Meet our Leadership Team
Reier Thompson
President & CEO
Reier Thompson has been President and CEO of Missouri Slope since 2013. Reier holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Mary, and a Master’s of Business Administration from the University of Mary. Reier is a Licensed Nursing Home Administrator (LNHA) in North Dakota and a Health Services Executive (HSE). He is a member of the American College of Health Care Administrators, North Dakota Long Term Care Association (NDLTCA), Bismarck Kiwanis Club, and the Bismarck/Mandan Young Professionals Network.
Stacy Hokanson
Vice President & CFO
Stacy Hokanson holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from Upper Iowa University and a Master of Business Administration with an Emphasis in Accounting from Upper Iowa University. She is a Certified Public Accountant licensed in North Dakota. She has worked in the accounting field for over twenty years and began her career with Missouri Slope in 2015 as the Finance Director and became Vice President and CFO in 2022. She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA).
LeAnn Hokanson
Vice President of Resident Services
LeAnn Hokanson holds a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing and Master’s degree in Nursing Administration from the University of Mary. She worked as a staff RN and then in a leadership role in an acute care hospital on a medical/oncology unit for 15 years prior to beginning her career in long term care at Missouri Slope in 2016. She is board certified in geriatrics and is a member of the National Association of Directors of Nursing Administration (NADONA), including long-term care’s North Dakota chapter.
Jayne Hovland
Vice President of Ancillary Services
Jayne Hovland has been at Missouri Slope since 1995. Jayne holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of North Dakota and has more than 35 years of experience working in long-term care, including two years as a state surveyor. Jayne is registered through the Commission on Dietetic Registration (Registered Dietician), and licensed in North Dakota (Licensed Regsitered Dietician).
Ryan Bailey
Director of Maintenance
Ryan Bailey has been with Missouri Slope since 1979. Ryan is a member of the North Dakota Environmental Services Association (NDESA).
Cathy Anhalt
Director of Assisted Living
Catherine (Cathy) Anhalt joined Missouri Slope in 2021 as the Foundation Director. In 2023, she accepted the position of Director of Assisted Living. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Northern State University. Her professional career has been primarily in the nonprofit sector in administration, development and marketing roles.
Ben Crawford
Director of Information Technology
Ben Crawford has been with Missouri Slope since 2011. His certifications include Microsoft Systems, Integration Development, and Security Platforms along with multiple other IT certifications. Ben has over 20 years of experience in IT with a wide variety of systems.
Gwen Beckler
Director of Missouri Slope at Home
Gwen Beckler holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from the University of Jamestown and a Master’s Degree in Strategic Leadership from the University of Mary. In 2015, she began a career in senior care focusing on sales and marketing and later grew into a role as the Executive Director for an Assisted Living Community. With over 20 years of experience in fundraising, marketing, and development, she joined Missouri Slope in 2022 to lead the launch and development of Missouri Slope at Home.
Nicole Wright
Director of Human Resources
Nicole Wright holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Relations from Marshall University with an emphasis in communications and human resources. She has been in leadership roles 20+ years starting in the financial services field as a VP of branch management. During this time, Nicole started developing her human resources knowledge and hands-on experience while residing in the Augusta, Georgia area and leading multiple financial center branches and branch mergers. In early 2023, Nicole joined the Missouri Slope Leadership team as the Human Resources Director.
Gayla Sherman
Foundation Director
Serving nonprofits for multiple decades in Bismarck, Kansas City, and Louisville (KY), Gayla’s experience includes executive leadership, fundraising/marketing, theological education, foster care, and healthcare. She has served as board member for many organizations and worked as producer for National Public Radio during her early career as a journalist. She earned a Bachelor of Journalism degree in broadcast news from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Social Work and Theology degree from Southern Seminary in Louisville, KY. Gayla and her husband Gayle Klopp served as co-executive directors of Bismarck’s Charles Hall Youth and Family Services from 2004-2021.