Sam Sjolander as a young and joyful child, now living at a Hammer & NER home.

Not just housed but truly home. In a place where he is known, where his life is understood, where the people around him genuinely care.

I am Sam’s mother, and I am also a Board Member of Hammer & NER, which means I get to see this mission from both sides: as a parent who knows what it means to love a child who needs more support than most, and as someone who gets to help protect the systems that make that support possible.

Here is what I have learned from both seats: connection changes everything.

Arkansas Home in St. Louis Park (Left to Right) Matt Buley, Rep. Larry Kraft, Dami Abiodun, Tyler Textor, Pam Janczewski, Vivian Yantari Yoghoh, Diane Sjolander

A couple of weeks ago, I stood alongside Minnesota Representative Larry Kraft as he visited the Arkansas House in St. Louis Park — one of the homes where Hammer & NER’s work happens every day. We sat together in the living room and talked about what it actually takes to keep a home like this running.

This is the work: connection that creates understanding, understanding that creates advocacy. It is quiet, unglamorous, and it is the reason families like mine can hope for something better than uncertainty.

Adequate State funding is not guaranteed year to year. The needs of our children — my son included — do not come with an end date, but funding that supports them can feel like might.

That is why philanthropic support matters so much, especially now. It is what allows us to approach 2027 from a position of strength instead of scarcity, no matter what the State budget decides.

Core to connection is the care provided by the Direct Support Professionals who show up every single day — the same face, the same trust, built over time. That’s why Hammer & NER invests about $1 million of our own resources each year to strengthen DSP compensation beyond what state funding supports. We do it because keeping great people in this work is what keeps the connection stable. We invest in career coaching for the same reason.

When I know we are proactively protecting this work, I get to set something down. I get to trust that the same faces will show up for my son tomorrow as showed up today — because the people caring for him are paid fairly and supported in their own careers. And when I get to set that down, I get to just be Sam’s mom.

This is about them. But it is also about you and every parent and guardian after us. Every gift this fall goes directly toward compensating our DSPs and investing in the career coaching that keeps them a part of this mission.

Will you join us with a gift today? A gift helps fund fair wages and career growth for the Direct Support Professionals who show up for families like mine, every single day.

Thank you for helping me — and so many parents like me — get to just be a parent.

With gratitude,

Diane Sjolander

Board Member and Parent

To donate to our fall appeal, click here.

The Sjolander Family

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Each month, we will recognize two DSPs of the Month as well as a Program Manager of the Month. We are thankful for all the ways they bring the best of themselves to those they support and their colleagues. Please join us in celebrating them:

August DSPs of the Month: Sadaq Ibrahim & Jill Peters

Sadaq

Sadaq Ibrahim [5th Street] – Sadaq is someone with a multitude of terrific qualities, and our 5th Street home values and appreciates his amazing work here as a DSP! Sadaq’s dependability and selflessness are two qualities that stand-out to his coworkers, and he also does a fantastic job of building positive relationships with each person that resides at 5th Street. Per 5th Street’s Program Manager Hattisha Gary, Sadaq makes everyone feel “included, supported, and valued,” and he engages the folks supported at 5th Street with ease, as he exudes “patience, kindness, and a positive attitude” with every interaction! Additionally, Sadaq is lauded for his excellent communication skills (with both fellow staff and the people-supported at 5th Street), and he never ceases to do a great job at understanding and responding to each respective person’s needs. Sadaq is such a well-rounded and quality member of our 5th Street home (and our organization as a whole), and he is deservedly receiving the honor as one of our ‘DSPs of the Month’ for August – congratulations, Sadaq!

Jill

Jill Peters [Holdridge] – Jill is the Lead DSP at our Holdridge home, and she personifies what it means to be an excellent Lead DSP!  Jill is known for consistently exceeding the expectations of her role – Jill does this by being extremely dedicated, an exemplary leader, and having genuine compassion for the men that are supported at Holdridge. Jill’s strong work ethic and positive attitude lend to an environment where the guys who live at Holdridge, as well as the entire staff team at the home, know that they can depend on Jill! Jill continually steps-in and steps-up wherever needed – including assisting with challenging situations that her coworkers face, taking-on additional responsibilities as needed, and guiding new staff members to be as successful as they can be while working at the home. The difference that Jill makes every time she works resonates through the entire house – Jill’s attention to detail is bar-none, and Holdridge as a whole benefits an immense amount. With all of this being said, Jill is one of our ‘DSPs of the Month’ for August – congratulations, Jill!

