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MEET OUR TEAM MEMBERS

Brigette Schupay

Executive Director

(Tampa)

Brigette Schupay

Executive Director

(Tampa)

Dr. Brigette Schupay is an experienced child and family social worker.  She began her social work career in 1992 and quickly developed a love for special needs adoption.  In her role as Adoption Counselor, and later, Adoption Coordinator for Hillsborough County’s foster care program, she facilitated the adoption of nearly 1,000 special needs children.

Dr. Schupay served as the Executive Director of Heart of Adoptions, Inc., and Heart of Adoptions Alliance, Inc. from 2005-2011, where she continued her mission to place children in permanent and loving homes.  In 2013, she earned a doctoral degree in Social Work focusing her research on the Post-Adoption Depression of Adoptive Mothers.

In 2014, Dr. Schupay served as a Regional Director for the Mississippi Department of Families and Children overseeing adoption casework in 6 counties.  Additionally, her passion and experience in adoption have provided her the privilege of working as an expert witness to help adoptees and their families.

Dr. Schupay is currently the Executive Director of Heart of Adoptions Alliance.

Daneille Stewart

Director of International Services

(Naples)

Daneille Stewart

Director of International Services

(Naples)

Daneille joined Heart of Adoptions Alliance, Inc. in 2003 and works in the Naples office, handling the social work and legal needs of our clients in Southwest Florida.   She has been providing support and guidance to adoptive families since 1997 prior to joining the agency.   She was instrumental in opening a Guatemalan incoming program and assisted in creating many families before the country closed to international adoptions.   Daneille is experienced in domestic and international adoptions.  She is responsible for assisting in educating and screening new applicants, supervising birth parent counselors, home studies, post placements and matches between birth and adoptive families. Daneille is also a licensed private investigator in the State of Florida.

Daneille has been working in the legal system since 1983 and received her paralegal certificate of completion from Florida International University in 1986.  She received her Certified Legal Assistant (CLA) status in 1987 from the National Association of Legal Assistants and in 1988 from the Florida Association of Legal Assistants.  Daneille is also a Florida Registered Paralegal.   Daneille received an Associate in Arts Degree in Criminology from Edison Community College in 1996 and received a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Criminology from Florida Gulf Coast University in 2006.

Meredith Shepard

Director of Programs

(Tampa)

Meredith Shepard

Director of Programs

(Tampa)

Meredith Shepard joined Heart of Adoptions Alliance, Inc. in August 2013 as the Adoptive Parent Coordinator. She works closely with waiting adoptive families handling day-to-day needs and assisting with matching adoptive families to birth families. Meredith has worked in the area of social work for over 20 years and has experience working within the fields of child development, adoption, foster care, and developmental disabilities.

Meredith graduated with honors from Eckerd College with a Bachelor of Arts in Human Development and Walden University with a Master of Science in Non-Profit Management & leadership. She was also a Licensed Massage Therapist prior to obtaining her degree. While born in Ohio, which will always be home, she is also a die-hard hot weather fan and loves nothing more than cruising in her Jeep with the top down and the music loud! She has a son in college and has recently added a new fur-baby "Voodoo" to her home. Meredith can typically be found at Disney on the weekend or enjoying a camping trip and a nice kayak trip down a river when the weather is nice.

Fun Facts

  • Movie: Mary Poppins (the Original)
  • TV Show Character: Penny from The Big
  • Candy: Reese’s or Sour Patch Kids depending on my mood
  • Quote: Everything happens for a reason
  • Personal hero: My mom- she raised me- she deserves every award possible as I know I was no easy child!!
Lori Scobee

HOPE Program Coordinator

(Tampa)

Lori Scobee

HOPE Program Coordinator

(Tampa)

Lori Scobee brought over 25 years of social service experience to FL in October 2020 when she joined Heart of Adoptions Alliance as Program Director for the Hearts to Home Program.  In 2021, she developed the HOPE Program to provide post-placement services to birth parents. Lori is the birth mother to a daughter she made an adoption plan for in college so she understands the deep need for post-placement support.  She has been providing these services since 2012. Lori hosts monthly birth parent Pizza Meet Ups, facilitates birth mom retreats, provides face-to-face support, and moderates an online support group for birth parents. She has been a featured presenter at adoption conferences, has written adoption articles, been a guest on several podcasts, and is featured in the documentary, Out of the Shadows. She was recognized as 2018 Adoption Advocate of the year by Adoption Network Cleveland.
Lori graduated from the University of Kentucky and loves college basketball. She parented 2 amazing daughters into adulthood and is now adjusting to being an “empty nester”.  You can find her spending time at the beach and exploring the beautiful Gulf Coast.

