About

We Turn What If Into

What's Next.

People
BEFORE PROFIT.

There’s a lot of talk about what healthcare should be. What it could be. What it might be. At Edge, we’re working on what healthcare must become: holistic, affordable, and focused on people. And no matter how many huge tech, ecommerce, and retail conglomerates get into the “business” of healthcare, we won’t budge in that belief.

GUNDERSEN MADE HISTORY
NOW LET’S MAKE THE FUTURE.

For almost 130 years, Gundersen Health System has been an innovation leader. GHS stands proudly with the best-known names in cancer and interventional care and has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Energy as a leader in green healthcare. Our parent company has set national precedent, established quality standards, published thousands of works, and obtained multiple patents — we’ve even been referenced in Congress as a healthcare system that’s transforming our community and beyond.

All that’s impressive. But it’s not enough.

To further improve the lives of our patients, employees, community members, and fellow global citizens, we need an imagination hub. We need ideas from anyone and everyone. And we need to take our seat at the head of the innovation table.

Our Mission

Our mission is to radically transform the future of healthcare through innovation. Fueled by internal and community ideas, energized by other disruptors, and funded by our corporate ventures, we will harness the power of entrepreneurship, creativity, open-mindedness, and curiosity. Together we’ll inspire, build, and distinguish ourselves by sharing healthcare innovations to benefit our organization, our community, our world.

Our Values

We are:

Curious

We make breakthroughs and solve problems by asking questions, exploring possibilities, and cultivating empathy.

Fearless

We must be bold to be impactful. We make mistakes, learn from them, and apply those lessons to what we tackle next.

Open-Minded

Good ideas can come from anywhere and everywhere. If they have the potential to shape the future of healthcare, they’re welcome here.

Community-Focused

Our work harnesses the spirit of internal and external entrepreneurs, feeding the results of their innovations back into our organization and community.

Forward-Thinking

Our eye is always on the horizon. We absorb information, imagine something better and determine ways to move beyond the edge of what’s been done, to lead the future of healthcare.

Meet the team

Bill Farrell

Chief of Business Strategy

Alicia Waletzko

Business Integration

John Richards

Operations

Greg LaPoint

Entrepreneur-in-Residence

Katie Nowak

Designer / Storyteller

Justine Egner

Customer / Product Development

Lee Kashdan

New Venture Partner

Nancy Clift

New Venture Partner

MEET OUR ADVOCATES

Edge Advocates are functional area experts at Gundersen. They contribute their skills, creativity, and knowledge to help us fast-track transformation.

Kasey Kirschbaum
Systems Recruiter, HR

Tim Schuldt
Senior Financial Analyst

Kendra Maggert
Director, Marketing

Adam Hatfield
Director, Media & Communications

Maria Ludwigson, JD
Associate General Counsel, Legal

Darren Hanson
Manager, Logistics, Supply Chain

Tim Wilson
Manager, Facility Operations

Dallas Wait
Construction Project Manager

Eric Dehn
Vice President, Enterprise Architecture & Solution Design, IT

Krystal Suntken
Quality Intelligence Specialist

Dr. Jon Zlabek
Medical Vice President of Cross-Functional Team

Dr. Jennifer Kleven
Medical Director of Research and Grants

Christina Flisram, RN, MS
Recruitment & Retention Solution Owner

Brian Fukuda
Senior Consultant, Community Affairs

 

Edge is hiring

Together, we will break through to the other side of possible.

We need curious, forward-thinking people with a strong work ethic to join our team. If you’re interested in bringing your unique perspective to our mission, check out our open roles and get in touch.

Current Openings

New Venture Partner

Onalaska, WI

See Position

Innovation Investment Associate

Onalaska, WI

See Position

Innovation Entrepreneur

Onalaska, WI

See Position

Copyright 2023 Edge, LLC

Bill Farrell
Chief of Business Strategy

Linkedin

Bill is an engineer by training, an artist by interest, an entrepreneur, and an innovator. At Edge, he acts as a leader and executive sponsor, partnering with the Edge team on strategy, direction, and vision. Bill is a La Crescent native and is passionate about serving the community. He has a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Minnesota and an M.S. in Technology Management from the University of St. Thomas.

Q&A

Why did you launch Edge?
I want to remove constraints and break out of thought boxes to achieve something fresh and innovative for long-term success and sustainability.

What is your work philosophy?
The daily to-do list or scramble to respond to emails can delete the ability to forward-think and balance today’s needs with future needs.

How are you making the world a better place?
I’m here to serve staff and the community. My parents taught me to do good. It’s not always the easiest option, but I try to do the right thing and have a positive impact on the most people possible.

Favorite quote?
“It takes 10 years to become an overnight success.” -Me, paraphrasing Jeff Bezos

Alicia Waletzko
Business Integration

Linkedin

Alicia is the conduit between our external efforts and partners and our internal ones. Whether engaging, incubating, or partnering, she helps ensure we have what we need for smooth integration into our system. She attended the College of Scholastica.

