Presenters, Panelists & Performers
Alphabetical Listing by Last NameA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Miriam Andrus
Miriam Andrus, who served as the Mesa FSA co-chair along side her husband Rich in 2007-2008, is a stay at home mom to four wonderful children - 3 of which were adopted. She enjoys any opportunity to educate others about adoption and more specifically open adoption. In her (rare) free time she enjoys reading and photography. Some of the activities she enjoys with her family are bike rides, Wii Sports competitions, reading with her kids, listening to them describe their day at school, and watching them learn new things. She looks forward to discussing adoption with you!
Victoria Asciutto
My name is Victoria Asciutto and I am 19 years old. My brothers and I were separated when I was around three years old. I grew up in an orphanage for most of my childhood. I was adopted from Almaty, Kazakhstan at the age of 12 years old and I have been living in the United States of America for 7 years. I have recently graduated from Mesquite High School and I am now attending Chandler- Gilbert Community College. I am majoring in Clinical Psychology and I intend to move to New York in a few years.
Jill Barber is proud to be a birth mom. She placed her baby for adoption in September of 2009 after single parenting for nine weeks. She blogs about her adoption experience at thehappiestsad.com. Jill enjoys talking about adoption whenever she can to whoever will listen. She has been on several birth mother panels and done more school outreach presentations than she can count. A native of Arizona, Jill lives in Gilbert and plans on going back to school in January to finish her bachelor's degree in psychology. She is single and hoping to "adopt" a husband. Jill loves God, her family and her little girl, writing, playing the piano, traveling, spoiling her nieces and nephews, and the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Luis, Amelia & Alfonso
Belchior
Luis (age 18), Amelia (age 17), Afonso (Age 12) Belchior were born in Mozambique, Africa. In 2002 they were orphaned when both their mother and their father died of AIDS. For a short time they lived alone fending for themselves in their parent's unfinished home made of dirt and sticks. At the time Luis, the oldest, was only 11. After several weeks they were placed in an orphanage where they met Greg and Sharon Slater who were visiting their orphanage on a humanitarian trip. The Slaters decided to pursue adoption of the three children, came home to be certified to adopt internationally, and then filed to adopt in the Mozambique courts. Due to legal roadblocks and cultural misunderstandings the adoption was denied. The Slaters then spent the next six years seeking to have the adoption denial appealed. During part of that time they placed the Belchior children in a home with a relative in Mozambique. An award-winning documentary was made about the children's lives and their desire to be adopted to highlight the plight of many orphans in need of families. This documentary was shown at the United Nations.Subsequently a university invited them to come to the U.S. to speak at an orphan awareness seminar. When they came to the U.S. in January of 2008 they had only planned to stay three weeks, participating in an orphan awareness tour. However, on the day that they were scheduled to fly back to Mozambique there was a flood in their country that made it impossible for them to return to their home. The Slaters then filed to have the children put under the protection of the Arizona courts and placed into their home as foster children. The government of Mozambique was consulted throughout this process. After living with the Slaters as foster children for about two years, now making it eight years since becoming acquainted with them, the Slaters finally were able to adopt the Belchior children. Amelia, Luis and Afonso have adjusted quickly to American culture and the English language, are doing well in school, and are heavily involved in many activities. They love to wakeboard, water ski, and play soccer -- but they especially love to sign and dance. All three children are members of Light Entertainment Company, a traveling youth group that performs for audiences in Arizona and in several other states. They hope to perform at the United Nations this fall. Luis had the opportunity to be a featured speaker at a UN AIDS, Orphans, and Africa Caucus where he described what it is like to be an orphan and then promoted international and domestic adoption.
Kristy Blackwell
Kristy B. Blackwell, Esq.
Donaldson Stuart, PC
3100 W. Ray Road, Ste 115
Chandler, AZ 85226
480-792-9770 / 480-792-9771 fax
kbb@monicadonaldson.com
Ms. Blackwell has been working with adoptive families, birth moms and adoption agencies in her legal practice for six years. She is knowledgeable and experienced with interstate adoptions, private adoptions, step-parent adoptions, grandparent adoptions and single parent adoptions. Ms. Blackwell was admitted to the practice of law in 2004 after graduating Suma Cum Laude from Arizona State University's School of Law and her practice focuses primarily on adoptions, family law and estate planning. Ms. Blackwell accepts several pro bono cases per year through the Volunteer Lawyers Program of Arizona to assist families in need with adoptions, guardianships and other matters in the juvenile court. Ms. Blackwell has had the special opportunity of representing several close friends with their adoptions and is now "Aunt Kristy" to many adopted children.
Sarah Bowman
Sarah Bowman was born in Utah and adopted at birth by Paul and Shawna Ellsworth. She was the first of 5 children in her family. She was raised in Mesa, AZ after moving there at the age of 3. There she met her husband and they were married in 2002. After 6 years of trying to start their family they adopted their beautiful daughter Maya in September of 2009. Sarah is now pregnant with their 2nd child due in March. Sarah is a stay at home mom while Ben works to finish his Master's program and has a full-time job. Together they like camping, watching Sesame Street with Maya, eating good food, and spending time with friends and family. Sarah loves to play the piano, play with Maya, cross-stitch, be an adoption advocate, take pictures, and get pedicures.
