Administrative Leadership Team
Elizabeth Koenig, MBA, Executive Director
With over 20 years of healthcare experience and a decade of that in the eye care field, Elizabeth understands the critical need for eye tissue donation and the life-altering impact of vision restoration for recipients and their families. She believes that strong partnerships and continuing public education, coupled with the expertise of eye bank staff and the support of the Lions organization, will allow the Lions Eye Bank of Wisconsin to excel in its mission of providing the gift of sight. Elizabeth looks forward to meeting the eye bank's valued network of medical professionals, Lions Club members and other involved organizations in the upcoming months.
John Haberkorn, Quality Systems Manager
LEBW is pleased to announce that John Haberkorn has accepted the position of Quality Systems Manager. John will be addressing QA issues, managing projects and is the contact for quality and audit-related activities. John comes to the LEBW having worked in various quality positions within Baxter Healthcare and most recently from GE Healthcare where he held the position of Quality Assurance Product Surveillance Specialist. John has also worked with the National Marrow Donor Program in Minneapolis and has functioned as a recovery specialist with the MTF here in Madison. John has degrees in Business and Biology, served 9 years in the US Navy as a Hospital Corpsman and is a volunteer firefighter in Middleton, WI.
Joyce Kratz, CEBT, COA, Technical Manager
Joyce joined LEBW in January 2005 as a part-time weekend Donor Coordinator, and in September 2005 she became a full-time Laboratory Technician and received her CEBT certification from the Eye Bank Association of America and is currently a member of the EBAA's Technician Education Committee. Joyce brings 20 years of Ophthalmology experience for her role as Technical Manager here at LEBW since May 2009. Joyce is an active member of the Montello Lions Club since November 2006.
Jerry Rabbach, PDG, Community Relations Specialist
A member of the Watertown Lions Club for 38 years, Past District Governor Jerry has participated in all facets of Lionism. He was a Wisconsin Lions Foundation director for six years, and President in 1987-88. He also served as Membership and Extension Chairman for six years. His responsibilities at the Eye Bank include serving Wisconsin Districts and Clubs in Lionism, coordinating transportation of eye tissue to the Eye Bank Lab and surgeons performing transplant surgery.
Jerry and his wife Barbara have been married for 55 years and have two grown children.
Sharon Christensen, Hospital Development Manager
Previously with the South Dakota Lions Eye Bank, Sharon is the Hospital Development Manager on the east side of WI. With her previous experience in eye banking she looks forward to promoting services and relationships with all the Wisconsin hospitals and partners. When not working Sharon and her family enjoy going to museums, watching movies and just hanging out together.
Wendy Wright, Office Administrator
As Office Administrator, Wendy's responsibilities include accounts payable/receivable, payroll, facilities management, and assistance to the Executive Director. In addition to running a smooth office environment, in 2008 Wendy became a puppy raiser for Leader Dogs for the Blind for the first time. In May 2009, Kyla, the puppy she raised (a German Shepherd/Black Lab-cross), was issued to an individual from Alabama after successfully passing all phases of training at Leader Dogs for the Blind in Rochester, MI. Wendy has a degree as a Veterinary Technician and is also a Certified Massage Therapist.
Laboratory Staff:
Ivan Castaneda, Laboratory Supervisor
Ivan Castaneda graduated from the University of Texas Arlington with a B.S. in Biology. He joined LEBW in July 2010. He previously worked for UT Southwestern Transplant Services as a tissue and eye recovery technician and is a Certified Eye Bank Technician. In his free time Ivan enjoys playing and watching sports and cooking up tasty dishes. He looks forward to bringing his skills and experience to help achieve the mission of LEBW.
Michael Thornton, Recovery Services Supervisor
Michael has been with LEBW since December 2005. He has worked for the Lions Eye Institute for Transplant and Research in Tampa, FL as well as the Illinois branch of The Midwest Eye Banks in Chicago. Michael travels all over Wisconsin performing recoveries and training technicians. He is a member of the Appleton Noon Lions Club. Michael was born in Jacksonville, FL but is proud to call Wisconsin "home."
