Heather has a BS in elementary education and French from Susquehanna University in Pennsylvania. For several years she worked as an elementary media specialist, followed by 8 years as a public children’s librarian and director of a small public library. Heather’s life long love of working with children naturally translated into a desire to help create families through the miracle of adoption. During their own adoption journey, Heather discovered a local adoption support group, and her passion for adoption was born. After bringing home their daughter through the help of an ASA consultant, Heather became very active with the adoption support group, encouraging others in their adoption journeys. This eventually brought Heather back to ASA to join her love of working with children with her love of adoption. Heather currently lives with her husband and two children in Orlando, Florida.

Lisa has a bachelor degree is sports management and journalism from the University of Dayton. After a nearly 20-year career in public relations and marketing within the sporting industry, which required extensive travel, Lisa and her husband Jason decided it was time to start a family of their own. They joined an adoption support group, which led them to A Step Ahead Adoption. They soon became clients and just a short time later were matched with their daughter.

Following a handful of years as a stay-at-home mom, Lisa reached back out to ASA. This time, she hoped to join the adoption consulting team and utilize her marketing background in a more meaningful way. And as they say, the rest is history!

Lisa and her husband have been married 26 years and have a seven-year-old adopted daughter, Carter Mae. They reside in the Lake Norman, NC area, just outside of Charlotte.

Lauren has a B.S. degree in Logistics and Intermodal Transportation, and worked for six years as a Senior Supply Chain Analyst for a large furniture retailer before becoming a stay at home mom and adoption consultant. She married her high school sweetheart, Derrick, nine years ago. They live outside of Athens, GA with their two sweet boys who they adopted as infants. Boone is four and Ledger is one. After her second adoption, she felt led to help other families through their adoption journey. She feels passionate about adoption and its role in helping build families, and can’t wait to guide and support you through your adoption experience.

Whitney has a B. Ed degree and has worked in the field of adoptions for over 28 years. As an adoption professional, she has helped guide families through the home evaluation process, counseled birth parents, and co-managed an adoption agency for the past 14 years. After relocating from Georgia to Colorado this past summer, she wanted to continue her service to adoptive families and joined the team at ASA. She looks forward to helping support and coach you through your adoption journey.

Laronda Southworth, IN, is an adoptive mom of two, married for 20 years!  Professionally, Laronda has been a past VP of a telecommunications company, has helped open an adoption agency in IN and LA. She has worked with countless families across the US to help them build their families through adoption. Adopting both of their children was the “spark” that led Laronda to move into working in adoption! As a result, Laronda has worked in the adoption field for 15 years.

Laronda has long-standing professional relationships with several other agencies and attorneys, which ASA will be able to connect and hopefully build on those already great connections. Laronda’s primary role with ASA will be as our Outreach Coordinator helping sustain our current relationships with the various adoption providers and develop new relationships!

Laronda clearly enjoys educating everyone she meets to talk about adoption, she says, “It is in her heart forever”.

Giovanna (Gia) has a Bachelor’s degree in Organizational Communications from Rollins College and has worked in the tech industry for over 15 years. When Giovanna and her wife decided to start their family, they discovered A Step Ahead Adoption. Within a few short months of joining ASA, they welcomed their son to their home in TX (at that time).

Gia and her wife made the decision to move back to Central Florida after their son’s adoption was finalized in Austin, Texas. Now back home in the sunshine state, Gia has decided to leave the corporate world and begin a more genuine and purposeful career journey with A Step Ahead Adoption. Adoption has always held a special place in Giovanna’s heart. She enjoys sharing how her family was created through adoption and is honored by the opportunity to help others find theirs.