LiveWell Fitness Center staff

Susan Masemer, MS, exercise physiologist, manager

Sue was a part of the original LiveWell Fitness Center design team and is currently the manager of operations. She is responsible for the development of programs and service offerings as well as daily operations. Sue has a master’s degree in exercise physiology, bachelor’s degree in health education and recreation management. She has worked in a variety of settings throughout her career. Prior to LiveWell Fitness Center, she was the director of the Lifestyles Wellness Center and membership services departments at Flagship Athletic Club, a large up-scale health and fitness facility, for 17 years.

She has served as a faculty member at West Virginia University (WVU) and was the program manager for the WVU Adult Wellness Program, a jointly sponsored program of the departments of Exercise Science and the WVU School of Medicine. She has been employed by medically-based groups involving senior wellness and cardiac rehabilitation programming and has served as a consultant for various corporations, medical organizations, municipalities, sports teams and health and fitness organizations. Sue is a member of the American College of Sports Medicine and has presented research at the National ACSM Conference. She has been recognized as "An Outstanding Young Woman of America" and holds a personal training certificate through the National Institute for Health Sciences (NIHS).

Sue is available for exercise physiology consultations and assessments.

Jennifer Halvorson, RD, LD, coordinator

Jennifer is the LiveWell Fitness Center coordinator and is a registered and licensed dietitian. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in food, nutrition and dietetics from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minn. Prior to joining the LiveWell team, Jennifer has worked in outpatient clinics and has a diverse background working with clients with needs ranging from weight management, cardiovascular health, diabetes, eating disorders and pre-and post gastric bypass surgery. In addition to one-on-one nutrition counseling and group classes, she has also assisted in the creation, business development and implementation of a holistic and medically managed weight management program in both a clinic setting as well as in corporations. Since her passion is in disease prevention and wellness, she especially enjoys the opportunity to combine her business background and nutrition knowledge in her position at the LiveWell Fitness Center.

Gail Ericson, MS, physical therapist

Gail received her master’s degree in physical therapy from the College of St. Catherine in Minneapolis and her bachelor’s degree in athletic training from Gustavus Adolphus College. She has 17 years of hospital-based experience working with clients who have orthopedic and musculoskeletal problems. Gail also has eight years of experience working in the health club setting at Flagship Athletic Club as part of the Lifestyles Wellness Center team. She is responsible for evaluating, designing and working individually with clients who have injuries and orthopedic or neurological conditions. Her specialties are core stabilization, general fitness, strengthening for de-conditioned and injured clients as well as sport specific training. Gail is available for injury consultations, personalized exercise training or fitness rehabilitation appointments.

Patty DeClercq, exercise physiologist

Patty received her bachelor’s degree in human performance and fitness from North Dakota State University and is soon to complete her master’s degree in exercise physiology, with an emphasis in cardiac rehabilitation from St. Cloud State University. Patty has clinical experience working with a wide variety of individuals including cardiac rehab patients and individuals with various neurological disorders. She currently assists LiveWell Fitness Center members and Take Action Weight Management Program participants with exercise programming recommendations. She also coordinates the LiveWell Fitness Center’s Workout on Weights (W.O.W) program. Patty is available for exercise physiology consultations, fitness assessments and personal training appointments.

Jo Ann Allen, receptionist and group fitness specialist

Jo Ann is the lead receptionist at the LiveWell Fitness Center where she uses her years of expertise in the fitness industry and administrative skills to deliver five-star customer service to members and guests. She is also the group fitness lead for the LiveWell Fitness Center. Jo Ann has a Bachelor of Science degree in instructional design/fitness and health, and has earned certifications from the American Council on Exercise (ACE) for group fitness and personal training. She has been in the health and fitness industry for 30 years. During Jo Ann’s career, she has helped design and implement group fitness formats for major fitness centers as well as helping with children’s fitness curriculums for schools. A full schedule of Jo Ann’s classes may be obtained from the LiveWell Fitness Center reception desk.

Raquel Pereira, MS, RD, LD, dietitian

Raquel is a dietitian with more than 12 years of experience in weight management, and prevention and treatment of chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease. Her degrees include two master degrees in the nutrition field and the weight management certifications for adults, children and adolescents. She has also developed, implemented and evaluated various programs with focus on improving lifestyles and weight management involving people of all ages. She enjoys helping clients identify their personal obstacles to making permanent lifestyle changes and assists them in identifying tools to successfully master behavioral changes. Raquel enjoys publishing in the nutrition field and presenting sessions to the general public in addition to empowering people to live healthier and happier.

Molly Ellefson, MS, NCC, wellness coach

Molly received her master’s degree in counseling and human resource development and her bachelor’s degree in psychology from South Dakota State University. In 2003, she completed the mind body spirit training from the Center for Mind-Body Medicine. Molly recently completed a certification course in therapeutic coaching, with an emphasis in humanistic neuro linguistic psychology. She is also a nationally certified counselor (NCC) and a certified master hypnotherapist. Molly has worked with clients of all ages, and has worked with a wide array of issues including weight loss, smoking cessation and low self-esteem. The best part of Molly’s job is helping people uncover their inner resources to achieve their goals.

Jeannie Paris, RD, LD, dietitian

Jeannie is a registered dietitian with a BA in food and nutrition and corporate fitness from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN. She has worked in hospitals, long term care and clinical settings and has a diverse background working with people in both the treatment and prevention of disease processes. Jeannie also has extensive experience working in research settings in the areas of weight management, diabetes, and high cholesterol. With her passion to help others improve their overall health through good nutrition and fitness, she has worked in wellness center settings teaching group classes. Jeannie teaches the Take Action Weight Management classes at LiveWell and is available for Body Gem metabolism testing and individual nutrition counseling.

Rick Bjorke, receptionist

Rick currently serves in a receptionist role for the LiveWell Fitness Center. He provides reception services and also helps keep the fitness center clean and equipment in good operational order. His association with Abbott Northwestern Hospital began in 1985, following a diving accident in which he suffered a spinal cord injury causing quadriplegia. After four years of rehabilitation, Rick was assigned to the previous Wasie Fitness Center for employment. He also became a part of the Sister Kenny Rehabilitation Institute Prevention Program team that provided speakers for kindergarten through college-aged symposiums addressing the risks of drinking and driving. His inspirational story made him a highly requested speaker who traveled in the five-state area to speak to thousands of children and share his story on television and radio spots.