August Program Manager of the Month: Marcella Moore

Marcella

36th Street is a home that benefits from a Program Manager that puts the women who live at this home first, while also being a strong leader and team player – that Program Manager is none other than Marcella Moore! Marcella doesn’t hesitate to go above-and-beyond for the women at 36th Street – Marcella will routinely come in early to support one of the ladies with their hair, and this is just one example (of many!) of Marcella putting the needs of the ladies at 36th Street first! Marcella is a supportive presence at 36th Street, and she is continually sharing her knowledge and expertise with her staff team. Per her Program Director Rosemary Smith, Marcella is one that will take on new challenges without any hesitation, and she always follows-through on things “with a positive and solution-focused attitude.” Rosemary adds that Marcella’s “reliability, selflessness, and willingness to step up make her an invaluable member of the team, and her impact is felt not only by the individuals she serves, but by everyone fortunate enough to work alongside her.” Marcella’s compassion, dedication, and commitment to making a positive difference has not gone unnoticed, and with that, she is our ‘PM of the Month’ for August – congratulations, Marcella!

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Each month, we will recognize two DSPs of the Month as well as a Program Manager of the Month. We are thankful for all the ways they bring the best of themselves to those they support and their colleagues. Please join us in celebrating them:

July DSPs of the Month: Omobolanle (Bola) Egege & Brad Fenske

Bola

Bola Egege [Cedarwood East] – As the Lead DSP at our Cedarwood East home, Bola has made an immeasurable impact on the home, including her fellow staff and (most importantly) the women supported at Cedarwood East! Bola routinely involves the ladies at the home in a variety of meaningful activities – such as making meals and desserts together, along with plenty of other daily activities that further the connection between all within the home. Bola responsibly carries-out all job tasks – one thing that Bola does a stellar job with is completing the grocery shopping for the home and staying within the budget, along with ensuring that the home is utilizing what it has and reducing overall waste. Bola is considered a consummate team player, as she will pick-up additional hours at Cedarwood East (as well as other homes when needed) to make sure that the folks we support are well-cared for. Along with the aforementioned qualities, Bola also excels at keeping Cedarwood East a welcoming environment that is clean and organized, and she has taken it upon herself to train and mentor new staff at the home so the ladies here benefit from having quality, consistent staff. In the words of Cedarwood East Program Manager Lilian Marriott, “Bola leads with compassion, initiative, and reliability. She doesn’t just complete her responsibilities—she actively looks for ways to improve the lives of the individuals we support and strengthen our team. I truly believe she exemplifies what a DSP should be and is very deserving of this recognition.” Congratulations to Bola – one of our July ‘DSPs of the Month!”

Brad (with Ted)

Brad Fenske [Black Oaks] – Brad has been with our organization for many years in a variety of roles, in which Brad has long been considered a hard-working and beloved employee – in his current role, Brad is a DSP at our Black Oaks home, and Brad’s undoubtedly excels at supporting the women here! Like he has done everywhere he has worked, Brad is keen on being in-tune with the various needs of the ladies at Black Oaks, and he does everything that he possibly can to make sure that each unique need is being met to the best of his/our ability. Black Oaks recently went-through the passing of someone that we supported for several decades, and Brad particularly had a close relationship with her – Brad’s dutiful support of her was instrumental in her being cared for as well as possible as her health declined, and Brad also demonstrated such remarkable aid to the women at Black Oaks while they have grieved their longtime housemate and friend. Additionally, when Black Oaks was without a Program Manager for a period of time, Brad stepped-up in countless ways and he played a huge role in making sure Black Oaks ran business-as-usual – Brad took the ladies to their medical appointments, he completed the grocery and supply shopping for the home, and he never faltered in taking care of the day-to-day needs of each of the women at Black Oaks. Brad’s incredible level of insight and attention to what needs to be done at Black Oaks is nothing short of amazing, and he is beyond deserving of being one of our July ‘DSPs of the Month,’ – congratulations, Brad!

