New Board Members Bring Passion and Purpose to Mosaic

Five dedicated professionals have been elected to the leadership of Mosaic, joining the Board of Directors and The Mosaic Foundation Board for three-year terms. While they come from varied professional backgrounds, these new members are united by their deep passion for our mission. 

Read what inspired them to step into their new roles below.

Mosaic Board of Directors Members

Dr. Mark Ekerberg

Dr. Mark Ekerberg is a veterinarian with nearly 30 years of clinical practice and a decades-long family connection to Mosaic and its legacy organization, Bethphage.

His family ties began with his paternal grandfather, who was a director at Bethphage in the 1950s and 60s. Later, Bethphage became the place where his parents met.

“My mother had a younger brother with Down syndrome who was a resident at Bethphage in the late 1950s and tragically died in an accident in 1959. Years later, she wanted to work where her brother had lived, to see the care that he received. While a summer worker at Bethphage, she met my dad and they later married,” he said. “Without Bethphage’s mission, I wouldn’t exist!”

Dr. Mark’s father later served on Mosaic’s Board, ultimately inspiring him to carry the torch. He also credits his mother, a devoted special education teacher, for instilling in him the value of dignity and respect for all.

“She loved, valued, taught, and had expectations for her students,” he said. “Even outside of her classroom, mom would seek out anyone with a developmental disability to visit with them, learn about them, and make them feel important. This became a value for both me and my brother.”

As a Board member, Dr. Mark is committed to supporting Mosaic’s mission. His ultimate goal is to see Mosaic expand and provide quality services to more people who need them.  

“We all deserve the opportunity for a life well lived,” he said.

Carrie Barth

Carrie Barth is a physician assistant in Chicago, Illinois, whose appreciation for Mosaic began when a close friend introduced her to our work. 

As she learned more, her commitment to our mission expanded, not through a single event, but a series of meaningful connections. 

“Rather than a single defining moment, my involvement grew out of a series of heartfelt conversations and connections—people simply saying yes at the right time,” she said.

As a mother of five, Carrie brings a strong sense of empathy for the families and mothers who are raising children with disabilities. She deeply understands the hopes, worries, and needs they face, and she is dedicated to ensuring Mosaic’s services remain strong for them. 

“My ultimate hope is that Mosaic can continue to do what it does best by helping every family feel supported,” she said. “I want these vital services to survive in a world where leaders, economies, and politics are always changing.”

In addition to her new role on the Mosaic Board, Carrie serves on the University of Chicago Women’s Board and volunteers at her local food pantry.

Mosaic Foundation Board of Directors Members

Pastor Mark Olsen

Pastor Mark has more than 30 years of experience leading people to accomplish the mission of their faith-based organizations. He currently serves as a pastor at Emanuel Lutheran Church in Hartford Connecticut, a faith community that has been a long-time partner with Mosaic.

It was this long-standing relationship—and the encouragement of a parishioner who has served on both the Mosaic Foundation Board and Mosaic Board—that led Pastor Mark to apply to become a member. 

“The gifts, abilities and experience I have seem to lend themselves well to my new role as a member of the Mosaic Foundation Board,” he said. 

Pastor Mark’s commitment to the organization’s mission of empowering individuals to lead meaningful lives on their own terms is both personal and pastoral. He has seen firsthand the importance of inclusion within his own congregation.

“One of my parishioners is an adult with intellectual and developmental disabilities. As his pastor, and as pastor to his family, I recognize in a personal way how important it is for him to experience full inclusion and participation in the life of our congregation and the greater community,” he explained. “Likewise, we are richly blessed by him being a part of our congregation.”

This conviction fuels his hope for the future. 

“My hope for the people Mosaic supports is that every individual we serve will have their hopes, dreams, and needs fully met and realized, and that they will see themselves as the precious and beloved children of God that they already are.”

Jennifer Renken

Through her parents’ long-standing support of the organization, Jennifer Renken has built meaningful relationships with Mosaic’s team, both personally and professionally. 

Currently a nurse manager from Omaha, Nebraska, Jennifer initially connected with Mosaic through a previous job that involved partnering with the organization to place nursing students in community homes.

“Through those relationships and experiences, I saw firsthand the profound impact Mosaic has on the individuals it serves, their families, and the dedicated support staff,” Jennifer said. “That personal connection is what inspired me to join the Foundation board.”

As her relationship with Mosaic’s team grew and she saw what students learned by working in community homes, Jennifer began to truly understand the depth of the organization’s impact. 

“One day it clicked: these weren’t just services—they were connections that brought dignity, independence, and joy to people,” she said. 

That’s when the mission became personal for Jennifer.  

“My hope is that Mosaic continues to nurture the meaningful relationships that make this work so powerful—between staff, families, and the individuals we support,” Jennifer said. “Those connections are what bring dignity, joy, and a true sense of belonging, and I want Mosaic to keep building a future where those relationships can endure.”

Paul Johnson

Paul Johnson is a financial advisor in Loveland, Colorado. 

Throughout his career, he has worked with various Mosaic donors, employees, and Board members and admired their passion for Mosaic’s mission and the people we serve. 

As a member of the Mosaic Foundation Board, Paul hopes to bring that same passion.

“It’s an honor to be in a position to help Mosaic continue and grow in its service to others,” Paul said. 

Paul said he developed a deeper connection to the organization as he learned about the benefits of Mosaic at Home while extended family considered options for their brother. It is his hope that others can experience what Mosaic has to offer. 

“I hope Mosaic can continue to expand its services so that more individuals and families can benefit from the caring professionals at Mosaic,” he said.