Who We Are

PRESIDENT AND CEO

For the last 25 years, Hennein has produced award-winning news and news-magazine programs. Her career in television began at Channel One, a nationwide news program that broadcasts to 50 million teenagers nationwide. She has also produced and overseen national productions including PageTwo, ESPN Sports, Inside Edition, American Journal, Primary Focus, Billy Graham Specials and Good Morning America. A sought-after speaker, Hennein travels extensively around the world to bring insight and inspiration to viewers and producers.

Hennein's recognitions include the Emmy® award, numerous Emmy® nominations, Women in Communication awards and four Clarion® awards. When she is not telling life changing stories, she spends her free time enjoying life with her husband and three teenaged children.

BOARD CHAIRMAN AND HOST

Dr. Daniel Meyer brings to Life Focus a range of experiences that help fuel our program's passion for the significant issues and stories we explore. The son of a state senator, Dan holds an honors degree in political science from Yale University, a master's degree from Princeton Seminary, and a doctorate from Fuller Seminary. His work experience includes service on an offshore oil-rig, in a New York State prison, in IBM's world corporate headquarters, on a farm, and in churches in Northern Ireland and California, Since 1997, Dr. Meyer has been Senior Pastor of Christ Church of Oak Brook, a 5,000 member non-denominational congregation located in the western suburbs of Chicago.  His weekly messages are broadcast on television and radio through the Love Changes Life program and are frequently featured in Christianity Today's  journal for preachers.  Dan serves on the board of the Executives Breakfast Club, a business organization dedicated to the propagation of ethical leadership, and on the advisory boards of numerous other organizations. He and his wife, Amy, have three sons.

VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS

Lawrence Oscai began his career at the University of Illinois at Chicago and has been Business Manager for Exercise Science Department for seven years. He was responsible for budgets, expenditures and details of expense and revenue for $2.5 million. Oscai was overseer of NIH grants for 3 to 5 scientists of $1 million a year.

Oscai holds a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois as well as a Postdoctoral Fellowship from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis; an M.S. from the University of Colorado, Boulder; and a B.A. from LaSierra College, Riverside, CA. His academic appointments included Assistant, Associate and Full Professor at the Chicago Campus from 1970-2003.

VICE-CHAIR

Annalee Ward is Professor of Communication Arts at Trinity College, Palos Heights, IL where she began the program and remains as department chair. In addition to teaching courses in media, ethics, film and public speaking, Ward is an author, lecturer and consultant. Ward’s honors have included awards for excellence from many notable communication organizations and she is frequently called on for media interviews.

She holds a Ph.D. in Communication Studies from Regent University, an M.A. in Speech and Communication from Colorado State University, both degrees with honors. Ward is a member of the Palos Heights Christian Reformed Church where she has developed liturgies, taught classes and led worship in addition to her work for the denomination where she has led a preaching workshop and serves on the Ministerial Candidacy committee.

SECRETARY

Ron Oldenkamp provides the senior leadership for Genesis Marketing Group in Hinsdale, IL. His areas of competence include both the marketing and selling of investment products and services. Recognized for his successes as a third party marketer and a product developer, Ron’s clients benefit from over 30 years of in-depth experience. His diverse background has contributed to the profitable growth of leading financial service firms.

A sought-after speaker at financial service industry events, Ron is recognized for his in-depth experience in providing innovative approaches and strategies for the marketing and selling of investment products and services. He is an active member of The Third Party Marketers Association.

Ron and wife Kathy, parents of three adult children, are long-time members of Christ Church of Oakbrook (CCOB). Ron has participated in Small Group Bible Study, couples weekends, and high school retreats and leadership on church financial and management committees. Ron’s education includes receiving a B.S. in Economics from Michigan State University.

TREASURER

Bill Shepherd is Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer for JP Morgan’s Private Client Services business, a division of JP Morgan Asset Management. Shepherd is responsible for all aspects of the finance function for the PCS business. In addition, he is a member of the Operating Committee that is primarily responsible for the management of PCS, sits on the PCS and Asset Management Risk Committees, and is a member of the Asset Management Asset-Liability Committee that manages interest rate risk for the business.

Formerly, he ran Strategy and Development for JP Morgan’s Asset Management business and also worked with senior management in formulating strategyfor the business. Shepherd has been with JP Morgan for over fifteen years where he has also served in the Mergers and Acquisitions group, working with major clients. In addition he has experience with industrial and consumer products companies as well as spent several years working with leading technology companies. Shepherd graduated Phi Beta Kappa with degrees in Civil Engineering and Economics from Stanford University. He lives in Hinsdale, IL with his wife and four children.

BOARD MEMBER

Tim Gottfried has been involved in the funding and acquisition of corporations for the past ten years as a principal investor with Cerberus Capital and as an investment banker with firms including JPMorgan Chase and William Blair. In this capacity, Tim has successfully closed over 40 transactions across various industries, most recently focused on retail, consumer, industrial and distressed situations.

