Executive Leaders

Nathan Schema serves as president and CEO of The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society, leading the nation’s largest non-profit provider of senior care and services. He oversees the development and execution of organizational priorities, and in partnership with Sanford Health leadership, works to advance the integrated health care system.

Schema’s longstanding career with the Society began in 2006 as an administrator-in-training in Mountain Lake, Minnesota. He was a nursing home administrator at multiple Society locations, and also held positions as associate director of operations, regional executive director of operations and most recently, vice president of operations.

In January 2022, Schema was elected to the board of governors for the American Health Care Association, the nation's largest association of long-term and post-acute care providers.

A native of Faribault, Minnesota, Schema holds a bachelor’s degree in health care administration from Concordia College (Minnesota) and a Master of Business Administration from Bellevue University.

Schema lives in Sioux Falls with his wife, Alex, and their two sons.

Eric joined the Good Samaritan Society in early 2019 to help guide the Society’s finance and accounting departments through the affiliation with Sanford Health and beyond. He comes to the Society from Sanford Health, serving as their vice president of finance since 2018.

A CPA and graduate of the University of Northern Iowa with a bachelor’s and master’s in accounting, Eric’s career began in Des Moines, Iowa, as an auditor for Ernst & Young, a large four public accounting firm. He came to Sioux Falls in 2011 to start work for Eide Bailly, a top 25 accounting firm. Eric joined Sanford Health in 2012 as the director of finance for the Sioux Falls clinics. He eventually also served as director of finance for the greater Sioux Falls region, senior director of finance for the Sanford enterprise and finally as the executive director of orthopedics and neurosciences until his appointment as vice president in July 2018.

Eric has also served as an educator in his field, teaching as an adjunct professor for the University of Sioux Falls’ MBA program for the past several years. He lives in the Harrisburg area with his wife, Jennifer and two children. Eric enjoys spending time with his family and helping out on the family farm in Iowa whenever possible.

Gregory Johnson, Chief Medical Officer for the Good Samaritan Society, oversees clinical quality of all Society service lines and locations.

Born in central Illinois, Dr. Johnson completed his undergraduate education at the University of Illinois – Champaign-Urbana in physiology and French. He went on to complete medical school through the University of Illinois-Chicago and pursued his residency in family medicine at Sioux Falls Family Medicine Residency through the University of South Dakota.

During his residency, he developed a passion for geriatrics and long-term care that led him to complete a fellowship in geriatrics at the University of Illinois-Chicago. He started a geriatrics program at a health system in central Illinois where his group of 15 providers delivered care at over 25 senior living sites.

Dr. Johnson has served in multiple roles related to quality, value-based care, population health and accountable care over the course of his career. Having begun with the Society as the medical director for Great Plains Medicare Advantage in 2019, he assumed his current role in March 2020.

He and his wife, Kristin, have five children. They live in Sioux Falls with their two youngest daughters.

As The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society’s vice president of operations, Aimee Middleton oversees operations for all service lines and locations. Inspired by her father-in-law to pursue a career in aging, Middleton’s passion is to enhance the lives of seniors through mission-focused care and innovative solutions.

From 2019 to 2021, Middleton was the executive director of operations, leading the Society’s post-acute and senior living operations across multiple states. Previously she served as the administrator for the Society’s skilled nursing facility in Omaha, Nebraska, and with various other providers in Nebraska.

Middleton holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and marketing from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, and a master’s degree in healthcare administration from Clarkston College in Omaha, Nebraska. Middleton and her husband, Todd, have two children.

The Good Samaritan Society’s Vice President, Nursing and Clinical Services is a Sioux Falls native with deep ties to the Good Samaritan Society and Sanford Health. Starting her nursing career as a CNA and LPN in a long-term care location, Rochelle advanced through progressive nursing degrees, allowing her inpatient, ambulatory, procedural, academic and quality experiences.

Rochelle joined the Society in 2017 working at the intersection of nursing and quality improvement. In 2019, she spent 12 weeks as an interim director of nursing services for a large Society rehab/skilled care location before moving in to the role of director, professional practice and care management. In this role, Rochelle worked on care management and shared governance structures in conjunction with the Sanford integration.

