Our Approach
Heroes for Healthcare is a non-profit organization based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin that helps military personnel, across the country, find their career in healthcare after service. Heroes for Healthcare was started by Laura Hanoski, a healthcare industry veteran.
Mission
Heroes for Healthcare’s mission is to be a resource for our military as they transition to civilian life to achieve gainful employment in healthcare.
Vision
We will guide military members through a seamless transition from service-members to civilians, ensuring their skills, knowledge, and experience are translated, respected and accepted at educational institutions and healthcare organizations.
Our Story: About our Founder, Laura Hanoski
Laura’s passion for healthcare and people started in middle school when she became a candy striper at a local hospital. She knew she wanted to devote her life to helping people. Laura went into nursing school after high school and spent six years at Aurora St. Luke’s and six years at Sports Medicine and Knee Surgery Center.
Laura was blessed to find a husband to be her partner in life and in business. In 2002, they started Premier Medical Staffing Services. Premier is an industry leading staffing firm with a national presence. Premier Medical Staffing Services proudly supports our Federal Medical institutions with staffing support as well as offer job opportunities to our military spouses through the MSEP program (Military Spouse Employment Program).
While working with the Department of Defense and Veteran facilities over the past several years she discovered that having a healthcare job while in the service does not necessarily translate to the ability to obtain a healthcare job in the civilian world. Licensees and certifications do not match up. While organizations want to employ these talented and skilled men and women, Laura has realized they can’t until they meet civilian compliance regulations; This is where the “Gap” is. So, Laura started Heroes for Healthcare and is dedicated to bridging that “Gap” in order to support our veterans and help them obtain gainful employment in healthcare.
Meet our Staff
Joyce Mallory, Community Engagement Manager
Joyce is an experienced career non-profit professional. She previously held executive and senior level positions at Malaika Early Learning Center, Fort Wayne Urban League, Nonprofit Center of Milwaukee, and United Way of Greater Milwaukee. Joyce is passionate about using her skills and knowledge to improve the organizational capacity of non-profit organizations and providing training and resources to help board directors perform their governance and fiduciary roles. Joyce is vice president of the board of directors for 4-C for Children, member of the board of directors of MetaStar Incorporated, and Vice Chair of the City of Milwaukee Charter School Review committee. She earned her MA in Education from Alverno College. Fun Fact: Joyce collects paperweights and old bottles.
Dr. Joan Whitman, Grant Writer and Content Manager
Dr. Joan Whitman was a volunteer grant writer at Heroes before becoming an employee. Prior to Heroes, Dr. Whitman worked in nonprofit leadership as a strategic planner and development of program systems for sustainable growth. She is a skilled grant writer and manager with expertise in mixed methods research and evaluation of grant outcomes and program development. She served on numerous nonprofit boards as president and multiple leadership roles. Dr. Whitman has a doctorate in Leadership, Learning, and Service and a published author. She was a Professor and Program Chair of Graduate Education at Cardinal Stritch University. Her family has served in the military dating as far back as WWI. A fun fact about Joan is she bakes gourmet cheesecakes.
Meet our Volunteers
Erin Breber is Heroes for Healthcare’s Board Treasurer
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SVA’s Erin Breber Named a Rising Star in Finance and Accounting
SVA Certified Public Accountants is proud to announce that Erin Breber, CPA has been named one of Milwaukee’s Rising Stars in Finance and Accounting. The inaugural showcase, presented by BizTimes, features young, talented professionals in southeastern Wisconsin who are up-and-comers serving in finance and accounting roles for their business or organization.
Erin is a Senior Manager with SVA Certified Public Accountants and works closely with business owners and their executive teams to advise on accounting and tax issues. She helps them develop key performance metrics including budgets and dashboard reporting, as well as helping executives better understand their financial reporting.
For more information about SVA Certified Public Accountants, vist the company’s website.
Meet our Heroes for Healthcare Board Members who make our organization possible.
We appreciate all of their dedication and passion!
Laura Hanoski, Founder & CEO
Laura is the Co-Founder and Managing Member of Premier Medical Staffing Services, LLC. She is proud to be a certified women owned business by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC). Laura started Heroes for Healthcare and is dedicated to bridging the gap in order to support our veterans and help them obtain gainful employment in healthcare.
Mark Thompson, President
Mark Thompson is a Financial Advisor at Edward Jones, where he serves small businesses and individuals, helping them succeed and prepare for their future. Mark has many family members who have served or are serving in the U.S. Military. He is passionate about our mission and excited to help us be a resource for our military during their transition to civilian life to achieve gainful employment in healthcare.
James Hammond, Vice-President
James is the Manager of Workforce Analytics at Froedtert Health, a Midwest premier healthcare system. Currently, he leads a group of senior workforce analysts with the strategic mandate to turn complex data into insightful information. James is also co-chair of the Military/Veterans Resource Group and serves on several leadership teams in support of patient satisfaction, diversity and inclusion, and leader development. A U.S. Army veteran, James is passionate about the Hero’s mission and excited to support the organization’s goals that ensure our medically trained military personnel have the resources they need to readily transition from service-member to civilian employee within the healthcare arena.
Mark Hanoski
Mark is an experienced manager/owner with expertise in the understanding of the complexities in delivering health care services to the medical industry. Mark is versed in healthcare requirements and operational issues that face and challenge healthcare systems today such as the current pandemic, the Affordable Care Act, cost containment, joint commission, census fluctuation and budget concerns. Sound clinical background, including 8 years of extensive professional experience as a healthcare professional, has helped Mark in his ability to see and understand the whole healthcare picture.
Joan Whitman, Grant Writer
Dr. Whitman is owner of Grant Associates, LLC working with new nonprofit organizations to establish structures for Board development and fundraising. Joan is a skilled grant writer and grant manager with expertise in research and evaluation of grant outcomes. She served on nonprofit boards in multiple leadership roles and is founding member and President of the WI Grant Professionals Chapter. Dr. Whitman has a doctorate in Leadership and was a Professor of Education at Cardinal Stritch University. Joan has numerous veterans in her family dating as far back to WWI.
Jennifer Jackson
Jennifer is a Branch Manager at Landmark Credit Union and has over 20 years of experience in the banking industry. She works with both consumer and business members and has a management, business banking and private banking background. Her passion is in coaching and mentoring and is also a dance coach for Mukwonago High School’s dance program.
Erin Breber, Treasurer
Erin is an Accounting Manager at SVA Certified Public Accountants, S.C. Erin works with both closely held for-profit and non-profit business owners in various industries to advise them on accounting, tax, software and strategic planning decisions.
Jarvis Racine
Jarvis is the Vice President, Strategic Partnerships, Workforce Development and Government Affairs at Herzing University. He grew up with deaf parents who firmly believed that everyone has the capability to contribute positively to our communities. They taught him to never give up, fight passionately for what he believes in and never doubt the power or persistence.
Janelle Thompson, Secretary
Janelle has a background working with for-profit and non-profit organizations by providing marketing and project management. She serves as Board Secretary and Program Committee Member for BMA Milwaukee.
Dr. Donald J. Zoltan
Don Zoltan is an orthopedic surgeon who has been in practice in the Milwaukee area for many years. As an Army Reserve veteran who was called to active duty during Desert Storm, he had the privilege of working with many well qualified soldiers in the medical field who had very difficult transitions to civilian life. Through Heroes for Healthcare, he hopes to make it possible for them to utilize their skills in healthcare after discharge.”
