Meet The Team | Senior Helpers of South Metro

Meet Our Office and Our Team

More than 90% of seniors want to be able to age in their own home with dignity but getting the right type of care can seem daunting. At Senior Helpers of South Metro we believe that getting the best care for your loved ones should not be complicated. We recognize the growing need for in-home care services, and with our passion for helping others, we are committed to delivering the best possible care to seniors in the communities we serve.

We take the opportunity to provide care in your home seriously and make it a priority to provide the highest level of client service possible. We have built an exceptional team of care professionals, each committed to remaining at the forefront of the in-home care industry through our proprietary ongoing training and education programs. You can feel confident that your loved one is in good hands with Senior Helpers.

Meet the South Metro Team

Steve Smela

Owner

Steve Smela understands that you are probably feeling lost or unsure about what kind of support your loved one needs. He understands how heavy that decision can feel. He understands because he’s been there.

Years ago, as his father’s dementia advanced, Steve watched his mother struggle daily, doing everything she could to care for him on her own. Because in-home care was not an option for his parents, they moved into an assisted-living facility, which was a difficult transition for his mother. Looking back, I often wish there had been a trusted in-home care option that could have allowed them both to stay comfortably in the home they loved.

This experience is what motivates Steve to help others navigate through this process. Steve looks forward to meeting with each family to design a customized care plan that truly honors who they are and what they need.

Carrie Carlson

Vice President

Our Vice President, Carrie Carlson, is responsible for Human Resources and Technology in our office. She comes to Senior Helpers from a successful career in both education and technology. Carrie spent 21 years in the Wayzata Public Schools system where she excelled as a teacher, media specialist and technology instructor. She also worked as an account systems engineer and technology instructor for IBM and private business.

Carrie will be working on HR tasks and providing tech support around the office. She will be reviewing our internal systems, and streamlining our workflow so less time is spent on paperwork and more time on clients.

Carrie is a strong advocate of the Senior Helpers mission of helping seniors age-in-place, comfortably and safely in their own homes. She has heard many stories about the lovely interactions between our caregivers and our senior clients, so she is excited to join the Senior Helpers of Burnsville & South Metro team. Other than work, Carrie has 3 grown children and 2 grandchildren. She loves to sing and belongs to a group called "Women of Song." She also enjoys getting out for hikes all year round.

Toni Duehring

Registered Nurse, RN

Toni is a dedicated, highly skilled nursing professional with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from Winona State University and 13 years of experience. She discovered her love of nursing nearly 20 years ago through one of her first positions as a home health aide with Senior Helpers. Her experience with seniors began when she obtained her CNA certification and worked in a memory care unit. As an RN, she has worked with patients of all ages in transitional care units, multiple hospitals as both a med/surg and ICU nurse, and most recently at an ambulatory surgery center.

When asked what she likes most about working with seniors, Toni said, "I love working with seniors because I enjoy hearing their life stories." She wholeheartedly believes it's important to keep seniors in their homes for as long as possible. "Keeping them in a safe, comfortable and happy environment can foster longer and healthier lives." This philosophy is personal to Toni—her grandfather will be 98 and still lives at home with the help of a family member. She knows for certain that he is living a longer, fuller life because he's happy in his own home.

Toni lives in Prior Lake with her husband and two daughters, ages 3 and 5, in a home with lots of room to run and play. They have a black lab named Ace who also enjoys running around the yard! She loves camping, hiking, swimming, boating, and fishing. Going up to their family cabin in Grand Rapids is one of their favorite family activities.

Grace Hoepker

Client Services Manager

We are delighted to introduce Grace Hoepker (pronounced “Hep-ker”), our new Client Services Manager. As the “face” of Senior Helpers, Grace will provide an individualized and professional touch by meeting with each new client and their families and introducing them to their new caregiver. She will work closely with the Scheduler and Nurses and follow up with clients and their families on a regular basis.

Grace comes to us with a passion for ensuring older adults can age with dignity and respect. She sees in-home care as a vulnerable and sensitive service and her goal at Senior Helpers “will be to support seniors and their families throughout their time with us.” She has a B.S. in Gerontology and an M.A. in Aging Services Management. She has worked in several capacities with a senior living facility, retirement community, senior enrichment programs, and senior outreach programs.

Grace lives in Burnsville and moved to the Twin Cities in June— She has enjoyed exploring Minnesota so far! She is originally from West Des Moines, Iowa, and enjoys going back to spend time with her family. When away from work, Grace enjoys road trips, camping, reading, and scrapbooking. She also enjoys spending time with her grandparents which has greatly inspired her education and career goals.

