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Our
Tennessee Staff
 Brenda Barker
Director
Brenda Barker has a variety of
adoption experiences having worked in several capacities with
Children's Hope since 1995. Brenda has been an adoption
social worker, international adoption coordinator, worked in
international adoption development, served nationally on adoption
committees and is a published author. She has also traveled
extensively overseas working with adoption officials and
orphanages. She was recently a speaker at an international
conference in Russia on foster care in the US, China and Russia.
Brenda offers families a wealth of knowledge, as well as a loving,
caring heart for the families as they choose adoption as a means
of building their families. Brenda and her
family received The Family of the Year in 1997 by the State of
Tennessee Family and Children Services, and again by the Leukemia
and Lymphoma Society in 2002. Brenda also received the
Angels in Adoption Award in 2001 as one of two Tennesseans
nominated by Congress.
 She also recently was named
Ambassador of the Year for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
Brenda serves on the board of the Vanderbilt Medical Center
International Adoption Center.
"My greatest accomplishment and
challenge has come as my husband and I raise our seven
internationally adopted children from India, China, Eastern Europe and
Vietnam. I have a passion to see children placed in loving homes,
and see parents well-educated and well-prepared as they begin this
experience of a life-time!" I would consider it a privilege to
participate in helping your family dreams become a reality!
Brenda.Barker@ChildrensHope.net
 Amanda
McKee Bennett
Russia/Kazakhstan Specialist
/ Social Worker
Amanda McKee
Bennett joined
Children’s Hope as a social worker and program specialist for the
China Program. Amanda was born in Lexington, Kentucky but grew up
in Nashville, Tennessee. She completed her Bachelor’s Degree in
Psychology at Berry College in Rome, Georgia. She completed her
Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Tennessee
College of Social Work in Nashville, Tennessee. Her previous
experience includes an internship in international adoption and
work in the field of mental health. Amanda is excited about the
opportunity to work and serve others by helping them build their
families through international adoption.
Amanda.Bennett@ChildrensHope.net
 Sara
DeMerchant
Vietnam, Colombia
Coordinator / Social Worker
Sara joined CHI
as a Social Worker and Program Specialist for Vietnam and
Colombia. She was raised in Lenoir City, Tennessee and moved to
Murfreesboro in 2004. She is a graduate of Middle Tennessee State
University and has her Bachelor of Science degree with a
concentration in Child Development and Family Studies. She has
worked with children and families in a variety of settings. Sara
has traveled internationally many times and looks forward to
assisting others as they begin this journey.
Sara.Demerchant@ChildrensHope.net
 Lisa Lee
Administrative Assistant
I’m a country girl from
Cullman, Alabama. I received my BS degree in Elementary Education
from Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville, Alabama. As
soon as I graduated I moved to Atlanta, Georgia. I met my husband
there and we have been married for almost 33 years. We lived in
Winston-Salem, NC for 12 years and then moved to Nashville.
I was in the
travel industry for 24 years, first with US Airways and last with
American Express Corporate Travel. My husband, Jerry, is a Sales
Representative in the furniture business and is self-employed.
Adoption has always
been near and dear to my heart. We have one daughter, Summer,
whom we adopted when she was 11 weeks old. She is now 24 years
old and a beautiful young woman. I still remember that time, the
joy and excitement, like it was yesterday!
My family and I have
been truly blessed.
Lisa.Lee@ChildrensHope.net
 Rachel Messer
Social Work
Coordinator
Rachel Messer
joined Children’s Hope as a social worker and program specialist
(Vietnam & Colombia) in May of 2005. She is presently the
social work coordinator in the Southeast office. Rachel,
originally from Collinsville, Ohio, moved to Tennessee after
marrying her husband 5 years ago. Rachel completed her Bachelor
of Social Work at Belmont University and then went on to
complete her Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University
of Tennessee. She discovered a love for adoption during her
Master’s program and is honored to be a part of the adoption
journey for so many families. What an amazing process it is!
Rachel lives
with her husband and daughter in Nashville, Tennessee.
