[pictured above l-r: FSR Executive Directors Brad Lohrbach, Glenn VanLaningham, and Scott Maloney]
Family Service Rochester, Inc., was registered as a non-profit corporation in the City of Rochester, under the laws of the State of Minnesota, on May 22, 1964, with the name, Family Consultation Center, Inc. The original thirteen signers had constituted a steering committee appointed by the United Fund of Rochester to study the feasibility of forming a family service agency to serve the people of Rochester, Minnesota.
The organization opened its doors on Feb. 1, 1965 with Glenn VanLaningham as its first Executive Director. Under his directorship, the agency grew from a staff of one to 65. Glenn was known for his strong leadership, working with his staff and Board of Directors to develop cooperative ventures with other agencies to meet emerging and changing needs of the community. During his tenure the agency expanded from its adoption of a fledgling homemaker program operated by the Civic League in the 1960s to mergers in the 1990s with the Rochester Branch of Consumer Credit Counseling Services, and Sunrise, a chemical dependency treatment program. Glenn retired from FSR in 1995 after 30 years. After his retirement, he substituted regularly as a driver for FSR’s Meals-on-Wheels program and delivered one of the routes each week.
Brad Lohrbach assumed the position of Executive Director in 1995. Under his leadership FSR saw growth in our Child Welfare programs as a strong partnership with Olmsted county was solidified. Under his leadership, we developed a robust volunteer model of service that is still being used and grown. He helped advance Family Involvement Strategies with FSR being a leader in this model of service in the nation. He implemented strong quality assurance and outcome-based measurements to assure our programs were making a difference. He also initiated FSR’s efforts focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion. After 38 years with FSR and 20 years as the Executive Director he retired in 2015 with a staff of 85 employees.
In 2015, Scott Maloney, who had been with FSR since 2000, was promoted from Director of Child Welfare and Adult Services to Executive Director. Since then we have continued to see growth in program opportunities and staff. During Scott’s tenure the organization’s annual budget has tripled. Most of FSR’s expansion has been related to growing community needs to address mental health and senior independence. FSR has also grown our service area geographically, now serving 12 counties. Scott prioritizes employee satisfaction and engagement recognizing the positive outcomes for the consumers we serve cannot be accomplished without a great team. He has implemented many employee initiatives around wellness by listening to what staff need. Scott currently leads a staff of 120.
In 2025 Family Service Rochester will celebrate of 60 years of service to Rochester and Southeast Minnesota.