Rochelle lives in Dell Rapids, South Dakota, with her husband and two children. She enjoys reading and outdoor activities.

Michael Rogers’ career in long-term care and post-acute care law began at EmpRes Healthcare where he served as the company’s associate general counsel for nine years. Prior to joining EmpRes, Michael worked at the University of Oregon for four years in the role of transactions counsel in the university’s business office. He currently serves The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society as executive director in the legal department.

Michael holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Oregon, a Juris Doctor from Albany Law School and a master’s degree in business administration from Union Graduate College of Union University.

Ali Langseth is a rooted South Dakotan. Alongside 6 other siblings, Ali was raised in Sioux Falls by her entrepreneurial father and homemaker mother. From a young age, she was influenced by family values and a disciplined work ethic. Since leaving Sioux Falls in 1991 to pursue her college education at UND, USC, and USD, Ali earned degrees in Speech Language Pathology, Audiology and Psychology.

She then managed the sales and training teams in Sioux Falls, Vermillion, and North Sioux City, South Dakota for Gateway, a former Fortune 500 computer company. After an eleven-year tenure in “corporate America”, Ali transitioned to “the non-profit world” where she served as CEO of Camp High Hopes a non-profit organization offering year-round therapeutic recreation programs and respites in Sioux City. In her role as CEO, she provided executive management, working with a volunteer board of directors to define the strategy and vision of the grass-roots organization, and was responsible for the management of donor development and campaigns.

After 8 years of overseeing the development strategy and activities to assure funding of the ongoing operational, endowment, and capital needs of the Camp, Ali returned to her roots in Sioux Falls in 2016 to serve as the Director of Major Gifts/Development for Augustana University where she managed a portfolio of major and planned gift constituents across the Midwest for the benefit of the private liberal-arts University.

In 2020 Ali re-entered non-profit leadership to serve as the Executive Director of the Good Samaritan Foundation where her vision drives development strategies that produce philanthropic support for the Good Samaritan Society. As Executive Director, Ali works with the Board of Directors to fulfill the organizational mission, provides leadership and ensures for the fiscal goals and accountability of the Foundation.

As human resources strategic partner, Wanda is responsible for providing strategic leadership to enhance the delivery of a full suite of innovative HR solutions to the Society’s nearly 16,000 employees. Wanda assists in aligning teams across the centralized HR model to focus on advancing a key priority for the Society – helping current and future employees discover and grow their calling in senior care and services.

Wanda joined Sanford Health in 2020 and served as the director of talent and organizational effectiveness. She has more than 20 years of HR strategic partner experience in financial services, including at First National Bank of Omaha and First National Bank of Nebraska.

A native of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Wanda is active in the community, including a current role as board member for Family Services, Inc. She and her husband, Jason, have two adult sons.

Tom assumed his current position as director, government and external affairs on Aug. 1, 2019. Previously, he served as executive vice president/chief operating officer, since February 2014 and vice president, operations systems – northern territory from July 2010 to February 2014.

Tom graduated from Augustana College in 1987 and began his career with the Society as an administrator in training. After completing his internship at Good Samaritan Society – Sioux Falls Center, he served as administrator of the Good Samaritan Society location in Syracuse, Nebraska from 1988 to 1996. He then transferred to Windom, Minnesota and served as administrator from 1996 to 2001. During that time, he earned a master’s degree in applied gerontology from the University of North Texas. In 2001, Tom joined National Campus staff and began serving as an associate regional director, and from 2002 until 2010, he served as the regional director for southern Minnesota. Mr. Syverson has served on a number of committees and task forces during his career, and served as the chairman of the National Association of Long Term Care Administrator Boards. Tom participated in the Global Leadership Development Program in May 2006 visiting the ZORG Group in the Netherlands for two weeks.

Tom grew up in rural southwest Minnesota and throughout his 30+ year career with the Society has always had at least one of his family members being served. This has given him a very personal experience and commitment to our mission. Tom enjoys spending time with his family, music, theater and sports.