Rachel.Messer@ChildrensHope.net
 Lorri
Mast
China
Adoption Consultant
Lorri has joined
Children’s Hope International as an adoption consultant for the
China program. She grew up in Parkersburg, WV, and moved to
Tennessee as a junior in high school. Lorri attended college at
Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville, TN, where she earned
a Bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a Masters
Degree’s in educational leadership and administration. Lorri has
taught 10 years in the public school system and is passionate
about children and families. In 2005, Lorri and her husband
adopted their daughter, Ella, from China. She is excited about
bringing her experience with adoption to other families and is
thrilled to be a part of the wonderful team at Children’s Hope
International.
Lorri.Mast@ChildrensHope.net
 Melissa Roberts
Contract Social Worker,
Memphis, TN
Melissa,
originally from Ohio, moved to Memphis, Tennessee eleven years
ago. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in social work
from Ball Sate University and completed three years of graduate
studies in counseling from the University of Cincinnati.
Melissa's family
consists of husband Adam, daughter Leah, age 14 and a son Colin,
age 11. " My family keeps me very busy with their various
sporting activities and interests. Between my husband's coaching
schedule, and children's practices and games, we are a family on
the move. But, I will have to admit, I love children's
sports and all that they entail. I too have enjoyed being
given the opportunity to be involved with such a reputable
adoption agency as Children's Hope International. To play a
small role in a family plan designed by God is an honor and a
life joy for me".
Melissa joined
CHI in the spring of 2004 conducting home studies and post
placements.
mroberts1@midsouth.rr.com
 Lindsay Veach
Social Worker / Ethiopia Program Specialist
Lindsay Veach
is a Social Worker and Ethiopia Program Specialist for
Children’s Hope. She is a native of Franklin, Tennessee and
currently lives in Spring Hill, Tennessee. She is a graduate
from Middle Tennessee State University and holds a Bachelor of
Science Degree with a concentration in Child Development and
Family Studies. Lindsay’s previous experience includes
internships in international adoption and child advocacy. She
loves working with children and families and is very excited to
have the opportunity to help families adopt internationally.
Lindsay.Veach@ChildrensHope.net
 Allison
Motley
Social Worker / China Program Specialist
Allison Motley has joined Children's Hope International
as a social worker and China Program Specialist. She
grew up in Cookeville, Tennessee where she earned her
Bachelor's Degree in Child Development and Family
Studies. Allison has worked in childcare and has been
in the mental health field for the past 6 years. In
2005, Allison and her husband adopted their daughter,
Isabella, from China. "I am thrilled to now be able to
help other families grow through adoption as it has been
a tremendous blessing to my family."
Allison.Motley@ChildrensHope.net
 Rebecca
McCurdy
Rebecca McCurdy is an intern at Children's Hope
International this year while completing her Masters
Degree in Social Work form UT Nashville College of
Social Work. She has a BSW in Social Work from Austin
Peay State University. "I really want to learn more
about adoption from a professional view." She and her
brother and sister are adopted. She was born, adopted,
and raised in Clarksville, TN and her brother and sister
were both adopted separately from South Korea. She has
grown up around adoption and hopes to adopt one day as
her parents did twenty-two years ago.
Rebecca.McCurdy@ChildrensHope.Net
 Jane Verner
Administrative Support
Jane is married
and has four grown children and one precious grandson. She worked as a receptionist and caterer before
joining our team.
Jane.Verner@ChildrensHope.net
 Kathy Williams
Contract Social Worker,
Knoxville, TN
kwillial@cwhlth.com
 Janelle Witt
Contract Social Worker,
Knoxville, TN
Janelle has a Bachelor's degree in
Social Work from the University of Tennessee and has experience
in family preservation and hospice. She and husband Mike have
been married for 10 years. Mike has 2 adult children, Michael
and Erin, and in 2005, the Witt family adopted 4 year old Dasha
from Novosibirsk, Russia, through CHI. Janelle is honored to
help families through this incredible journey!
demwitts@aol.com
 Sharyn
Thompson
Contact Social Worker, Jackson, TN
Sharyn Thompson has joined the CHI staff as a contract
social worker conducting home studies and post placement
visits. She is certified in Family and Consumer Science
through the American Association of Family & Consumer
Sciences. Sharyn also serves as the Director for
Community Health in Memphis and rural West Tennessee for
Le Bonheur Children’s Medical Center. She has prior work
experience in the public health field as a Nutritionist
and Health Educator. Sharyn holds certifications as a
CPR/First Aid instructor, Red Cross Mass Destruction
Worker, Child Passenger Safety Seat technician, and as a
Challenge Course facilitator.
