NIS Board of Directors with Kirsten Haglund and Dave Cook at the 2010 INSIDE OUT GALA
(from left to right Eric Christiansen, Mike Gietl, Laura Lees, Kirsten Haglund, Dave Cook, Robyn Hussa, Bob Lange and Joel Kopischke) (Mike Heyer not pictured)
Founder/President, Robyn Hussa
Robyn
has performed professionally in New York City theatre for more than
ten years. She is the Co-Founder of the Off-Broadway theatre company,
Transport Group. For the six years she served as Founding Executive
Director of Transport Group, she produced and performed in Transport Group
productions for which the company received the 2007 Drama Desk and Obie
awards for its breadth of vision and presentation of challenging productions
and two Drama Desk award nominations for Outstanding Musical (THE AUDIENCE)
and for Outstanding revival of a musical (FIRST LADY SUITE — in which she
portrayed Jacqueline Kennedy alongside an unforgettable cast including Audra
McDonald). In 2006 she left her work in New York City to create the NORMAL
In Schools program and nonprofit organization. Since then, Ms. Hussa has
served as Founding Executive Director/President of NORMAL In Schools and
Co-Director of the musical NOR*MAL. She holds an MFA-Acting from the
University of Virginia, is a member of all three professional acting unions,
the Academy for Eating Disorders and is a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) with
Yoga Alliance. As part of her work with NIS, Ms. Hussa teaches yoga to
patients in recovery from eating disorders/addictions in four different
counseling and treatment centers in Southeastern Wisconsin.
Chairman of the Board
Eric R. Christiansen –
is the Theatre Director at Greendale High School (Greendale, Wisconsin) and has been teaching Theatre and English to high school students since 2002. His theatre education has included professional theatre training programs at The National Theatre Institute (O’Neill Theatre Center, New London, CT), and the Hartman Theatre Conservatory (predecessor to the Brown University/Trinity Rep Consortium, Providence, RI). He has performed and worked backstage in professional, educational and community theatres in Wisconsin and New England, including three summers at the Williamstown Theatre Festival and two years at the former Hartman Theatre, Stamford, CT. He holds a BA in Philosophy from Marquette, a JD from University of Wisconsin Law School and an MA in Directing from the Chicago College of Performing Arts, Roosevelt University. Prior to teaching, Mr. Christiansen was a corporate and securities attorney, concentrating in corporate finance, at 2 large law firms in Milwaukee, WI over a span of 16 years. An avid volunteer for charitable causes, Mr. Christiansen has in the past served as a director and officer for several Milwaukee-based non-profit organizations. In addition, he has served as a youth-group leader and vestry member for his church and coached youth soccer for many years. Mr. Christiansen brought the musical NOR*MAL into Greendale High School in 2006 and worked alongside Ms. Hussa and Dr. Lees for years to co-direct the musical and develop the NIS Curriculum and Program. He did this while his daughter was in residential treatment for her eating disorder. He dedicates his work to her in celebration of her health and recovery.
NIS Vice President, Laura A. Lees
Specialty: Clinical Psychologist, Certified Eating Disorder Specialist
Background Dr. Lees received her Doctor of Psychology degree with honors from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology in 1990. The combination of having been a competitive gymnast, completing her bachelor’s degree in psychology and an interest in medicine led to her professional focus in behavioral medicine and, particularly, eating and weight disorders. After completing her predoctoral internship in Utah treating inpatients and outpatients with eating disorders, she returned to Milwaukee and eventually developed and directed several hospital-based as well as independent clinic-based eating disorder programs. Dr. Lees is one of the only Certified Eating Disorders Specialists (CEDS) in the area. In 2001, she was recognized by her peers as a leading expert in eating disorders in Milwaukee Magazine’s cover story A Guide to Top Psychotherapists. In addition to treating anorexia and bulimia, Dr. Lees has expertise treating binge eating disorder (compulsive overeating) and weight-related medical problems including heart disease, high cholesterol and diabetes. Because any kind of eating or weight problem usually results from underlying emotional stressors, Dr. Lees has over 14 years of experience treating all forms of anxiety, depression, trauma and self-injury. Along with clinic staff, Dr. Lees was integral in the development of The Heart & Mind Program. The strong research evidence showing the significant connection between thoughts, feelings, coping styles and cardiac health was a motivating factor in developing this innovative program — the only one of its kind in Southeastern Wisconsin. Dr. Lees is frequently interviewed by local and national media and is a regular presenter at the Wisconsin Psychological Association’s annual convention. She is a member of numerous professional organizations and was appointed to the Panel of Experts for the Wisconsin Women’s Health Foundation established by former first lady, Sue Ann Thompson. “I love the challenge of a complicated case and that’s probably what attracts me so strongly to eating disorders and cardiac care. There are usually multiple levels of issues that require change — from improving nutrition, to dealing with mood, to building healthy coping skills, to making lifestyle changes, to addressing medical problems, etc. I consider myself extremely honored that patients trust me to facilitate these changes through the treatment process. There’s nothing more rewarding than seeing a person reach the point of recovery after witnessing the incredible efforts it took to get there.”
NIS Treasurer and Co-Chairman, (NEED PICTURE)
Robert E. Lange, CMI, ASA
Senior Manager
Milwaukee and Chicago
Robert Lange is a State and Local Tax Practice Senior Manager in Ernst & Young’s Milwaukee, Wisconsin office. Bob’s experience includes over 20 years in property tax and valuation issues for a broad spectrum of industrial, consumer products, retail and transportation clients with a strong emphasis on cost segregation and fixed asset depreciation.
Based in Milwaukee, Bob has worked with companies on issues involving valuation, negotiation, litigation support, research, planning and compliance. He holds professional designations with the following organizations: Certified Member of the Institute (CMI) with the Institute for Professional in Taxation, Accredited Senior Appraiser (ASA) with the American Society of Appraisers, and is an Associate Member of the American Institute of Architects.
B.S, Architectural Studies, University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee
M.S. Architecture, University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee
M.B.A. University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee
NIS Secretary and Co-Chairman
Michael Gietl
Finance Committee is a Middle Market Commercial Banker who has been working for JPMorgan Chase & Co. and its predecessors in downtown Milwaukee for the past seven years. He has significant experience working with not-for-profit, government, and healthcare companies in the greater Milwaukee area. Mike is currently the volunteer chair for the Special Olympics at JPMorgan Chase & Co. in Milwaukee, and works in the community as a Junior Achievement volunteer and a local “Big Brother” through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Milwaukee. Mike is a native of Milwaukee, and received his undergraduate education from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, earning a degree in Finance, Investments, and Banking.
