Héctor Colón is the President and CEO of Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan (LSS). Under Colón’s visionary and innovative leadership, LSS has adapted new models and business strategies to increase relevancy and operational efficiency. Before the start of Colón’s tenure in 2017, the organization had not met its budget for four consecutive years. Since that time, LSS has experienced a $17.4 million dollar turnaround. He recently was named the Nonprofit Executive of the Year by BizTimes Media and the Hispanic Man of the year by UMOS. He is the host of LSS’ first podcast, “In the Ring with Héctor Colón”, released on March 16, 2022.

As Executive Director of the Milwaukee County Department of Health and Human Services, Colón led several countywide initiatives, including efforts to reform the juvenile justice system, end chronic homelessness, transform mental health care, and end a 30-year waitlist for disability services.

Héctor will say that his own personal and professional turnaround began in boxing. As a member and champion of the national USA Boxing team, he won seven national titles and competed in the 1992 Olympic trials. At the height of his boxing career, Colón stepped away from a lucrative boxing career to serve God. Today, he is the USA Boxing Board Vice President where he and the organization focus on inspiring athletes to discover their own path towards personal and professional greatness. He also serves on the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents, and the Board of Directors for M3 Insurance, as well as Nicolet Bankshares, Inc. (NASDAQ; NCBS), the holding company for Nicolet National Bank.

Email: Hector.Colon@lsswis.org

Michelle joined LSS in 2017 as the first Chief Integration Officer.  Michelle works closely with the leadership team and colleagues to co-create and advance the organization’s strategic direction and Servant-Leadership culture.  She oversees centralized business services including Human Capital, Information Technology, Marketing and Communications, and Performance and Quality Improvement.

At LSS, Michelle leverages her 25+ years of experience working in a variety of roles within government and non-profit human services organizations.  Prior positions include serving as Strategic Initiatives Director for the Milwaukee County Department of Health and Human Services, and Associate Director with Policy Research Associates, Inc. (Delmar, NY).  She is proud to have been a part of major systems transformation at Milwaukee County, including youth justice reform.  She holds advanced degrees in Public Policy and Criminal Justice from the University at Albany.

Michelle is grateful that her path has led her to LSS where she can grow as a Servant-Leader.  She believes that social services organizations like LSS have an important role to play in working to eliminate barriers that contribute to disparities in health and wellbeing outcomes.

Email: Michelle.Naples@lsswis.org

Joe Arzbecker, CPA joined LSS in 2013 as the Chief Financial Officer. With an extensive background in finance, operations and management and previous experience as an operations director, regional finance director and as the CFO of LSS, Joe transitioned to Chief Operating Officer in 2017. Joe works closely with the CEO and Board of Directors to shape the agency’s business strategy and with the leadership teams to implement the strategy.

Email: Joseph.Arzbecker@lsswis.org

Randy Oleszak, CPA joined LSS in 2017 as Chief Financial Officer. Previously, Randy served in financial management leadership positions with health care companies in the Milwaukee area. Randy works closely with the Executive Team and CEO providing financial strategy and direction for the organization.

Email: Randall.Oleszak@lsswis.org

Mara joined LSS in 2023 as the organization’s first Chief Advancement Officer. A relationship focused leader, Mara furthers the impact of LSS by matching individuals, congregations, foundations, and corporations to initiatives that speak to their hearts and philanthropic goals. She helps our donors create the positive change they want to see in the world.

With over two decades of experience, Mara’s nonprofit background includes leading major fundraising campaigns, building philanthropic programs from the ground up, and running entire organizations. For the eight years prior to coming to LSS, she served as Executive Director of St. Francis Children’s Center, an organization dedicated to serving children and teens with special needs. Now, she is excited to bring her expertise to LSS, an organization that serves over 30,000 people each year and embraces the Lutheran values of love, compassion, and service that she grew up with.

To sustain her energy and fuel her soul, Mara maintains an art studio in her home where she paints and draws daily. She credits her classical training in figurative drawing for teaching her discipline, strategic thinking, flexibility, and grit. In her free time, she hikes, travels, and cooks with her family.

Email: Mara.Duckens@lsswis.org

Dennis Hanson oversees housing-related programs for Lutheran Social Services. This includes HUD-subsidized multifamily communities for older adults and people with disabilities, market-rate housing for seniors, non-subsidized housing for persons with disabilities, housing service coordination/case management, the Thompson Community Center, the facilities management staff, leased and owned facilities and properties held for sale. He joined LSS in 1993 as program supervisor for a residential facility and previously worked in home health administration, supportive home care, and residential facility management.

Email: Dennis.Hanson@lsswis.org

Since 2018 Jill Chaffee has led the LSS community-based services team as the Vice President of Community Based Services.  Community-based services include a variety of mental health and substance abuse services (therapy, skill-building, mentoring, etc.) as well as foster care, public adoption, and various service facilitation programs. With over 24 years of experience in human services, Jill is a servant-leader to approximately 400 employees and believes that our communities are at the core of the lives we touch and critical to a person’s recovery and access to services.

Early in her career, Jill provided direct county-based social work services as well as substance use services and mental health psychotherapy. With a foundational understanding of the provision of both public and private sector services, she has spent the last 17 years in the area of human service administration.  Throughout her career, she has focused on developing accessible and high-quality systems of service delivery that result in impact for those in need. Through county work, and the development of county consortiums across several counties Jill has become an expert in program development and managing statewide services.

Jill received her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Social Work degrees from the University of Michigan – Ann Arbor.  Jill has a passion for meeting people where they are, with the right services, in the community.  She is energized by LSS’s diverse services available to people throughout Wisconsin and the collaborative approach to service delivery.

Email: Jill.Chaffee@lsswis.org

Tara M. Treglowne serves as Vice President of Connections. Since 2001 Tara has welcomed the opportunity to support various programs within LSS serving first within youth residential and foster care before moving on to housing and urban development.

Beginning in 2014 Tara had the unique opportunity to help build Connections, an IRIS Consultant Agency of LSS.  Connections was built from the ground up with a philosophy build around Collective Leadership, Empowering Collaboration through Contribution.  Tara strives to create space for her team that is focused on collaboration and co-creation, which can only happen authentically if all colleagues have an opportunity to be included, to lead.

In 2015 Tara graduated with an MBA degree from the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh. Tara was part of a newly developed executive MBA path specifically developed for executives and leaders, which focused on building skills and conceptualization at an enterprise and leadership level. She received her undergraduate degree in sociology from the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point.

Focusing on creating impact and a better tomorrow for those served across the state of WI, fuels her passion and motivation for leading the Connections team.  To live in an environment in which all individuals are treated fairly, with dignity and respect and have equal access to opportunities and resources.

Email: Tara.Treglowne@lsswis.org