Shelby Kendrick

Risk Manager

Before joining Sanford, Shelby served as a direct support professional in multiple behavioral health settings, supporting individuals with substance use and mental health disorders. Working in direct support helped her develop a strong foundation in patient-centered care and operational integrity. Shelby is also a certified recovery coach. Her passion for this work is rooted in her journey as a person in long-term recovery from a substance use disorder.

What Shelby enjoys most about her role at Sanford is the balance between big-picture strategy and hands-on support. In risk management, she focuses on supporting quality care and protecting organizational integrity through systems that promote accountability and continuous improvement. It’s not just about identifying risks — it’s about anticipating challenges and implementing solutions that strengthen Sanford’s work long-term. On the provider operations side, Shelby works closely with Sanford Behavioral Health’s medical team to ensure they have what they need to deliver exceptional care, whether that’s through streamlining workflows, interdepartmental collaboration, or solving problems behind the scenes.

Everything Shelby does behind the scenes supports the people doing the life-changing work, and ultimately, the clients we’re here to serve. Having come from a direct care background and being in recovery herself, she knows how important it is to get it right. Shelby enjoys spending free time with her husband and two boys, working on home improvement projects, and spending time outdoors, gardening, riding ATVs, and boating.

 

Shelby says, “Recovery is built on hope — the hope that things can get better, that change is possible, and that no one is ever too far gone. I believe that recovery is possible for everyone and that compassionate, evidence-based care can change lives. At Sanford, I have the opportunity to be part of a team that meets people where they are and walks with them through the most challenging parts of their journey.”