Heather Bruemmer is known for her compassionate leadership and tireless advocacy for the protection of consumer rights and improvement of quality of life for Wisconsin citizens receiving Long-Term Care services. Heather served passionately as the Executive Director of the State of Wisconsin's Board on Aging and Long-Term Care and Ombudsman program, she was a key founding member of Wisconsin Coalition for Collaborative Excellence in Assisted Living (WCCEAL), Chair of the Long-Term Care Advisory Committee, a member of the Center for Excellence in Assisted Living (CEAL) Advisory Counsel, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services Dementia Steering Committee, Civil Money Penalty State Review Committee, and Wisconsin Aging Advocacy Network. Heather also served on the Task Force on Elder Abuse for former Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel.
Heather Bruemmer WCCEAL video (2 minutes)
This award acknowledges individuals who demonstrate outstanding leadership and commitment to improving the quality of life for residents of long-term care.
Kim Marheine was named the first full-time Wisconsin State Ombudsman in 2023, and she is a founding member of the Wisconsin Coalition for Collaborative Excellence in Assisted Living (WCCEAL). Kim worked in aging and long-term care for more than 30 years, including employment as a long-term care provider as well as a Program Director for the Alzheimer’s Association of Greater WI. In 2008, Kim became the Ombudsman Services Supervisor where she supported the ombudsman program staff, while also serving on statewide and national committees examining opportunities for issue advocacy to impact long-term systems changes. Kim holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Therapy and a Master’s degree in Community/Agency Counseling, both from UW-Oshkosh, where she also taught in the Music Therapy Division and mentored aspiring music therapists for several years.
John Sauer, former President and CEO of LeadingAge Wisconsin, founding member of the Wisconsin Coalition for Collaborative Excellence in Assisted Living (WCCEAL), and developer of the Wisconsin Clinical Resource Center (CRC). John retired in April 2023, following a highly distinguished career leading quality improvement in long-term care for over 30 years. He worked tirelessly to improve the lives of all residents and staff working in long-term care. John graduated from UW-La Crosse with a degree in political science and public administration, and began his career as a Team Leader within the Wisconsin Legislative Fiscal Bureau.
David R. Zimmerman, Ph.D. is a Professor Emeritus of Industrial and Health Systems Engineering, and the former Director of the Center for Health Systems Research and Analysis (CHSRA), at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In 2016, Dr. Zimmerman and his daughter Kate Hester started the Elder Justice Foundation to fund projects that prevent elder abuse and promote elder justice.
Over the course of his academic career, Dr. Zimmerman supervised the work of many graduate and undergraduate students, and taught courses on health systems, health information, evaluation methodology and health performance measurement.
Dr. Zimmerman has more than 30 years of research experience in the measurement and evaluation of the quality and performance of long-term care. He led the team that developed the original set of Minimum Data Set Quality Indicators for nursing homes. He has headed many projects to develop quality measurement and assessment systems serving consumers, providers and regulatory agencies. He is the founder, principal investigator and academic partner of the Wisconsin Coalition for Collaborative Excellence in Assisted Living (WCCEAL).
Dr. Zimmerman has served on the Nursing Home Measures Steering Committee of the National Quality Forum, the Board of Directors of the American Medical Directors Association Foundation, and many national provider network boards and quality committees. He has been the recipient of multiple awards from government regulatory agencies and consumer advocate organizations, and has several times testified before congressional committees on long-term care quality issues.
This award, presented annually, is awarded to WCCEAL provider ALCs that exemplify Heather Bruemmer by demonstrating going above and beyond to provide quality care to their residents. The provider ALCs selected for this award show examples of exceeding quality improvement initiatives in WCCEAL.
Renaissance by Rennes in Wisconsin Rapids has been recognized for its exceptional commitment to providing quality care and fostering a positive environment for residents and staff alike. The leadership team prides itself on leading by example, understanding the importance of every role within the organization, and creating a warm, inviting culture where residents, families, and employees feel valued. more info
WHCA/WiCAL is proud to honor Eagle Court Memory Care for their exceptional commitment to providing person-centered care and enhancing the quality of life for their residents. Eagle Court consistently exceeds WCCEAL's quality improvement initiatives and exemplifies the values of compassionate, dignified care as demonstrated by Heather Bruemmer's leadership. more info
The Disability Service Provider Network (DSPN) is delighted to recognize Creative Community Living Services, Inc. (CCLS) for their unwavering commitment to continuous quality improvement and collaboration, kindness, advocacy, and caring for others. For over 50 years, they've promoted access, autonomy, and self fulfilment within a unique segment of the assisted living landscape. more info
WALA proudly recognizes The Cottages Senior Living & Memory Care in Shawano as the 2025 recipient. At The Cottages, care begins with a resident interview at move-in, helping staff understand each person deeply so care can be truly individualized, especially in Memory Care. more info