Emma Bradshaw
Emma Bradshaw is 16 years old and lives in Mesa, Arizona with her parents, Mark and Kay Bradshaw, and three of her brothers. She is the eighth out of nine children in her family. She also is the proud aunt to four adorable nieces and four very energetic nephews. Emma, who was at the time, Emily, was adopted at the age of two and a half, along with her half brother, Elliot, who was almost four. (During the finishing of the court documents, her name was changed to Emma Lee.) They had both been with a foster family for about two years before being adopted into the Bradshaw family. Emma came into this world with beautiful red hair and freckles and has a cute and spunky personality to match. She has always done well in school, and is a leader among her peers. She was student council president for two years at Johnson Elementary school. In ninth grade, she was voted Bobcat of the year at Brimhall Jr. High school. She is now a junior at the best school ever, Mesa High School, where she is involved in orchestra and running on the cross country and track teams. Emma is also very involved in the Young Women's program in the LDS church. Emma enjoys playing the piano and violin, listening and dancing to music, watching football and basketball, and having fun!
Larissa was born December 9th, 1997 in Novotroitsk, Russia. Larissa's mother died in 2002, and because there were no other family members that could take care of her, she was taken to an orphanage. In 2005, Larissa came to Arizona as part of a summer camp program. Terry and Suzanne Campbell had recently adopted from Russia, and offered to host some of the children that had come for the summer camp. Although they had not planned to adopt again, they immediately fell in love with Larissa, and decided to adopt her as well. Larissa's adoption was completed in April of 2006.Larissa lives in Mesa with her parents, three sisters, two brothers and her beloved dog Coco. She is in 6th grade and enjoys singing, computer games, attending church youth group and chatting with her friends online. Larissa is an excellent student and would like to become a veterinarian some day.
Chance Carter
- Cowboy Poet
http://gilavalleycowboypoetsinc.org/product4.htmlFrom a young age I knew I wanted to be a country singer. I grew up listening to a variety of country musicians, from Hank Williams Sr. to Johnny Cash and Chris Ledoux to Blackhawk. I have been playing guitar and singing since I was thirteen. My family has always been very supportive of my dreams but I would have to say that my number one fan is my great grandfather, 'Papa Russ'. He always wanted to hear me play and sing for him. "The Long Black Coat" is one of the songs that is going to be on my new CD. It is a poem that my Papa Russ wrote and I put it to music. Along with singing and playing guitar, I also write songs. I love writing songs about cowboy lifestyle, stories from the past, and human emotion. In conclusion, I would like to thank my family for pushing me to follow my dreams and putting up with my countless hours of singing, song writing, and jamming. I love you all.
Debbie West Coon
Deborah West Coon was born in Mesa, Arizona, September 21st, 1962, to Corwin Samuel West and Johna May Nielson, the fifth of ten children to bless their home. Being a musical family with so many children, they often had three or four different songs going on at the same time around the home. On the 30th of April 1983, Debbie married her High School sweetheart, Ron Coon. They live in Gilbert and have five children: Daniel, Spencer, Jonathan and Kristy (twins), and Tiffany. Debbie feels blessed to be a stay-at-home mom. Pleased to be a member of American Mothers of Arizona, she says, "As mothers together I know we can make a difference in our communities."Debbie is often found singing for church, weddings, funerals, community events and benefit concerts, speaking and singing for firesides, singing with little children, and having fun with family and friends. She loves animals and especially riding and caring for horses.
Karen Cope
Karen Cope was born in Southern California and adopted at birth by Kean and Lee Farrer. She was the third of 4 children in her family with her older sister being adopted also. Karen was raised in Southern California and it is where she met her husband Brent Cope. Karen and Brent married in 1982. They have 4 children ranging from ages 26 to 15 with her first grandchild due in December. Karen loves to travel, spend time with family and scrapbook.
Kerstin Daynes was born and raised in Littleton, Colorado where she met and married (1998) her childhood sweetheart, Joel Daynes. She graduated with a degree in Family Science with a Marriage and Family Emphasis from BYU in 1999. Things that bring her great joy include running, cycling, reading, organizing, being out in the warmth of the sun, eating out, having a Saturday soda, and saving money by finding a great deal. Even though their continuing battle with infertility has spanned over many years and has included medical treatments which failed 100% of the time, the Daynes have witnessed a miracle along the way in the birth of their son. They currently live in Lehi, Utah.Kerstin is the author of Infertility: Help, Hope, and Healing, an honest and reassuring book for LDS couples dealing with infertility. Using personal experience, tangible strategies, and the validation of sorrow, Kerstin help couples to heal emotionally, physically, spiritually, and socially. In her efforts to help LDS couples, she has also created and maintains ldsinfertility.org, a place designed to share and learn about infertility.
Alfred C. Dodini, PhD
I hold a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from California State University, a Masters of Social Work degree from Brigham Young University and a Ph.D. in Child Development and Family Studies with a specialization in marriage and family therapy from Purdue University.Upon graduation from college in 1975 and before beginning my career in mental health, I worked in the entertainment industry as a performer/manager spending eight years traveling and performing throughout the U.S. and internationally. I worked in the field of child welfare from 1995 through 1999 beginning as a child protection investigator, in-home family therapist and school social worker. Between 1996 and the present I have presented over 500 presentations for Junior and Senior High School students on sexuality and ethical decision-making.