Stacey Larson, CEBT, COA, Senior Laboratory Technician
Stacey Larson is a Certified Eyebank Technician for the Lions Eye Bank of Wisconsin. Stacey was born in Lacrosse, WI and attended high school in Madison, WI. In 1991, Stacey obtained an Associate degree in Applied Science Degree-Optometric Technician from Madison Area Technical College. In 1994, she obtained her Certified Ophthalmic Assistant Certification from the Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel. From 1991-2001 Stacey worked in various ophthalmic practices in both private and clinical settings. In April 2001, Stacey joined the Lions Eye Bank of Wisconsin and received her Certified Eye Bank Technician certification from the Eye Bank Association of America. Stacey attends regular continuing education classes through the EBAA and other agencies to stay current on today's procedures and policies. Stacey has a dedication, commitment, passion and spirit for eyebanking.
Mikelanne Schipper, CEBT, Laboratory Technician
Mikelanne is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she received a Bachelor's Degree in Biological Aspects of Conservation, with an emphasis on Public Health and Medicine. She joined LEBW in May of 2008, where she works as a full-time laboratory technician. Mikelanne is dedicated to giving the gift of sight in all its forms, and is particularly passionate about the eye bank's role in furthering medical research on common eye diseases and problems such as cataracts and glaucoma. When not working at the eye bank, Mikelanne spends her time baking lots and lots of cakes, walking her dogs and fixing up her 142-year-old Victorian house with her husband.
Shelly Zimbric, Laboratory Technician
Shelly joined LEBW in November 2009 as a laboratory technician. She attended UW-Madison and graduated with a B.S. in Molecular Biology in 1989. Shelly spent approximately 15 years working in research at UW, most recently with the Dept. of Ophthalmology in 1989 as an Eye Pathology Laboratory Manager, and at Cardiovascular Medicine in 2002 coordinating clinical trials. Shelly enjoys golf, sports, and volunteering as a volleyball coach for local schools.
Donor Coordinators:
Jesse Barry, Donor Coordinator
Jesse has been working for the Lions Eye Bank of Wisconsin since June, 2006. Prior to working for the Eye Bank he was a Registered Nurse in Madison for 10 years floating to the inpatient units at UW Hospital. He also has had additional experience in the cardiac cath lab and emergency room settings. Jesse was trained at Madison Area Technical College and received an Associates Degree in Nursing in 1995. He lives in Madison, is happily married and has been blessed with three beautiful children. He is excited to be able to work at the Eye Bank because it gives him an opportunity to use the skills and knowledge obtained by working as a nurse in a new and exciting area that has lifelong impacts on the quality of life for the recipients, as well as generational effects on the families of the donors. It is exciting to be an integral part of touching people's lives in this way.
Nikki Hensler-Gordon, COA, Donor Coordinator
As an ophthalmalic technician, Nikki has almost 12 years of experience in the eyecare industry where she started out as an ABO certified optician. Her clinical experience ranges from general ophthalmology to neuro, oculoplastic, and corneal sub specialties assistance. She was in the top 3 of the first internet based graduating class of the technician program at MATC. Currently, she is maintaining certification as a Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA) through JCAHPO. Her involvement with non-profit organizations include the March of Dimes, Prevent Blindness Wisconsin, Margaret Ann's Place and she is a member of the South Milwaukee Lions Club. After many years of working on the pre-and post-operative side of corneal donation with recipients, Nikki feels it is immensely rewarding and humbling to now work with the donor families who make this possible.
Ancillary Staff:
Jess Grimm, Office and Laboratory Assistant
Jess Grimm is fulfilling a catch-all position, helping out both in an administrative capacity as well as in the lab. She is proud to work for an organization that does so much good for her community. When not at the eye bank, she enjoys working with various Madison community theater productions, where she acts, produces, and designs lights.
Marsha Lisitza, Case Review Specialist
Marsha Lisitza has a M.S. in Zoology from UW-Madison and had worked in transplantation research before joining the Lions Eye Bank of Wisconsin 23 years ago. While with the LEBW, she worked in the Laboratory before joining Quality Systems as a Case Review Specialist.