OUR HISTORY
Robert Sweeney, Owner and Director of Progressive Living inc. started providing in home care services for his neighbors in the early 90’s. Soon after Robert and his wife Leann were approached by a case manager about starting in-home foster care services. Robert and Leann then started providing services to four individuals in their family home in 1995. He and his family continue to care for those same individuals to this day. In 2001, Robert built the first of several group homes in Mankato and has been expanding the company ever since.
Today Progressive Living has 23 group homes providing services to over 40 individuals
29
Years in Operation
40+
Individuals Provided For
2001
Year of First Group Home
23
Group Homes in Mankato
Nicole Schmidt
Director/Designated Manager
Brittany Gruber
Human Resources Director
Brittany has been in the disability services field for over 12 years in total. Her experience in Human Services was specifically focused on Office Management, Human Resources, and Talent Acquisition. Brittany has a bachelor's degree and graduated top of her class earning Summa Cum Laude. She is committed to making a difference in her local communities by supporting the people we serve and breaking the barriers for those with disabilities and mental illness.
“Progressive Living is a big family that collectively roots for the underdog. We are relentless in offering opportunities for growth, change, and support. The fast pace energizes me, and I love that I am empowered to lead Progressive Living employees toward fulfilling the organization's mission”. -Brittany G.
Shannon Wagy
245d Licensing Director
Favorite Quote: "The Best Way to Predict the Future, is to Create it".
Offering nearly 2 decades of leadership in Home and Community Based Service Standards. Shannon is passionate about rights, compliance, service standards, delivery and requirements.
Prior to joining the team at Progressive Living, Shannon started her career with HaugBeck Support Services in 2006 as a DSP. In 2007, Shannon became Program Manager and after receiving her Degree in Human Services in 2013 Shannon became a Designated Coordinator. Throughout the last 3 years, and 2 company acquisitions. As Executive Development Director Shannon led the MN Statewide group of Development Directors, and then Operational Manager. Shannon's deep passion for working with people with all different types of abilities comes from every single person she has had the opportunity to support or has encountered from the beginning. Each person has made a difference in my life, and how I make decisions every day.
Fun Fact:Shannon started her career in this very same office with HaugBeck Support Services. "It feels like home again".
Megan Miland
Human Resources Generalist
Megan grew up in a small town in Central Minnesota and moved to Mankato in 2019 to attend MNSU. She started working at Progressive Living, Inc as a Direct Support Staff in 2021. In May of 2023 she obtained her degree in Human Resource Management and was offered a Human Resources position. Megan’s favorite part of her position is hiring and interacting with the wonderful staff that will be working with our individuals. In Megan’s free time, she loves reading a good book and watching documentaries.
Morgan Rockvam
Human Resources Assistant
Morgan was born and raised in the Mankato area. She was hired in the Administration Office at Progressive Living, Inc. in 2012 and has held many roles throughout the years. She recently accepted the Human Resources Assistant role in 2023. Morgan enjoys working in this field to recognize the changes and growth of the individuals within, along with getting to know all the great staff in the onboarding process of the Human Resources Department. In her free time, Morgan enjoys spending time with her family, 2 dogs, and cat and cozying up with a book.
Yainelis Baldrich--`----
Designated Manager
Yainelis moved to the United States when she was 16 years old from Cuba. She is known by her coworkers for always being able to develop a positive work environment. Yainelis had been working in the healthcare field for 6 years before joining the Progressive Living team in 2020 as a direct support staff but was quickly promoted to a Designated Coordinator. In the Summer of 2023 Yainlies was offered the postion of Designated Manger and to the companies delight she accepted. Yainelis is dedicated to her individuals and is always looking for new creative ways to help them succeed in reaching their goals. Yainelis is the epitome of a caretaker, with a daughter at home Yainelis is never truly off the clock. She enjoys spending time with her family, and being outdoors in whatever way she can.
Megan Theobald
Program Development Coordinator
Megan grew up on a farm in Huntley, MN and moved to Mankato in 2007 after graduating from Blue Earth Area High School. Megan has worked for Progressive Living for over 10 years. Megan started in 2010 as a Direct Support Staff where she worked directly with the individuals providing person centered supports. In 2014 Megan was promoted to House Manager where she oversaw the day-to-day operations of one of our homes. In 2017 Megan transitioned into the Designated Coordinator roll. As a Designated Coordinator Megan oversaw multiple homes to ensure that the services and needs of the individuals were met while also maintaining 245D compliance. Today Megan’s position entails attending all support team meetings, advocating for the individuals wants and needs, and coordinating services and supports for the individuals we serve. Megan has completed additional training in person-centered planning and supports and has a passion for providing high quality, person centered services for the individuals we serve. Outside of work, Megan enjoys spending time with her family, kayaking, camping, traveling, and attending live music events.
Britney Clark
Senior Administrative Coordinator
Britney moved to Mankato in 2015, from the Minneapolis area. She started her career with Progressive Living in the summer of 2016 as a Direct Support Staff. Britney worked her way up from there, she was promoted in Spring of 2017 to ILS/SLS Manager, and from there became on-call, a live-in staff and took on overseeing the scheduling for the company. Britney goes above and beyond for Progressive Living and takes pride in helping her colleagues and Progressive Living individuals to succeed. Outside of work, Britney enjoys reading, being with friends, and spending as much time as possible with her family.
