Our Team

Veterinarian/Owner

Laura Brown, DVM

Dr. Brown graduated from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine in 1987 after receiving her undergraduate degree in Biology at Illinois. Dr. Brown began her veterinary career in Southern California, where she was primarily involved in equine medicine for thoroughbred racehorses. She transitioned her focus to small animal medicine in 1989 when she joined Mission Animal Hospital in Oceanside, California. She remained at Mission until 1992, when her husband’s job transferred them to southeast Idaho. While practicing in Twin Falls and Pocatello, Dr. Brown and her husband Kris took advantage of the beautiful scenery and skied when not taking emergency calls. Dr. Brown joined DuPage Animal Hospital in Villa Park, IL, in 1993 (another husband job transfer), where she practiced small animal medicine and surgery. In August of 1996, Dr. Brown opened GreenTree Animal Hospital in Libertyville, and the rest is history. Thanks to the support of her husband Kris and their daughters Sara and Clare, finding a work-life balance has been enjoyable. Sara (ILL-INI) and Clare (Go Gamecocks) have recently made Kris and Laura empty nesters. For Dr. Brown, keeping busy with Stanley the Golden Retriever, golf, tennis, and getting together with friends have become the new normal.

Veterinarian

Deni Ianakov, DVM

Dr. Deni Ianakov received her bachelor’s degree in Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine at the University of Illinois. In May 2004, she obtained a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. As a new graduate, Dr. Ianakov was excited to join our team in July 2004, where she is building on her strong interest in orthopedics and teeth cleaning. Dr. Ianakov resides in Highland Park, Illinois, with her husband Luis, daughter Giselle, son Sebastian, and retriever mix Casper. 

Veterinarian

Laura Hardy, DVM

Dr. Laura Hardy received her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Iowa State in 1986. She then completed a year-long internship at the Veterinary College of Kansas State University. Dr. Hardy has interests in soft tissue surgery, pet dentistry, and general medicine. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Dr. Hardy has also lived in New York, Virginia, Iowa, Oregon, and California before moving to Illinois in 1990. Along with her husband Mark, Dr. Hardy shares her home with their crazy cat, geriatric snake, fish and sometimes her adult children, Sam and Sarah.

Veterinarian

Susan McKenzie, DVM

Dr. McKenzie has been an associate veterinarian at GreenTree since March 2012. She is a 1992 graduate of Michigan State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and practiced in St Louis, Missouri, and Albuquerque, New Mexico. She lives with her husband Jeremy and their two children, Ben and Jillian. Dr. McKenzie currently has a dog named Mabel. 

Lauren Hai, DVM

Dr. Lauren Hai, a native of the north suburbs of Chicago, joined our team in May 2019. She became our medical director in 2021. She obtained her undergraduate degree at Iowa State University and completed her veterinary degree at the University of Sydney in Sydney, Australia, in 2014. She has worked in both emergency and general practice over the past years. She loves being a small animal veterinarian and has a passion for behavior, preventative and emergency medicine. She lives in Libertyville with her husband Josh, their daughter Winry, twin babies Maeve and Emmett, and their two dogs, Xena and Byron. She has many hobbies, including playing video games, traveling, boating, crafting, and gardening.

Veterinarian

Marina Jaworsky, DVM

Dr. Marina Jaworsky joined GreenTree Animal Hospital in February of 2020. Dr. Jaworsky is a 2015 graduate of the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine and has an interest in small and exotic animal surgery and medicine.

She lives in Grayslake with her husband, her son, her scruffy terrier, and a small reef tank. Dr. Jaworsky is also a past president of the Chicago Veterinary Medical Association. In her free time, she loves to travel, read novels, and bike ride.

Customer Service Representative (CSR)

Kat Kranz

Kat is known by many names. Here at GreenTree, she is known as Kat. Her family calls her Kathy, and her youngest daughter calls her Rachel (long story). She has three human children – one son and two daughters – and three fur children – two dogs and a cat. Kat loves gardening, crafting, and used to love long walks on the beach if her knees would let her. She has been a CSR at GreenTree for 15 years, a job she never thought she would have. Kat absolutely loves it at GreenTree and considers it her home away from home, and all her coworkers she considers family. She was born in Chicago, grew up in Northbrook, and started her first job at a dog training kennel at 14. At 16, she was offered a job with a vet in Glenview. Kat worked for three years as a tech before moving to Arizona. She did not like leaving that job as it was her dream job. In Arizona, she worked at a groomer/kennel and delivered newspapers. She lived in Arizona for 10 years but could not get over how much she missed her family, so she moved back to Illinois. Kat spent the next several years raising her kids and doing mom things, delivering papers (yes, she still did that), and rescued many critters. Her house was never without at least 2 dogs and multiple small critters. When Kat is not at GreenTree, she loves binge-watching Netflix and still does a little gardening.

