Board Member Bios
Andreea Lazaroiu
Chicago MRC
North Co-Chair
I work in the Emergency Preparedness Bureau at the Chicago Department of Public Health and have been the Chicago MRC Coordinator since mid-2023. While I’m new to emergency preparedness and the MRC, it has been a wonderful experience learning alongside our volunteers. I’m looking forward to further engaging our volunteers and hearing about other Illinois units’ goals and activities.
Michael Frakes
Sangamon County Health Department
South Co-Chair
I’m the Public Health Emergency Preparedness Coordinator the Sangamon County MRC leader at the Sangamon County Department of Public Health.
Chrissy Wasson
North Secretary
BA
McHenry County MRC
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 over 31 years, with 20 of those years spent in the hospital and emergency room setting. I continue to work one day a month in the emergency room to keep my clinical skills sharp and stay connected to frontline care.
For the past 13 years, I’ve been with the Bureau, Putnam, and Marshall County Health Department, where I’ve worked in Communicable Disease, Immunizations, and, for the last four years, in Emergency Management.
I became involved with the Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) four years ago (2021), serving as the Unit Coordinator for both the Bureau/Putnam County MRC and Marshall County MRC units. In 2022 joined the board of the Medical Reserve Corps of Illinois (MRCIL), where I continue to support public health preparedness and volunteer coordination at the regional level.
With a background that bridges both emergency care and public health, I’m passionate about preparedness, response, and building resilient communities.
Ben Thompson
Treasurer
I have served on the MRCIL board since 2017. I started as secretary and currently serve as the treasurer. I previously worked as the Emergency Response Coordinator for the McDonough County Health Department, with additional duties at the Schuyler County Health Department. During that time, I was successful in securing several ORA awards and the RISE award for the units. I was also an instrumental part of the team that applied for the MRC STTRONG Award that MRCIL received.
I volunteered with a fire department for 17 years, leaving the department with the rank of Assistant Chief. I am also an EMT-B and currently volunteer with MedGlobal, assisting with domestic logistics operations. I now live in the Rockford area and work for a health system as an Emergency Management Coordinator-Trainer.
Tiffany Etzel
Website Coordinator
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.
Niki Duffy
Communications Coordinator
McDonough County MRC
I have been with public health for 13 years, currently working as the Public Health Emergency Response Coordinator, MRC Coordinator and Public Information Officer for the McDonough County Health Department. I have always been an advocate for volunteering in your community and thus am very excited to be part of MRCIL and have the opportunity to advocate for and promote the amazing things the Medical Reserve Corps units and volunteers do.
Dawn Davis
Advisor- MRC State Coordinator
State Coordinator
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.
R.N., B.S.N., M.S.N.