While at Purdue University I worked with adolescents in the juvenile detention facilities and their families doing family therapy and for a non-profit community mental health services organization. From 2003 through 2008 I worked as the Director of Clinical Services for the ANASAZI Foundation overseeing the adolescent and young adult wilderness therapy program, couples relationship enrichment program, and out patient therapy program in addition to maintaining a small private practice working with individuals, couples and families. While at Anasazi and in my private practice, on several occasions I worked with adopted children with attachment disorders and other problems related to trauma experienced prior to adoption.
I am a facilitator for the Arbinger Institute and have taught relationship seminars since 2003. I am also trained in the Love and Logic parenting program, the Seven Habits of Highly Effective Families program, the Gottman Institute approach to marital therapy and Dr. Steven Stosny's Core Value approach to compassionate relationships and compassionate parenting. Since 2008 I have worked full time in private practice working with individuals, couples, families and groups. My wife and I are currently teaching the Strengthening Marriage course for the Gilbert San Tan Stake and also serve as Stake liaisons between LDS Family Services and our stake.
My wife Patricia and I have been married for 37 years and are the parents of seven daughters and three sons.
Teresa Doud, MSW
Teresa Doud has a master's degree in social work. Her personal struggles with infertility led her into the world of adoption in 1997, and in 1998 she adopted her daughter domestically. Her personal adoption experiences prompted her to pursue a career in helping others navigate the adoption system. Teresa completes domestic and international home studies, post placement reports and court finalization reports. She is very knowledgeable about international and domestic adoption laws and processes, and has helped many couples, including those with challenging backgrounds and circumstances, become adoptive parents.
I am a mother of 10 children ages 3 months - 24 years old. My husband and I have children that are homegrown ( birth ) ages 24,21 & 12. Adopted ages 18,11,7,5..We have a 13 year old that will be adopted by next summer and two foster children age 3 months & 5.We have fostered 54 children over 9 years. We started out hosting Russian orphans then moved to doing foster care then advancing to medically fragile children. Four years ago we had a 9 year old foster child named Jose after a hard fought battle with leukemia including a total body radiation and a bone marrow transplant passed away. We wanted to honor his wish to never be forgotten and started Jose's Closet a non-profit clothing and equipment bank for foster and adoptive families.
Anna Fields is a Pregnancy and Adoption Specialist with Catholic Charities Community Services; a domestic, infant adoption and pregnancy counseling program serving central and northern Arizona. Anna loves her work and considers it an honor to travel the road of adoption with so many birth and adoptive families.A Washington State native, Anna graduated from Western Washington University and later earned a Master's degree in Counseling from Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon. She and her husband, Caleb moved to the valley four years ago. They are the proud parents of 14-month-old, Josiah and now spend their free time reading "Where the Wild Things Are", making funny faces and decorating their home with sidewalk chalk.
I am Fred Garcia, this is my adoption story. My birth mother (Rose) was a single working secretary in California when she found out she was pregnant. After a lot of thought and counseling she chose to place me for adoption through the county. As my mom (Sarah) likes to say I was placed there just for her. My adoptive parents visited many times with the county looking for a particular little boy. They passed over twins and a few other children when they were presented with me. My mom says "when they brought me in I was not curled up like a normal child I was stretched out like I was trying to impress someone." Remember I was just a new born about 2 weeks old. She described me as being a little red head with a big smile. My mom said she knew right away I was hers. I was named after my father Fred and became the little brother of my older sister Debbie.Then the adventure begins. About 6 months after I was placed with my new family my dad suffered a brain aneurism and quickly passed away. My adoption was not yet finalized and my mother feared the county would take me away. After a number of phone calls and help from family and friends I was allowed to stay with my new family. She moved to Colorado where I spent most of my life growing up. A few years after Fred's death, my mom remarried to my new step-dad Carl. He brought in the mix his two daughters from a previous marriage. Carl raised me as his own, and is the only father I ever knew.
Growing up I always was told I was special. I remember being told at a young age the story of my adoption. Never was it portrayed in a negative light by my parents or siblings. I always felt as much a part of the family as their natural born children. My sister Debbie tells me stories of when I was baby that whenever I cried she would hold me an cry too. Growing up I was my own person, I participated in many sports and activities I eventually went to college where I played football. After college I continued to grow and with the love and support of my family I became the man you see before you today. I love my life and would not trade one second of my experiences.
A number of years ago I got to meet my birth mother. It was a fun meeting, we found out that over the years she lived in various places and at one time was just a few miles from me. She is retired now living in Oklahoma.
We are the proud parents of 3 1/2 children (a full one expected in February). We have one daughter and soon 3 sons. Our current youngest is Kyron. We adopted him, through a closed adoption, at birth from a birthmother in New York. We love our trans-racial family and find ourselves very blessed to have him as part of our family.We have lived in Mesa for 6 years now. Chal teaches seminary and Janeen works at being the mommy full time. Adley is 6, Dax is 4 and Kyron is 2. We have a fun little family. We stress and laugh in the same moment. We learn from and teach each other.
