Lynda Preckwinkle, BA, RRT- Call Center Manager
Lynda is a Registered Respiratory Therapist with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications who has spent many years working in both clinical and educational settings. After many years as a therapist working with intensive care patients, Emergency-Code and Bronchoscopy teams, she moved to Lincoln Land Community College as the Director of Clinical Education for Respiratory Care. Lynda brings more than 12 years experience in higher education to the HelpLine staff. During her tenure, Lynda taught classes covering topics of anatomy and physiology, pulmonary function interpretation, respiratory care techniques and case interpretation. She is affiliated with the American Association for Respiratory Care and the Illinois Society for Respiratory Care.
Lynda joined the Lung HelpLine staff in January of 2003.

OUR HELPLINE SPECIALISTS

Cherylee, RN
Cherylee is a Registered Nurse with a Diploma in Nursing and Associate of Arts. She has more than 20 years of nursing experience, 16 of which were spent in cardiopulmonary rehabilitation. Her work in cardiopulmonary rehabilitation has included inpatient and outpatient phases, as well as exercising patients in a home health setting.
Cherylee has been with the Lung HelpLine program from its inception in 1999.

Mark, RRT
Mark is a Registered Respiratory Therapist with over 16 years experience in adult and pediatric respiratory therapy. He has attained accreditation as a Neonatal and Pediatric Respiratory Care Specialist from the National Board of Respiratory care, as well as Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), and is a Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) instructor. Mark has experience in Adult and Pediatric Critical Care, Regional Trauma Center, Regional Burn Center, Education, and Respiratory Care Equipment.
Mark has been with the Lung HelpLine program from its inception in 1999.

Priscilla, RN
A registered nurse, Priscilla has her Diploma in Nursing and Associate of Arts. She has over 20 years of experience focused in working with the cardiopulmonary unit, the last 12 years being a Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation nurse, in both the inpatient and outpatient phases. She has extensive experience with patient education, smoking cessation, and exercise guidelines.
Pricilla has been a member of the Lung HelpLine team since August of 2001.

Brenda, AAS, CRTT
Brenda is a Respiratory Therapy Technician who received her certification from St. John’s School of Respiratory Therapy, an affiliate of Springfield College in Illinois. In addition, she received an AAS from Lincoln Land Community College in Illinois. She has more than 20 years of experience in respiratory care, including critical care hospital experience. In addition, Brenda has experience in outpatient services working for a 6 physician Pulmonary Group, responsible for performing diagnostic testing including pulmonary function, arterial blood gases, intravenous therapy and phlebotomy and coordinating off site diagnostic testing services.
Brenda joined the Lung HelpLine staff in November of 2005.

Carol, RRT
Carol received an Associate of Applied Science Degree from Lincoln Land Community College and completed her studies in respiratory therapy at the Memorial Medical Center School of Respiratory Therapy. She has more than 20 years of experience as a staff member of three major hospitals. Carol has worked as a staff therapist in several capacities: Pulmonary Function Lab, Pulmonary Cardiac Rehabilitation, Adult and Pediatric ICU, with a special emphasis in Neonatal Nursery and Transport Team. In addition, Carol has served as a Staff Educator and is certified as a CPR and NPR Instructor and a Perinatal-Pediatric Specialist. She is affiliated with the American Association for Respiratory Care and the Illinois Society for Respiratory Care.
Carol joined the Lung HelpLine staff in June of 2002.

Susan, RN, BSN
Susan is a registered nurse with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She graduated from Concordia College West Suburban College of Nursing in 1987. Susan has seventeen years of nursing experience including seven years in Emergency Department nursing as a certified Trauma Nurse and four years in a family practice office. Most recently Susan served as a telephone triage nurse and worked for a group of six physicians at the Central Illinois Allergy and Respiratory clinic.
Susan joined the Lung HelpLine staff in 2004.