Stephanie Nepper
Senior Designated Coordinator
Stephanie grew up in Le Sueur, MN and moved to Mankato for school in 2018, that was also when she started her career with Progressive Living. Stephanie attended MSU and majored in Corrections and Alcohol/Drug studies. She worked her way up through the company starting as a DSP, then accepted a House Manager position a short time later. In 2020, Stephanie was looking for more of a challenge and when Progressive Living opened a new High Behavior ladies home, she accepted the House Manager postion there. In the summer of 2022, Stephanie was promoted to a Designated Coordinator. Stephanie has been and continues to be an amazing asset to the PL team.
Alexandria Fulghum
Senior Designated Coordinator
Alexandria grew up in Le Sueur, graduated high school in 2017 and that same year she moved to Mankato. In September 2018 she started her career at Progressive living as a Direct support Staff. Alex quickly excelled in her postion as a DSP, she worked hard and was offered a house manager position in a high behavior home. Alex was promoted again in 2023 and became a Designated Coordinator. In her free time Alex enjoys spending time with her cats and her friends.
Chad Davey
Designated Coordinator
Chad grew up in the Mankato area and attended Bethany Lutheran College where he earned an AA degree in Liberal Arts. Chad started in the healthcare field in 2005 as a DSP. As he grew more comfortable in the field, Chad volunteered for as many hours and as much experience as he could. He had the unique opportunity to participate in Work Groups and attend Conferences to further his experience. In 2007, he was promoted to a house manager position and was very dedicated to the individuals and teams he supported. Chad was offered an opportunity to join Progressive Living as a DC in 2023. Everyday he strives to incorporate progressive person centered goals with the individuals he supports. Outside of work Chad has many hobbies and spends as much time as he can with his family.
EJ" Haymore
Designated Coordinator
EJ grew up in Chicago, IL and moved to Minnesota when he was 17 years old. EJ started working in the field as a DSP with Progressive Living, in 2016. After spending a few years with PL, EJ moved to Duluth and has spent 4 years managing individuals there. In 2023, EJ decided to move back to Mankato and was offered a Designated Coordinator postion with Progressive Living, inc. In his free time EJ enjoys spending time with his children and family, playing basketball and finding new places to eat.
Bee Thao
Designated Coordinator
Bee grew up in Sacramento, CA. and moved to Mankato in 2018. His academic journey culminated at Minnesota State University, Mankato, where he earned a degree in Communication and a minor in Health Science, graduating with honors. During his college years, Bee taught literature to 6th and 7th grade students through a summer internship in North Minneapolis and St. Paul, and also mentored ESL students in his high school. Bees professional career in this field began in 2019 as a DSP, his dedication and hard work led to rapid promotions, advancing from Team Lead to Home Manager, and eventually to director's level. By the end of 2023, Bee embarked on a new role with Progressive Living, inc. as a Designated Coordinator. He is passionate about collaborating with his team and staff to enhance the support for the individuals we assist and contribute to improving the Mankato community. In his leisure time, Bee enjoys hiking, reading, catching up on the latest shows and movies, and exploring diverse cultural cuisines.
Cory Raddatz
Designated Coordinator
Cory grew up in Mankato, MN. He began his career at Progressive Living inc. in 2017 as a direct support staff. He worked hard and accepted a position as a house manager position with some of our more challenging individuals and was promoted again to the position of Designated Coordinator shortly after that. Cory enjoys working with challenging individuals and exploring pathways that allow those individuals to live a successful and happy life. In his free time Cory enjoys staying physically active, collecting artwork, and being ordained.
Clairissa Rodriguez
Designated Coordinator
Claire grew up in the countryside between Kilkenny and Waterville, MN. In addition to their pony, pigs, cats and goats, Claire and her family were known for raising purebred English Springer Spaniels through their family business, the Cedar Knoll Kennel. She attended the Waterville-Elysian-Morristown High School and was involved in numerous extra curricular activities, such as Knowledge Bowl, cross country, speech and theater, and was voted president of her class in addition to leading several other clubs and student organizations. In 2019, Claire was awarded the Presidential Scholarship and began attending Minnesota State University, Mankato (MNSU) with the goal of pursuing a career in healthcare. Claire worked as an Assisted Living Aid and an on-call Personal Care Attendant before joining the Progressive Living Inc. team in January of 2022. Claire started working as an overnight staff and was promoted to House Manager seven months later. She graduated from MNSU in the fall of 2023 with a bachelor's degree in Applied Health Science and was promoted to Designated Coordinator shortly after. In her free time, Claire enjoys baking, listening to true crime stories and working on projects that require her creativity. Claire also loves spending quality time with her husband, their two adorable dogs, and their cat.
Alex Lang
Designated Coordinator
Alex grew up in Mankato, and after graduating high school in 2019 he started working. He worked with high behavior group homes for two years prior to joining Progressive Living. Alex worked for Progressive Living for 1 year with high behavior, did an exceptional job with the individuals and was promoted to trainer and had moved into a DC role. He enjoys spending time with his cat Luci, playing games and hanging out with his friends.
Amal Ali
Designated Coordinator
Amal has a degree in Health Science/Medical Administrative Assistance. She has worked in healthcare for 7 years and joined the Progressive Living team in March of 2022 as a house manager. Amal has done an amazing job in her manager role and was promoted to Designated Coordinator in November 2024. Amal really enjoys the work she does and being able to support the individuals that Progressive living provides services for. Outside of work Amal enjoys spending time with her 8-year-old daughter, and her cat Naila.