As a family we love to spend our time together. Whether it is outside at the park, or in the water swimming, wrestling in the family room, or reading together on the couch, it is the time we are spending that is of the most value. Traveling with a family of five can be hectic, but the source of some of our most enjoyable memories comes from being cooped up together in that car. We simply enjoy the company of each other.
We never adopted or decided to adopt out of 'need'. Kyron came to us through pure desire to include adoption as a part of family growing process. There was no time of waiting to have children and we didn't suffer with all those difficulties that can come with trying to have children of our own. We simply wanted to expand our family and include an adoption as that expansion. And we specifically wanted a trans-racial adoption.
Our adoption process was fluid and ever changing. There had to call for some flexibility. We started in one direction and with a series of external influences we ended where we are today. Each step, we now see directly leading us to the miracles we experienced and the growth we incurred during our journey. It was full of pain and heartache as well as pure joy and happiness. Our minds changed, our hearts changed and our family changed.
Lindsay Hamilton
I am the Domestic Program Case Manager for Building Arizona Families. I have a Bachelors degree in Social Work and have worked in the foster care and adoption field for over seven years. I am a native of Arizona and currently live in Phoenix with my husband and son.
Jennifer Harris, M.Ed.
Jennifer is a native of Arizona. She is the oldest of three children, and currently has two nieces and a nephew whom she loves very much. Jennifer obtained her Bachelor of Science in Family Studies and Human Development from the University of Arizona in 2004, and in 2008 obtained her Masters of Education from Northern Arizona University. Jennifer is a licensing worker with Catholic Charities in their Foster Care and Community Adoption Program and has been with the agency for two and a half years. Prior to working for Catholic Charities, she worked for an international adoption agency for four years.
JoLene (Jody) Hatch
JoLene (Jody) Hatch grew up in Mesa, Arizona, graduating from Mesa High School. She attended BYU for four years, substitute taught, went on BYU survival for 28 days, then, after convincing her convert dad that sister missionaries did more than sit in offices, was able to serve a mission in Brasil, spending 3 months in the Cumorah mission while waiting for a visa. (But never got to see the pageant!) After her mission Jody was able to secure a teaching job in Gilbert, Arizona in Physical Education at Gilbert Jr. High School. She married Q. Dale Hatch in 1980 in the Mesa, Az. temple, and together they have raised 4 beautiful daughters, each of whom they are extremely proud. She has worked with the young women & youth through the years and loves serving in the kingdom. She also teaches guitar in her home and has always enjoyed music & sports and camp! She has become a "Birth Grandma" in the adoption process, watching her youngest daughter, Lindsey, struggle with the decision to give her child the opportunity to be raised in a home with a mother & a father. This has been, and still is, a painful process for Lindsey, but we are proud of the faith & courage she has shown. We will be eternally grateful for the wonderful couple Lindsey was led to, Jesse & Jayme Maughn, the adoptive couple, for their roll in her extremely difficult decision. It was their love, faith courage, and patience that helped Lindsey the most through this process. We are truly grateful for the blessings of adoption in our home & family, and humbly acknowledge He whose glorious Atonement makes it all possible.
Tamra Hyde
Tamra Hyde grew up in Memphis, TN. She is the second of eight. She is 32 and still single (if you know anybody...). She studied social work at BYU and UVSC but is on a break, a long, long break. She would like to someday finish her degree and be a birthparent caseworker. She is currently working for LDS Family Services as an adoption secretary in St. George, where she transferred from Mesa a year ago. She enjoys shopping, karaoke, dancing, live music, travel, hiking, camping, and any outdoor adventure. She is interested in wilderness survival and primitive skills, clean eating, and natural healing. She placed her sweet little Justin with his eternal family and her eternal friends in May of 1996 and, as was policy at the time, had letters and pictures for the first five years. She has been passionately involved in adoption advocacy in many capacities and never tires of sharing her story. She considers herself a pioneer and has loved seeing and being a part of the evolution and progress of adoption. She feels honored to be defined by her faith, her family, and the title "birthmom."
Born: June 1, 1968 - the 5th of ten children. I was first taken from my mother when I was 10 years old and was permanently taken from my mother when I was 12 years old. I was placed with 3 adoption families over the next 3 years. The first two failed, but the last was successful.... at age 15. I served a successful mission. Married my lovely wife in the Mesa, AZ temple. My wife and I were never able to have children. We were contacted by a family through ParentProfiles.com in Sept. 2009. Our daughter Zowie, was placed with us the following month. The adoption was finalized in Febuary, 2010.
Brandi & David Johnson
We are Brandi and David Johnson currently residing in Tucson where David has just finished his first year as an attorney. We met at BYU after serving missions, and have been married for six years. Before having kids, Brandi taught Language Arts in a middle school. She contributes to a mommy blog, quietsoldseparately.blogspot.com. where she joins a panel of mothers who share their insights into the questions of motherhood. She enjoys staying home and chasing two beautiful sons, Lincoln, who is four, and Henry who is two. As a family we have focused this year on our family motto, "I can do hard things!"We have enjoyed building our family in different ways, but as related to adoption, we were first blessed by the miracle of adoption with our son Henry. We fought long and hard through paternity tests, birth father rights, and a beautiful birth mother who was conflicted at the last moment. To say open adoption was completely out of the picture would be an understatement, but as we came to know and love his birth mother, open adoption has allowed us a clear path to communication. As we have ventured into a world full of hard things, we have been blessed beyond measure.