Previous to a career in finance, Tim served as a Naval Cryptology Officer for five years, principally working in the Pacific Rim. Tim has an MBA from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan and a BS in Industrial Engineering (Honors) from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Tim is a CFA charterholder.

BOARD MEMBER

Jeff Lambert is president of Lambert Consulting, Inc. which advises small- to medium-size businesses on lead development and management.

Jeff has spent the last 20 years in sales, management and consulting in a variety of industries but primarily for retail automotive dealers.

Jeff graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University with degrees in business and finance. He is a past President of the Alpha Deuteron chapter of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity. Jeff lettered in both football and golf and participated in the university’s peer counseling program.

Jeff is married, and together with his wife, is raising their son.

Board Member

Partner in Hoogendoorn & Talbot LLP, specializing in Estate, Tax, Financial and Family Business Planning; A.B. Calvin College '66; J.D. University of Chicago '69. Practiced with Chicago office of Kirkland & Ellis from 1969 - 1985 (Partner '75 -'85). Member Chicago Bar Association, American Bar Association, Chicago Estate Planning Council, Christian Legal Society and American College of Trust and Estate Counsel; Member and past divisional chairman CBA Probate Practice Committee and member and past Chairman of the Probate Practice Committee's Rules and Forms Committee. Lecturer on estate, tax and charitable planning topics for Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, Chicago Bar Association, Chicago Estate Planning Council and other professional and lay groups.

 

Active in charitable income and estate tax planning circles. Founding board member and past Board Chairman of Barnabas Foundation, a national church deferred giving Foundation. Past Board Member and current Volunteer Counsel to Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation and Counsel to the development officers of various local and national charitable organizations. Active on many inner city ministry, education and legal aid Boards and several national Charitable Boards.

Producer

Emmy® Award winning producer Michelle Jahnke began her career as a reporter at KSPR-TV (ABC Affiliate) in Springfield, MO. Upon moving to Chicago, Jahnke sought various freelance jobs with KOST Broadcasting (IHSA), the Total Living Network (TLN) and AnswersMedia. Now a producer for Life Focus, she has traveled both nationally and internationally producing documentaries and magazine-style programs. Her work has contributed to the expansion of Life Focus Productions, helping it grow to national recognition.

Editor

Marilyn considers herself a "TV brat," starting her career at 16 when she went to work almost every night with her dad and learned about every aspect of the TV industry. After college, she started her career in New York as a master control engineer and after 3 years moved into directing. During that time, she won a number of Emmy® Awards for Children's programming. Eventually moving to Chicago, she directed and edited at CLTV for 9 years.

Editor

Paul Bieschke has been involved with television production for over 15 years. After working for a CBS affiliate while attending college and becoming a production Manager for a Chicago-based company shortly after graduation, Paul started the multimedia company Madtown Media. Through Madtown Paul served as editor for a variety of clients from the City of Chicago to HGTV. He is excited about his involvement with Life Focus Productions in providing high quality programming.

Director of Photography

Aaron Britton is a veteran camera man, Director of Photography extraordinaire and the President of A Britton Dream Productions. Before venturing on his own, Britton spent the last 10 years at Media Process Group where he traveled extensively working for CBS "60 Minutes", HBO's "Real Sports", NBC's "Dateline", "The Oprah Winfrey Show", "HGTV", and numerous other productions.

Director of Photography

Pete Biagi shoots narratives, commercials and documentaries. Recent feature projects include Under New Management, I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With, The Strip, Eden Court and El Cartel. Other features of note include Design (dir. Davidson Cole) and Stolen Summer (dir. Pete Jones) both of which were official Sundance Film Festival selections. Pete is adept at working with both film and the newest HD technologies. He had the good fortune to operate camera on two Robert Altman films - The Company and A Prairie Home Companion.

Cable Relations and Distribution

Until January 2003, Joan was a vice-president with the Central Educational Network (CEN) and its Continental Program Marketing (CPM) division, both part of the American Telecommunications Group (ATG), based in Chicago. There, she was responsible for identifying, negotiating and contracting for domestic and international programming for sales to United States public television stations. Joan also organized and administered Corporation for Public Broadcasting and Independent Television Services Regional Program Funds in cooperation with CPB and ITS. Prior to CEN, Joan was the Director of Program Scheduling for the PBS affiliate KCET-TV, in Los Angeles.

Production Assistant

The newest member of the Life Focus family, Conor graduated from Wheaton College in 2008 with a degree in Psychology and a minor in Bible and Theology. An experienced writer, he has seen his writing published by The Chicago Tribune Online, GapersBlock.com, and the website he co-founded, TheTalkingMirror.com. He has also produced and acted in multiple independent short films. Conor's sharp sense of humor and commitment to excellence has made him an integral part of the Life Focus team and an enthusiastic supporter of our mission.