Board Member Bios

Current Board Members

Board Member Bios

Eddie Johnson III

North Co-Chair

Englewood MRC – Unit Coordinator

Eddie Johnson III is the Executive Director and Board of Directors member at Antioch Community Social Service Agency. Mr. Johnson’s primary responsibilities include leading, developing and implementing community service and social service resources for residents in Englewood and West Englewood communities. He is also tasked with exploring community resource disparities and work with providers, government and community leadership to address inequities in underserved neighborhoods throughout the Southside of Chicago.

Mr. Johnson also serves as the Chairperson of the NAACP Chicago Southside Branch Community Coordination Committee.

Michael Frakes

South Co-Chair

Sangamon County Health Department

Chrissy Wasson

North Secretary

McHenry County Medical Reserve Corps

I am the Community Resource and Equity Coordinator for the McHenry County Department of Health. I have also been the MRC Coordinator for the past 7 years. I have enjoyed working with MRCIL over the past year and look forward to the year ahead.

Lori Sondgeroth

South Secretary

Bureau, Putnam, & Marshall MRC Units

I have worked in the health field for 30 years, 18 years in the Hospital/Emergency room setting and 12 of those years in the Bureau, Putnam and Marshall County Health Department. I became involved in the MRC 2 years ago as the Unit Coordinator for Bureau, Putnam, and Marshall Counties MRC units.

Ben Thompson

Treasurer

Ben Thompson has served on the MRCIL board since 2017. He started as secretary and is currently the treasurer. Ben was the Emergency Response Coordinator for the McDonough County Health Department with additional duties of Schuyler County Health Department. Ben was successful in getting several ORA awards and the RISE award for the units. Ben was an instrumental part of the team that applied for the MRC STTRONG Award that MRCIL received. Ben was a volunteer with a fire department for 17 years, leaving the department with the rank of Assistant Chief. Ben is also an EMT-B. Ben currently volunteers with MedGlobal assisting with domestic logistics operations. Ben currently resides in the Rockford area and works for a health system as an Emergency Management Coordinator-Trainer.

Tiffany Etzel

MRC STTRONG Project Liaison

Lake County MRC

While relatively new to public health and emergency management, I was involved with the MRC response during COVID-19, MPOX and the events following the mass shooting in Highland Park. I’m excited about the new opportunities that will be available to our units as a result of the STTONG award and look forward to working with other unit leaders.

Andreea Lazaroiu

Chicago MRC

Assistant to North Co-Chair

She works in the Emergency Preparedness Bureau at the Chicago Department of Public Health and has been the Chicago MRC Coordinator since mid-2023. While new to emergency preparedness and the MRC, it has been a wonderful experience learning alongside volunteers. She is looking forward to further engaging our volunteers and hearing about other Illinois units’ goals and activities.

Dawn Davis

Advisor- MRC State Coordinator

R.N., B.S.N., M.S.N.

I am the State Coordinator for Illinois Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) program. I have been the State Coordinator since 2009 and I proudly enjoy working with collaborating partners that help others because it is the right thing to do. My educational and clinical background is a Registered Nurse (R.N.) with my Master of Nursing (MSN) specializing as a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) in Nephrology.

I am a proud registered volunteer for the Cook County Department of Public Health MRC organization. My current position under the Illinois Department of Public Health Office of Preparedness and Response is the State MRC Volunteer Coordinator since 2009. I have been honored and fortunate enough to work with the
MRC program since I have been in this position. It has been a pleasure to serve and advocate for the MRC program in Illinois and nationwide supporting all public health and local emergency responses.

State Coordinator

Board Member Bios