Debi Johnson
- Birth Mother Coordinator
Debi was born in Maryland and after moving to various places, including Australia, she landed here in Utah. Debi has an enthusiasm for life that is contagious. She has been called a "miracle worker" for the way she is able to connect with and support birthmothers and families during the adoption process. Debi is a great cook, party planner, and humanitarian. She loves spending time with her five children, dancing, watching movies and social networking. She volunteers as a victim advocate and speaks on behalf of the Sandy police department against domestic violence and sexual assault. Debi has helped touch many lives through the four years she has been working at Heart to Heart Adoptions, she climbed the ranks fast after proving to have the ability to reach out to and connect with the birthmothers on a completely different level.
Amanda Johnston
My name is Amanda Johnston, I am currently a student of Idaho State University and working towards a Masters in Athletic Administration. In my undergrad studies I received a BS degree in both Zoology and Biology. I also run track for the university and compete in the heptathlon. My favorite event is the high jump. I enjoy most sports and have always been an athlete. After my schooling i would like to work in college athletics. I have a wonderful husband of almost two years, and right now our children are our two dogs Marley and Snoopy.
Kerri Larson grew up in Southern California. It is there she met and married her husband, Ryan, in the San Diego Temple in 2001. They have lived in Arizona for the last 7 years. Kerri is a stay at home mom to their 2 beautiful children, Hollie and Ethan, who they were blessed to adopt. Kerri is grateful for adoption and the miracles which have come her way. She enjoys sharing their adoption stories/miracles with those whom she comes in contact with. Kerri enjoys being a mother. She loves to play with her children and watch them learn and grow. There is no better noise in their home then the noise of their children. They enjoy going for walks, riding bikes, going to the park, playing games/puzzles, reading and spending time doing family activities. Kerri also enjoys, sewing, crafting, blogging, decorating, reading and baking with her little girl! She looks forward to sharing their adoption journey with you.
Nicci Lovell
Nicci Lovell placed her daughter, Morgan in April of 2002, they had their first reunion visit (since placement) this past March. In April of 2004 she started a company to support families of individuals with developmental disabilities. She and her husband, Daniel, were married at the Mesa temple in December of 2004 and are expecting their 4th child, due on Christmas day. Nicci and Daniel are also licensed foster parents who have opened her home to 10 children over the past 2 and a half years. Nicci enjoys playing the piano and cello and currently teaches music classes for children. She is grateful for her adoption experience and testimony of eternal families.
Rita A. Meiser
Rita A. Meiser, PLC
7012 North 18th Street
Phoenix, AZ 85020
Phone-(602) 650-2473
Fax-(602) 285-1516
Email- rmeiser@meiserlaw.com
Website- meiserlaw.com
Rita A. Meiser has practiced law in the adoption area for 30 years. Rita is a fellow and Past President of the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys, a national organization of highly skilled adoption attorneys with extensive experience in interstate adoptions. In 2004, she was presented with the Angel in Adoption Award by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption for her work in the adoption field. Currently, she is Immediate Past-President of the Board of Directors of Aid to Adoption of Special Kids, President of the Board of Directors of Hospice of the Valley, and a member of the Az Board of Directors of Childhelp, USA.Rita provides representation in all areas of adoption, having represented numerous adoptive families, birth parents and adoption agencies. Her practice includes foster adoption as well as every form of private adoption, including step -parent, adult and relative adoption. She serves as a judge pro tem in the Maricopa County Superior Court. www.meiserlaw.com.
Roxann Miller
Roxann Miller is the Marketing and Communication Specialist with the Arizona Department of Economic Security's Division of Children, Youth and Families. She is responsible for developing and producing recruitment materials such as TV ads, videos, brochures and newsletters as well as collaborating on community events. Roxann has extensive experience in public relations and communication, having previously worked with three Protestant denominations as well as serving as director of communication for the National Study of Youth and Religion.
Rachel Moskios
- Clinical Social Worker
Rachel works as a counselor to our out of state birthmothers through this difficult process. When it comes time to choose an adoptive family she ensures a good match by looking closely into what each party is seeking. Once a match is made Rachel is great at using her intuition to read each party and help things move along smoothly. When possible she is present at the deliveries and works hard to keep both adoptive family and birthmother comfortable. Rachel works to empower birthmothers to make positive choices and work towards a positive future during and after the placement. She has been with Heart to Heart Adoptions for five years and has worked in several positions starting as a case manager and eventually landing as a social worker after receiving her Masters degree from the University of Utah. Rachel loves being outdoors, traveling, music, photography and using her hands to create in various ways.
Nicki Muder
I grew up in a small town and never appreciated it until I moved away. I love the quiet, slow life a small town has to offer. Traveling is one of my passions and someday I would like to add Ireland to my list of countries visited. There is just something about the airport and hotels and living out of a suitcase that excites me! I am fairly reserved, and VERY shy around strangers. Reading for a few hours and getting lost in another world is one of my favorite pastimes. I realize I might not have the best of everything, but I try to make the best of what I have.
