Reflecting on the Service of Former Executive Director Dennis “Denny” Theede
Recently, Program Director Lucinda Wiczek and Executive Director Suzanne R. Horstman had the opportunity to sit down with Dennis (Denny) Theede to reflect on his years of service and leadership at Home and Community Options (HCO). As HCO celebrates fifty years of service to the Winona community, it is important to recognize the significant role Denny played as Executive Director (and then Development Director) between 1993 and 2016, leading the organization through innovation, growth, and an unwavering commitment to supporting individuals with developmental disabilities in Southeast Minnesota.
When asked how he supported the advancement of HCO’s mission, vision, and growth, Denny stated that, “HCO’s mission always stays close to my heart, even today. I believe in it.” He spoke about the extensive planning that went into supporting individuals as they transitioned from institutional living to homes integrated into the Winona community. “At that time, I knew that as we talked, we had to move people into even more normalized settings.” Denny shared a story about a young man who had lived his entire life in an institution. “The young man couldn’t communicate very well, but you (referring to Lucinda) had an understanding that he was insecure.” By providing consistent staff support and reassurance, “bringing staff around him more; and comforting him” allowed the individual to feel more secure and ultimately live a successful and full life in the community.
When reflecting on major changes during his tenure, Denny highlighted the importance of training and education for employees to understand their role in community integration. He emphasized HCO’s commitment to competency-based training and the value of being located in Winona. “We were in a great environment in Winona where we had Winona State University and we had a lot of students in healthcare and education that became our employees.” Structured training and development opportunities for employees gave staff the skills to “really help people live normal lives and happy lives in better environments.”
Denny also noted how changes in special education programs influenced broader community acceptance. As integration efforts expanded, “the community was more ready for people to be integrated and we had to work in partnership with our community to make sure our mission would be fulfilled.” He emphasized that meaningful relationships were at the center of this work: “And a lot of that was the efforts our staff made to be friends with their neighbors, their community, contacts and to help foster relationships with the people that were part of the lives of the people we serve.”
His passion for children’s services was clear, noting that thoughtful listening guided the development of support: the work depended on “always listening to what they (those we support and their families) wanted. And we just had to listen carefully and then try to work toward those goals.”
Public policy also played a key role during Denny’s time at HCO. “We weren’t afraid of public policy. We stayed attuned to that. We tried to learn about it. Sometimes public policy wasn’t in agreement with our values or our mission.” He emphasized the importance of advocacy grounded in the voices of those most impacted. “We realized that the best voice to articulate that was through our consumers, whether they be the people we served or the family members. And I think we were effective in making changes that were helpful to not only Home and Community Options, but to the state. And it wasn’t myself, but it was a team effort with our self-advocates, our staff, our board, and our community in general.”
When discussing challenges, Denny reflected on stepping into leadership following the passing of former Executive Director Sharon Kannenberg. Supporting staff, families, and individuals served, and the Board through the grieving process required patience and compassion. He also noted the steep learning curve of navigating Housing and Urban Development (HUD) programming, as well as ongoing differences in direction with the Department of Human Services, particularly in the development of the children’s Resource Home, a program that would become vital to many children, youth, and families.
Denny’s legacy continues to influence HCO today. As Suzanne shared, Denny offered guidance when she stepped into the role of Executive Director: always refer to the mission, vision, and core values, especially when decisions are difficult. This advice continues to provide clarity and grounding. She reflects, “This has been guidance that I embrace, and I find myself using to continue guide the agency.”
As HCO celebrates fifty years, we honor the leadership, vision, and dedication of those who built the foundation on which we continue to grow and we are grateful to Dennis “Denny” Theede for his compassion, conviction, and for strengthening the community we have the honor of serving.
