Washington County, WI – Deb Meinert has graciously provided servant leadership to Cedar Community for 40 years. From her very first position as nursing secretary for the director of nursing and nurse scheduling, to human resources, and finally philanthropy, she has demonstrated a “people first” heart in all she does.
With that many years, you would think Deb started in her early teens, but after graduating high school she worked in a factory. Realizing that was not the career path she wanted, she attended Moraine Park Technical College and earned a certification as a health unit clerk. “I liked the medical field, but I knew I wasn’t cut out to be a nurse,” said Deb.
Her first interview was with Cedar Community and the rest became history.
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When Hedy Gumm, director of nursing at the time (and current Cedar Community resident), was winding down for retirement, Deb transitioned to the nursing data office—now health information management—doing clerical work. In this precomputer era, Deb handled all the patient information records including treatment forms and patient summaries—working closely with nursing staff.
Continuing to learn and grow in her tenure, Deb took a position in human resources—one that lasted 27 years.
She began as an HR generalist and then specialized in safety and workers’ compensation—as the eyes and ears of Cedar Community and liaison between injured workers and the organization. This was a perfect role for Deb since she provided so much compassion and support to those who needed her most. She also served as the lead for orientation—acclimating new team members with the knowledge and tools they needed to start their careers at Cedar Community.
Realizing she needed a change when a position became available in philanthropy in mid-2019, Deb took a leap of faith. Current CEO Nicole Pretre knew Deb would be a great addition to that team with her years of history, knowledge, and relationships with team members and residents.
CLICK HERE to read more about the many hats worn by Meinert in Cedar Community’s Autumn edition of LIVE MORE magazine.