Board & Staff

Meet Our Team

At the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption-Canada, we are fortunate to have a mission-driven, passionate team leading the implementation of our strategic priorities and life-changing programs, as well as a board of directors that shares our belief in a permanent, loving family for every waiting child.

Join our Community

Board of Directors

John Mulvihill, Chair

Vice President, Canadian Supply Chain, QSCC Canada, Inc.
James Shaw, Vice Chair

GBJ Food Services Ltd.
Christopher Garrah, Secretary

Partner, Business Law | Insurance, McMillan LLP

Lisa Deletroz

Regional Marketing Director, Wendy’s Restaurants of Canada
Paul Hilder

Retired
Rita Soronen

President & CEO, Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption

Chip Spires

SVP, Chief Financial Officer, Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption
Mark Torchia

President, Torchia Group
Jaime Weeks

Vice President of Operations – Canada, Wendy’s Restaurants of Canada

Image of Rita L. Soronen — Rita L. Soronen

President & CEO

About Rita

For more than 30 years, Rita Soronen has worked on behalf of abused, neglected and vulnerable children, providing leadership for local, state and national efforts, working to improve the juvenile justice and child welfare systems while striving to assure safe and permanent homes for North America’s children. Leading the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, a […]

Senior Leadership

Jill Crumbacher

Senior Vice President, Marketing & Development
Melinda Haggerty

Senior Vice President, General Counsel
Jennifer Justice

Senior Vice President, Strategic Program Development
Heather Miller

Senior Vice President, Human Resources
Chip Spires

Senior Vice President, CFO

Administrative Support

Carol Patzkowsky

Executive Assistant

Cathryn Chuey

Senior Accountant
Clay McCreery

Senior Accountant
Jared Moloney

Senior Manager, Finance & Accounting
Chip Spires

Senior Vice President, CFO

Reena Dar

Business Development Director, Canada
Mervat Saa

Senior Director, Business Development
Amanda Weitz

Business Development Senior Associate

Kelly Bradshaw

Information Technology Systems Manager
Fred Engel

Information Technology Director
Stephanie Fowler

Office Manager
Sharon Kingery

Office & Facilities Coordinator

Ali Gedminas

Human Resources Manager
Amy Licata

Human Resources Director
Heather Miller

Senior Vice President, Human Resources

Abbey Christopher

Staff Attorney, Program
Quinn Dybdahl

Senior Attorney, Program
Melinda Haggerty

Senior Vice President, General Counsel
Jennifer La Fayette

Paralegal
Elaina Wilson

Staff Attorney, Marketing, Development & Compliance

Onome Ambrose

Development Operations Assistant
Dean Bring

Vice President, Development
Lori Brittenham

Partnerships Director
Laura Carpenter

Graphic Design Associate Director
Grace Carter

Development Operations Assistant
Jill Crumbacher

Senior Vice President, Marketing & Development
Lexie Digby

Development Marketing Associate Director
Cat Dugan

Digital Communications Associate
Alison Fournier

Development Events Director
Tim Kelso

Marketing & Communications Director
Brittany Lacey

Child Welfare Marketing Associate Director
Rachel Lien

Director, Development Analytics and Operations
Maggie Malloy

Senior Graphic Designer
Courtney McConnell

Digital Communications Manager
Rachel Milligan

Wendy's Partnership Associate Director
Jackie Moats

Development Data Associate Director
Clare Nejedly

Development Operations Manager
Julianne Nichols

Vice President, Marketing & Communications
Nicole Pesa

Partnerships Communications Manager
Shane Powers

Graphic Designer
Lisa Rovner

Development Director
Carmen Savarino

Development Associate Director
Mary Ellen Smalley

Director, Brand and Cause Awareness
Betsy Walker

Senior Director, Wendy's Partnership
Lawrence Witherspoon

Wendy's Partnership Associate Director

Natalie Adams

Director, Training
Abby Allison

Adoption Program Manager
Julia Brake

Senior Director, Wendy's Wonderful Kids
Danielle DiMatteo

Training Associate Director
Brittni Doerfer

Senior Adoption Program Manager
Melissa Eck

Data & Performance Measurement Senior Director
Laura Garvin

Director, Wendy’s Wonderful Kids
Andrea Glass

Vice President, Programs
Stacy Gonzalez

Training Associate Director
Deanna Jewell

Senior Adoption Program Manager
Jennifer Justice

Senior Vice President, Strategic Program Development
Megan Kennedy

Adoption Program Manager
Adrienne Kennedy

Training Associate Director
Christina Killilea

Senior Adoption Program Manager
Sara Kroboth

Wendy's Wonderful Kids Associate Director
Angela Marshall

Director, Wendy’s Wonderful Kids, Canada
Leigh Anne McDermitt

Wendy's Wonderful Kids Associate Director
Donna Minor

Senior Adoption Program Manager
Susan Missler

Data & Performance Measurement Senior Analyst
Courtney Overholt

Wendy's Wonderful Kids Associate Director
Darlene Reynolds

Adoption Program Manager
Tara Roberson

Training Associate Director
Lisa Shiff

Program Operations Manager
Beth Stahl

Senior Adoption Program Manager
Andrea Williams

Vice President, Programs

Keep on top of the latest developments from the Foundation by following our blog or signing up for our emails.

Latest News Sign Up

Top