Allison Sparks

Administrative Assistant

As the primary point of contact for clients, their families, and caregivers, Allison Sparks is the first voice you hear when you call our office and the first face you see when you visit in person. You'll quickly discover that Allison's upbeat, bubbly personality and infectious smile will start your day off right!

With over three years of experience in senior care coordination and administrative roles, Allison has developed a strong passion for helping seniors age with dignity and independence. In her role as Senior Helpers Administrative Assistant, she focuses on client service and scheduling caregivers, as well as handling a variety of internal administrative duties.

When asked what she enjoys most about working with seniors, Allison said, "I find deep meaning in being part of a system that helps seniors remain in their homes longer — a proven contributor to better health outcomes and emotional well-being."

Allison lives in Apple Valley with her husband, Tyler, and their two children, Anilee (9) and James (2), along with their orange cat, Romeo. Outside of work, the family enjoys spending time outdoors swimming, hiking, biking, and exploring Minnesota's many waterfalls. During the winter months, they slow down with cozy movie nights and regular family gatherings with her dad, brother, and grandparents. Whether at home or work, staying connected to others and supporting well-being is at the heart of what Allison values most.

Alden Pierson Smela

Marketing Assistant

Alden Pierson Smela brings enthusiasm and genuine care to his role helping Senior Helpers connect seniors and their families with quality in-home care. As our newest Marketing Assistant, Alden focuses on listening to families who contact us seeking care solutions and carefully screening caregiver applications to ensure the perfect match.

His passion for senior care runs deep. "I believe it's important for people to be able to make the choice that works best for them," Alden explains. "Providing in-home care is often a necessary step for people to safely stay in their own home. People have a connection to where they live, and I'm happy we can help maintain that connection."

A Twin Cities native, Alden recently returned home after spending time in Vermont following college. His diverse background includes three years as a middle and high school math teacher, bringing valuable communication and problem-solving skills to his new role. He holds a BA in Mathematics and has a unique claim to fame—performing with AirCapella, an all-whistling a cappella group that brought pop tunes and classic hits to life through intricate harmonies.

When he's not helping families find care solutions, Alden enjoys exploring Minnesota's great outdoors through biking, camping at state parks, and spending time outside whenever possible. He shares his Minneapolis home with girlfriend Tasha and their two cats, Opie and Esme. A lover of intellectual challenges, Alden can often be found diving into a good book or working through board games and puzzles.

Marylou Hay

Digital Marketing & Social Media

Marylou has been providing insightful strategic and innovative creative marketing leadership to a wide range of Twin Cities companies for over 30 years. She brings a passion for social media & digital marketing, and a deep understanding of its power to drive brand awareness, connect and engage audiences, and ultimately generate leads to build business.

Building on her solid foundation in understanding audience behavior and ability to craft compelling messages, Marylou has transitioned her branding expertise and honed her skills in social media management, content creation, and digital marketing. She believes in the importance of building genuine online relationships and trust, which is reflected in the engagement and loyalty of our audience.

Marylou was drawn to Senior Helpers of Burnsville & South Metro because of their commitment to making a positive impact of the daily lives of Seniors living in the South Metro community of the Twin Cities. She is excited about utilizing her skills in the effort to help transform senior care through providing the highest quality in-home care allowing seniors to age safely in place, in their own homes.

Our History

Senior Helpers was founded in 2002 by Tony Bonacuse with the help of Peter Ross after their firsthand experience in caring for their respective family members. Tony and Peter identified a need that was not being filled properly by the other companies. They realized that most seniors would prefer to age in their own home rather than move into an unfamiliar institution. Unfortunately, the options available to most seniors were very limited. Most seniors did not have access to well-trained, dependable and affordable in-home care. This was the mission-driven spark that started Senior Helpers.

The first office opened in Baltimore and quickly developed a reputation for delivering excellent in-home senior care with their well-trained staff of professional caregivers. Based on the success of the Baltimore location, the company began to expand. Over the past 13 years, the Senior Helpers family has grown to include a network of more than 300 locally owned and operated franchises across the United States.

Senior Helpers of South Metro was proud to join the system in 2007. Like every other owner, we too are fully-committed to the original goal of providing dependable and affordable in-home care with well-trained caregivers. Nothing is more important to us than being the best available resource for seniors and families in our community.

Our process

The first step in the process is a complimentary, initial in-home care assessment with a Senior Helpers consultant. This assessment can help you understand the true needs of your loved one and your options. Together we can discuss their needs, review our senior care services and determine what’s best for your entire family.