CLICK HERE TO READ OUR STATEMENT ON COVID 19. CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER. A Little Bit About Us The Milk Bank provides pasteurized donor human milk (PDHM) by prescription or physical order to hospitals and outpatients throughout the United States. Premature and ill infants in hospital neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) are our highest priority. Want to join our team? Check our Careers page for current open positions! FREEDOM KOLB, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Servant leader and community organizer are the roles I have built my career around, but the job I cherish most is mom to three amazing, fierce daughters. I know first hand the challenges with medical scares, breastfeeding challenges, juggling work life balance, and the importance of finding a support system. That is why with more than 22 years in the philanthropic sector around the country, I am delighted to join the lifesaving work of The Milk Bank! I see our work as pro-women, pro-children, pro-family and an investment in our collective public health. I am so proud of the high clinical and customer service standards this organization has achieved and will be working toward leveraging these strengths to serve even more children and rally support for the most vulnerable infants. I invite everyone to join us at The Milk Bank and consider how you can lend time, talent, or treasure to combatting the staggering infant mortality rate. When I’m not in work mode you can find me a the barn, sporting events, or advocating for equity and inclusion around the Central Indiana community. Contact me at fkolb@themilkbank.org or extension 109 if: -You’d like to explore program collaborations -You’re interested in board or committee service -You have ideas how The Milk Bank can help you address health disparities -You’d like to make an investment in the fight against infant mortality SARAH LONG, IBCLC, DIRECTOR OF CLINICAL OPERATIONS Since my relocation from the UK to the USA in 2008, I have worked tirelessly to create a career in the field I feel so passionately about. I graduated in 1997 from the University of Birmingham, Central England, with a Bachelors in Midwifery. My career as a Registered Midwife in the UK allowed me the honor of delivering and supporting moms in an incredible life event-birth. My passion for breastfeeding really began when I became a Mother. The challenges I faced along the way taught me that all moms need good community breastfeeding support. This inspired me to increase my knowledge in lactation to enhance my practice as a Midwife. Following my immigration to the United States, I am proud to say I achieved my goal of becoming an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). Since then I have been employed as a hospital based IBCLC and provided private home visits as a Lactation Consultant. I am happy to say I found my calling here at The Milk Bank, where I can help support a population of Moms and Babies, who without a doubt will receive the unique gift of Mothers milk. Contact me at slong@themilkbank.org or extension 104 to: -Learn more about providing TMB programs and services at your facility -Schedule professional education for your healthcare team -Inquire about our lactation support program JAMI MARVIN, PRODUCTION DIRECTOR After my daughter was born in 2010, she spent a month in the hospital for brain surgery. During that time, the only thing that I could think to do was to breastfeed. It wasn’t easy in the beginning. She was taken to a separate hospital just a few hours after birth, while I was recovering from a C-section. I had just a couple hours with her immediately after birth where we did skin to skin and she did latch and begin to nurse but it wasn’t for very long. I pretty much began my breastfeeding journey using a pump in a hospital miles away from my baby, just as many of our donors do. However, in my mind, since I couldn’t go through the surgery for her, I knew that I was giving her the best chance I could at getting through the surgery as a healthy baby girl. She made it through just fine and my husband and I realized the benefits that breastfeeding offered our daughter. I was able to use my knowledge of food service standards, and my love and passion of breastfeeding to start working at The Milk Bank. Since then, I have had two healthy little boys who were lucky enough to come to work with me at The Milk Bank every day until they were six months old. The opportunity to continue our uninterrupted breastfeeding journey for that long, and be a working mom was the best of both worlds. The support during my pregnancies and breastfeeding journeys with them has been amazing! I have loved working at The Milk Bank for the last 7 years and I look forward to growing with the organization. Contact me at jmarvin@themilkbank.org or extension 106 if you: -Are a university wanting education information -Want to inquire about scheduling a tour of our facility (be aware that we currently have restrictions in place due to Covid-19) JENNY PEMBERTON, BUSINESS DIRECTOR Why would a woman without children want to work with breast milk? I heard variations of that question more than once when I announced to family and friends that I had taken a job at The Milk Bank. I guess it was a legitimate question considering that all of my “babies” have four legs and fur and I had spent nearly twenty years working in Information Technology and Analytics. My answer was simple, I was tired of helping corporations make money, I wanted to help make a difference in peoples’ lives. I had heard about The Milk Bank several years ago from a friend and was impressed with the amazing service they provide. I’ve always had a passion for helping those in need and when I found out The Milk Bank was hiring I knew I needed to be a part of this incredible organization and, as luck would have it, they felt I would be a good addition