Stephanie Grimm, BA, SBD Doula, SBD Chaplain and Midwife of Thanatology
Director of Family Services

Stephanie began volunteering with The Haven in 2014 as a family services volunteer before becoming the Director of Family Services in 2015. Prior to joining The Haven Network, Stephanie served in a variety of leadership roles including that of Early Childhood teacher, Early Childhood Center Director, and President of the Rockford MOMS Club. Stephanie holds degrees in History and Political Science from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and is also a certified birth and bereavement doula and SBD Chaplain. Outside of work, Stephanie spends her time with her husband and two young children and all the fun and hilarity that entails. Her middle son, Dylan, watches over his family from Heaven and is the catalyst behind Stephanie’s involvement with The Haven Network.

Kathy Pittman, AAS
Director of Photography

Kathy Pittman has been with The Haven Network since 2007.  She started as a volunteer and later developed the photography program.  She has an AAS in Marketing and Business Management.   In addition to her role at The Haven Network, Kathy also owns her own photography business, Katherine Pittman Photography.  She is actively involved at her church, First Free Rockford.  Kathy and her husband Tim have two children.

H. Kent Heise, AEP, CLU, ChFC, Board member

Board Member Since: 2004 (co-founder)

Current Occupation: Regal Investment Advisors

For four decades Kent has developed extensive experience assisting individuals, families, owners of closely held businesses, and charitable entities, enhance and plan their financial future.  He earned the Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) and Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) designations awarded by the American College in Bryn Mawr Pennsylvania.  He also earned the Accredited Estate Planner (AEP) designation awarded by the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils.

Kent is an active member of St. John Lutheran Church, a current and founding board member of The Haven Network, and an active volunteer for other organizations.  He and his wife Jean, have two adult children and six grandchildren.

Pastor Dr. Rus Howard, Board member

Board Member Since: 2017

Occupation: Manager of Community Support for Prairie State Legal Services

Lowell Ingram, Board member

Current Occupation: Treasurer, Rockford Acromatic Products

Mary Ahearn Larson, Board member

Current Occupation: McDonalds, USA

Dorothy Kreissler (in Memoriam)

Jean M. Heise, President Emeritus

Jean M. Heise founded The Haven Network in 2004 with Byron C. Calhoun, MD, a pioneer in the perinatal hospice movement, and served as The Haven’s president for six years. Jean served on the board of National Lutherans for Life and for many years as Education Director of Lutherans for Life of Illinois.

Prior to her work at The Haven Network, she was on staff at the Howard Center for Family, Religion and Society, an internationally known think tank that studies family and cultural issues.  Her role at The Howard Center involved special research projects and assistance with the World Congress of Families, the largest international pro-family conferences, in Prague of the Czech Republic , Geneva , Switzerland, Mexico City and Warsaw, Poland. In June 2000, Jean lobbied on behalf of pro-family and pro-life causes at the Women’s Conference, Beijing + 5, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City . In May 2004, she traveled to Australia , representing The Howard Center, speaking on family and life issues in Perth and Melbourne. Jean and her husband live in Rockford , Illinois.  The Heises have two married children and six grandchildren.

Dr. Byron C. Calhoun, MD, FACOG, FACS, MBA

Dr .Byron C. Calhoun, MD, FACOG, FACS, MBA is a 1979 Distinguished Graduate of the United States Air Force Academy and graduated from the University of Iowa Medical School with an MD in 1983. Dr Calhoun completed his residency in OB/GYN at the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1987 and finished a Fellowship in Maternal-Fetal Medicine at the Oregon Health Sciences University in 1989.  Dr Calhoun is a diplomat of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology and is board certified in general Obstetrics and Gynecology as well as the sub-specialty of Maternal-Fetal Medicine. Dr Calhoun serves as Professor and Vice-Chair in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the West Virginia University-Charleston and is involved in resident and medical student education.  He licensed in several states and continues to actively practice maternal-fetal medicine, perform diagnostic obstetrical ultrasound, and participate in prenatal diagnosis counseling.

Dr. Calhoun’s contributions to the obstetrical literature include: the The Perinatal Hospice, which attempts to provide a cogent pro-life hospice alternative to partial-birth abortion for fatal fetal anomalies, and, publication of the cost consequences of abortion and its relationship to pre-term birth.  Dr Calhoun and his wife, Kathryn, have 5 children.