Fun Facts

  • Album: Beastie Boys: License to III
  • Vacation: Italy
  • Favorite Food: Grandmother's Chocolate Pie
  • Book: The Notebook
  • Random Fact: She's been on 20/20 & Dateline
  • Guilty Pleasure: True Crime Shows
Amanda Curran

Adoption Specialist

(Tampa)

Amanda Curran

Adoption Specialist

(Tampa)

Amanda joined Heart of Adoptions Alliance, Inc. in May 2019 as a bachelor’s level intern where she has since stepped into the role of Adoption Specialist with the Hearts to Home Program. As an adoptee herself, Amanda always knew her path in social work would be working with children and families. Amanda enjoys educating adoptive families and helping them navigate through the adoption process.

Amanda graduated from Northern Arizona University in 2020, where she received her master's degree in social work.

Fun Facts

  • Junk Food: Cheez Itz
  • Holiday Song: Spooky Scary Halloween
  • Personal Hero: Ruth Bader Ginsburg
  • Why do you work in Adoption: I was adopted by my maternal aunt and I know first hand the incredible impact adoption can have on a family and child. I’m grateful for the chance to have a role in the unification of families.
Gabriela Nuñez

Program Supervisor

(Naples)

Gabriela Nuñez

Program Supervisor

(Naples)

Gabriela Nuñez joined our sister agency: Heart of Adoptions, Inc. in June 2006 as an Adoption Caseworker Assistant.  Gabriela is now the Program Supervisor for the Naples satellite office for Heart of Adoptions Alliance, Inc.  She works closely with birth mothers handling their day-to-day needs, monitoring their medical care and overall well-being.  Additionally, she coordinates the interaction between adoptive parents and birth parents.  She has previous experience working with youth in a parenting program, as well as experience in both domestic and international adoptions, specifically working internationally with Guatemala.

Gabriela obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Florida Gulf Coast University in 2013.

Fun Facts

  • TV show: Greys Anatomy
  • Restaurant: Cheesecake Factory
  • Candy: skittles and starbursts
  • Place: Disney World
  • What brought me to adoption: It runs in the family! My mother was an adoption coordinator for international adoptions and my grandmother ran a domestic adoption agency. I grew up surrounded by adoption, especially since I am adopted, along with my six sisters. My aunt and uncle are also adopted.
Natalie Londono

Senior Caseworker

(Orlando)

Natalie Londono

Senior Caseworker

(Orlando)

Natalie Londono joined our sister agency Heart of Adoptions, Inc. in December 2012 as an Adoption Casework Assistant. Natalie was later promoted to Senior Caseworker where she also joined Heart of Adoptions Alliance, Inc. and began working closely with birth mothers handling their day-to-day needs, monitoring their medical care and overall well-being. Additionally, Natalie conducts home studies and post-placement supervision in the Orlando area.

Natalie obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Social Work at Florida Gulf Coast University in 2013.

Fun Facts

  • Childhood memory: summers on Anna Maria Island
  • Quote: "in a world where you can be anything, be kind"
  • Why you picked to work in adoptions?: I don’t think I chose to work in adoption, I believe adoption chose me. From early on in life, adoption was something so common and natural. I have experienced so many great adoption stories; my maternal grandfather was adopted at a young age, my paternal grandparents provided foster care through the State of Florida, my family adopted my brother when I was 6, my husband was adopted, and we adopted our beautiful daughter. Without adoption, my life as I know it, would not exist. I feel honored to walk this path with the wonderful birth parents and adoptive families that come my way.
Hayley Morris

Intake Coordinator & Caseworker

(Tampa)

Hayley Morris

Intake Coordinator & Caseworker

(Tampa)

After living in New York for 22 years, Hayley moved to Florida where she graduated from The University of Tampa in 2017 with a Bachelor’s in Psychology and a Minor in Communications. After working at a media agency straight out of college and realizing that wasn’t for her, she landed a job where she was able to fulfill her passion of working with children and helping others as a Case Manager in Hillsborough County.

