Jess Drecktrah, MHA, MN, RN

Over the past two decades, Jess has championed innovative healthcare initiatives within provider settings, fitness, retail, and academia. Jess obtained her Master of Healthcare Administration, including Licensed Nursing Home Administrator (LNHA) Certificate, from the Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota, a top #2 school in the nation for integrating business and healthcare. She also obtained her Master of Nursing degree from the University of Minnesota. Jess continues to give back to UMN School of Nursing serving on its Board of Visitors and Affiliate Faculty. 

Recently, Jess served as Vice President, Life Enrichment for Presbyterian Homes & Services (PHS), the fourth largest non-profit senior living in the United States. At PHS, Jess provided service to 8,000+ senior housing residents with leadership responsibility for the functions of life enrichment, volunteerism, fitness, wellness coordination, wellness nursing and dementia care. 

Prior to that, Jess held leadership positions at Target, the YMCA, Allina Health, Ecumen, and the University of Minnesota. 

At the YMCA, Jess served as a consultant to define healthy aging strategy for over 50,000 older adults and to launch the prototype George Wellbeing Center in an effort to make integrative health and wellness services accessible to all. At Target, Jess led strategy for retail clinics and grew to hold responsibility for core HR functions including team member wellbeing, fitness, perks & discounts, benefits open enrollment, external partnerships, and wellbeing measurement systems. Jess now serves as the Chief Nursing Officer and Faculty for the Foundations Course of the Faith Community Nurse Network (FCNN). She also serves as Consultant and for the International Council on Active Aging (ICAA) and Instructor for ICAA Education within its Leadership in Wellness Management Certificate Course.

Her areas of expertise include pioneering strategy, startups, and program development. She is a credentialed leader in multiple health and wellness promotion Evidence Based Programs (EBPs). She is a Master Trainer for falls prevention programs Stepping On and A Matter of Balance. She is a Tai Ji Quan: Moving for Better Balance Instructor and a Master Trainer in Living Well with Chronic Conditions, Living Well with Chronic Pain, and Powerful Tools for Caregivers. She is a mental health coach and supervisor of the PEARLS program.  Jess is comfortable public speaking, consulting, educating and nursing.  Jess's goal is to follow an authentic path of service changing influential systems to prioritize time and resources on wellness to improve the health span.

Jess is married, has two daughters and recently moved to Chapel Hill, NC. When she is not working, she loves to read, study religion and spirituality, explore nature, exercise, fast, sauna, endure ice baths, and make trips to natural wonders.