Gretchen M. Stein, PhD

President, CEO, & Co-Owner

Dr. Gretchen M. Stein holds a solid and proven reputation in EAP behavioral health care delivery, with over 25 years of experience. She is nationally recognized for her skills and success as an Employee Assistance Program designer, behavioral health care system administrator, and public speaker.

An energetic entrepreneur, Gretchen also co-owns three other businesses: A real estate investment LLC named Stein and Sirotiak; an organic farm in Osceola Wisconsin where she raises beef, poultry, and bottles wine with her husband, Greg; and an art business, www.GretchenStein.com.

Gretchen holds four degrees from The University of Minnesota including a Masters degree and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) from the Department of Family Social Science. Before starting The Sand Creek Group, Dr. Stein was the Chief Operating Officer of a large national Employee Assistance Program and served on the Graduate Faculty of the University of Minnesota.

Dr. Stein's progressive and caring approach to business has led to a prestigious list of national and international EAP clients which includes:

• The Executive Office of the President of the United States including the White House Staff
• United States Department of Agriculture
• Major League Baseball
• Minnesota Dental Association
• 81 Minnesota Counties
• 300 other corporate and public employers

Dedicated to community service, Gretchen serves in leadership roles with the following organizations:

• Rotary International. One of the first women in Rotary, becoming a member in 1988. President of the St. Paul Midway Club 1990-1991. President Stillwater Rotary Club 2007-2008.
• St. Croix Valley Community Foundation. Board of Directors 2004-present. Past, Donor Services Committee Chair. Current Chair of the Board.
• Tozer Foundation, Trustee.
• United Way-active leader in campaigns in St. Paul and Stillwater since 1981. Campaign Chair 1997. President of the St. Croix Area United Way in 1998. Board of Directors 1995-2002. Currently serving on Pillar’s Club Committee for leadership givers.

Awards:

• 1994 Small Business of the Year, Chamber of Commerce.
• 1997 Person of the Year, The Stillwater Gazette in recognition of outstanding leadership, dedication and vision.
• 1998 Volunteer of the Year-Clayton Moulton Award, St. Croix Area United Way.
• 1999 Woman of Achievement, Stillwater Business and Professional Women’s Organization.

A modern multi-faceted professional, Dr. Stein is also a wife and mother. She lives on a hobby farm in the St. Croix Valley with her husband, Greg Wickenhauser. Together they have 4 children: Carly, 27 (a professional muralist in Germany), Jeremiah, 25 (Terrorist attack prevention specialist, Mall of America), Erica, 24 (Faculty, Child Development Center, University of St. Thomas) and Michael, 22 (Currently in business school after recently returning from a National Guard Combat Unit in Iraq).

Gretchen is also a professional oil painter and has recently returned from painting in the South of France. Her Italian paintings were exhibited this spring in New York City at the Broome Street Gallery in SOHO.