July Program Manager of the Month: Icelyn Snow

Icelyn

A tell-tale sign of an outstanding Program Manager is when their staff team can’t help but speak highly of them to others within the organization, and this is absolutely the case with the stand-out Program Manager at Holdridge – Icelyn Snow! Not only does Icelyn take care of what needs to be done on a daily basis (and does it well!), she continually exhibits a growth mindset to best support the four men that live at Holdridge. Icelyn excels at communicating with others – whether it’s the guys at Holdridge, their families, or the Holdridge staff team. A shining example of Icelyn’s can-do attitude is when a rather large (20+ people) group from a local transition school wanted to see one of our homes – Icelyn stepped-up to host this tour short-notice, and even with the big audience, she did a terrific job talking about Holdridge & showing everyone around the home – Icelyn outlined life at Holdridge that clearly showed why it is a terrific home to reside at, with staff that only want the best for the men supported here. Icelyn is a consistent, reliable, and incredibly supportive presence for everyone involved at our Holdridge home, and her excellent work all leads to her being our ‘PM of the Month’ for July – congratulations, Icelyn!

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Each month, we will recognize two DSPs of the Month as well as a Program Manager of the Month. We are thankful for all the ways they bring the best of themselves to those they support and their colleagues. Please join us in celebrating them:

June DSPs of the Month: Catherine (Cathy) Pigg & Aaron Briggs

Cathy

Cathy Pigg [Rollingview] – Cathy Pigg [Rollingview] – Cathy is someone who was nominated for ‘DSP of the Month’ multiple times(!), so it should go without saying that she is very deserving of this honor – Cathy is a DSP at our Rollingview home, and she plays an undeniably valuable role at this home! Cathy keeps the women supported at Rollingview engaged with various activities – such as baking, decorating around the house (for holidays, etc.), arts & crafts, and community events. Cathy is regularly willing to cover shifts and be flexible with her schedule when needed to ensure that the women at Rollingview are well taken care of, and she is considered an ultimate “team player.” Cathy knows the women who are supported at Rollingview extremely well, and her person-centered approach has lent to her developing the strong relationships that she has with the ladies here! Cathy clearly sets a very high standard with her work, and she was an undisputable choice as one June’s ‘DSPs of the Month’ – congratulations, Cathy!

Aaron

Aaron Briggs [Lancaster] – Aaron is a longtime DSP at our Lancaster home, and he is an incredibly steady presence in the lives of the men who live at Lancaster! Aaron regularly provides support via being someone that the guys at Lancaster can vent to, as well as encouraging a variety of coping skills to help tackle any challenging situations. Aaron is someone who will go above-and-beyond routinely – one stand-out example is how Aaron will plan and go on trips with one of the men at Lancaster, in which these trips are extremely important to him, and Aaron’s special involvement in this part of his life does not go unnoticed! Additionally, Aaron steps up in many other ways at Lancaster – including assisting with the shopping for the home, planning and executing community activities, being a team member that could be relied upon additionally when the home was without a Program Manager, and picking-up shifts short-notice to make sure that the men at Lancaster are well-supported. Aaron’s dedication and commitment are undeniable – making Aaron a stellar choice as one of June’s DSPs of the Month’ – congratulations, Aaron!

