Advisory Board

Most Reverend Jeffrey R. Haines was born October 6, 1958. He attended Holy Apostles Parish and Grade School, New Berlin, and graduated from New Berlin West High School in 1977. He began his college studies at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, before transferring and graduating from Marquette University in 1981 with a degree in theology. Bishop Haines attended Saint Francis de Sales Seminary for graduate theological studies from 1981-1985, earning a Masters of Divinity degree. He was ordained to the priesthood on May 17, 1985, by Archbishop Rembert G. Weakland, O.S.B. After ordination, Bishop Haines was appointed Associate Pastor of St. Nicholas, Milwaukee. In 1987, he was given additional responsibilities as Associate Pastor of Holy Redeemer Church, Milwaukee. In 1991, he was appointed Associate Pastor of St. Eugene Parish, Fox Point. In 1996, he was appointed Pastor of St. Frances Cabrini Parish, West Bend. In 2002, he was granted temporary leave to study canon law at Catholic University. However, he returned within the year to become Temporary Administrator of St. Patrick Parish, Whitewater. In 2003, he returned as Pastor of St. Frances Cabrini Parish, West Bend, and was given additional responsibility as Assisting Priest of Immaculate Conception/St. Mary’s, West Bend in 2004. In 2011, he was appointed Rector of the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, Milwaukee. Most Reverend Haines was named Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee by Pope Francis on January 25, 2017. He was ordained on March 17, 2017, at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, Milwaukee. Additionally, Bishop Haines was three times elected moderator of the Archdiocesan Council of Priests of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, and currently is a member of the College of Consultors. He also served on the Archdiocesan Synod Preparatory Commission and the Archdiocesan Synod Implementation Commission. He is respected by fellow clergy and parishioners alike for his pastoral and leadership skills. Born in Milwaukee to his parents, Jim and Maureen (“Mo”) Haines, Bishop Haines has three siblings, John (Mary), Rick (Donna) and Anne (Sean) Haines Carroll.

 

Chris Kuss grew up moving around the world in a Marine Corps family. He has a lifelong appreciation of Catholic education, resulting from attending a Franciscan grade school, a Salesian high school, and a Jesuit university. After settling in Milwaukee, Chris was pleased to discover that the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist reminded him of a church he remembers best from his youth. Chris and his wife, April, live in Shorewood with their seven children, three of whom are currently enrolled at Catholic East. The family has been actively involved at the Cathedral as ministers of Hospitality. Chris is in the third year of his first term on the Parish Council, and is their liaison to Catholic East.

Lori Lester has been a Three Holy Women parishioner for more than 20 years. She and her husband, Keith, have three daughters: Lauren, who married Kyle Yarberry at St. Hedwig’s in 2012 and are living on Bainbridge Island, WA; Stephanie, a graduate of the University of Minnesota living in Seattle, WA; and Danielle, who is a senior at Virginia Tech studying Electrical Engineering. Lori has worked in education for more than 30 years and recently retired from Wauwatosa Public Schools where she served as an elementary principal. Lori started her career in the Milwaukee Public Schools as a teacher, working at Westside Academy and Maryland Avenue Montessori School for a combined 10 years. After moving to Whitefish Bay, she taught fifth grade for four years, and the Gifted and Talented program for three years. For the past 18 years, she served the West Allis and Wauwatosa communities as an elementary school principal. As a CEE Advisory Board Member, Lori is excited to continue to serve our parish school. She feels that, although it is a challenging time to be in education, the recent challenges offer many opportunities to look at education through a new lens. She looks forward to working with the other board members and Mr. Gonzalez to not only sustain the great programs at Catholic East but to enhance the faith-based education and intellectual growth of our students.

Anthony is the CEO and Co-Founder of Hanging Gardens, LLC. Since receiving degrees from both the Business Administration and Architecture schools at UW-Milwaukee, Anthony spent seven years developing numerous construction companies’ green infrastructure programs. Additionally, through relatives in Swabia, Germany, the birthplace of stormwater consciousness, he connected with German experts in these technologies. It is through this experience that he honed his knowledge and skills in the stormwater management space. With the prowess gained and passion for urban revitalization, Anthony and Co-founder Daniel launched Hanging Gardens in 2009. Together, they have spear-headed research and development of the most comprehensive, value-based product and service line for green infrastructure and stormwater management, in the world. He and his wife, Krystal, are the proud parents of two CEE scholars: daughter Zoianna in sixth grade, and son Izaiah in fourth grade. They are active members of Old Saint Mary parish. As one of the more recent members of the Advisory Board, Anthony anticipates that he will be able to share his expertise in innovative problem solving to the betterment of the quality Catholic education provided by Catholic East.