Staff

Heather Johnson, RN, BSN, PHN

Executive Director

Heather supports evidence-based quality improvement through the development and deployment of Empira signature programs. She presents the best practices and key findings from Empira’s signature programs at local and national conferences.

Having grown up in a family that provided adult and child foster care for individuals with disabilities and mental illness, Heather knew at a young age that she enjoyed taking care of others and pursued her education in healthcare. As a Registered Nurse, she has provided direct care, supervision, team leadership, and mentoring to colleagues and patients. Heather takes great pride in having the ability to positively affect practices in long-term care by leading performance improvement programs and continuing her own education.

Heather holds a BSN/PHN from Saint Catherine University and enjoys traveling, learning about different cultures, gardening, and reading. Her husband Rich and four children share her love and passion for the outdoors and Minnesota Vikings.

Kelly Klund, Gerontologist

Resource Nurse

Kelly is passionate about improving the aging experience. She has worked in healthcare since 1989 with broad experience as a staff nurse, unit manager, nurse consultant, and clinical project manager in the areas of quality improvement, infection control, staff development, admissions, marketing, and business development. She enjoys program development along with building relationships. 

Kelly has been with Empira since 2016 and has presented Empira’s work to thousands of people across the United States. She believes that every day offers an opportunity to educate professionals in aging services to know better so they can do better. 

Kelly holds a Bachelor of Science in Gerontology and Aging Services from the University of Maryland Global Campus and an Associate Degree in Practical Nursing from Minnesota State College Southeast in Red Wing MN.
She lives in Wisconsin, has a husband and two children, and is an avid Green Bay Packers fan.