The Rowely Masonic Community recently underwent several staffing changes, and one of these was the hiring of a new facility administrator, Kate Klimesh.
Klimesh stopped by the Hotel Pattee Tuesday for the weekly meeting of the Perry Kiwanis Club to introduce herself and discuss the exciting changes at the Rowley.
Klimesh comes to Perry from Spillville, Iowa, which is about 12 miles away from Decorah. Her husband is Mike Klimesh, whom Kate met while attending Luther College. They have a 19-year-old son who is currently attending Luther College.
Klimesh said she started working in nursing homes as a Certified Nurses Aide (Direct Care Worker) after college at Bartnell Eastern Star Home in Decorah. She said it is ironic that she began her career with a Masonic organization and has come back to work at another Masonic ran facility in her new position at the Rowley Masonic Community.
She worked several years for Aase Haugen Senior Services in Decorah, where her title was director of business development and her duties included human resources, marketing, fundraising and payroll.
Klimesh said she later went to work for a struggling independent facility. Over a period of time, she fixed many problems and as a result was able to increase the facility of around 50 beds to 100 percent occupancy with a waiting list of 15 residents.
She stated that right now her greatest goal is to support the great staff at the Rowley.
Klimesh said the director of nursing is also relatively new to the position and that long time Perry Heathcare Center/Pearl Valley Rehabilitation Activity Director Mary Means will be taking over the Rowley activity dDirector position Feb. 13.
The community will have a chance to meet the new Rowley staff at an open house Feb. 15h from 2-3:30 p.m.
Klimesh works for Continuum, a consulting firm for nursing facilities. The Rowley Masonic Community board hired Continuum about a year ago to help manage the organization.