June Program Manager of the Month: Tyler Textor

Tyler

As shared by Program Director Dami Abiodun, Tyler routinely expresses the following sentiment: “See, I gotta tell you these guys are amazing and they make me so happy.” As the Program Manager at Arkansas for many years, Tyler is considered the “backbone” of this home, and he has become synonymous with Arkansas! Tyler is entrusted with the lives of the men who are supported at Arkansas, and he does everything in his power to make certain that they are safe, happy, and healthy. Tyler “embodies integrity, courage, and leadership” – these qualities are readily seen every time that Tyler works, as his genuine care for the men at Arkansas and his staff team are ever-present and evident to all that step foot inside Arkansas. Tyler has the gift of consistently communicating effectively to ensure that his staff team are all on the same page, and this is with the singular goal of giving “110%” to support the guys at Arkansas. Tyler has been an exemplary employee during his tenure at Hammer, and it is such a benefit to Arkansas to be led by him. As should be no surprise, Tyler is our ‘PM of the Month’ for June – congratulations, Tyler!

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Wayzata, Minn., June 23, 2026 — Hammer & NER today announced that Matt Buley will become the organization’s next Chief Executive Officer, effective July 27, 2026. Buley succeeds John Estrem, who will retire on July 31 after 14 years.

Buley brings more than a decade of leadership experience in disability services and a track record of guiding mission-driven organizations through growth and transformation. He joins Hammer & NER from Hope Haven in Rock Valley, Iowa, where he currently serves as CEO and leads a team of more than 650 employees across disability services, healthcare, and manufacturing operations. During his tenure, he has driven strategic growth, strengthened financial performance, and championed policy and funding efforts that expanded services for people with disabilities.

Before Hope Haven, Buley held executive roles across the nonprofit sector, including leading an international child welfare organization, where he helped secure federal policy changes benefiting children and families. Earlier in his career, he led a major business portfolio at Best Buy — experience that shaped his approach to strategy, operations, and long-term sustainability.

Recognized as the Iowa Association of Community Providers’ 2022 Executive of the Year, Buley is known for a leadership style grounded in relationships, strategic clarity, and a deep commitment to the people organizations like Hammer & NER exist to serve.

Buley earned degrees from St. Cloud State University and the University of Minnesota. This role marks a return home, bringing him back to Minnesota after building much of his career elsewhere and to an organization whose mission and culture resonated deeply throughout the search process.

“What stood out to me throughout this process wasn’t just the mission—it was the people. At every step, I met individuals who care deeply about those they support and about one another. That commitment is something special. I’m honored to join Hammer & NER and look forward to spending my first months listening, learning, and building relationships as we shape the future together.”

— Matt Buley, Incoming CEO, Hammer & NER

Buley was selected through a national search conducted in partnership with Cohen Taylor. The process included engagement from Board members, staff, and community partners — a deliberate choice that reflects Hammer & NER’s belief that the people closest to the mission should have a voice in who leads it.

“We looked for a leader who could hold both the rigor of our work and the humanity at its heart — and in Matt, we found exactly that. His experience, judgment, and belief in what’s possible for every person we serve make him the right leader to carry our legacy boldly into the future.”

— Mitch Ringe, Board Chair, Hammer & NER

Honoring John Estrem

Buley succeeds John Estrem, who announced his retirement earlier this year. During his 14-year tenure, Estrem led Hammer & NER through a period of significant growth and impact. A widely trusted leader, Estrem guided the organization through the pandemic, built lasting stability through the merger of the Northeast Residence, and championed philanthropic giving.

Across Minnesota’s disability services community, Estrem was respected for his board service with the Association of Residential Resources in Minnesota (ARRM) and was recognized with ARRM’s Legacy Leader Award in 2025 for his lasting contributions to the field. His steady, mission-driven leadership leaves behind an organization of strength and purpose.

“John’s commitment to the people we support, their families, and our team has shaped Hammer & NER in countless ways. Because of John, we stand today on a strong foundation. We are deeply grateful for everything he has given to Hammer & NER.”

— Mitch Ringe, Board Chair, Hammer & NER

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About Hammer & NER

Hammer & NER is a Minnesota-based nonprofit dedicated to providing people with intellectual and other disabilities the opportunity to live life to its fullest. As one of the state’s most trusted disability service providers, the organization offers a comprehensive range of services — including residential programs, case management, care coordination, and community support — to help people live meaningful, self-directed lives. Hammer & NER operates from offices in Wayzata and White Bear Lake and is committed to building an inclusive, welcoming environment for all those it serves.

For more information, visit hammer.org.

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