Helping Employers and Health Care Providers Offer Convenient Care

Julie Bates

Provider Specialist

Region:
Western Illinois
Email Julie
Phone:(309) 683-7225

What is your life outside of work? Where did you grow up? Do you have a family?
I was born in Iowa and ventured to Illinois for a dietetic job at OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center and never left OSF HealthCare. I am married and have two boys and a dog named Max.

What do you like to do in your free time? What are some of your favorite hobbies?
In my free time I enjoy spending time with my family, playing board games, pickleball and doing puzzles.

How do you give back to your local community?
I volunteer at Reclaim Resale, a non-profit organization whose mission is to accept donated goods and transform them into proceeds and gifts that enrich the quality of life for students, families and local charities in Metamora, Illinois.

Kim Bima

Employer Specialist

Region:
I-80
Email Kim
Phone:(815)431-5504

When did you start working at OSF HealthCare and what led you to the Business Development team?
I have worked for OSF since 2010. After college I was an Alzheimer Unit manager for five years. I then moved on to pharmaceutical sales selling everything from blood pressure meds to baby formula. I started in Occupational Health at St. Mary's in Streator and did everything from calling on companies to promote our services to assisting in our clinic with patients. I've been in Business Development since 2018 and have loved every minute of it.

What is your life outside of work? Where did you grow up? Do you have a family?
I grew up in Crest Hill, Illinois, near Joliet. I met my husband, Mike, at Eastern Illinois University. He grew up in the Illinois Valley. We married and moved to Oglesby. We have four kids – Mallory, Dominic, Sam and Joe and a poodle named Louie! We’re welcoming our first grandbaby.

How do you give back to your local community?
Since I've been in Business Development, I have become involved with the local chambers. I am an Ambassador for the Mendota and Illinois Valley Area Chambers. There have been lots of opportunities to volunteer. My favorite has been assisting with Operation Elf in Mendota. I love being able to help make Christmas more special for a child in need.

Trudy Bodenbach

Provider Specialist

Region:
Alton Area
Email Trudy
Phone:(618) 474-6193

When did you start working at OSF HealthCare and what led you to the Business Development team?
I became an OSF Mission Partner on February 1, 2021. Prior to that, I worked in many different fields, including health care, education, government, economic development, community development, nonprofit leadership and more. Through all of these roles a theme of serving and improving my community has emerged and become my passion. Working in health care, at a hospital in my own community, is one of the best ways I have found for feeding that passion. It allows me to interact with people from all walks of life and the possibilities for creating a better community for all of us are endless. 

What is your life outside of work? Where did you grow up? Do you have a family?
I grew up in a large family outside of a small town in Southern Illinois. My father was bi-vocational working as an electrician and also farming our 100-acre farm. My mom was a CNA. My dad passed away a few years ago but my mom is in her 90s and still going strong. She is one of my greatest blessings! I have three brothers, three sisters and 30-plus nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews. I have been married to my darling husband Barry since 1993. We have three adult daughters who we love to spend time with.

What do you like to do in your free time? What are some of your favorite hobbies?
We enjoy camping and hiking together as a family. Recently, we bought a 130-year-old, ugly duckling, fixer upper house and we are slowly working to turn it into our home, as we live in it. It's a wonderful adventure! I am learning to use power tools and am the proud owner of my very own table saw and miter saw. I also enjoy drawing, decorating, flipping furniture, gardening and a number of other creative things when I have time. My husband and I also love to cook and invite a crowd to come and join us around our table often.

Mari Bower

Provider Specialist

Region:
Escanaba, Gladstone, Rapid River and Bark River in Michigan
Email Mari
Phone:(906) 786-5707 x 5561

When did you start working at OSF HealthCare and what led you to the Business Development team?
I’ve been with OSF since 2016. I started as an executive assistant for OSF HealthCare St. Francis Hospital and loved my job, but knew I wanted to further my career with OSF. I love working with people and I love OSF, so I knew going into Business Development would be the perfect fit.

What is your life outside of work? Where did you grow up? Do you have a family?
I was born at OSF St. Francis Hospital in Escanaba, Michigan, and grew up there. I currently live 20 miles from Escanaba in a town called Bark River. My husband Brock and I have two children, Finn and Charlotte. We love the outdoors, camping, racing, kayaking and going on side-by-side rides.

What do you like to do in your free time? What are some of your favorite hobbies?
I love to shop. I've been told I have a shopping addiction. I love buying stuff for myself but more so, for others. I love to bake and when I find myself in a funk or not in the best mood, I bake.