After obtaining her Child Welfare Case Manager Certification and working in Hillsborough County for 2 years, she accepted a role in Pinellas County where she worked as a Case Manager Supervisor overseeing a team of 5 case managers and about 400 children in the Dependency System. Being able to be a part of a life-changing opportunity for adoptive parents and the joy of seeing children find their forever families led her to this position at Heart of Adoptions as an Intake Coordinator and Older Child Caseworker.

Fun Facts

  • Favorite Food: I love anything chocolate.
  • Pets: I have 2 rescue pups, Lily and Lila. Lila is a tripod!
  • Favorite place I’ve traveled: Greece
  • Bucket List Travel Destination: Maldives
Amy Nickerson

Adoption Caseworker

(Merritt Island)

Amy Nickerson

Adoption Caseworker

(Merritt Island)

Amy Nickerson joined Heart of Adoptions Alliance, Inc. in June 2018 as an Adoption Caseworker. She works closely with the birth mothers handling their day-to-day needs, monitoring medical care and overall well-being. She also conducts home studies and post placement supervision. Her prior experience is 10 years in the child welfare system as a child protective investigator, senior child protective investigator and dependency case manager in both Florida and Massachusetts. She has two children adopted internationally from Guatemala and is herself and adoptee.

Amy graduated from University of Massachusetts Boston in 1999 with a B.S. in Psychology and in 2000 with a M.A. Certification in Forensic Services. She is currently enrolled at University of Massachusetts Boston obtaining a master’s level Addiction Counselor Education Program (ACEP) certificate.

Fun Facts

  • Place: Boston
  • Sports Team: New England Patriots
  • Hobby: acting and modeling
  • Childhood memory: camping on the beach on Cape Cod every summer
  • Why you picked to work in adoptions?: My dad is adopted. I am adopted. I have two children adopted from Guatemala.
Amy Dean

Caseworker Assistant

(Merritt Island)

Amy Dean

Caseworker Assistant

(Merritt Island)

Amy joined Heart of Adoptions Alliance, Inc. in January 2016 in our Merritt Island office. Prior to this she was an Adoption Assistant for another Florida adoption agency and has worked in the industry for over 15 years. She works closely with birth mothers handling their day-to-day needs, monitoring their medical care and overall well-being. She graduated from Rockledge High School and has an AA degree from Brevard Community College. Amy has 3 children and uses her experiences as both an adoptee and an adoptive parent to serve and support our clients. She brings with her a wealth of knowledge.

Fun Facts

  • Dream Car: Jaguar
  • Actress: Sandra Bullock
  • Childhood memory: Turning our house into a movie theater for my birthday
  • Movie: Pretty Woman
  • Candy: Whoppers
Shannon Howard-Lascari

Child Study Specialist

(Tampa)

Shannon Howard-Lascari

Child Study Specialist

(Tampa)

Shannon graduated from University of South Florida in 2007 with a Bachelors Degree in Psychology. She started working in Child Welfare immediately after graduating college as a Case Manager, where she worked with children and families involved in the Dependency System. Shannon worked as a Case Manager for four years before transitioning into a Family Adoption Specialist, where she worked with adoptive families looking to adopt from foster care. Shannon eventually worked for the lead agency providing technical assistance, support, and oversight to the case management agencies in Pinellas and Pasco Counties. Wanting to gain management experience, Shannon then went to work for a Hillsborough community based care organization as an Assistant Program Director where she was responsible for three case management supervisors, 25 case managers, and provided direct oversight on cases involving approximately 600 children in the Dependency System.