Tyler Northrup brings over 25 years of technology leadership experience to his role as the Good Samaritan Society’s technology business partner. Since joining the organization in 2005, Tyler has served the Society and Sanford Health in various tech roles, including information security, user support, and technology change management and integration. In his current role, he focuses on helping to advance the Society’s key priorities and enhance the customer and employee experience through technology and innovation. He’s passionate about building a positive culture that delivers high-quality solutions and services.

Tyler has a proven history of interpreting organizational objectives and strategies, and then identifying ways organizations can successfully execute against those strategies. Tyler has been a board elected information security officer in multiple industries and holds an active Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) certification.

A native of Letcher, South Dakota, Tyler attended South Dakota State University where he received a bachelor’s degree in economics. He is active in his community and church where he serves on multiple boards and volunteer initiatives. Tyler and his wife, Mary, have three children. Their two older daughters are married and living outside the house while their teenage son, Cole, keeps them busy at home. In his free time, Tyler enjoys time with his wife and kids, following Cole in various sports, playing guitar, golfing and being outdoors.

As the Senior Director of Sales Strategy for the Good Samaritan Society, Melissa is passionate about leading a team to embrace a sales process that is focused on relationships. She provides insight regarding industry trends, sales analytics and strategic marketing, as well as providing sales coaching and training to grow occupancy. Additionally, she oversees the Connection Center where a team of specialists manages inquiries for all Society service lines.

Melissa has seen the marketing and sales role from the community to the executive level. She has spent time as a life enrichment director, opened new senior living communities, and has been a regional marketing and sales manager. She credits her time working in communities for her understanding of the needs of the customer and a desire to help locations thrive in their local markets. “I can’t imagine doing anything else,” says O’Hara. “If you’re looking for purposeful work, this is the industry you want to be in!”

She has a degree in economics from South Dakota State University. In addition to her 16 years of experience in the senior care and services industry, she has worked in tourism, mall management and pharmaceutical sales. She currently sits on the Sioux Empire United Way Board of Directors.

Kara Nelson leads strategic planning for the Good Samaritan Society, assisting in the development and execution of short and long-term goals to advance the Society’s mission and priorities. She also oversees alignment of strategic and governance communication for the Society.

Kara joined the Society in 2015 in the Connection Center where every day she visited with seniors and adult children looking for senior living and services. She credits this experience with helping her better understand the diverse needs of individuals served by the Society. In 2018, Kara transitioned to a role in Communications where she served the organization’s nearly 16,000 employees by leading the Society’s communications strategies.

Kara earned a bachelor’s degree in public relations and Christian community development from Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa. She lives in Sioux Falls with her husband, Kyle.

Christine Hallenbeck Ask serves the Good Samaritan Society as director of mission integration and senior pastor. She oversees the Society’s mission expressions in connection with resident care, employee culture, financial stewardship, and general strategic planning. She also participates in the leading and resourcing of the Society’s daily practices of faith.

Christy received her bachelor’s degree in journalism and music from Augustana University in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and her Master of Divinity degree from Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Prior to joining the Society, Christy served as associate pastor for Spirit of Joy Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls. During her time at Spirit of Joy, Christy led the congregation to start a BeFriender Ministry lay pastoral care program, sponsor an Eritrean refugee family, and partner with an elementary school for the purpose of deepening the congregation’s relationships in the community.

Part of Christy’s heart lives in the Twin Cities; Tucson, Arizona; and Bozeman, Montana—all places where she has lived, learned, jogged and consumed countless cups of coffee.

Christy shares her home and life with her husband, their daughter, and their dog. Her proudest achievements are giving birth and walking 500 miles across Spain. Both feats have provided infinite sermon fodder.

The memory of Christy’s own grandparents—Hazel, Loren, Rosemarie, and George—inspires her servant leadership to the Good Samaritan Society.

Greg Krzmarzick oversees the Good Samaritan Society’s compliance activity for skilled nursing, senior living and home-based services. He joined the Society in 2003 as an administrator-in-training and held multiple administrator positions for the Society in Iowa and Arizona over the next 10 years.

In 2013, Greg transitioned to a position in corporate reimbursement and compliance, and has served as senior director of compliance since 2019.

Greg earned a bachelor’s degree in Long Term Care and Aging Studies from the University of Minnesota. He lives in Sioux Falls with his wife, Heather, and their two sons.