Administrative Leadership Team
Art O'Neal, Executive Director
Art O’Neal has joined the organization as Executive Director. Most recently, Art served as Vice President, Donor Services at Tissue Banks International, and brings extensive strategic, business and Tissue Banks International experience to the organization. His experience fits well with LEBW's mission and will help drive results through our vast network of Lions clubs, volunteer Lions, partner organizations, employees, donors, their families and patient recipients.
Art is a tremendous asset to the LEBW team and will lead LEBW to be on the leading edge of the eye bank's business in restoring the Gift of Sight through transplantation, research and education.
Joyce Kratz, CEBT, COA, Technical Director
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.
Rick Daluge, Community Relations Specialist (Part-time)
Rick Daluge joined the Lions Eye Bank of Wisconsin on November 1, 2010 on a 50% time basis as a Community Relations Specialist. Rick has a long history with Lions, having joined Lions in Alma, WI in 1971 and later rejoining the Madison West Lions Club in 1983. He has served as club president, Leo Club advisor as well as the district and state chair for Leos, Zone chair, Vice-Governor and Governor for 27 D1. He also was Council Treasurer in the 2009-‘10 year. Rick was instrumental in starting the UW-Madison campus Lions Club as well as several Leo clubs. Prior to joining LEBW, Rick was an Assistant Dean in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences at UW-Madison. He and his spouse Peggy now operate Daluge Travel, a group travel business.
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.
Jacki Witkowski, Hospital Development Manager
Jacki Witkowski has joined the Lions Eye Bank as Hospital Development Manager for the west part of the state. Jacki grew up in Marshall, WI. She is a graduate from UW-Whitewater with a degree in Broadcast Journalism. Previously she worked at WKOW in Madison as a TV News Producer, but now has brought her passion to eye banking. With her passion of communicating, she can’t wait to create relationships and be out in the community. She lives with her husband and two dogs in Madison. You can find her at lots of community events and of course, Badger games.
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 is a member of the Sun Prairie Lions Club, has a degree as a Veterinary Technician, and is also a Certified Massage Therapist.
Mikelanne Schipper, Quality Systems Manager
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. 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.
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.
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.
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.