A Tribute to Ardis Sandstrom
A Tribute to Ardis Sandstrom
The following is a transcription of Terri Traudt's tribute to Ardis Sandstrom from the Brain Injury Association of Minnesota's 2008 Annual Conference for Professionals.
Former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt once said "It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness." In a society that is quick to identify "darkness," Ardis Sandstrom is one of the best candle-lighters I have ever met. She has dedicated her professional life to service, and all of us in this room today have benefitted in one way or another from her service to the field of brain injury.
Ardis holds a Bachelors Degree in Psychology, and a Masters Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling. She is also a Licensed Independent Social Worker. Earlier in her career, Ardis was instrumental in developing the Direct Connections Vocational Rehabilitation program in St. Cloud, and the TBI Vocational Program at the Courage Center in Golden Valley, Minnesota.
She served as Associate Director at the Brain Injury Association of Minnesota for seven years prior to moving into the Executive Director position three years ago. During her tenure at the Association, Ardis has led the creation of Resource Facilitation, a program which is now utilized by five other Brain Injury Associations across the United States, and is held as a standard for the national model. She has also been instrumental in the creation of Case Management, Multicultural Outreach, and both the Education and Volunteer departments at the Brain Injury Association of Minnesota.
Under her leadership, the Association has experienced unprecedented growth. In the past three years, the organization has nearly doubled in size as has the number of people served.
Ardis will be leaving her post as Executive Director of the Brain Injury Association of Minnesota later this summer, as she has announced her "protirement" – a term she prefers over "retirement." We are quite certain that we have not seen the last of her tireless energy and service, though. I think she's got a few "candles" to light yet!
Ardis, on behalf of the Board of Directors, your staff, all your friends, colleagues and peers, and the thousands of people throughout Minnesota whose lives are affected by brain injury, we wish to say, not "good-bye," but rather "thank you."
Click here to read about our new Executive Director, David King.