Behind the Scenes

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Ann Marie Frenn is a graduate of MSHS and NMU and currently works as a Relationship Liaison for Apria Healthcare.  She has been dancing since the age of four and has studied and taught dance locally for over 30 years, currently teaching at New Attitudes Dance Studio.  Ann Marie continues to expand her training though workshops, summer intensives, and seminars.  

She held the title of Miss Marquette County from 1992-1993 and represented the U.P. at the Miss Michigan Pageant.  Ann Marie has participated in Dancing With Our Stars for the past two years as a Pro, and is thrilled and honored to be this years Showrunner.

In her free time, Ann Marie enjoys spending time outdoors, traveling and sharing moments with her friends and pets.  An avid traveler, she strives to visit a new country each year. As a passionate advocate for healthcare providers and patients, Ann Marie is excited to support this meaningful event, raising funds for U.P. Home Health & Hospice.

President and Founder, UP Home Health & Hospice

Cindy’s story begins as one of loss. By the time she was 20 years old, Cindy had already experienced the agonizing deaths of her mother, and some years later, her step-mother. As was the normal practice at that time, they each spent their last days dying alone in the hospital. Cindy knew that there had to be a better way to care for people with terminal diagnoses, and she was determined to find that better way.

After several years of correspondence with Cicely Saunders, the Founder of the Modern Day Hospice movement in England, Cindy introduced the Philosophy of Hospice to the Upper Peninsula in 1973. Cindy recognized that this philosophy was desperately needed in the U.S. to provide the necessary care to patients and their families diagnosed with a Life-Limiting Disease. Hospice care became a Life-Long Vocation for Cindy and she has inspired many to join this worthy goal.

After establishing the current day U.P. Hospice in 1973, she also established Lake Superior Hospice in 1979. Cindy is currently only associated with the U.P. Hospice and has continued to improve on this program over the years by adding many integral programs such as Palliative Care, Skilled Home Health Care, and Private Duty Services.

Cindy continues to be a local, regional, and national expert and presenter regarding Hospice and Palliative Care. You will still find her meeting personally with families when they are making the decision about whether Hospice and Palliative care is the best choice for them. She regularly shares, with anyone who will listen, that Hospice is about LIVING and 

Foundation Executive Director

Dave has been the Executive Director of the UPHF since April of 2013 in a volunteer capacity as well as working off and on for UP Home Health & Hospice since 1990, currently consulting in business development and outreach.  Prior to overseeing the UPHF, Dave oversaw the Bell Foundation for a number of years, including the final stages of a $7.2 million campaign to build the new Bell Hospital in 2008.  Dave received training from the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy at their Madison Institute, which focused on efficient, effective health related foundation management.  Other volunteer work includes being the founder of UP Children’s Therapy, which focuses on health and safety for kids, and the Suicide Survivors Fund, which supports families left behind after suicide.  Dave’s paying work includes being a partner and General Manager of Superior Rehabilitation and Professional Services and the Active Physical Therapy clinic in Ishpeming.  Dave lives in Marquette with wife Joy and bulldogs Henry and Lola.

Director of Community Services

Kori Bjorne has been the Director of Community Services at U.P. Home Health & Hospice since 2019.  She is a 1997 graduate of Westwood High School, and she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in English in 2001 and her Master of Arts Degree in English in 2003, both from Northern Michigan University. Kori has spent her career working in various nonprofits including Finlandia University, Bell Hospital, the Greater Ishpeming-Negaunee Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Upper Peninsula Animal Welfare Shelter.

Kori currently serves on the board of the West End Health Foundation as secretary, The Evergreen Award of Marquette County as chair, the TruNorth Federal Credit Union Board of Directors, and is a member of the Zonta Club of the Marquette Area. She is excited to work with the great team behind Dancing with our Stars-Marquette County Style!