Tina, CRTT
Tina is a Respiratory Therapy Technician who received her certification from St. John’s School of Respiratory Therapy, an affiliate of Springfield College in Illinois. She has more than 20 years of hospital experience, having worked in pediatrics, high risk nursery care, intensive care and the emergency department. In addition, Tina has experience in outpatient services working for a 6 physician Pulmonary Group, responsible for performing diagnostic testing including pulmonary function, arterial blood gases, intravenous therapy and phlebotomy and coordinating off site diagnostic testing services. Most recently, Tina was employed at a national home care company serving as a customer services representative and a sales representative in a 4 county region, keeping physicians and office staff apprised of patient care issues and new products for quality patient care.
A certified CPR Instructor, Tina joined the Lung HelpLine staff in February of 2005.

Pamela, CADC, MISA
Pam is a Certified Alcohol Drug Counselor and a Mental Illness Substance Abuse Counselor. Pam has an Associate in Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences and has fourteen years experience in the substance abuse field dealing with youth and adults in residential and outpatient settings.
Pam joined the Lung HelpLine staff in 2004.

Jose, BS, TTS
Jose holds a Bachelor of Science degree in telecommunication management from DeVry University in Illinois. Jose worked for a variety of state agencies as a treatment specialist for youths, an employment specialist serving individuals with disabilities and as a telecommunications systems consultant. He received his certification as a Tobacco Treatment Specialist (TTS) from the Mayo Clinic Nicotine Dependence Center in Rochester, Minnesota. Jose serves as a Spanish translator for the HelpLine and Tobacco Quitline, as well as the United States District Court of Illinois.
Jose joined the LungHelpLine team in 2004.

Sandy, MA
Sandy has her Masters Degree in Clinical Psychology with over 17 years experience focusing on issues with adolescents, disability, depression, stress and time management. Sandy also has extensive work experience administrating neuropsychological tests and as a mental health ombudsmans. In addition, she spent 10 years teaching in Psychology and Human Development at the junior college level. During her tenure, she taught in various classes such as Human Development, Psychology of Aging, Abnormal Psychology, Rehabilitation Psychology and Clinical Psychology.
Sandy has been a member of the Lung HelpLine staff in May of 2005.

Diane, RN, BA, MA
Diane received a Bachelor of Arts in nursing and a Master of Arts in gerontology from the University of Illinois at Springfield. She has over 30 years of nursing experience, with ten years of experience in oncology. She has worked as a nurse and nursing supervisor in hospitals, ambulatory care and continuing care facilities. Diane has additional work experience as a rural health clinic consultant, OSHA compliance advisor and quality auditor. Diane has expertise on the subject of tuberculosis, serving as the Director of TB Control in a grant funded position through the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). Her responsibilities have included conducting a training needs assessment, developing TB training programs and writing TB outbreak, genotyping, and elimination plans for the Illinois Department of Public Health
Diane has been a member of the Lung HelpLine team since January of 2001.

Essential Ancillary Staff

Kimberly Streib, CPA, CMA – Controller
Kimberly is a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Management Accountant. She has Bachelor’s degrees in Computer Science and Music Performance from Central Michigan University and a Master of Science in Accountancy from Western Michigan University. In addition, she is a member of the American Institute of Public Accountancy, National Association of Accountants, Information Systems Audit and Control Association and Illinois CPA Society. Kimberly brings more than 20 years of experience in computer and systems programming, auditing, taxation, consulting and managerial accounting.
Kimberly has been the Association’s Controller since 2000.

Alan Klinc – Marketing Manager
Alan has been with the ALAIL for more than 15 years and manages the vehicle donation program and marketing of the Association as well as the Golf Privilege Card. Prior to joining ALAII, Alan was the Program Director for the Illinois Governor’s Council on Health and Physical Fitness. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Education specializing in Physiology from Southern Illinois University/Carbondale.

Katherine Drea- Director of Public Policy
Kathy holds a Bachelor’s degree from Western Illinois University and has over twelve years of health promotion, community organizing, supervisory, advocacy and public speaking experience. Kathy oversees the organization’s public and tobacco policy activities..