Julie Byrd

Provider Specialist

Region:
Peoria, Tazewell and Woodford counties
Email Julie
Phone: (309) 308-6220

What is your life outside of work? Where did you grow up? Do you have a family?
I'm a Central Illinois gal who grew up on a farm outside of Galesburg, attending college at Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington then going to work in health care in Peoria. I live in Washington, Illinois, with my husband. Our son is an aerospace engineer living in Huntsville, Alabama.  

What do you like to do in your free time? What are some of your favorite hobbies?
We love to travel and have had many national park adventures, including Wrangell-St Alias, as a family. We also love country music and are regular concert goers. My current favorite hobby is playing pickleball every chance I get.   

How do you give back to your local community?

I love to volunteer and am active in my church service activities and have also worked at Midwest Food Bank and the Dream Center. 

Kristen Firkins

Employer Specialist

Region:
McLean, DeWitt, Woodford and Livingston counties
Email Kristen
Phone: (309) 624-2928

When did you start working at OSF HealthCare and what led you to the Business Development team?
I was the Marketing and Admissions Director for a rehab/nursing home facility in Normal, Illinois. In that role, I met with many social workers at OSF hospitals and realized OSF is where I wanted to be. When I heard about a new position with organization, I applied and started with OSF in 2018.

What is your life outside of work? Where did you grow up? Do you have a family?
I am a mother of two girls, one who is in junior high and the other in high school. We live in Bloomington with my fiancé and his two kids (all four are involved in sports). I grew up in Washington, Illinois. We have two pets, a cat named Cheeto and a dog named Penny. My fiancé owns two businesses in town that upfit new and vintage Ford Broncos.

What do you like to do in your free time? What are some of your favorite hobbies?
I love to dance; it has always been my side passion. I taught for years in my late teens and early 20's. I have joined my Rotary group in playing pickleball every Sunday. During the summer, I play more at the Bloomington Country Club where we are members.

Linda Hawkins

Employer Specialist

Region:
I-80 area
Email Linda
Phone:(309) 677-0883

How did your career lead you to the Business Development team at OSF HealthCare?

I've been with OSF HealthCare for almost 23 years. I worked for the OSF HealthCare Foundation for my first 17 years with the organization. When Business Development started expanding Employer Services in each of our markets, I looked at the new opportunity as a way to utilize my skills and the relationships I had built over the years to serve a different population of clients.

What is your life like outside of work? Where did you grow up? Do you have a family or pets?

I'm a Rockford native. I've lived in the Galesburg area for over 30 years with my husband who operates a family farm. Following college, both of our children returned to the area with their spouses and are also involved with the farming operations. My daughter also works for OSF HealthCare. 

How do you give back to your local community?

I currently serve as the chairperson for the Galesburg Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. Additionally, I serve as a member of Give Back Galesburg, a local nonprofit organization dedicated to raising support for the Mark and Jeannette Kleine Pediatric Wellness Center at OSF HealthCare St. Mary Medical Center. The organization also educates youth on the importance of giving back to our community.

Kelsey Horst

Employer Specialist

Region:
Peoria, Tazewell and Woodford counties
Email Kelsey
Phone:(309) 655-7363

When did you start working at OSF HealthCare and what led you to the Business Development team?
I joined OSF in February 2018 as a dietitian. During that time, I worked with Business Development and thought their work was interesting. When the team had an opening, I jumped at the chance to join the team! It’s been a lot of fun ever since.
 
What is your life outside of work? Where did you grow up? Do you have a family?
I’m from Paducah, Kentucky, but moved to Peoria in 2013 for a job and never left. Outside of work, I'm a married, busy momma of two sons in a family that also includes a dog and two cats.  We are pretty active and love spending time outside. I also enjoy reading during my downtime.

How do you give back to your local community?
I am a member of a few local chambers of commerce. I love getting to promote all of the great things about small-town cities.

Elizabeth Lawler

Employer Specialist

Region:
Evergreen Park and surrounding communities
Email Elizabeth
Phone: (708) 229-5818

When did you start working at OSF HealthCare and what led you to the Business Development team?
I started at OSF in 2022. I grew up around health care as my dad was a hospital administrator and my mom a nurse. I held various jobs at a hospital during my high school and college years – from dietary and transportation departments to a public relations internship. Post college, I worked in marketing and sales with a focus on health care. I was looking to get back into health care when I applied for a Business Development position at OSF HealthCare.

What do you like to do in your free time? What are some of your favorite hobbies?
I enjoy golf, traveling and exercising. I have found many friends through my passion for golf. I'm most happy when planning a future vacation – either domestically or abroad. I also incorporate exercise into most days.

How do you give back to your local community?
I have three charities that I prioritize for volunteering time and/or donations: Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Chicago, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago and Trio Animal Foundation. I recently became a Pathlights' Ambassador working within my personal network to make a difference in ageing in Southwest suburban Cook County.

