VersitiLeadership Team
Chris Miskel
President & CEO
Chris Miskel is president and CEO of Versiti, leading a multistate organization advancing blood health through lifesaving donation, innovative research and patient care. Since joining in 2017, he has strengthened a One Versiti culture, expanded the organization’s footprint and invested in discovery that improves outcomes for patients. Previously, he held senior leadership roles at Shire, Baxalta, Baxter International and Eli Lilly and Company. Miskel earned an MBA from Harvard Business School and a bachelor’s degree from Butler University, where he was an Academic All-American basketball player.
Brian Bautista
EVP & Chief Operating Officer
Brian Bautista, Pharm.D., is executive vice president and chief operating officer at Versiti, where he leads the organization’s newest service line, Versiti Clinical Trial Services. A healthcare executive with more than 20 years of experience, Bautista has built high-performing teams across marketing, sales and strategy with a focus on serving patients and providers. Before joining Versiti, he held leadership roles at Shire, AbbVie, Abbott and Baxalta. Bautista earned a Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Illinois at Chicago and an MBA from Lake Forest Graduate School of Management.
Matthew Anderson, MD, PhD
EVP Medical Sciences Institute and Chief Medical Officer
Matthew Anderson, M.D., Ph.D., is executive vice president of the Medical Sciences Institute and chief medical officer at Versiti, where he leads medical and scientific strategy across diagnostics, transfusion medicine and transplantation services. A physician-scientist and hematopathologist, Anderson advances innovations that strengthen patient care and expand the clinical impact of blood health science. He trained at the Medical College of Wisconsin and Stanford University and previously served on the Stanford faculty before returning to Versiti.
Bart Reuter
EVP and Chief Legal and Compliance Officer
Bart Reuter is executive vice president and chief legal and compliance officer at Versiti, where he leads enterprise legal strategy, governance and regulatory compliance for the organization. Before joining Versiti, Reuter spent more than 20 years at Foley & Lardner LLP, where he served as an associate, senior counsel and equity partner and held leadership roles within the firm. He has been recognized by peers in The Best Lawyers in America and Wisconsin Super Lawyers. Reuter earned his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Jessica Drouillard
VP and Chief Quality Officer
Jessica Drouillard is vice president and chief quality officer at Versiti, where she leads enterprise quality, regulatory and safety programs that protect patients and strengthen trust in the blood supply. Since joining Versiti in 2016, she has advanced operations across immunohematology, biomaterials and cellular therapies while guiding critical initiatives during the COVID-19 pandemic. Drouillard holds a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from the University of Florida and a master’s degree in transfusion medicine from the University of Texas Medical Branch and is a certified specialist in blood banking.
Gretchen Jameson
EVP and Chief Marketing Officer
Gretchen Jameson, Ed.D., is executive vice president and chief marketing officer at Versiti, where she leads enterprise brand, marketing and communications strategy across six service lines. Since joining the organization, she has transformed marketing into a strategic growth engine—launching the “Hope. It’s in our blood.” brand platform, modernizing donor engagement across five states and strengthening Versiti’s national voice in blood health innovation. Jameson earned a doctorate from the University of Southern California and brings more than 25 years of leadership across nonprofit, corporate and higher education sectors.
Brad Pietz
EVP and Chief Laboratory Officer
Brad Pietz is executive vice president and chief laboratory officer at Versiti, where he leads the organization’s national diagnostic laboratory enterprise supporting hospitals, physicians and researchers. Since joining Versiti in 2001, Pietz has played a key role in expanding and integrating the laboratory network, helping drive innovation in clinical testing and blood health science. He previously served as vice president of diagnostic laboratories operations and as Versiti’s first chief of staff and vice president of corporate strategy. Pietz earned degrees in biochemistry and microbiology from the University of Wisconsin and an MBA from UW-Milwaukee.
Lynne Briggs
VP and Chief Information Officer
Lynne Briggs is vice president and chief information officer at Versiti, where she leads enterprise technology strategy, systems and infrastructure supporting blood operations, laboratories and donor engagement across the organization. She advances innovations that strengthen hospital partnerships and improve how blood products and data move through the health care system. Briggs serves on the board of Ascension Wisconsin and is active in national blood health technology leadership through AABB and the International Society of Blood Transfusion.
Christine Sadowski
Chief of Staff and Vice President of Advancement
Christine Sadowski is chief of staff and vice president of advancement at Versiti, where she partners with executive leadership to drive enterprise strategy and philanthropic growth supporting blood health innovation. She brings more than 20 years of leadership experience in the biopharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, guiding organizations through growth and transformation. Before joining Versiti, Sadowski held senior leadership roles at Elephas Biosciences, Exact Sciences and Merck & Co. She earned a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Colleen McCarthy
VP of Versiti Organ and Tissue
Colleen McCarthy is vice president of Versiti Organ and Tissue, where she leads the organization’s federally designated organ procurement organization and tissue bank serving eastern Wisconsin. A nurse by training, McCarthy has spent more than 20 years advancing organ and tissue donation and supporting donor families through moments of profound loss and generosity. Her career in donation began after caring for her first organ donor while working as a critical care nurse. McCarthy earned her nursing degree from Viterbo University and serves on national organ and tissue donation advisory groups.
Derek Tyus
EVP and Chief Financial Officer
Derek Tyus is executive vice president and chief financial officer at Versiti, where he leads finance, information services, facilities, supply chain and corporate development, strengthening the infrastructure that supports Versiti’s lifesaving mission. Tyus brings more than 25 years of leadership experience across finance, strategy and investment management. Before joining Versiti, he served as senior vice president and chief investment officer at West Bend Insurance, where he oversaw a multibillion-dollar investment portfolio. Tyus earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Marquette University and an MBA from the University of Michigan.
Jim Weidner
EVP and Chief Human Resources Officer
Jim Weidner is executive vice president and chief human resources officer at Versiti, where he leads enterprise talent strategy, leadership development and organizational culture to support the organization’s One Versiti vision. With more than 25 years of experience in human capital leadership, Weidner has guided organizations through growth, transformation and workforce development across multiple industries. Before joining Versiti, he served as vice president of human resources at Baxalta, where he led major organizational initiatives supporting its global immunology business. Weidner earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Bloomsburg University.
Beacon the Bear
Mascot and Chief Entertainment Officer
Beacon the Bear joined Versiti in summer 2024 after a storied career in competitive honey eating. A dream during hibernation inspired Beacon to pursue a new career of charming people instead of chasing them. Turning down multiple lucrative offers from zoos, Hollywood and taxidermists, Beacon ultimately decided to take it's talents to Versiti. Un-bear-ably driven and smarter than the average bear, Beacon can’t wait to meet and greet our blood donors, blood drive hosts, volunteers, phlebotomists, other mascots and anyone else with a pocketful of berries throughout our 5-state paw-print. Beacon earned a B.A. in gummi studies from Berenstain University. Interested in bringing Beacon to your event? Contact your Versiti account rep.
Versiti Board Officers and Directors
Versiti Board Officers and Directors
Versiti Board Officers | Versiti Board of Directors | |
|
|
|
Versiti Blood Research Institute Foundation Board
|
|
State Community Advisory Boards
Illinois
|
|
Indiana
|
|
Michigan
|
|
Ohio
|
|