Sheila Munn
I was born in Provo Utah, the second born of eight children. 4 girls and 4 boys. I lived most of my younger years in American Fork Utah. My family of 4 moved to Phoenix in 1988. Where I have been working ever since for Deer Valley School district. I manager two elementary school cafeterias. I love working with Elementary age children and have always enjoyed cooking so I have the perfect job. As a bonus...I get all week-ends and summers off. In 1991 and 1994 we added two more children to our family. A daughter Samantha and another so Austin.I grew up learning to fish, cook, garden sew and shoot guns. I developed a love early on for the beauty of the mountains, lakes & streams. Our family didn't take many out of state vacations, instead we would do a lot of camping, fishing and hiking every summer. My Grandparents had a cabin in Fairview Utah. The whole family would gather there often. I will forever cherish the memories made there. We had so much fun family time. I try to get away to the mountains for some camping and fishing here in Arizona as much as I can with my kids. In recent years I have discovered how beautiful and relaxing the oceans of this world are. I love spending time exploring different beaches and coves and have fallen in love with snorkeling amongst tropical fishes. Traveling and heading to places off the beaten path are so exciting to me. I love adventure.
I married my high school sweet heart Tim in 1997 after his mission to Rosario, Argentina. In 2004 we were blessed to adopt Taylor through LDSFS at birth. When he was 3 we adopted Brayden who is 2 months older than Taylor through Foster Care/DCFS. Six months later DCFS called to let us know that Taylors 10 month old biological sister had come into foster care. We were blessed to adopt her also. We felt our next child would be older and choose to pursue him through our states Heart Gallery. Matt had just turned 11 when he joined our family in 2009. I serve on the Executive Board of the National Families Supporting Adoption Orginization with a focus on foster care. I am also the chairman of the Utah Friends of Foster Care Committee. We raised much needed funds for children in Foster Cater. We are blessed by adoption and excited to share our experiences.
Debbie Parker was born in Mesa, Arizona and adopted at birth by Dwayne & Barbara Larsen. She grew up in Mesa and met her husband, Nicolas, at BYU, graduating in 1986 with a degree in Elementary Education. After teaching several years in Mesa Public Schools, she chose to become a stay at home mom and Nick became a school administrator. After their four biological children were born, Debbie & Nick felt there was one child yet to join their family, and were impressed to pursue an adoption from China. In August 2006 they traveled to Guangdong, China, where Meigan Mei became their daughter, and she was sealed to them in October that same year. Debbie loves to play the piano & organ, discuss current events & politics, travel, and curl up with a good book.
Donna Pope
- Executive Director/Founder
Donna was raised on a farm in Gooding, Idaho and has brought her hard work ethic to all aspects of the agency. After spending time as a respiratory therapist and a school teacher, Donna founded Heart to Heart in 1999. She is the adoptive mom to 3 sons; Joshua, Jacob, and Eli. She loves her boys, her horses, and singing. She is passionate about the agency and works hard to make families complete, even though she is a business woman she is a mother first and that shines through in her work. In 1999 eleven children were placed, in 2009 131 children were placed and Donna had a hand in each and everyone of those placements.
(Donna will not be in attendance at the conference)
Hannah Rawhouser was born and raised in Wyoming. She lived 2 years in South Dakota and then moved to Las Vegas her Senior year of high school. She attended UNLV in Las Vegas and graduated with an undergraduate degree in Social Work. In the middle of her studies, she went on a mission to Sapporo, Japan. After graduation, she worked for the State of Nevada in the Welfare Division as a Social Worker. After working two years there, Hannah went back to school for a Master's in Social Work at Brigham Young University. She began working part-time as a counselor for LDS Family Services in Las Vegas after graduation. She was eventually hired full-time after a year and transferred to Atlanta in 2003. After 6 years in Georgia she was transferred to Phoenix in 2009. She is a licensed clinical Social Worker and has provided counseling services throughout her years with LDS Family Services. Currently her focus is birth parent and adoption work. She is very passionate about adoption work.
Ashley Ray
My name is Ashley Ray and I live in Mesa with my husband Mark and our one year old daughter Emma. I am 26 years old, and was adopted at the age of 2 with my older brother, I was then sealed to my family at the age of 4 in the Mesa Az Temple. I have always enjoyed talking to others about adoption, whether it is my own or advice on adopting kids. My husband and I have even talked about adopting some of our own. I have always wanted to give back to children who don't have a chance, because I was given that chance. Adoption is a very close subject to my heart.
Josh Redfern
Joshua Redfern's biggest claim to fame is that he's the husband of Lindsey Redfern of therhouse. He is the father of two young boys that were blessed to him and his wife through adoption. He loves to play with his children and watch great TV with his wife. He has a master's degree in social work from Brigham Young University and is a huge BYU sports fan.