Sharyn resides in Jackson, Tennessee with her husband
Chuck. They have been married for 11 years and enjoy
spending time on the golf course, reading good books,
and going for long walks. They are also in the process
of adopting their first child from Kazakhstan. Sharyn
enjoys working with people in her community and
considers it a privilege to help others through their
journey of adoption.
thompsos@methodisthealth.org
 Tanya Yurlova
Special Projects Coordinator
Tanya Yurlova
has been working with CHI as the Special Projects Coordinator
since January 2001. Her main task
is organizing Operation Hope and working with all
the families who
participate in this program.
Every year, CHI brings groups
of Russian orphans to the US for a
three-week
home stay with host families. The
program includes appropriate summertime activities organized by
CHI. This is a wonderful opportunity for the older children 7 to
11 years of age to have a miracle vacation in the U.S. The host
families will have a rare chance to meet and get to know the
children whom they may want to adopt after the end of the program.
Tanya will be coordinating the program from the CHI office in
Nashville, TN.
She has previously lived and worked
in St. Louis where she was the Director of the Business for Russia
Program (BFR) at the World Affairs Council.
Tanya is Russian and before
arriving with her husband and son to St. Louis in 1994, she lived
in Moscow and worked with the U.S. Embassy there. Before joining
the Embassy, she was a research associate at the Institute of
Oriental Studies in Moscow. As a child, she spent five years in
India with her parents who were Soviet diplomats.
Tanya brings with her years of experience of
working with Russian-American exchange programs, and a life-long
commitment to building intercultural and international relations.
Her
educational background is in History, and she holds a Ph.D. from
the Moscow State University in Russia.
Tanya.Yurlova@ChildrensHope.net
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Our
Alabama Staff
 Teresa Wood
Outreach Coordinator, AL
Teresa Wood
is the part time Outreach Coordinator for the state of
Alabama. Teresa graduated from Jacksonville State University
in Jacksonville, AL with a BS degree in music education. She
has taught elementary music, taught pre-kindergarten classes,
and home schooled her own children. Family and children have
always been a major part of her life.
Teresa and
her husband, Ryan, have 3 children. It was the adoption of
their third child, Christa, that ignited her passion for
orphans around the world. "Our adoption journey was such a
'journey of faith' for me. I want others to know that if God
puts the desire to adopt in their hearts, that He will bring
it to pass (PS. 37:4-5)."
Teresa.Wood@ChildrensHope.net
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Our
Arkansas Staff
 Connie Bailey
Outreach coordinator, AR
Connie Bailey joined
our staff in 2006 as Arkansas Outreach Coordinator. Her background
includes a BS degree in Secondary Education from Central Missouri
State University. She has taught school, worked nine years as a
trainer for Hallmark Cards headquarters, and has many other
interests, but her passion is family. Connie enjoys being a wife
and mother of four internationally adopted children. Her children
range in age from seven to fourteen, and were adopted from El
Salvador, China and India. Not only has adoption allowed her and
her husband the wonderful blessing of parenthood, but it has
opened their world up to many other adventures and relationships.
She loves sharing the joy of adoption with others.
Tel: 479-420-6484
Connie.Bailey@ChildrensHope.net
 Ginger
Couch
Contract Case Worker
Ginger
has an undergraduate degree from Auburn University and a
Master's Degree in Counseling from the University of
Georgia. Her prior work experience includes case
management and discharge planning with Arkansas
Children’s Hospital. She lives in Little Rock with her
husband and 2 children. They are in the process of
adopting a baby girl from China.
