Privately Owned and Managed
In the mid 1980’s, The Kenwood was built by two friends, both military veterans, who wanted to offer active retirement living in a community that was full of life, service, and spirit. For more than 35 years, The Kenwood continues to be owned by the two friends who today remain very involved and deeply committed.
When they built the community, there were precious few senior living communities in the country. There were a few “old people’s homes” mostly run by religious organizations and nursing homes. Period. They thought, “There’s got to be a better way to care for our older adults.”
No Corporate Red Tape
Many cookie-cutter retirement communities are managed by corporate offices located thousands of miles away. The Kenwood owners provide autonomy to provide care that is centered around the individual, transparent pricing, and strong support to the management and staff.
Long-term Staff Means Familiar (and Friendly) Faces
The longevity of staff members at The Kenwood is attributed to the involvement and support of the ownership. Led by Executive Director, Jennifer Volkenant, a Kenwood staff member since 2001, the front office boasts more than 100 years of combined experience and employment at The Kenwood. Three managers have been at The Kenwood for more than 20 years. Consistency of leadership and long-term frontline managers provide unmatched stability and support for the community.
Staff Members
Jennifer S. Volkenant
Executive Director
“I feel fortunate to work with our phenomenal residents and staff at The Kenwood. We are more than a place of residence, we are a loving community where residents make new friendships and care for each other like family. Having the opportunity to learn from our resident’s life experiences and observing our staff interactions makes my job fulfilling and allows me to tap into my value system of caring for others. My goals are focused on ensuring each resident receives the highest level of service and quality of life.
Jennifer joined The Kenwood team in September 2001. Since then she has held positions as Resident Services Director, Director of Homecare and was promoted to Executive Director in 2009.
Jennifer graduated from the University of Minnesota, Mankato, with a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work and a Master of Science. She also is Licensed Assisted Living Director, a Licensed Social Worker and Certified Rehabilitation Counselor through the State of MN. Throughout her career, she has worked in a variety of healthcare settings including Transitional Care, Hospital and Assisted Living.
In her spare time, Jennifer enjoys spending time with her teenage children and watching hockey. She is also active in her church community, volunteers with Park Nicolett Hospice and enjoys being outdoors and hiking.
Karen Edberg
Marketing Director
“Having the ability to assist residents and families in opening a whole new world, makes my job very rewarding. From the initial tour, to coordinating the move, I thoroughly enjoy what I do, watching new residents blossom at The Kenwood.”
Karen Edberg has been in the senior marketing industry for the past 20 years. Prior to marketing, she managed a country club where she developed strong customer service skills. Karen orchestrates the marketing operations for The Kenwood. She conducts tours with seniors and their families and coordinates the move-in process to ensure a smooth transition. She enjoys assisting seniors in finding the perfect apartment and making them feel welcome in their new community.
Karen makes her home in Edina with her husband Jeff. She is the mother of three sons and is also a proud grandmother.
Michelle Robbins
Activities Director
“Since starting at The Kenwood, I have been greeted with open arms. Everyone is so friendly and helpful. The residents are hands on in activities and have so many great ideas, so we make a great team. I grew up very close to my grandparents and always felt a special bond with them. When I was in college, I knew I wanted to pursue something with the older generation. I love learning and hearing stories from the residents. I go home proud of what I do; I make a difference in the lives of others.”
Hired in November 2024, Michelle plans a calendar of events for the residents such as games, outings, music, religious services, exercise, educational presentations, and socials. She graduated in Communicative Disorders from UW-River Falls, Wisconsin and spent her first seven years out of college in the hearing aid business. She did outreach to senior living communities with educational presentations on hearing loss and hearing clinics. She fell in love with the senior population which inspired her to get a master’s degree in Gerontology at Bethel University, Arden Hills, Minnesota.
Michelle grew up in Plymouth, Minnesota, as the youngest of five children. She lives in Fridley with her husband, two young daughters, and a rescue dog. She feels blessed to have her parents and siblings living nearby.
Barbara O. Appiah, RN, BSN, MSN
Director of Nursing
“I feel honored to serve the residents of Kenwood who entrust us with their care. As a compassionate and dedicated nurse, I am committed to providing exceptional care and support to our residents, and I am excited to be part of a team that shares this vision.”
Barbara is the Director of Nursing at The Kenwood as of December 9, 2024. She leads and manages the nursing team, oversees the delivery of high-quality patient care, and ensures compliance with regulatory requirements. In addition, she provides educational training for the nursing staff and collaborates with other department leaders to achieve organizational goals.
With more than a decade of experience in the healthcare field, she grew from a Certified Nursing Assistant to a Registered Nurse. She has experience as Director of Nursing in various clinical settings such as Assisted Living with Dementia care unit at Ortho Spine at Fairview Southdale. Appiah earned a Master’s Degree in Nursing Administration and Leadership from Capella University, Minneapolis.
Barbara is married and has three children. The family lives in Lakeville.
Thanh Le
Culinary Director
“I find working at The Kenwood extremely enjoyable. My goal is to go above and beyond expectations and provide our residents with the best quality food made with the most health conscious ingredients. Making the residents smile and remembering little details of what they enjoy makes work very rewarding for me.”
Than graduated with a Culinary Degree in 1987 from a Vocational College and is also a Certified Food Service Manager through the State of MN. Since then, she has had a 45 year career cooking and managing in senior living communities. Most recently, she was promoted to Culinary Director and enjoys creative menu planning. Her other responsibilities include overseeing the culinary staff, food and supply ordering. She enjoys making resident family recipes and being creative with her baking skills as well.
In her spare time, Than enjoys studying Vietnamese language, knitting and reading.
Jean Golden
Business Office Manager
“I really enjoy working with our residents. They are all very special people and unique in their own way. Visiting with them and hearing their life stories inspires me and touches my heart.”
Jean joined The Kenwood in January 2013 as the Business Office Manager. Her responsibilities include accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll and other business functions including working closely with the residents with rent questions. She enjoys working in the accounting field and comes to The Kenwood with many years of experience.
Jean has made her home in Eagan for more than 25 years and enjoys spending time with her son and family. She is very proud of her son who is currently serving in the military as a C130 Mechanic and who has also been called to active duty overseas throughout his 14 years of service.
She also enjoys spending time at the lake with her family, gardening and trips up to the North Shore.
Andrea Dammann
Housekeeping Supervisor
“I began working for The Kenwood in 2019; and was excited to transition from hotel management to residential management. Andrea enjoys engaging in and being a part of a community that takes great pride in the residents, the building and its surroundings.”
Andrea was born and raised in Minnesota and began a career in hospitality upon graduation. She has over 30 years of experience working for various hotels, including the last 10 years with Marriot Hotels as a Manager. Her family is the cornerstone of who she is and while not at work, she enjoys time being a wife, mother to two beautiful young women and a proud grandmother to amazing grandsons.
Ryan Carl
Maintenance Director
“Everyone here is wonderful, kind, and humble. Since my first day here, everyone welcomed me with open arms and treated me as family. I’ve always enjoyed helping people, and I feel rewarded by making someone’s day just a little better.”
Ryan joined The Kenwood in September 2024. He is responsible for the overall maintenance of the building which includes heating, air conditioning, plumbing, and electrical. He has ten years’ experience in industrial building maintenance and five years in residential plumbing, heating, and air. He has a degree in residential HVAC from St. Cloud Technical College, St. Cloud, Minnesota.
He has a daughter – Grecia and a German shepherd named Ruger.