership roles in trade associations and government.
She holds a Bachelor of Science in Speech Communications from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Hamline University, St. Paul, where she graduated cum laude.
Shannon is married, has two grown children, and a sheepadoodle named Guinness. She enjoys traveling, reading, and spending time at her cabin.
Tim Balcerzak
Chief Financial Officer
Tim Balcerzak
Chief Financial Officer
Tim joined Nystrom in September 2019. Prior to joining Nystrom, Tim worked as a Certified Public Accountant at BDO USA LLP in assurance and transaction advisory services roles with stops in San Francisco, Chicago, Boston, and Minneapolis.
As Chief Financial Officer, Tim is responsible for leading the finance organization, including financial reporting, budgeting and planning, and treasury and billing functions. Tim graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Madison with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting and a Master of Accountancy.
In his spare time, Tim enjoys spending time with his wife, daughter, and son, watching Wisconsin sports, mountain biking, and playing basketball.
Operational Leadership
Amber Wentzel
Vice President of Clinic Operations – Wisconsin
Amber Wentzel
Vice President of Clinic Operations – Wisconsin
Amber joined Nystrom in 2015 and has been part of the leadership team for the past 6 years. She has held a variety of leadership roles, including ARMHS Supervisor, Community-Based Director, Director of Clinic Operations, and Vice President of Operations in Wisconsin. Amber grew up in WI and is especially eager to continue to expand services in WI communities. She has a passion for integrating the best patient care practices into the operations areas of the business.
Amber is responsible for clinical services, program development, market strategy, and clinic operations. Amber holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Family Social Sciences from the University of Minnesota and a Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy from Argosy San Francisco Bay Area. She is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Minnesota and is passionate about trauma-informed care and working with the criminal justice population.
In her free time, Amber loves spending time with family and friends, traveling with her husband, and being outdoors (especially in the summer).
Annie Pope
Vice President of Clinic Operations – Minnesota
Annie Pope
Vice President of Clinic Operations – Minnesota
Annie joined Nystrom in 2003 and has been a part of the corporate leadership team for over 10 years. She has held a variety of leadership roles, including Quality Assurance Director, Vice President of Clinical Services, and Vice President of Clinic Operations. Annie has a unique blend of experience, with a clinical background in therapy and experience working directly with the operations of each area of the business.
Annie is responsible for the clinical services and treatment programs, clinic operations, and clinical outcomes programs. Annie holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Stout, and a Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of St. Thomas.
In her free time, Annie loves being active outdoors and traveling with her husband and two boys.
Jonathan Uecker, MD
Medical Director
Jonathan Uecker, MD
Medical Director
Dr. Uecker has served as the Medical Director for Nystrom and Associates since 2008. He completed medical school at the University of North Dakota in 1988, his psychiatric residency at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill in 1992, and a fellowship in Forensic Psychiatry at the University of Rochester, Rochester, NY in 1993.
He has over 30 years of clinical experience and has a high degree of comfort in treating patients with complex and treatment-resistant illnesses. He also enjoys teaching and mentoring other psychiatric professionals. Past administrative work includes Medical Director at Family Life Mental Health Center in Coon Rapids, MN, the Assistant Medical Director at Anoka Metro Regional Treatment Center, and the Medical Director for Inpatient Psychiatry at the Minneapolis Veterans Administration Medical Center.
Jonathan has been recognized in the Minneapolis Magazine as a Top Doctor on a number of occasions. He has been given the Exemplary Psychiatrist Award by the National Alliance on Mental Health and the Distinguished Service Award by the Minnesota Psychiatric Society.
He lives in Anoka, MN, with his partner, dog, and cat and has two adult sons. He is an avid gardener, lifts weights almost daily, and enjoys camping and traveling.
Monica Lieser
Director of Clinic Operations – Missouri
Monica Lieser
Director of Clinic Operations – Missouri
Monica has over 25 years of dedication to the field of mental health. She is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and a Licensed Professional Counselor. In 2009, she founded Sandhill Counseling and Consultation, a thoughtfully branded company dedicated to professional and compassionate mental health care. She has served in leadership positions on local, state, and national levels, authored a book, has been a guest presenter on many mental health topics, taught graduate courses, and practiced therapy for nearly 20 years.
In March of 2023, Nystrom acquired Sandhill Counseling, and she proudly joined Nystrom and Associates as leaders in the Missouri market.
She enjoys traveling with her sons, having passionate discussions about books, listening to live music, and living life big.
R. John Sutherland
Vice President of Addiction Services
R. John Sutherland
Vice President of Addiction Services
R. John assumed the role of Vice President of Addiction Services at Nystrom in February 2022, bringing a wealth of expertise in addiction, evidence-based treatments, and healthcare administration. Holding a Doctorate in Counseling Psychology from the University of Houston and a Master of Health Administration from the University of Minnesota, he is board-certified by the American Board of Professional Psychology in Counseling Psychology.
Prior to joining Nystrom, he held significant roles, including Systems Director of Addictions Services at Allina Health and Clinical Director of Operations at North Memorial Health. His extensive experience also includes serving as a licensed psychologist at HealthEast Care System and Bay Pines VA Hospital.
Remaining connected to academia, he is a Teaching Specialist at the University of Minnesota’s Integrated Behavioral Health Program and a Certified National Trainer in Prolonged Exposure for PTSD. Actively engaged in advocacy, he co-chairs the Government Affairs Committee for the Minnesota Associates of Resources and Chemical Health (MARRCH) and previously sat on Governor Waltz’s Opioid Advisory Board.
Beyond his professional pursuits, he finds joy in spending quality time with family, friends, and his two dogs during his leisure hours.
Sarah Gross
Executive Director – Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Program
Sarah Gross
Executive Director – Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Program
Sarah joined Nystrom in 2002 and helped start the DBT Program in 2006. She is a Linehan Board-Certified DBT Therapist and serves as the Executive Director of the DBT Program at Nystrom. She currently oversees 16 DBT teams and provides supervision, consultation, and leadership for the DBT program.
Sarah has had extensive training, including advanced training with Marsha Linehan, a DBT treatment developer, and Melanie Harned, a DBT PE treatment developer, in addition to intensive training by other experts. As a clinician, Sarah works with adults, adolescents, parents, and couples. Sarah has extensive leadership training and enjoys training new clinical leaders in the field.
In addition to her work with Nystrom, Sarah participates in several DBT advocacy and leadership groups to help advance the use of DBT and other evidence-based treatments.
Prior to working for the Nystrom and Associates DBT program, Sarah worked as an in-home family therapist, school social worker, community coordinator in services for people experiencing homelessness, and in the mental health triage unit for county mental health services. Sarah has over 25 years of experience in the social work and mental health fields. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Environmental Studies from Macalester College. She received her Master of Arts degree in Social Work from the University of Minnesota.
In her free time, Sarah enjoys spending time with friends, family, and the community – especially if it involves being outdoors, adventure, playfulness, and good food.