Customer Service Representative (CSR)

Laura Rausch

Laura joined GreenTree Animal Hospital as a receptionist in the Spring of 2013. Her favorite part of working at GreenTree is seeing the relationship between the clients and their pets. Her interest in the human/animal bond started in high school after writing a paper about the Leader Dogs for the Blind Organization. Laura and her family have successfully raised five Labrador Retriever puppies to go on to lead their blind owners. She and her husband live in Mundelein. They have two kids who are both married and live locally. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with them and her twin granddaughters. Laura also enjoys dollhouse miniatures and is currently working on completing her 11th dollhouse.

Customer Service Representative (CSR)

Lindy Savoie

Lindy grew up in a small town in Northeastern Indiana. From a young age, she had an interest in working with animals, specifically marine mammals. All the way through high school, her ultimate career goal was to someday “Train Shamu”. Lindy completed her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Purdue University in 2004 and married her high school sweetheart, Jon, that summer. They lived in their hometown for a year after that, and then she took her first job in the veterinary industry at a small one-doctor equine/small animal practice where everyone did everything. Lindy was able to gain a lot of experience because she was able to help with everything from receptionist duties to technician duties, to kennels (which included caring for horses). She worked there for a year and then Jon decided to pursue another degree, which took them to Florida. Lindy started at GreenTree in 2008 as a client service representative and later earned her Veterinary Assistant Certificate, but decided to continue in her current position as a CSR. Her son, Finn, was born in 2014. They have had and lost several pets over the years – 2 cats, Lola and Mischa, and 2 Weimaraners, Bella and Kemper. They were all heartbreaking to Lindy and her family, but Kemper was her heart dog. Lindy didn’t think that she would ever recover, but a year ago, along came a yellow Labrador Retriever puppy named Marvel who healed her heart and quickly became Finn’s best friend, along with their cat, Mae. Life happened as it often does, and Lindy’s dream job of becoming a dolphin trainer faded, but over the years at GreenTree, she found her place. She has a passion for helping pet owners navigate the often-confusing world of pet nutrition to find a food that will help their furry family members thrive. Lindy loves being a part of the GreenTree family and truly feels that she found her place here.

Customer Service Representative (CSR)

Miranda Jansen

Miranda has worked as a CSR at GreenTree since March of 2021. Previously, she worked in elder care and childcare and now cares for dogs and cats. She has also studied interior design and photography and co-owned a photo lab in Libertyville for 4 years. When Miranda is not busy answering phones and scheduling appointments, she enjoys pet-sitting, attending sound bath meditation sessions, collecting crystals, watching hockey games, and spending time with her boyfriend, Andrew. You might see them around Lake County walking dogs and playing Pokemon Go!

Customer Service Representative (CSR)

Valerie Wagner

Bio Coming soon!

Customer Service Representative (CSR)

Irais Ramirez

Bio Coming soon!

Customer Service Representative (CSR)

Patty Prado

Bio Coming soon!

Kennel Assistant

Julia Matter

Bio Coming soon!

Customer Service Representative (CSR)

Jocelyn Gonzalez

Bio coming soon!

Customer Service Representative (CSR)

Elise Nadboralski

Bio coming soon!

Customer Service Representative (CSR) Supervisor

Addie Neal

Addie is a dedicated Client Service Representative at GreenTree Animal Clinic for over 4 years. She excels at educating clients on pet care, ensuring that every furry friend receives the best attention. Addie’s passion lies in being the voice for animals who can’t speak, advocating for their well-being and happiness. Not only does she excel in her role with clients, but she also nurtures the plants in the clinic, making it a warm and welcoming environment for everyone. Off-duty, you’ll find Addie indulging in her hobbies, from enjoying music to exploring new destinations and taking care of her beloved plants.

CVT

Whitney Bruni

Bio coming soon!

Veterinary Technician

Emmanuel Bustos

Bio coming soon!

Veterinary Technician

Alyssa Ludwig

Alyssa grew up in Florida and Virginia. She has always had animals around, from birds to horses, chickens, dogs, cats, fish, and now the reptile world! She previously worked for 1.5 years at TOPS Vet Rehab before joining us at GreenTree in January 2022.

Veterinary Technician

Becca Carlson

Becca has always had a passion for animals and grew up around horses. She has always had an interest in veterinary medicine and would even follow the veterinarian around when she came out to see the horses. Becca started in vet med about 5 years ago and has been a tech at GreenTree for almost 3 years. She loves horses and dogs the most, especially shepherds. She has a bulldog named David that is the love of her life. In her time off, Becca loves to be outside. She enjoys the beach and water skis in the summer and snowboards in the winter.

CVT

Patty Vogt-Repsold

Patty has been a GreenTree team member for 3.5 years. She has been a veterinary technician for 14 years and earned her CVT credentials while at GreenTree. Patty has an extensive background in veterinary emergency and specialty medicine. She always knew that she wanted to work in the veterinary field. It all started when she talked to the veterinarian who came to career night when she was in elementary school. She is a self-proclaimed crazy cat lady and can usually be found cuddling any cat that will let her. Patty lives with her wife, Cindy, and their 8 furry children – 4 dogs and 4 cats. In her free time, she loves to travel, read, work on little projects, and spend time with family.