Samantha Marotta

Employer Specialist

Region:
Entire Ministry
Email Samantha
Phone: (309) 308-9617

How did your career lead you to the Business Development team at OSF HealthCare?

I was a bedside registered nurse for 10 years and then decided to get into clinical education. As I took on increasingly complex projects, I transitioned from an educational role to program management. This shift led me to develop and package products for Business Development and Employer Relations, where I now hold a leadership position.

What is your life like outside of work? Where did you grow up? Do you have a family or pets?

I am married to a firefighter and have three daughters under the age of 10. They all play softball and my husband coaches my oldest daughter's travel team. We like to be outside, take trips, swim when it's hot and ski when it's cold.

What do you like to do in your free time? What are some of your favorite hobbies?

I love to read, travel and ride bikes. I completed a mini-triathlon last year and would love to improve my swimming in this coming year.

Lindsey Pyszka

Employer Specialist

Region:
Princeton and Kewanee
Email Lindsey
Phone: (815) 431-5504

When did you start working at OSF HealthCare and what led you to the Business Development team?
I’ve been with OSF since 2007. I came to Business Development after serving 15 years as a community health educator at OSF HealthCare Saint Elizabeth Medical Center. I was ready for a change in health care and having worked with Business Development, I knew it would be something I would enjoy.

What is your life outside of work? Where did you grow up? Do you have a family?
I have three kids – Tenley, Brynley and Easton. The kids are busy with sports – volleyball, basketball, softball, track and baseball. They also show Herford cattle.

What do you like to do in your free time? What are some of your favorite hobbies?
I spend most of my time watching my kids play sports or going to a cow show. When the temperatures warm up, we like to spend time in our pool.

Sandy Rice

Provider Specialist

Region:
Bloomington and Pontiac
Email Sandy
Phone: (309) 665-5736

When did you start working at OSF HealthCare and what led you to the Business Development team?
I’ve been with OSF since 2014. After working as a lab tech for 22 years for another health system, the Business Development opportunity came open with OSF for the Bloomington/Pontiac region. This allowed me to work for a larger health care system.

What is your life outside of work? Where did you grow up? Do you have a family?
I grew up in LaSalle-Peru and moved to Clinton in 1991. My husband Randy and I have two daughters. Brianna and Kelsey, who are both married. I have five grandchildren – Gage, Sawyer, Alexa, Peyton and Briggs. Spending time with my family is what I love to do. We love spending time outdoors.

What do you like to do in your free time? What are some of your favorite hobbies?
In my free time, I enjoy watching the grandkids play various sports and attending their school activities. We also take an annual family vacation. I enjoy shopping and working outdoors planting flowers and a small garden. 

Angela Reinhart

Employer Specialist

Region:
Champaign and Vermillion counties
Email Angela
Phone:(309) 308-5009

How did your career lead you to the Business Development team at OSF HealthCare?

I was introduced to business development while working in the athletic department with the University of Illinois. There I saw the importance of making connections with people. I continued that pursuit in health care by working as a development specialist with the Presence Health Foundation and also as a business development specialist with Brookdale Senior Living. In my current role, I support employers by providing resources to their employees to improve health, offer education and expertise and connect with them at their level of need. This helps to lighten the load for employers and make a positive impact on their workforce.

What is your life like outside of work? Where did you grow up? Do you have a family or pets?

My husband Randy and I have two boys, Logan and Noah, and we have just entered the empty nest stage of our lives. We enjoy camping, kayaking, listening to live music and road trips. In addition to our boys, we have four dogs. Some days we aren't sure how we acquired so many, but they bring a lot of joy and energy into our home. 

What do you like to do in your free time? What are some of your favorite hobbies?

In my free time, I like to read. With my job I have a lot of drive time, so audiobooks have become a favorite of mine. My recent hobbies have included redecorating our home and creating a bit of an oasis in our living space. Outside of that, I love to exercise. I belong to a Peloton group that encourages me to get on my bike several times a week. 

Mary Schmidt

Provider Specialist

Region:
Rockford area
Email Mary
Phone:(815) 303-5022

How did your career lead you to the Business Development team at OSF HealthCare?

I worked in business development in Catholic health care for the former Presence Health system from 2015-2017 and really enjoyed the experience. I appreciate the holistic mind/body/spirit approach to health care. I also moved to Rockford in late 2022 and am excited to support my new hometown by sharing how OSF can be a great resource to the community and its providers.

What is your life like outside of work? Where did you grow up? Do you have a family or pets?

I grew up Villa Park, a Chicago suburb and spent most of my life and career in the Chicagoland area.  I relocated to Rockford in 2022 after my youngest son entered DePaul University. I realized I could live anywhere and chose Rockford. I have two sons (Jeremy and Jacob), two dogs (Jax and Merlyn), two cats (Sherlock and Watson), and a wonderful, committed partner, named Vince.

