Lynn Carlson Schell is CEO and managing principal of Shelter Corporation, a Minnesota-based developer, owner and operator of multi-family and senior living communities. Ms. Carlson Schell directs the firm’s strategic planning, long-term growth, development of capital and overall profitability. Ms. Carlson Schell’s accomplishments include leading the company’s development of affordable housing through innovative financing and partnerships and spearheading the company’s diversification into senior communities. Ms. Carlson Schell has directly or indirectly supervised the development and acquisition of nearly 15,000 units encompassing $795 million of real estate. In 2009, Ms. Carlson Schell was honored as an Industry Leader by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal. Prior to founding Shelter Corporation, Ms. Carlson Schell spent nine years as an associate and senior developer with Can-American Realty Corporation. She was responsible for residential, condominium and apartment developments in the Midwest and Florida, and for managing a regional office in Naples, Florida. Ms. Carlson Schell’s leadership is valued by a number of corporate and civic organizations. She is currently serving on the Executive Committee of the National Multi-Housing Council, as Treasurer of the Twin Cities Chapter of Young Presidents Organization, as Vice President of the Board of Directors for The Library Foundation of Hennepin County, and on the Board of Directors for Minnesota Dance Theater and the Dance Institute. Ms. Carlson Schell is a graduate of Mount Holyoke College with a bachelor’s degree in Economics.

Jay Jensen is Senior Vice President and Principal of Shelter Corporation. Mr. Jensen structures the purchase and construction of a wide variety of housing types, including affordable family housing and for-sale land development. Mr. Jensen is also the Senior Vice President of Development for The Waters Senior Living, a Shelter Corporation affiliate. In this capacity, he is responsible for the entire development process — from site selection and facility design to financing to construction management. He also oversees acquisition opportunities. Mr. Jensen has addressed both United States Senate and House Committees on a variety of housing legislation issues. He frequently speaks to organizations, including the National Association of Local Housing Finance Agencies, where he was a three-term president; the National League of Cities; the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials; and the National Home Builders Association. Mr. Jensen has advised the cities of Toledo, Tampa, New Orleans and St. Petersburg, Russia, on comprehensive urban housing and economic development programs. Mr. Jensen’s past experience was as Senior Vice President at Miller & Schroeder Financial, where he worked on a variety of housing finance and economic development programs. The housing finance programs included home improvement loan programs, single-family mortgages, multifamily housing, and essential function multifamily housing bonds. Mr. Jensen’s economic development financing experience encompassed industrial revenue bonds, hospital revenue bonds, education revenue bonds, tax increment bonds, hotel financing, public facility bonds and moral obligation bonds. Mr. Jensen has also served as Executive Director of the Minneapolis Community Development Agency (MCDA), where he managed all housing and economic development programs for the city of Minneapolis, totaling more than $300 million annually. In over 15 years at the MCDA, he participated in structuring over $1 billion of public financing, managing over $150 million of federal housing funds, creating over $40 million of foundation funds, and structuring over $200 million of tax increment financings. Mr. Jensen was involved in the financing of the Orpheum Theater, Target Center and the Minnesota Convention Center, all in Minneapolis. Mr. Jensen is a graduate of the University of Minnesota and the Executive Integral Leadership program at the University of Notre Dame.

As President of Shelter Corporation, Kyle Didier is responsible for developing and executing the strategic direction of the company which includes all operational and development functions. He is also an instrumental participant in driving the strategic direction of The Waters Senior Living communities which is a Shelter Corporation joint venture. Before assuming his current position as President of Shelter Corporation in October 2010, Mr. Didier served as the company’s Chief Financial Officer for three years. Mr. Didier has developed an expertise in organizational development while leading acquisition and new business development efforts focusing on enhancing productivity levels, improving operational efficiency, and designing and streamlining financial and operational processes. Mr. Didier served as Vice President of Finance for a Fortune 1000 company and was key to raising in excess of $500 million of financing through structured private placement and bank syndications to help the company achieve 10 year annual compounded revenue and earnings growth of more than 15 percent. In 1989, Mr. Didier joined PriceWaterhouseCoopers in its audit and assurance practice serving large publicly traded companies as well as small privately held businesses. Mr. Didier is a CPA (inactive), and holds a BA-Accounting from the University of Northern Iowa. He is very active in his community, providing leadership and financial expertise to several non-profit organizations.

Having started her career working alongside a notable property developer (who was also her father), Kathleen literally grew up in the construction and design business. Her expertise in commercial, interior and architectural design is rare, particularly for a woman, and deeply valued by The Waters. She’s uniquely qualified to collaborate with builders, contractors and interior designers to create warm, welcoming spaces that encourage socializing and wellbeing. Kathleen’s always striving to improve residents’ experience, from incorporating lighting that boosts energy, improves sleep and promotes way-finding; to selecting art that brings the outdoors in, evokes memories and promotes a sense of certainty. She fondly recalls a memory care resident who pointed out a piece of art she had chosen. They shared a lively conversation about the piece and why they each admired it. She hopes she’ll enjoy similar conversations with residents throughout all The Waters Communities.