Lindsey Redfern
Lindsey Redfern is a wife and a mom. She and her husband have two boys brought into their life through the miracle of adoption. Tyson is three and Gavin is two. They enjoy an open relationship with both of their boys' birth mothers and love having them in their home. Before her children arrived, Lindsey taught third grade, where her interests were focused on creative writing and children's literature. Now a stay-at-home-mom, she loves being an adoption advocate with several adoption blogs including www.therhouse.com where she writes as "mrs. r." She has worked as the community manager for AdoptionVoices.com helping launch the community and served on her local Families Supporting Adoption (FSA) chapter as the Community Outreach chair where she did adoption presentations with her birth mother friends in junior high schools and high schools in her area.She has been interviewed by countless bloggers, bloggers, magazines, and online newspapers. She appeared on Good Things Utah to discuss adoption during 2008's Adoption Awareness month. She is currently on the FSA International board over the FSA Blog and the South East Region, a member of UAC, the community manager of MommyCast.com and co-owner of the r house couture (www.therhouse.etsy.com). A survivor of infertility, ICPC, an adoption scam, and a contested adoption, her passion is to help others understand the hope that adoption provides to all members of the adoption triad and to educate others on the benefits of promoting their own hope to adopt as well as the blessings of open adoption.
Helen Thomas Robson
Helen Thomas Robson, is a wife, mother and artist. She has been a photographer for over 15 yrs, with most of her experience in commercial and fashion photography. Three years ago she decided to include more of her artistic background of drawing and painting and combined it with her photography. This was what lead to her career in fine art photography. Perfectly combining two areas of art that she loves. She also wanted to find a way to use her talents to give back to families, faith and freedoms. In combined efforts with her husband Rusty Robson and business partners Brian and Allison Trotter, together they are the founders of Captured Miracles. Captured Miracles is a production company focused on using our God given talents to share the message of strengthening families, faith and freedoms, through the arts. Their battle cry: Let us put aside our differences and come together as believers in a creator... That we are a moral people and a nation united under God, with the ability to achieve miracles. Is being shared across this country through concerts and art exhibits that combined art, music and the spoken word. Teaching that miracles happen through God, moral people and unity. Her works to date, include two collections: "The Children of God Collection" , which is a collection of fine art photographs that depict Christ interacting with modern day children in real life situations. Situations both positive and negative, that share the message that we are all God's children and that he loves us no matter what our circumstances. The other Collection is called "The Miracle of America, The divinely Appointed", which are fine art photographs of miraculous events that happened in our history with our founding fathers and how they were divinely guided in establishing this great nation. To view her art collections and learn more about their cause, visit www.CapturedMiracles.org
My name is Heather K. Shew-Plummer. I currently work as the Domestic Program Coordinator, working directly with the birth mothers. I have only been with Building Arizona Families since March, however; I have worked in foster care and adoption field for over a decade. I have a Bachelors in Social Work from Wichita State University and I am in graduate school for a Master's of Education with an emphasis in Counseling. I have lived in Arizona for 11 years and I am married with two children.
Greg & Sharon Slater
Greg Slater is a corporate attorney with extensive experience on international trade issues; environmental, health and safety regulations; and corporate investment strategies. He has worked extensively with U.S. and foreign governments on how to develop more robust and transparent legal systems that enable investment and innovation to flourish. Greg serves as the Legal and International Policy Advisor to Family Watch International where his wife Sharon serves as president. He has written articles on family policy issues and trained UN delegates on how to defend the traditional family in international settings. He has participated in various United Nations conferences to promote international measures to strengthen families worldwide. Greg grew up in Europe and served a mission for the Church in Brazil. In addition to English, he is fluent in Italian, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and American Sign Language. Greg also has served as a Bishop in Maryland and in Arizona, and currently serves on the High Council of the Gilbert Val Vista stake.Greg and Sharon have seven children, three of whom were adopted from Mozambique last December. Their seven year struggle to adopt the three African siblings inspired them to found Family Watch's "Families for Orphans" project (see www.familiesfororphans.org), which promotes family-based care for orphaned children. For the past two years, Sharon and Greg have taught the "Strengthening the Family" course for their stake and taught a special session for parents and grandparents of adopted children.
Sharon Slater was selected as the 2007 Arizona Mother of the Year and is the author of Stand for the Family: A Call to Responsible Citizens Everywhere (www.standforthefamily.org), which has been dubbed "the family defense handbook." Sharon currently serves as president of Family Watch International (www.familywatchinternational.org), a nonprofit organization that works to protect the institution of the family by defending marriage, life, religious freedom and parental rights. For the past ten years Sharon has been leading pro-family advocacy teams at the United Nations that have impacted a number of important international policies affecting families worldwide. She and her team regularly provide UN Member States with research and statistics that have been used on the UN floor during negotiations to protect the institution of the family. Sharon writes a regular column for "The Family Watch" newsletter that is read in over 170 countries and has been a featured speaker at World Congress of Families conferences in Nigeria, Amsterdam and London. This year she has given several speeches on the UN floor in support of the family and was a featured UN panelist on the critical role of mothers in society.
Sergei Smith
Sergei is 14 years old and a 7th grade student at Summit Academy. He was adopted from Pskov, Russia in December of 2003. His forever family includes, mom, dad, and four sisters ages, 29, 26, 19, and 9. He likes video games, wrestling, and hanging out with his friends.
Jessalynn Bills Speight
Jessalynn Bills Speight is passionate about adoption advocacy. After she placed a baby girl two years ago, she decided to get involved with adoption. She started with a blog birthmothers4adoption.blogspot.com. Yet this blog did not satisfy her quest to educate the world about the joy adoption brings as well as support expectant parents, birth parents and adoptive families. As a result, she started a non-profit organization Scholarships 4 Birthmothers (Scholarships4Birthmothers.info). Jessalynn resides in Pleasant Grove, Utah with her husband Wesley and their adorable dog Sir Rupert. She spends her days advocating adoption and sipping Chik-Fil-A lemonade.
