Services for Recovery Agencies
Key Personnel
Office Staff
Norman C. Lyon, Jr.
Senior Director, Transplant Services
lyon.norman@cryolife.com
Norman joined CryoLife in September 2005 as a Donor Services Account Manager for the Northeast
region. He was promoted to Director of Donor Services in March 2006 and his current position in August 2008.
Prior to joining CryoLife, he worked for the Center for Organ Recovery & Education (CORE) in
Pittsburgh, PA. CORE is the organ procurement organization serving western Pennsylvania, West Virginia
and a portion of New York. During his tenure at CORE, Norman held the positions of Recovery Coordinator,
Eye Processing Coordinator, Director of Donor Services and finally, Vice President of Donor
Services/Executive Director, Eye Bank.
Norman is a Certified Eye Bank Technician (CEBT) through the Eye Bank Association of America (EBAA)
and a graduate of Robert Morris University in Pittsburgh with a BS in Business Administration/Health
Services Management.
Heather Laird
Donor Services Corporate Marketing Manager
laird.heather@cryolife.com
Heather began her career at CryoLife in 1997 as a Tissue Quality Assurance Associate. Over the years,
she has held many other positions within the company. The positions included Tissue Quality Assurance,
Donor Information Analyst, Donor Services Compliance Analyst, and most recently, Cardiovascular Project
Specialist within Clinical Research. She was promoted to her current position in October 2007.
Heather is a Certified Tissue Bank Specialist (CTBS) and a graduate of North Georgia College and
State University with a B.S. in Biology.
Alissa Effa
Donor Services Administrative Assistant
effa.alissa@cryolife.com
Alissa is a graduate of Fox Valley Technical College in Appleton, Wisconsin with an Associate's Degree
in Applied Science in Marketing (AAS). While working full-time at CryoLife, Alissa is also earning her BBA
in Marketing from Kennesaw State University in Georgia.
Michael Roca
Donor Services Compliance Analyst
roca.michael@cryolife.com
Prior to joining CryoLife in 2006, Michael served as a Statistical Research Analyst with the Georgia
Department of Juvenile Justice. Michael has a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from the University of
Georgia and has completed a majority of the graduate coursework required for a Master of Science in
Statistics (also from UGA). Michael's strong background in mathematics and statistics is applied to data
analysis, report development, and special projects within the Donor Services department at CryoLife.
Gretchen Turner
Donor Services Project Coordinator
turner.gretchen@cryolife.com
Gretchen originally joined CryoLife in September 2004 as a Tissue Processing Technician.
In December 2007, she became the Donor Services Project Coordinator. Gretchen's experience as a
cardiac, vascular and orthopaedic dissector makes her very valuable in understanding the needs of
recovery agencies. She also brings with her much experience in customer service.
Gretchen attended the University of Arkansas, the University of Nebraska, and graduated from the
University of Georgia with two Bachelor of Science degrees in Wildlife Biology and Forestry.
Account Managers
Allison Bagley
Donor Services Account Manager, Northeast
bagley.allison@cryolife.com
Allison joined CryoLife in March 1999 as a Technician in the Tissue Processing Laboratory. After a
year, she transferred to the Quality Department where she worked as a Technician, Coordinator,
Supervisor and then Manager, Quality Control. In 2004, Allison transferred to the role of Manager of
the Tissue Quality Assurance department. Prior to joining CryoLife, she worked in Quality Control for
an animal pharmaceutical company.
Allison is a Certified Tissue Bank Specialist (CTBS). She is a graduate of the University of Georgia
with a BS in Biology. Allison lives in Canton, Georgia with her husband, Brian.
Ronda Horstman
Donor Services Account Manager, South Central
horstman.ronda@cryolife.com
Ronda joined CryoLife in January of 2007. She started her career in the tissue banking industry in
1996 working for Community Tissue Services in Fort Worth where she served in many roles from recovery
technician to Director. In 2002 she went to work for LifeGift Organ Donation Center in the areas of
organ recovery and quality assurance for both organ and tissue recovery.
Ronda is a Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) and a Certified Tissue Banking Specialist (CTBS).
She is a graduate of the University of Texas at Arlington with a BS in Interdisciplinary Studies with a
focus on Medical Management and a minor in Business Administration. Ronda lives in the Dallas/Ft. Worth
area with her husband Steve, son Bill, daughter Allyson, and three Jack Russell Terriers.
Kimberly A. Lewis
Donor Services National Account Manager
lewis.kimberly@cryolife.com
Kimberly joined CryoLife in April 2002 as a Donor Services Technical Specialist. She was promoted to
Account Manager Western Region in January 2004. In January 2008, she was promoted to her current position
as National Account Manager. Prior to joining CryoLife, she worked for Community Tissue Services in
Portland, Oregon and prior to the joining the tissue banking industry was the Head Athletic Trainer of
the Portland ABL team.
Kimberly is a Certified Tissue Bank Specialist (CTBS) and a Certified Athletic Trainer (A.T.,C). She
is a graduate of Arizona State University with a BS in Exercise Physiology. Kimberly lives in Eugene,
Oregon with her husband Jason and son Brady where they spend time in the mountains skiing and biking.
Chris Watkins
Donor Services Account Manager, North Central
watkins.chris@cryolife.com
Effective October 2007, Chris Watkins began his role serving the North Central Region. Chris came to
CryoLife from the Midwest Transplant Network where he had been employed for 4+ years, most recently as
a Tissue Clinical Specialist. Prior to joining the Midwest Transplant Network, Chris worked as a
Medicolegal Death Investigator for the Jackson County (MO) Medical Examiners Office. Chris has
been a member of the Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team (DMORT 7) since 2003 and has been
deployed on multiple disasters. He is a graduate from Central Missouri State University with a B.S. in
Criminal Justice with a minor in Political Science.
Chris is a Certified Tissue Bank Specialist (CTBS) with extensive knowledge of tissue bank operations
and supervision and is also board certified as a Medicolegal Death Investigator (F-ABMDI). Chris lives
in Blue Springs, MO with his wife Denice and their two daughters Brooklyn and Cora.
Donor Services Center and Donor Services Staff
Jeff Wiggins
Donor Services Technical Trainer
wiggins.jeff@cryolife.com
Jeff began with CryoLife in 1989 as a tissue processing technician. Following a year of processing, he
then took a position as a Tissue Recovery Trainer conducting workshops throughout North American teaching
recovery techniques to organ and tissue recovery personnel. In addition to his training responsibilities,
Jeff has also managed several regions throughout North America as Donor Services Account Manager. He is a
Certified Tissue Bank Specialist (CTBS) through the American Association of Tissue Banks (AATB).
Jeff graduated from Mercer University with a BA in Biology.
Donor Services Center Coordinators
Jennifer Shelley
Team Leader