Q&A

Why did you join Edge?
I want to be there for people who are impacted by the changing healthcare landscape, and help transform how we take care of each other, patients, and our organization

Favorite innovation?
Whoever said, “I just want a great cup of coffee without having to work for it” and then invented the AeroPress — way to go!

How do you contribute to the world?
 I find every little way I can contribute: volunteering within GHS, at my children’s school, or within the community. Small efforts can still make a big impact.

Favorite quote?
“I think empathy is really important, and I think only when our clever brain and human heart work together in harmony can we achieve our full potential.” —Jane Goodall

What keeps you up at night and gets you up in the morning?
All the things needed to accomplish the work we’re doing both now and in the future — there are a lot of moving pieces involved. But I’m excited (and sometimes nervous) to tackle them.

John Richards // Operations Partner

Linkedin

John makes sure our innovation program operates smoothly. People, numbers, process, models — he takes an idea and helps build a space in which the team can make it real. John attended University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and holds a M.H.I. from Arizona State.

Q&A

Why did you join Edge?
Years ago, I heard a very smart person describe the need for healthcare to change, while warning that overnight change would lead to chaos. That’s when I grasped the power of innovation.

Favorite innovation?
The candle: a simple construct that shifted the paradigm of human understanding forever.

How do you contribute to the world?
I create spaces for others to succeed.

Favorite quote?
“If you immediately know the candlelight is fire, then the meal was cooked a long time ago.” —Stargate

How do you spend your weekends?
Family, trail runs, woodworking, kids, cleaning, soccer, kids…

Greg LaPoint
Entrepreneur-in-Residence

Linkedin

As our operating leader, Greg brings deep experience scaling startups across multiple industries. He works with internal and external Edge ventures, with a focus on building disruptive new businesses.

Before joining our team, Greg worked for over 25 years as a collaborative and results-orientated owner, entrepreneur, and executive. He has a proven record developing teams that win in dynamic, competitive markets.

Q&A

Why did you join Edge?
Innovation isn’t easy but nothing worth while is.

Favorite innovation?
The Lightbulb

How do you contribute to the world?
By being kind and helping others.

What book is on your nightstand?
The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment by Eckhart Tolle

Katie Lynn Nowak
Storyteller / Designer

Linkedin

Katie works with our internal team and stakeholders to bring ventures to life through incubation. She intertwines data, user experience, and research to develop a compelling visual narrative that showcases new products and services. She attended the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse for marketing and graphic design.

Q&A

Why did you join Edge?
It was the right fit for me. I’m always asking, “what’s next?” If I’m feeling too comfortable, it means I’m not learning or pushing myself.

Favorite quote?
“If not now, then when?” —Hillel the Elder  

What book is on your nightstand?
Peace is Every Step by Thich Nhat Hanh

What keeps you up at night and gets you up in the morning?
Night: my wandering mind. Morning: my curiosity and passion for life.

Justine Egner
Customer / Product Development

Linkedin

Justine leads our customer/product development, applying her background in user and rapid research to discover new insights about customers, uncover user pain, and test strategies and product prototypes. Justine got her Ph.D. from the University of South Florida, her M.A. from Texas Tech, and her B.A. from Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania.

Q&A

What did you want to be when you grew up?
It was a toss-up between a mermaid and a fairy princess. There are fewer seashells and less glitter in customer and user research, but it requires the same amount of creativity, imagination, and delegation skills.

Favorite innovation?
Glasses. My glasses are an imperative tool that allow me to navigate an inaccessible world successfully.

How do you contribute to the world?
I’m passionate about making the social world more accessible and equitable to better serve all people, but especially those who are marginalized in medicine (people with disabilities, people of color, and LGBTQ+ people). 

What keeps you up at night and gets you up in the morning?
Quite literally my dogs.

Lee Kashdan
Innovation New Venture Partner

Linkedin

Lee partners with entrepreneurs to guide them through our incubation process. Lee is a graduate of Vanderbilt University’s School of Engineering.

Q&A

Why did you join Edge?
It’s an exciting opportunity to learn more while helping people accomplish their goals.

Favorite innovation?
 Flush toilets are nice.

How do you contribute to the world?
I try to make life better for everyone I interact with, whether that’s helping on a project or just offering a smile.

What keeps you up at night and gets you up in the morning?
I get up in the morning to help others. The Internet keeps me up at night.

Nancy Clift
New Venture Partner

Linkedin

Nancy listens to customers and helps develop new ventures to serve them. She works with the entrepreneurs who entrust their ideas to Edge, developing ventures as they leave the incubation stage and become their own entity. She holds degrees from the University of Iowa, Indiana University, and the University of Minnesota.

Q&A

Why did you join Edge?
I want the work I do to make a difference in people’s lives. I love bringing the arts of listening and of innovation to healthcare, empowering the creation of new ways of improving the world.

Favorite innovation?
Zoom. Or Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. 

Favorite movie?
 I’m a big fan of The Princess Bride. (“Anybody want a peanut?”)

What book is on your nightstand?
I just finished reading Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know by Adam Grant.