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 13 group homes providing services to over 30 individuals
25
Years in Operation
30
Individuals Provided For
2001
Year of First Group Home
13
Group Homes in Mankato
Nicole Schmidt
Executive Director
Nicole started her career with Progressive Living in 2010 as a direct support staff, she held other positions within the company before being promoted to the Executive Director in 2017. Nicole’s primary duties are to work with our Director in handling the business decisions and strategic planning of the organization. She is responsible for ensuring that, the facility vision, patient needs and budgetary constraints are all in alignment. Recruited to provide strong directional leadership and a culture of stability after a period of rapid expansion and growth. Accountable for drawing together diverse groups to create focused teams committed to helping our individuals in achieving their maximum potential.
Megan Theobald
Administrative Program 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.
Billy Soutthivong
Designated Manager
Billy holds an A.A.S degree in both Liberal Arts and Accounting. Billy is known by our team for being very detail-orientated, helping him to ensure that everything from 245D licensing requirements to delivery of services are being met for each of our individuals. Billy began his career with Progressive Living Inc as a Direct Support Staff in September 2016. After gaining experience, he began to realize that he could make a huge impact by helping individuals served to reach their goals. Billy takes pride in helping each of our individuals to reach their maximum potential. He has worked with over 45 individuals and counting in his time with the company. Some of Billy’s hobbies outside of work include watching his favorite sports teams (Vikings, Timberwolves, Twins), traveling, fishing, and gaming.
Britney Clark
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.
Cory Raddatz
Designated Coordinator
Cory has been an employee with Progressive Living since 2019, starting as a direct support staff. Throughout his time with the company, Cory became increasingly aware of his passion for serving others. This passion met with opportunity when he was offered a promotion to a Designated Coordinator. Cory believes that serving individuals and aiding them in achieving their goals, regardless of their background or circumstance, is an innate human right. He believes that when this right is exercised, more people than those directly involved benefit-communities benefit. Cory’s biggest achievement since taking on this new role, has been assisting in ensuring success for an individual who had never previously been able to keep permanent placement. Outside of work, Cory is a certified personal trainer and enjoys continuing to help people to reach their peak potential.
Lisa Kennedy
Designated Coordinator
Lisa holds a BA degree in both Corrections and Sociology. Lisa started out her career in corrections working at Elmore Academy, a juvenile detention center. While she learned a lot in her time there Lisa felt that she could do more for others, so she started her career in health care. Lisa has worked in home health care for 15 years and counting. Lisa started with Progressive living in 2019 as a Home Manager. Lisa was quickly promoted to a Designated Coordinator in 2020. Lisa loves working with her staff and individuals and takes great pride in being able to help them thrive.
Yainelis Baldrich
Designated Coordinator
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 has been working in the healthcare field for 6 years and joined the Progressive Living team in 2020 as a direct support staff but was quickly promoted to a Designated Coordinator. 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 her daughter at home Yainelis’s is never truly off the clock. She enjoys spending time with her family, and being outdoors in whatever way she can.
Casey Rohlik
Designated Coordinator
Casey grew up in a small town in southwest Minnesota and moved to the Mankato area in 2018. She started her career in health care working in drug and alcohol treatment centers for women and adolescents with co-occurring disorders. Casey found her way to Progressive Living in January of 2021. She is known by her team members for being sociable and organized. Casey is able to juggle multiple tasks while still ensuring that the individuals she serves are receiving the best possible care. Casey’s greatest motivation is helping others to discover their greatest potential, believing that if she can make a difference in even just one person’s life, that that is enough. “To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world.”
Nate Winterlin
Designated Coordinator
Nate holds a BA in business administration as well as an A.A.S in marketing management. As a father of two girls Nate has dedicated his life to caring for others. He as worked over 14 years in the home healthcare field and is very passionate about helping others succeed. Nate joined the Progressive Living team in early 2021 as a Designated Coordinator, overseeing our two male homes.