Our Team

Our Team

Leadership

Meet the passionate minds behind our cutting-edge services. Our team is comprised of dedicated scientists, researchers, and experts committed to pushing the boundaries of innovation. With diverse backgrounds and expertise spanning various fields, we collaborate seamlessly to deliver exceptional results. Get to know the faces driving our mission forward and discover the collective brilliance fueling our commitment to excellence.

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Dale Kahn

Interim Co-CEO of Operations

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Dale R. Kahn attended Manchester University and the Franciscan Health Hammond School of Medical Technology, graduating with a BS degree in Medical Technology. After college, Dale worked with Franciscan Alliance in the laboratory located in Hammond, Indiana which was then known as St. Margaret Hospital, specializing in the Chemistry field, and the IT area of the laboratory. He moved into the management area for the laboratory early in his career and eventually became the Laboratory Director for the St. Margaret site.

Dale was part of the planning and design team that built Alverno Laboratories which first opened in 1999. He accepted the role as Central Laboratory Director for Alverno in 2002 and Vice President of Operations in 2012. Dale has directed Alverno through large and continuous expansions of the central laboratory facility through flexible design, focus on process and has developed many computerized solutions, building on his IT expertise.

Kahn has also helped lead Alverno with several firsts in the laboratory industry. In 2013, Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics (now Beckman) named Alverno as their Microbiology Innovation Center for the US. Alverno was the first laboratory in the US to implement full microbiology automation and one of the first to routinely report clinical microbiology identifications utilizing the Maldi-TOF system. In 2014, Alverno installed one of the first Beckman Power Express Automation systems in the United States. Advance Laboratory Magazine named Alverno as Laboratory of the Year in 2016. In 2019 Alverno launched a Digital Pathology project and will be one of the largest providers of Digital Pathology for human tissue in the world.

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Michele Lange, MBA

Vice President of Human Resources

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Michele began her journey at Alverno in 2006 as an intern after completing her Bachelor of Science in Human Resources Management. Throughout her 18 years with Alverno, Michele has excelled in her many roles including HR Administration Assistant, Employment Specialist, Benefits Specialist, System Compensation & Benefits Coordinator and, most recently, HR Director. Much like her growth in her professional roles, she has continued to seek advanced learning opportunities to expand her skills and knowledge in her tenure: Graduate Certificate in Compensation and Reward Management from Michigan State University (2017), Micro Credentials in Organizational Leadership and Business Analytics from Lewis University (2024), and Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Lewis University (2024). Michele’s Alverno story is a unique and shining example of how you can take advantage of opportunities within our organization and truly grow in your career path with Alverno.

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Steve Wojnicki

Interim Co-CEO of Finance

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Steven Wojnicki has served as Vice President and the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Alverno Laboratories, responsible for the company’s fiscal management functions including accounting and control, financial planning, and analysis. He also provides operational guidance and direction to the Alverno leadership team and was instrumental in implementing the laboratory joint venture in 2005. A 36 – year veteran in healthcare, Steven previously served as Vice President of Finance for Franciscan St. James Hospital and Health Centers in Chicago Heights and Olympia Fields, responsible for the company’s fiscal management functions including accounting and control, financial planning, and analysis. Prior to joining St. James Hospital and Health Centers, Wojnicki worked for Hospital Corporation of America. He was the interim CFO at HCA Olympia Fields Osteopathic Hospital and the CFO at HCA Riveredge Hospital. Steven earned his Bachelor of Business Administration in finance and economics in 1984 and received his certified public accountant certificate in 1992.

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Shirley Koren

Vice President of Hospital Operations

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Shirley Koren began her laboratory career with the Franciscan sisters at St Joseph Medical Center in Joliet Illinois after receiving her Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology from Western Illinois University. Throughout her 40-year career in laboratory medicine, Shirley has experienced various roles within the laboratory starting as a bench tech and assuming various management positions. Her most recent roles include Regional Laboratory Director and Vice President of Hospital Operations. Shirley has also been heavily involved in the lab community and served as the President of the Chicago Chapter of Clinical Lab Management (CLMA). In addition to her professional career, she continued to advance her education and earned a Master of Health Care Administration from University of St Francis. Leveraging her strong desire to teach others, Shirley serves as an adjunct professor at two local colleges, sharing her laboratory background and expertise with the next generation of Medical Laboratory Scientists.