About Us

Northstar Companion: Delivering Next Level Care

In the heart of the healthcare industry, Northstar Companion emerges as a beacon of hope and support for individuals facing life challenges. We offer an innovative, user-friendly website meticulously designed to create a soothing environment for patients, their families, and caretakers. Through sight and sound, Northstar Companion transforms the user experience in a variety of settings (including Assisted Living, Nursing Homes, Hospice) into a compassionate, reassuring journey.
Our unique benefits rest in our ability to deliver emotional comfort through a thoughtful personalized digital experience. We recognize the diverse challenges facing patients and their loved ones, and we are dedicated to addressing these with a people-focused approach.

At Northstar Companion, our mission is simple yet profound: to provide a supportive environment that fosters calm and reassurance. We are committed to being here with you and for you, ensuring that every individual receives the care they deserve during life's most difficult moments. Explore how Northstar Companion is leading the way in compassionate care.

Kim Rukas

My professional career has been built within the food service and hospitality industry. My passion for cooking and creativity has provided opportunities in various leadership roles and has helped develop my customer service and business management skills. Over the years, I have been fortunate to work beside exceptional entrepreneurs and innovators that contributed to my knowledge and growth. This experience has led to the creation of a natural food demonstration company, a community-supported agriculture program, and a local catering business. In each venture, the most rewarding element of my work has been the privilege to serve others and the hope of making a difference in someone's life. This was never truer than in my time spent within the senior services industry. Here I saw an opportunity to help those who could no longer help themselves and was motivated to create a solution that improved the end-of-life experience for seniors… the idea for Northstar Companion was born. I am happy to share that this same desire to deliver next-level care now extends to individuals facing a variety of life's challenges, and over time we will continue to positively impact more lives.

My day-to-day is inspired by nature, and I am grateful for this connection. When I am not gardening or cooking, I can be found turning over stones, crossing streams, and wondering what might be around the next corner

Renaud LePape

As an I.T. executive in a CCRC community, I lead a team of professionals and collaborate with our executives to achieve our community’s mission leveraging technology. With over 18 years of experience in the I.T. field, first in the manufacturing industry then in the non-profit sector, I have developed a deep understanding of challenges and opportunities that technology presents for various sectors and markets.

My journey in technology started at a young age, born and raised in France’s mid-west (Brittany), I took interest in computers and navigating the emerging World Wide Web (using dial up connections!). Following this interest along during my education, I graduated with a degree in computer science focused in industrial I.T. and telecommunications. Only weeks after my graduation I was fortunate to be offered an 18 month contract as an I.T. Technician for a French global manufacturing company, so without hesitation, at the age of 22, I moved from my small town in rural France to USA, not knowing that this temporary and exciting adventure would spark a lifetime change. My temporary adventure eventually became permanent, and I spent the next 10 years working for the same manufacturing company, progressively becoming their Head of I.T. for the North America operations. After years of hard work, countless hours in the office and trips around North America, I decided to slow down so I could focus on my family (my wife and our three young kids) and switched to the non-profit elder care/CCRC sector.

For the past 9 years I have learned how to navigate the non-profit healthcare world and how I could apply technology to improve processes, efficiency and security for both our Staff and Residents, while leading a lean team and on a tight budget.

I am passionate about driving success using technology and innovation. An avid motorcycle rider (horses too) and have been volunteering most of my Saturday afternoons at a small local horse farm for the past 5 years. I look forward to discovering new technologies and how they can help us improve lives in a meaningful and compassionate way.