Who We Are
Kim Banach
Executive Director
Kim started with the Center as a volunteer in 2009 with her son Jared, as a baby bird feeder and continued as an Animal Care volunteer. Kim joined the board of directors in 2013 as Secretary and has been Board President since November 2015.
Lisa Rowe
Director of Operations & Wildlife Rehabilitator
Lisa started with the Center as a volunteer in 1994 and became a staff member shortly after that. She holds her Advanced Wisconsin Wildlife Rehabilitation License and specializes in the rehabilitation and care of rodents, with her particular favorite being woodchucks.
Debbie Verhalen
Marketing and Administrative Assistant
Deb joined the WINC team in November 2018 as Marketing & Administrative Assistant. She has 25 plus years of marketing experience to share with us. Her nonprofit involvement has included working with The Hunger Task Force of Milwaukee, Wreaths Across America for our Veteran’s and Girl Scouts of SE Wisconsin. Deb enjoys nature walks, nature photography and bird watching. She loves seeing the bird and squirrel activity right outside her office window.
If you have questions about membership or fundraising events, email Email Debbie
Mitch Ruiz
Avian Nursery Manager/Animal Care Volunteer Coordinator
Mitch started at WINC as a full-time animal care intern during the summer of 2014. He has also been a seasonal staff member here at WINC for two summers; 2015 and 2017. Mitch earned his Bachelor’s degree in Biology and Psychology; Biochemistry Minor, with an emphasis in animal behavior from Carroll University. Mitch joined the WINC team as a full-time Animal Care Staff member in January 2018. Mitch was promoted to Avian Nursery Manager/Animal Care Volunteer Coordinator in July 2020. Mitch has earned his Wisconsin basic Wildlife Rehabilitation license and is currently working towards his advanced Wildlife Rehabilitation license.
Alexa Cushman
Mammal Nursery Manager/Intern Coordinator
Alexa started as a full-time Animal Care Staff member in March of 2019. Alexa was promoted to Mammal Nursery Manager/Intern Coordinator in July 2020. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point with a B.S. in Wildlife Ecology and minors in both Biology and Captive Wildlife Management. She has worked in zoos, nature centers, taught wildlife based summer camps, along with multiple fellowships and internships doing wildlife rehabilitation. Through all of these experiences she discovered her true passion is wildlife rehabilitation. More recently, Alexa has been in charge of the avian rehabilitation program at The Abilene Zoo in Abilene, TX before starting her position here at WINC. In December of 2019, Alexa obtained her Basic Wisconsin Wildlife Rehabilitation License.
Angela Nirk
Wildlife Educator
Angela joined WINC in 2010 as an animal care volunteer, and in 2011 she also started volunteering in our education department. In 2014 she was a part-time Seasonal Animal Care staff member at WINC from April to October, and as of July 2017 she began her role as our part-time Wildlife Educator.
Erin Toohey
Education Coordinator
Erin joined the WINC team as a part-time Wildlife Educator in January 2020. She graduated from Iowa State University with a B.S. in Biology and Animal Ecology, then began working as an avian technician at the Raptor Education Group. She worked in the rehabilitation department, but soon discovered her passion was in education. She has since worked as a seasonal naturalist, an AmeriCorps environmental educator, and a tour guide before joining the WINC team.
Rylann Williams
Education Assistant and Scheduler
Rylann joined the Wildlife In Need Center in January of 2020 as the Education Assistant & Scheduler. In 2019, she graduated from the University of Wisconsin- Madison with a B.S. in Wildlife Ecology and a certificate in Environmental Studies. Rylann has worked as a wildlife caretaker, environmental educator and a bird bander since graduating. You may contact Rylann with any questions regarding educational programs or WINC events.
Board of Directors
Wayne Grandy, President
Tom Demers, Vice President
Shane Roeber, JD, Secretary
Lou Banach, Treasurer
Holly Schlenvogt, Past President
Dean Pipito
Lynn Wilde
Sara Ellenberger, DVM
Bridgett Brown
Gottlieb John Marmet, JD
Annette Wallace
Rick Nicolai
Barb Muir
Heather Merewood
John Rupke, JD
Advisory Board
Michael Guzniczak
Harry Muir, Phd
[click here to contact someone on the Board of Directors]
Licensing
The Wildlife In Need Center is licensed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and U.S. Department of Agriculture. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.