Aileen Gruendel grew up in Kansas City, worked in New York City, graduated from the University of Chicago, and earned her doctorate in psychology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She has done research on early development and has published several professional articles. She has been interested for many years in the psychology of women and the psychology of marital relationships. She chaired the Nebraska Board of Examiners of Psychologists in 1983 and 1994. She served for two years as Chairperson of the St. Francis Medical Center board of trustees. She has also served on the YWCA board of directors and as president of the board of Central Nebraska Goodwill Industries. In 1979 she received the President's Award from the Rehabilitation Association of Nebraska, and she was the YWCA's "Woman of Distinction" for 2000. She is currently active on the Nebraska Crime Commission’s Community Corrections Council as well as the boards of directors of the Stuhr Museum, College Park, and the Nebraska Public Radio Foundation.

The Gruendels were honored jointly in 2000 as "Psychologist of the Year" by the Nebraska Psychological Association.

Kathy Lewis, our business manager, keeps the rest of us organized. Kathy is a central Nebraska native and a graduate of the Lincoln School of Commerce. The mother of two active young boys, she has been with us for over twenty years. She is on the Parent Advisory Team at Barr Middle School and is a TeamMates Advisory Board member as well as a TeamMates mentor.