Shannon’s passion for adoption and creating families through adoption led her to Heart of Adoptions where she joined the adoptions team in February 2018 as a Senior Case Worker and Intake Coordinator. In her role, she worked directly with birth mothers conducting intake interviews, screening birth parents, and matched adoption applicants. In August 2021, Shannon transitioned into a new role writing child studies for the Community Based Care agencies. Shannon's knowledge and background in Child Welfare and continued desire for children to find permanency serve her well in this role. Shannon hopes to grow this position by securing more contracts throughout the state of Florida.

Fun Facts

  • Band/Musician: Bon Jovi
  • Bucket List Travel Destination: If I could make it through the plane ride, I would go to South Africa.
  • Sports Team: Auburn (War Eagle)
  • Quote: Early is on time, and on time is late.
  • Memory with spouse or child: One of my favorite memories, was our gender reveal party. It was so great to celebrate with friends and family and learning we were having a daughter and watching my husband’s reaction was just priceless. We obviously knew we were pregnant, but I feel like in that moment, it became real.
Amy Sayles

Adoption Support Coordinator

(Tampa)

Amy Sayles

Adoption Support Coordinator

(Tampa)

Amy joined Heart of Adoptions Alliance, Inc. in 2022 as a master's level intern from the University of South Florida. After graduating from USF with her master's in social work, she stepped into the role of the Adoption Support Coordinator. From a young age, Amy always knew she wanted to work in a field helping individuals, families, and communities as a whole. As an intern, she quickly fell in love with adoption work and looks forward to continuing to support children and families throughout their adoption journey.

 

Fun Facts

  • Favorite Sport: : Amy enjoys spending her free time playing in an advanced shuffleboard league in Saint Petersburg, FL
  • Favorite things to do:: Cooking and baking. playing pickleball, and leisurely reading. 
  • Favorite Pastime:: Spending time with her active golden retriever named Willie and a cat named Piper.
Marleen Milner

Program Development

(Tampa)

Marleen Milner

Program Development

(Tampa)

Dr. Marleen Milner brings over 20 years of experience in various fields of social work practice and 22 years of experience in social work education to Heart of Adoptions Alliance, Inc.

After earning her MSW from the University of Texas at Arlington in 1981, she worked in child welfare, child sexual abuse treatment, adoption, substance abuse treatment, and community mental health. In 2000, she became the Director of the fledgling Social Work Program at Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida, where she taught numerous courses across the curriculum. She earned her Ph.D. in 2009 from the University of Florida. Dr. Milner has served as a research affiliate with the Florida Institute for Child Welfare, researching teen pregnancy prevention and the use of Mindfulness to mitigate the effects of compassion fatigue among child welfare workers.

After retiring from her academic position in 2022, she desired to return to the field of adoptions to be a witness and collaborator with those who open their hearts and homes to children in need of loving families. She will complete adoptive home studies and assist the Executive Director with program development and funding.

Fun Facts

  • Favorite Sport: : Downhill Skiing
  • Favorite Foods:: Anything spicy--Mexican, Thai, Indian food!
  • Favorite Pastime:: Spending time with my beautiful 2-year-old granddaughter
  • Favorite Quote: Maya Angelou — 'I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.'
James Taylor

Director of IT & Security

(Tampa)

James Taylor

Director of IT & Security

(Tampa)

James Taylor joined Heart of Adoptions Alliance, Inc. in June 2017 as the in-house IT support technician. James now acts as the Director of IT & Security. James' primary duties include handling all aspects of being the Administrator for Office 365, our server, website, and systems. In addition, he is the liaison between our adoption agency and our legal team for all this technology related. He is responsible for hardware and software-related issues.