What do you like to do in your free time? What are some of your favorite hobbies?

I enjoy reading, cooking, gardening and watching HGTV! Farmers markets in summer are a must-do and I love to plan my menu around what looks good that week.

Chelsea Stewart

Provider Specialist

Region:
Western Illinois
Email Chelsea
Phone:(309) 308-9577

How did your career lead you to the Business Development team at OSF HealthCare?

I started my career journey in manufacturing in project management. While I enjoyed my job, I knew there was something missing. As a result, I went searching for a job where I could make a difference. I found that at OSF where I get the opportunity to serve others every day.

What is your life like outside of work? Where did you grow up? Do you have a family or pets?

I grew up in Putnam, Illinois where my family has a ranch and went to school in Henry. My husband and I welcomed our first daughter last year, and we are loving every minute of watching her grow and being her parents. We also have a chocolate lab named Beau who loves being a big brother.

How would you describe your job to a five-year-old?

Throughout my career, I've always had a job that has been hard to describe, even to adults! But I would say that I help hospitals and doctors’ offices work with OSF to care for patients with the greatest care and love.

Jon Stuckert

Provider Specialist

Region:
I-80 area, including Dixon, Sterling and Morrison
Email Jon
Phone: (815) 539-5709

What is your life outside of work? Where did you grow up? Do you have a family?
My life outside of work revolves around spending time with my wife Rosanna, our identical twins Vivianna and Lola, and our dog Eleanor. I grew up in Spring Valley, Illinois and currently live in Peru, so I felt very lucky to find a role with OSF that allowed me to continue to support an area that I feel so connected to. 

What do you like to do in your free time? What are some of your favorite hobbies?
Most of my hobbies are sports related. I love to get together with friends to watch games and dip into lively discussions about whose favorite teams will be more successful. I also try to stay active through recreational softball leagues and have started to golf much more regularly the past few years. Outside of sports I enjoy grilling, useless trivia and playing guitar.

How do you give back to your local community?
I try to participate as much as I can in community events. I love to attend raffles, drawdowns and auctions that benefit local causes.  Supporting each other in times of need is a strong theme in the Illinois Valley. I’m always happy to give back to a community that has given me so much.

Gigi Wasz

Provider Specialist

Region:
Evergreen Park
Email Gigi
Phone: (708) 229-5816

What is your life outside of work? Where did you grow up? Do you have a family?
I grew up in the western suburbs of Chicago, in a very quaint town called Wheaton. My life outside (inside as well!) is busy and wonderful. I enjoy running, reading, going out to dinner with friends and going to church. My husband and I have four children: Michael, Emily, Charlie and Peter. 

What do your friends and family think you do all day?
They think I drive around the south side of Chicago, while eating my boxed lunch and meeting with doctors!

What do you like to do in your free time? What are some of your favorite hobbies?
In my free time, I like to read, work out, run, eat great food and spend time with family and friends. My favorite hobby is running. Even though I am not terribly fast – old age has definitely slowed me down – I so look forward to my weekend runs though the Fullersburg Woods, not far from our home.

Leanne Wichus

Provider Specialist

Region:
Champaign-Urbana, Danville and surrounding communities
Email Leanne
Phone: (217) 337-2556

What is your life outside of work? Where did you grow up? Do you have a family?
My husband Ray and I live in Monticello, Illinois, and we are "empty nesters.” We have two beautiful daughters who we are extremely proud of – Carly and Addison. We have a yellow lab, Taz, and a black cat, Smoke, who are both the best stress relievers.

What do you like to do in your free time? What are some of your favorite hobbies?
Outside of work I love to be outside, going for nature hikes, cooking and reading.

How do you give back to your local community?
I am a member at Grace Lutheran Church in Champaign, we have our own internal food pantry.  We service anywhere from 40 to 80 individuals and families per week. I also love animals, so I volunteer and give back to our local animal shelter.

Teale Witherell

Employer Specialist

Region:
Galesburg and Monmouth
Email Teale
Phone: (309) 308-9560

When did you start working at OSF HealthCare and what led you to the Business Development team?
I started in 2012 as a Hospice Volunteer Coordinator and did that for six years before joining the Business Development team in 2018 as a project assistant for the department. When an Employer Relations position became available based back in Galesburg, I knew I had to take the chance and apply.

What is your life outside of work? Where did you grow up? Do you have a family?
I was born and raised in Galesburg, and my partner and I still live in Galesburg. Both of our parents grew up here and remain here. We have two dogs and are homebodies. We enjoy working on projects around the house and spending time with our dogs.

How would you describe your job to a 5-year-old?
I visit with companies to see what my company can do to keep them healthy.