Our Team

The LIFE CIL Team

Rickielee Benecke

Executive Director

Rickielee Benecke

Executive Director

Rickielee Benecke, Executive Director, has been with LIFE CIL since 2012. Her responsibilities include planning the direction of the Center, personnel management, budgeting and fiscal management, and representing LIFE CIL to the public and its funders. A strong advocate for systems change, she serves as Vice-President of the INCIL (Illinois Network of Centers for Independent Living) Board of Directors. Rickielee has a bachelor’s degree in Economics with a minor in Business Administration from Illinois State University. She is also a 2015 graduate of the Multicultural Leadership Program and has over 18 years’ experience in non-profit, human services, and management.

Phone:309-663-5433 ext 231
Email:rickielee@lifecil.org

Meri Helbig

Program Director

Meri Helbig

Program Director

Meri Helbig, Program Director, has been with LIFE CIL since 2013. Her responsibilities include management, evaluation, and reporting of programs and services. She works closely with the Executive Director and Management Team to plan and implement the Center’s goals and operations. Meri has a bachelor’s degree in Special Education and a master’s degree in School Counseling from Illinois State University. She has over 34 years serving individuals with disabilities in various roles including life skills training, vocational training, career counseling, and community access coordination.

Phone:309-663-5433 ext 202
Email:meri@lifecil.org

Brianne Anderson

Administrative Services Director

Brianne Anderson

Administrative Services Director

Brianne Anderson, Administrative Services Director, has been with LIFE CIL since 2007. She is part of the Management Team and oversees the logistics and operations in the Bloomington office. Her responsibilities include supervising and developing support staff and volunteers, overseeing the equipment loan and ITAC amplified phone programs, and providing administrative support to the Board of Directors. She also assists with accounts payable and receivable and LIFE CIL’s annual audit and other fiscal compliance reviews. Brianne has a bachelor’s degree in Insurance from Illinois State University and has over 24 years of administrative experience.

Phone:309-663-5433 ext 222
Email:brianne@lifecil.org

Kim Tarkowski

Vision Access Advocate

Kim Tarkowski

Vision Access Advocate

Kim Tarkowski, Vision Access Advocate has been with LIFE CIL since 2000. Kim provides information and referral, independent living training, peer mentoring and advocacy assistance to seniors with low vision, 55 and over. Her responsibilities include facilitating monthly low vision support groups, providing low vision and assistive devices at no charge, and overseeing the Patricia Tolan Cox Bequest, specific funding to assist consumers with vision loss of all ages that meet the eligibility requirements. Kim has her bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice.

Phone:309-663-5433 ext 204
Email:kim@lifecil.org

Andrea Kindseth

Community Reintegration Advocate

Andrea Kindseth

Community Reintegration Advocate

Andrea Kindseth, Community Reintegration Advocate, has been with LIFE CIL since 2011. Andrea’s responsibilities include assisting eligible individuals with disabilities transition out of institutional settings into their own homes. Andrea received her bachelor’s degree from Illinois State University in Therapeutic Recreation, and has experience working in both community and clinical settings. She enjoys working with others and assisting consumers in leading independent lives in the community.

Phone:309-663-5433 ext 206
Email:andrea@lifecil.org

Shannon Tarkowski

Youth Services Coordinator

Shannon Tarkowski

Youth Services Coordinator

Shannon "Shay" Tarkowski, Youth Transition Coordinator, has been with LIFE CIL since 2015. Her primary responsibilities include assisting youth and young adults aged 10-24 to identify and achieve their goals related to transitioning into adult lifestyles after high school. She teaches Pre-Employment Transition Skills in various middle and high schools in our 4-county region. Pre-Employment Transition Skills, or Pre-ETS, include self-advocacy, job exploration counseling, understanding options for additional training after high school, workplace readiness training, and work-based learning experiences. Shay also works with individuals and small groups outside of the school setting. She has a bachelor’s degree in Speech Communication and Psychology from Augustana College in Rock Island, IL.

Phone:309-663-5433 ext 227
Email:shannon@lifecil.org

Keith Adams

Custodian

Keith Adams

Custodian

Keith Adams, Custodian, has been with LIFE CIL since 2017. He is responsible for keeping the building and grounds at our Bloomington office clean, neat and safe. He handles all of the janitorial and light maintenance duties. He is instrumental in maintaining our equipment loan program, sanitizing all equipment and keeping it all in good working order. Keith does an excellent job making sure our Bloomington office is always tidy and in great shape.

Melissa Johnson

Community Living Advocate

Melissa Johnson

Community Living Advocate

Melissa Johnson, Community Living Advocate, has been with LIFE CIL since January 2024. She coordinates the Personal Assistant (PA) program including recruiting, and orienting PAs, maintains the PA list, assists consumers with individual advocacy related to PA needs, and teaches PA management skills. Melissa also provides independent living skills training, individual advocacy, information and referral, peer mentoring, and transition services that help prepare youth to transition into adult life. Community education, systems advocacy, and outreach efforts are also conducted. She mostly works out of our branch office in Pontiac but is at our Bloomington office one day a week, too. Melissa has 24 years of service and training in the PA field.

Phone:815-844-1132
Email:melissa@lifecil.org

Ryan Osborn

Receptionist

Ryan Osborn

Receptionist

Ryan T. Osborn started with LIFE CIL in June 2024, coming to us with years of customer service experience. He is LIFE CIL’s part-time Receptionist and is a friendly face at our front desk in our Bloomington office. He answers the phone and handles our equipment loan program during his hours in the office. Ryan does much of the data entry for our equipment loan and donations databases. In his free time, Ryan has always enjoyed literature and is an independent author with several published romantic suspense novels.

Phone:309-663-5433
Email:ryan@lifecil.org

Carson Cross

Independent Living Advocate

Carson Cross

Independent Living Advocate

Carson Cross, Independent Living Advocate, joined the LIFE CIL team in August 2024. Carson’s day to day at the Center includes supporting and working beside folks to establish confidence in navigating their everyday life with independence and courage. Carson joins our team equipped with a decade of experience working and adventuring in the organized camping and retreat movement. Carson is a first-generation college graduate and attended Northern Illinois University where he received his bachelor’s degree in Nonprofit and NGO Studies.

Phone:309-663-5433 ext 205
Email:carson@lifecil.org

Quinn Wacker

Administrative Assistant

Quinn Wacker

Administrative Assistant

Quinn Wacker, Administrative Assistant, has been with LIFE CIL since August 2024. He comes to us with four years of experience in senior activities and nearly five years providing customer service. He has been a resident of McLean County his whole life and grew up in a household with strong advocates and learned from an early age how important advocacy is. Quinn provides information and referral, assists with equipment loan and ITAC amplified phones. He also provides administrative support to other members of the team, working closely with the Administrative Services Director. He also provides staff accommodations, handles purchasing, and assists with LIFE CIL’s digital platforms.

Phone:309-663-5433 ext 233
Email:quinn@lifecil.org

Core Services

Home and Community Based

Vision Loss

Housing Services

Youth Programs

Equipment

Consulting and Training

Services Overview

Core Services

Home and Community Based

Vision Loss

Housing Services

Youth Programs

Equipment

Consulting and Training

Services Overview

Our Team

The LIFE CIL Team

Rickielee Benecke

Meri Helbig

Brianne Anderson

Kim Tarkowski

Andrea Kindseth

Shannon Tarkowski

Keith Adams

Melissa Johnson

Ryan Osborn

Carson Cross

Quinn Wacker

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