Fun Facts

  • Magazine: MIT Technology Review
  • Personal hero: Elon Musk
  • Band: Five Finger Death Punch
  • Hobby: Fishing
  • Movie quote: I’m sorry, Dave. I’m afraid I can’t do that.
Jeanne Tate

Chair of the Board (COB)

(Tampa)

Jeanne Tate

Chair of the Board (COB)

(Tampa)

Jeanne has an extensive and exclusive practice in the area of adoptions and is a member of the prestigious Academy of Adoption and Reproductive Attorneys and the Florida Adoption Council. For many years in a row, Jeanne has been named in The Best Lawyers in America, Florida’s Legal Elite, and Florida Super Lawyer, including as one of the top 100 lawyers in the State of Florida. Over her career, Jeanne has won several prestigious awards including the U.S. Congressional Angel in Adoption Award, the Tampa Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business Leader of the Year, the Florida Adoption Council’s Lifetime Achievement Award, the Hillsborough Association for Women Lawyers Achievement Award, the Tobias Simon Pro Bono Service Award and inclusion in the Martindale-Hubbell Bar Register of Preeminent Women Lawyers. Jeanne has been appointed to serve on the Adoption Law Certification Committee, the Judicial Nominating Procedures Committee, the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Court Nominating Committee and the Florida Supreme Court Judicial Nominating Commission. Additionally, Jeanne has been an Adjunct Professor at the University of Florida College of Law where she taught Adoption Law and Procedure for six years. Jeanne is rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell, signifying that the legal community ranks her “at the highest level of professional excellence.”

Fun Facts

  • Ice cream: Bern’s Macademia nut ice cream
  • Junk food: pepperidge farm chessmen
  • Hobby:
  • Food: Italian
  • Dream car: 1959 Corvette
Erica T. Healey

Board Member

(Tampa)

Erica T. Healey

Board Member

(Tampa)

Erica has been practicing exclusively in the area of adoptions since 2015, when she joined the Law Office of Jeanne T. Tate, P.A. She received a B.S. degree in Business Administration with a major in Finance from the University of Florida in 2007, and graduated from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 2010 magna cum laude. She was selected for the Order of the Coif for being in the top 10% of her law school class. While in law school, Erica was a member of the Florida Law Review and completed an externship with several federal judges. During her second year of law school, the Law Review awarded Erica the Frank Maloney Award for Outstanding Candidate and the Outstanding Tutor Scholarship. Erica also served as a Notes & Comments Editor and Managing Editor of the Law Review. Erica earned Dean’s List for all semesters in law school, received book awards in Bankruptcy and Legal Drafting, received honors in Legal Research & Writing and Appellate Advocacy, and was also a Teaching Assistant for those classes. Upon graduating from law school, Erica received the Community Service Certificate and Pro Bono Certificate for her time spent volunteering. After law school Erica clerked for the Honorable Charles R. Wilson of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. Before she worked at Jeanne T. Tate, P.A., Erica was a shareholder at the firm of Banker Lopez Gassler P.A., where she worked from 2011–2015. She has been selected as a Florida Super Lawyers "Rising Star" every year since 2015.

Steve Dines

Board Member

(Land O' Lakes, FL)

Steve Dines

Board Member

(Land O' Lakes, FL)

Steve Dines is a career professional in Business Development, Operations, and Marketing.A Pittsburgh PA native, Steve, and his wife Kathy along with their 5 children moved to the Tampa area in 2009.

Sergei, Michael, and Daniel were adopted from Krasnodar Russia in 1996 when they were 5, 4, and 2/12 and then in 2001 They brought Heather and Tiffany into the family from foster care. Heather was 5 and Tiffany was 3.

Steve is the founding member of the Tampa Chapter of the Private Director's Association.  He has also served as Chairman of the Marketing & Technology Committee on the Board of Directors for the Allegheny Valley YMCA.

Adrienne Elliott

Board Member

(Tampa)

Adrienne Elliott

Board Member

(Tampa)

Adrienne Elliott has worked in all aspects of the child welfare system including intake, child protection, permanency, and adoption for over 27 years. She was an adjunct faculty member for the University of Denver and Metropolitan State University and has taught courses in Family Social Work, Foster Care, and Adoption and co-taught a college-level course for caseworkers and mental health professionals in Adoption Competency. Adrienne holds her Master of Social Work from the University of Denver and her Bachelor of Science from Purdue University. She earned her LCSW in December 2000. Adrienne was an ED for a private non-profit adoption agency and CEO of a social enterprise focused on online post-adoption services for families in Denver Colorado before moving to Florida in May 2020.