Gcouch1964@sbcglobal.net
 Kristi
Foster
Contract Case Worker
Kristi Foster has a BS degree in Elementary Education
from the University of Arkansas and her MS in Counseling
from John Brown University. She is currently a school
counselor and mother of three. Two of her three children
were adopted from China in 2004 and 2007. After
completing her first adoption through Children's Hope in
2004, she decided that helping other families through
the adoption process would be the best job ever! She
began as a contract case worker for NW Arkansas in
January, 2007, and is loving meeting new families and
sharing the joys of adoption.
knkfoster@sbcglobal.net
 Diana
Smith
Contract Case Worker
Diana Smith came to work for CHI as a contract case
worker in 2006. She has a Masters degree in Social Work
from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and is a
Licensed Certified Social Worker in the state of
Arkansas. She lives in Little Rock with her husband Pat
and their giant schnauzer Skampi. When not working or
traveling, Diana enjoys riding her dressage horse,
Amulette, while Pat enjoys coaching high school rugby in
central Arkansas. In addition to her work for CHI, Diana
has worked as an outpatient psychotherapist at Arkansas
Children’s Hospital since 1995. Previously she worked as
a medical social worker and as a chemical dependency
treatment specialist.
tbhorses@ix.netcom.com
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Our
Kentucky Staff
 Michelle Satler
Outreach Coordinator,
KY
Michelle Satler is the part-time Outreach Coordinator for
Kentucky. She and her husband, Gary, began their adoption
journey for their new daughter from China in May 2006. A native
of Kentucky, she graduated from the University of Louisville,
with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. She has spent nearly 8
years working for non-profit agencies. Michelle is very grateful
for an opportunity to work with families considering adoption
and to be a part of an agency so devoted to helping children
find loving homes
Michelle.Satler@ChildrensHope.net
 Misti Carrigan
Contract
Social Worker
Misti
Carrigan holds a Master of Arts degree and is a Licensed
Professional Clinical Counselor in the state of Kentucky. For
the past seven years, she has worked in education and in mental
health the previous six years.
Outside of
her work, she enjoys time spent with her husband of fifteen
years and the couple's three year old daughter, Emerson Dawn.
As a family, they attend The Turning Point Church in Madison,
TN and take pleasure in the great outdoors with
their three basset hounds, Frederick, Abigail and Jane. In
addition, Misti actively seeks fundraising efforts that affect
change around the world for orphaned children.
On becoming
involved with Children's Hope, Misti states, "Becoming a mother
was the most rewarding experience, and I look forward to serving
CHI families as they too journey to achieve their dreams of
parenthood."
misti.carrigan@bgreen.kyschools.us
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Our
Louisiana - Mississippi
Staff
 Angelle High
Outreach Coordinator,
LA, MS
Angelle became acquainted with CHI three
years ago, when she and her husband began the adoption process for
their daughter from China. They are now waiting for the referral
of their second Chinese daughter! Because this has been one of the
most fulfilling experiences she has ever had, Angelle wants to
share the miracle of adoption with others.
She says, “My hope is that our blended family
will be an encouragement to others to allow God to create a family
that may be different from the one they had originally envisioned,
but one that is still His idea.”
She lives in Baton Rouge, Louisiana with her
husband Jay, her two sons, Landon and Micah, and her daughter,
Rebekah. She loves her work as the Outreach Coordinator for CHI in
Louisiana and Mississippi. Sometimes it’s a challenge to get it
all in as she homeschools her children, but it’s never boring!
Phone: 225-810-0977
Angelle.High@ChildrensHope.net
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Our
Virginia Staff
 Tammie
Perkins
Outreach Coordinator, VA
Tammie Perkins is the part time Outreach Coordinator for Virginia.
She and her husband Greg have 5 children. Their daughter, Reagan,
joined their family in January 2004 from Hubei Province, China.
Through Reagan's adoption, Tammie discovered her own passion for
helping others adopt and has been a CHAPS Volunteer and active in
helping to start an adoption ministry in her home church.
"After experiencing the miracle of adoption in our own lives, I
can't wait to help others discover the wonderful way God uses
adoption to bring families together."
Tel: 540-664-1727
Tammie.Perkins@ChildrensHope.net
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