to their staff. I know that I have found my new calling. I’m amazed by the brave, strong, passionate women who work here and am so proud to not only call them my co-workers but also my friends. Every day I am inspired by them and reminded that The Milk Bank is about more than just breast milk, it’s about the compassion offered to a bereaved mom as she deals with life (and her milk) after losing her child, it’s about the support given to a mom that has spent day in and day out with her baby in the NICU, it’s about the encouragement given to a mom who is about to take her first (or second or third…) baby home from the hospital. Amazing things happen here every day. When I’m not at The Milk Bank you can find me creating art in my stained glass workshop, planning our next travel adventure or planting and harvesting apples, pumpkins and other vegetables for various local Farmer’s Markets and the U-Pick Pumpkin Patch at the farm my husband and I own and operate, Ducky Meadow Farm and Orchard. Contact me at jpemberton@themilkbank.org or extension 110 if: -You want to schedule a media interview -You want to score some sweet TMB swag JENNA STREIT, ADVANCEMENT DIRECTOR Moments after my youngest daughter was born, we knew she needed a short stay in the NICU. A nurse turned to me and asked if I would like her to receive donor milk or formula. While my heart was aching that I wouldn’t be immediately nursing my daughter as I had wanted, I was grateful to choose donor milk. It made me feel like another parent had my back. A donor had provided milk so that my daughter and I could both rest, recover and heal. This gratitude sparked my interested in joining The Milk Bank. I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to work with supporters who are passionate about breastfeeding and chestfeeding, improving infant mortality, want to support bereaved families, and want to ensure fragile infants have access to life-saving breast milk. In my free time, you can find me DIYing a number of projects around my home, playing with my daughters and baking sourdough. Contact me at jstreit@themilkbank.org or extension 105 if: -You would like to tour The Milk Bank and learn more about our services. -You would like to make a gift to The Milk Bank. -You would like to hold a fundraiser to benefit The Milk Bank. LAUREN DUNCAN, CLS, CLINICAL PROGRAMMING COORDINATOR I’ve always known that breastmilk is best for babies, but it really hit home when my first child, Michael, was born just shy of 24 weeks gestation. Due to his extreme prematurity, I knew what he needed most was my milk, so I pumped like it was my job! Sadly, Michael was very sick and passed away when he was a month old and I was left with lots of milk that I knew I couldn’t just throw away, so I asked about donating. I am so grateful that this was an option! Donating my milk in his memory was an incredible part of my healing and it was comforting to know that the milk I had made just for him and his needs would go to other sick babies with needs similar to his. Since then, I have given birth to a healthy baby girl who I was able to successfully breastfeed. In my free time, I enjoy time at the gym, reading, gardening, trying new recipes and spending time with my husband and daughter, as well as my Brittany Spaniel, Charlie. I have a passion for living a healthy, active lifestyle and plan to become a Certified Nutritionist so that I may help support women who are seeking a healthier lifestyle. Working at The Milk Bank has truly been a dream come true! I am honored to have the opportunity to work with our amazing and selfless donors and know that the important work we do is making a difference. Contact me at lduncan@themilkbank.org or extenstion 103 if: -You are interested in TMB’s Bereavement Donation programming -You want to become a Milk Depot for TMB -You would like information on obtaining donor milk for your baby DIANE WADE, OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR While my career began in Human Resources, I am a lifelong volunteer committed to serving family & youth centered organizations. I stayed home while my three children were young and logged a total of two and a half years breastfeeding, where I came to appreciate why breast milk is referred to as “liquid gold!” I am in awe of our donors, who are giving a truly precious gift. I knew that when I returned to work, I would pursue my passion for the nonprofit sector. In 2017, I received my graduate certificate in nonprofit management from IUPUI’s O’Neill School for Public and Environmental Affairs and my Masters in Public Affairs in 2020. I love putting those skills to work every day, developing relationships with community organizations, connecting with volunteers and sharing the stories of our incredible milk donors When I need to recharge, I love going to concerts, listening to podcasts, cooking and hanging out with my family, which includes our Bernedoodle, Wendell. I am honored to work alongside my colleagues at The Milk Bank doing the important work of supporting moms and babies! Contact me at dwade@themilkbank.org or extension 114 if: -You would like to volunteer -You would like The Milk Bank to attend your community event KENDRA DUNKERSON, PASTEURIZATION TECHNICIAN As a mother of three daughters, I have seen the physical and emotional benefits of breast-feeding first hand. They, too, are enjoying this experience as they become mothers themselves. I currently have two grandchildren and another arriving very shortly! I have always worked in the service industry, either waiting tables or tending bar at special events. It was an honest, decent living, and provided nicely for my girls and I. Then came the proverbial "empty nest syndrome" after all three had graduated and moved out. So I enrolled and Ivy Tech community college. There i received my Associates of Applied Science in the field of Mortuary. While deciding what to do with