Austin Spurlock
Amy Storment
I was born Oct. 11, 1972 in Tempe, AZ. I was adopted by my loving parents, Jim and Hansene Bleak. As early as I can remember, my parents always told me and explained to me that I was adopted. I have one brother, Nathan, who is also adopted. We lived in Thatcher, AZ and that is where I grew up and had a wonderful childhood filled with lots of fond memories. After graduating from high school, I moved to Tempe to complete my schooling in Elementary Education. After graduating from college, I taught 6th Grade in Gilbert, AZ. Those were very happy years for me as I loved my teaching job. I was very fortunate to find a wonderful man to marry, my husband, Matthew Storment. After teaching for 6 years, I decided to stay home and have a family We have been blessed with two wonderful children, Ethan (9 yrs old) and Sydney (6yrs old). We have a wonderful life and I feel very fortunate to have such a wonderful family. I have since gone back to work and am employed with Kyrene School District. I am a Math Interventionist at my children's school. It is a wonderful job. I get to see my kids often in the halls and they feel safe knowing that I am so close to them. I have lived a very blessed life and have always been happy. I'm thankful that one special man and woman wanted a better life for me and decided to give me to my parents. They have loved me very much and I feel lucky to have been their daughter.
Lewis and Mary Tenney have been married for 48 years and are the parents of 11 children (one is adopted). They have 51 grandchildren with another on the way (10 are adopted). They have 3 great-grandsons with their first great-grand-daughter on the way. They had 15 children other than their own live with them through the years they were raising their family, most of whom were teenagers needing some help, and some stayed at least four years. Lewis and Mary were Arizona Parents of the Year in Aug. 2007. Mary has three adopted siblings and an adopted nephew and niece. Their home has always been open to others. They have come to understand the ups and downs, the challenges and blessings of adoption and caring for other people's children, but are grateful for what they have learned along the way and for the opportunity to share their lives, love, home, and beliefs with many of our Heavenly Father's special children.
Kevin Theriot
Kevin Theriot is married to Kay and they have 5 children, 8 grand children, 5 children in law, 9 parents of children in law, etc. Kevin is currently serving as Husband, Father, Grand Father, Home Teacher, and YM President in the Mesa 25th Ward, Mesa Maricopa North Stake. He currently works for LDSFS and received both his Masters of Social Work Degree and Doctoral Degree in Social Work (Ph.D.) from Arizona State University
I graduated from Chandler High School in 1995 and then started taking some college classes. Soon after I started, I thought I needed a break from school and took a year off. This year ended up being 10 years. In June 2008 I found out I was pregnant, and on January 20, 2009 I had a sweet little boy that I had planned to parent. He was five days old when I had a very spiritual experience letting me know that this little boy was not supposed to be mine. I cried on my mom's lap as she held this little boy who was meant for someone else. It took awhile, but I found his family and when he was 13 days old, I placed him in his parents' arms. Ever since then, I have enjoyed an open relationship with the Owensby's and have truly felt their love. In February 2010, I finally went back to school and this time, it was culinary school. I love baking and decorating cakes and also making jewelry. Presently, I live in Queen Creek with my mother. I have one brother who has a daughter, and two sisters with families of their own, one in Oregon and one in Hawaii, and I love to visit them whenever I can.
Sue Villareal
I was born in Globe, Arizona and lived there until I was twelve when my family moved to Tucson. I graduated from Eastern Arizona College, the University of Arizona, and hold a Masters' Degree from Northern Arizona University in Bilingual/Multicultural Education. I raised four children as a single mother, and after teaching English, Spanish, and English as a second language for over 30 years in Arizona, I retired and enjoy my children and grandchildren, including a beautiful little boy that my daughter, Norma, placed for adoption in February of 2009. I divide my time among Oregon and Hawaii, where two of my girls live, and Queen Creek, where Norma and I live.
Ms. Weidner has worked with International Family Services since 2001, when IFS began its hosting and day camp programs in the Valley to help school-aged Russian orphans get acquainted with life in America and potential adoptive parents, and to give those parents a chance to see what international adoption might be like. Since then this camp experience she directs has helped well over 200 Russian, Kazakhstani, Moldovan and Ukrainian kids find loving homes in AZ and beyond. You will meet some of them in the IFS session. Susan also helps families with infant and toddler adoptions from Russia, Ukraine, Bulgaria, India, China & Ethiopia through IFS.TopSusan has lived and worked in international business in Russia and China, and she served as a US diplomat in Kazakhstan and Bulgaria. She has an M.A. in Continuing Education for Community Development & Nation-building. Susan relishes her work of bringing together children in need of love and guidance with good parents.
Conference Information
Registration
Registration is Aug. 13 - Sept. 30
($22/person or $40/couple)
Late Registration is Oct. 1 - 9
($25/person or $45/couple)
For more details - visit the Registration page.
Care BasketsWe will be collecting donations to help put together care baskets which will be given to birth mothers.
Receive 1 extra raffle ticket per donation (max 1 per day).
Area Hotels & InfoTempe, Arizona and the greater Phoenix metro area.
Useful LinksRelated Links