Adrienne is the parent of two sons, ages 25 and 22 years old. Her oldest lives in Manhattan New York and works for JP Morgan and her youngest is living in Denver Colorado and works as a bartender downtown Denver. Prior to moving to Florida, Adrienne lived in Denver for 25 years and prior to that she lived and grew up in Carmel, Indiana. She was part of the pom's dance team and performed at football and basketball games.

Fun Facts

  • Place: Roatan, Honduras
  • Hobby: Scuba Diving and Hiking in the Mountains
  • Band: Kenny Chesney
  • Hero: Harriet Tubman
  • Book: Where the Red Fern Grows
  • Guilty Pleasure: Potato Chips
  • Why I chose to work in adoption: Because children need families and connections and deserve to grow up in a safe and stable family.
Justin Hill

Board Member

(Cocoa, FL)

Justin Hill

Board Member

(Cocoa, FL)

Justin received a Ph.D. from the University of Florida (UF) from the Departments of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering and Materials Science & Engineering in 2010. He also holds dual B.S. degrees, with honors, in Chemical Engineering and Applied Mathematics from North Carolina State University. Justin has authored many publications and patents for his work in electrochemical and compound semiconductor energy technologies, applications of superconducting electron accelerators, and in many other areas. He has received multiple scientific awards, is the youngest recipient of the UF Outstanding Young Alumnus Award, and was nominated for the ENI Energy Award in 2010. In 2018 he was also inducted into the UF Chemical Engineering Wall of Fame with outstanding department faculty throughout the history of the program.

Justin holds dual appointments as Materials Science Technology Leader and Engineering Manager at Mainstream Engineering Corporation and as Adjunct Professor of Chemical Engineering at the Florida Institute of Technology. At Florida Tech, he also serves on the Graduate Faculty and is a member of the Chemical Engineering Advisory Board. Justin and his wife, Briana, became involved in the adoption process through the adoption of their respective biological daughters.  They were blessed with the opportunity to adopt one another’s children. They now live in Florida’s Space Coast on their “funny farm” of ever-expanding livestock and household animals. In addition to their animals, the Hill family enjoys anything that can be found on or below the water and in nature.

Why I chose to remain involved in the adoption community:  "Well before the adoption of our respective children, it was well known that we would always be a unified family, regardless of adoption. We were surprised and amazed by the enormous positive impact that the adoption of our own respective children had on their sense of worth, belonging, and emotional well-being. Children in need and prospective parents deserve every advantage that can be afforded to them."

Amber Boles

Board Member

(Tampa)

Amber Boles

Board Member

(Tampa)

Amber Boles has been a resident of Tampa since 1979.  She graduated with her Bachelor’s Degree in Public Relations from University of South Florida and received her Juris Doctor from Stetson University College of Law.  Amber is currently an attorney licensed in the State of Florida.  She founded the Law Office of Amber Boles, P.A. in 2011, and exclusively practices in the area of Marital and Family Law, with a focus on alternative dispute resolution.  Amber is actively involved in the Tampa Bay community.  She currently serves as the Co-chair for the Mediation and Arbitration Section of the Hillsborough County Bar Association and was previously the Chair of Marital and Family Law Section.

Throughout her career, Amber has received many awards, accolades, and designations including Super Lawyers, Florida Trend’s Legal Elite, and Tampa Magazine’s Top Lawyers designation for Family Law Mediation.  In 2020, Amber was the recipient of the Theodore Millison Professionalism Award from the Stann Givens Family Law Inn of Court.  The award is given to one recipient annually in recognition of exceptional professionalism in the practice of family law.

Amber and her husband, Chris, were personally touched with the gift of adoption when they adopted their daughter, at birth, in 2014.  Amber and her family are proud residents of Tampa Bay.

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Heart of Adoptions Alliance, Inc.

Heart of Adoptions Alliance, Inc. is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization that is Hague Accredited to complete international adoptions. In addition to international work, we promote adoption education through our dedication to assisting families facing an unplanned pregnancy by providing resources and support. Heart of Adoptions Alliance, Inc. also works to provide grants to families needing assistance with the costs of adoption, when possible.