CVT

Kellen Linderman

Kellen joined GreenTree in 2022. She has been a vet tech for over 10 years and could not see herself doing anything else. Kellen became a CVT in 2019. She loves being able to go to work every day and to take care of animals. Her passion is to help strengthen the human/animal bond between clients and their pets. When she is not working, you can usually find her with her dog, Quorra, and her 2 kids. Kellen’s hobbies include hiking, puzzles, and watching her kids play sports.

CVT

Bobbie Cruz

Bobbie is one of our newest team members. She has been a CVT for 12 years. She has a small zoo at her house consisting of chickens, ducks, a goat, reptiles, dogs, cats, and a horse. In her free time, Bobbie enjoys spending time with her family, horseback riding, and taking care of her zoo. Her favorite part about being a tech is forming a bond with clients and their pets.

CVT Veterinary Technician Supervisor

April Reavis

April has been in the veterinary field for 14 years. She is originally from Illinois but started her career in Florida working as a technician. She was at the same practice in Florida for 3.5 years before moving back to Illinois. April started working at GreenTree and has been here for 10 years. She has loved animals ever since she was a little girl. She has a dog named Ty, a cat named Shoo Shoo Baby (she is the princess), a bunny named Polkie (because of the polka dots on his back), and a corn snake named Rosie. April has two daughters who have also fallen in love with animals (hence the small zoo). She could not imagine doing anything else.

CVT Veterinary Technician Supervisor

Diana Pop

Diana is a highly experienced and passionate veterinary technician who has dedicated over 20 years of her life to caring for animals and providing essential medical support in veterinary practices. Throughout her career, she has developed a deep understanding and empathy for animals, and she finds immense joy in connecting with people through their beloved pets. One of Diana’s greatest joys is teaching and sharing her knowledge with others. For Diana, mental health is a topic close to her heart. Having witnessed the impact of pet ownership on emotional well-being, she advocates for the positive influence animals can have on people’s mental health. She actively promotes the importance of caring for one’s mental health and encourages her clients and colleagues to seek support when needed. In her personal life, Diana has two cherished pets – Norman and Hettie. In her spare time, she prioritizes activities that promote her well-being. She finds solace in playing the piano, as it allows her to unwind and express herself creatively. Additionally, Diana enjoys playing tennis, as it not only keeps her physically active but also provides an outlet to release any accumulated stress.

Veterinarian

Katie Weber, DVM

Dr. Katie Weber grew up on a hog farm in central Illinois with her parents and four sisters. After completing college at Eastern Illinois University, she began her career working for various wildlife agencies in both Wyoming and Illinois. After several years of working with snakes and different species of game fish, she decided to attend veterinary school at the University of Wisconsin, where she graduated in 2019. She then began practicing at a small animal clinic in Madison, WI, where she also practiced exotics medicine with a specific passion for reptiles and fish. Her additional interests lie within surgical and anesthetic considerations for exotics species, soft-tissue surgery, ultrasound, and multi-modal pain management for every pet she sees. Dr. Weber lives with her wife Kelly (who is also a veterinarian), their dog, two cats, and two snakes. When not working or handling the zoo at home, she enjoys hiking, canoeing, camping, reading, and playing guitar.

Veterinarian

Liora Rephael, DVM

Dr. Rephael joined GreenTree Animal Hospital in September. If you’ve been in recently, you may have seen her working alongside one of our fabulous doctors to familiarize herself with the hospital and team.

Dr. Rephael was born and raised in Israel. She was enlisted in the Israeli Defense Force as a combat medic and served two years, followed by an additional twelve years in a search and rescue unit in the Israeli Reserves. She completed her BA in Sociology and Anthropology from the University of Haifa and then went on to complete her prerequisites for vet school.

Dr. Rephael graduated from the University of Illinois in 2020 and has been working in emergency and General Practice for the past year. She has a strong interest in soft tissue surgery, emergency medicine, and client education.

Dr. Rephael lives in Mt Prospect with her significant other Jimmy and has a cat named Diego and a dog named Gia. When not at work, she enjoys cooking and spending time outdoors.

Ryan Taipalus

Ryan has been in the Veterinary field for that past 11 years, starting as a technician and for the past 5 years as Practice Manager for both General Practice and Emergency hospitals. Ryan is originally from Colorado, where he received his bachelor’s degree in biology. In 2020 Ryan, his wife Ericka, 5-year-old twin boys, and 3-year-old daughter decided to make the move to Southern Wisconsin for a less crowded lifestyle. They share there home with 3 dogs Rowdy, Jules, and Pinkie. When not at work Ryan can be found enjoying the outdoors, playing video games, or reading the newest fantasy book.