this new accomplishment, I was contacted by an old friend and previous coworker. She offered me the fantastic opportunity to be a part of something important and life-changing. I jumped at the chance. Now I am proud to say I work at The Milk Bank, and every day we make a difference in fragile babies lives. It is a wonderful feeling to enjoy my place of employment as well as my lovely caring coworkers. I hope to be a part of this company for many years to come. JENNIFER REESE, OFFICE OPERATIONS SPECIALIST I graduated from Butler University in 2008 with my bachelor’s degree and went on to become an “odd job” queen, doing everything from working in restaurants and various offices, to face painting for the Indiana Pacers. I finally landed in a small corporate office as a staff accountant where I worked my way up over the course of nine years, learning accounting and business. I was absolutely overjoyed when I was able to come aboard the team here at TMB in 2019, and apply my skillset to help an organization that I truly believe in. I had known about The Milk Bank for years through family ties, and my husband and I have loved to be connected and lend our support in any way we have been able. The Milk Bank became especially important to me, personally, after my first son was born in 2015. I was headed back to work full-time but was set on reaching my breast-feeding goals of providing at least one year of breast milk for my son. I showed up at The Milk Bank with nothing but my breast pump and 5,000 questions about how to make it all work, and with the support of the Breastfeeding Resources & Assistance @ TMB (BRA) program, I was able to get the answers and help I needed to succeed in reaching (and exceeding!) those goals. Contact me at jreese@themilkbank.org or extension 101 for: -General A/P or A/R relations -Easy connections with the best staff member to fit your needs KRISTIN BYRD, MILK DONOR SPECIALIST What a better gift to give a new bundle of joy, than the gift of breastmilk?! As we all know, the benefits of breastmilk for babies are amazing! I first learned of the importance of breastmilk from my grandmother as a little girl growing up. Later, while working with children and families, breastfeeding became one of the many questions Moms had, but it wasn’t until my first son was born, that I began to breastfeed. After delivery, I was informed that he would need to be in the NICU for a short period of time. My nurse introduced me to a lactation consultant in the hospital. She taught me exactly what I needed to know about breastfeeding for my baby’s health and for that I’m so grateful. I was also able to breastfeed my youngest son successfully because of her. My background is in healthcare, early childhood education, family case management, and having over 15 years of customer service experience. It brings me joy to know that I am helping families in the community. I feel proud to be apart of an organization with such a great mission to save fragile infant lives. In my role at The Milk Bank, I feel honored to be the first contact with donor moms and bereaved donor moms; being with them every step of the way during their milk donor journey. I am a proud Mom of two smart, loving, and busy boys, one with special needs. They keep me on my toes, so I appreciate the “me” time when taken. In my down time, you can find me listening to music and various podcast genres, shopping, scrapbooking, watching The Amazing Race, social media vlogs, and spending time with my husband, two boys, and loved ones. Contact me at kbyrd@themilkbank.org or extension 111 if: -You are interested in donating your precious milk! KENDRA PARLIN, MILK DONOR SPECIALIST Helping others has always been a passion of mine. When I was younger, I thought that meant growing up to be a teacher. After 1 day in a college education course, I knew that wasn’t the role for me! That’s when I discovered Social Work. I loved the idea of being able to help people in all different walks, ages, and stages of their lives. Since graduating with my Bachelor’s in 2010, I’ve mainly worked with children and families involved in the child welfare system. After becoming a mother in 2012, my focus and passions began to shift. I struggled with post-partum anxiety and feeling ashamed of it because no one ever TALKED about it. At the time, I was also struggling with breastfeeding my daughter. Our breastfeeding journey only lasted about 8 weeks because I felt defeated and had little knowledge/support at the time. When my son was born in 2018, I was determined to have a better outcome. I Googled anything and everything related to breastfeeding and plugged myself into multiple breastfeeding support groups. I was also very vocal about my struggles and felt empowered to share that with others so they would not feel ashamed/alone like I had. Amazingly, our breastfeeding journey lasted nearly 2 years! The amount of information, support, and resources The Milk Bank offered initially drew me in and when the opportunity to work for this incredible organization opened up, I jumped! I am so excited to be part of such a dedicated, caring team here at The Milk Bank. I look forward to serving the donor mothers throughout their donation journey – they are the true superheroes! When I’m not at the Milk Bank, you can find me hanging out at home with my family- I’m a homebody through and through. I keep busy with crafting/sewing/creating as well as an online business. Contact me at kparlin@themilkbank.org or extension 107 if: -You are interested in becoming a milk donor. BROCK BADGLEY, LABORATORY SPECIALIST Bio and photo coming soon! CONTACT US The Milk Bank 5060 E. 62nd Street, Suite 128 Indianapolis, IN 46220 p. 317.536.1670 f. 317.536.1676 toll free. 877.829.7470 Office Hours Monday - Thursday 8AM until 5PM Friday - 8AM until 2:30PM CONNECT WITH US Contact Us Newsletter Sign Up Careers Press & Media Kit Notice of Privacy Practices