Trainer Biographies

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Renee S. Byrd holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Home Economics, Concentration: Foods-Nutrition and Dietetics from Illinois State University at Normal, IL. She is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in education. She has been employed by the Springfield Urban League as a Public Health Nutrition Trainer for the Community Health Training Center since June of 1996. Her previous experience includes two years of management as a Public Health Nutrition Supervisor for the Chicago Department of Public Health , Nutrition Services/WIC Program which was preceded by four years experience as a Public Health Nutritionist. She is also skilled as a bilingual instructor (English/Spanish).

V. Mina Caban holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nutrition/Dietetics from Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, IL. She is currently completing a Master’s degree in Public Health from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She has been employed by the Springfield Urban League as a Public Health Nutrition Trainer since April of 2000. Her previous experiences include three years as a nutritionist for the WIC program and as a technical researcher for a pediatric obesity prevention grant with Northwestern University. She has also done volunteer work as a health educator for the Latino Horizons’ program at the Museum of Science and Industry and with the American Heart Association. She is fluent in Spanish.

Cheri Hoots is a Registered Professional Nurse. She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville in Edwardsville, IL. She has been employed by the Springfield Urban League as a Maternal Child Health Trainer/Training Supervisor for the Community Health Training Center in Springfield since June, 1994. Her previous experience includes acting as a Physician Liaison for the Illinois Department of Public Health/Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program where her responsibilities included training local health department personnel, physicians and nurses in Illinois on follow-up of children with elevated blood lead levels, grant writing, and development of policies and procedures. In addition, she was employed as a Registered Nurse for the Springfield Department of Public Health where her responsibilities included Lead Program Coordinator, WIC CHP, Well Child Nurse, Immunization Nurse, STD Nurse, and development of policies and procedures. Experiences also include serving as a staff nurse for the Pediatric Unit at St. John’s Hospital in Springfield.

Craig Jeffreys holds a Bachelors of Science in Computer Science from Bishop College in Dallas TX. He has been employed by the Springfield Urban League as a Public Health Computer Systems Trainer since April 2000. His previous experiences encompasses Data Management Specialist for Metropolitan Y.M.C.A. - West Side Future, Administrative Coordinator of Maternal Child Health/Case Management Program- Family Case Management, administrative liaison between agency and I.D.P.H., Systems support for office data processing operations. In addition, performed Medical Case Management responsibilities to pregnant participants, infants and families for 5 years. Co-developed a Case Management policy and procedure manual for West Side Future- Y.M.C.A. for Council on Accreditation standards. Additionally, was employed by Electronic Data Systems/General Motors Corp. systems conversion projects in Saginaw MI.

Monica Murphy-Hayes holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Home Economics, Concentration: Foods-Nutrition and Dietetics from Illinois State University at Normal, IL. She is also a Certified Lactation Educator through the UCLA Program. She has been employed by the Springfield Urban League since March 1990. Her positions have included that of WIC Program Nutritionist (one year), WIC Coordinator (nine years) and now Public Health Nutrition Trainer for the Community Health Training Center in Springfield.

Todd Stuckey holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology and Business Administration from Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, IL. He has been employed by the Springfield Urban League as a Public Health Computer Systems Trainer for the Community Health Training Center in Springfield since July, 1994. His previous experiences include being a Microcomputer Specialist for the Information and Evaluation Unit, Illinois Department of Public Health, where his responsibilities included coordination of Help Desk support for the Case Management Information System and WIC System, testing software systems, and providing training and orientation to new employees to the related software. His experience also includes employment as a Field Engineer for Inacom/Sears Business Centers and employment as a Data Communications Technician for the Illinois Department of Public Health, Division of Data Processing.