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Scott Mars - President of the Board of Directors
I was adopted as an infant and was provided the most wonderful life for which a child could ever hope. Working in adoption allows me to give back to a field that has given me so much. Growing up, I had the opportunity to help foster care over 140 babies with my parents. It really touched my heart being a part of their lives even if it was only for a short while. I could not imagine a more rewarding job than working in adoption.
E-MAIL:scott@americanadoptions.com
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Shawn Kane - Executive Director
Hello I help to provide education, guidance and support to our clients and staff about the adoption process. Since we may never get to meet in person I’d like to tell you a bit about myself! Throughout the years I have been involved in signing up adoptive families, talking to pregnant mothers, handling marketing and advertising efforts along with helping to lead, organize and train our staff. My passion for adoption has grown thru the years. The adoption field is very rewarding. Adoption is challenging and complex with so much to learn all of the time. I admire and respect any person who considers adoption. Adoption takes special people making choices all in the best interest of the child. Each adoption is a miracle in action :)
E-MAIL:shawn@americanadoptions.com
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Wade Morris - Director of Community Resources
My position at the agency is to provide education on the adoption process and inform clients of all the services and programs we offer at American Adoptions when it comes to adoptive families. I also develop and maintain relations with other adoption attorneys, adoption agencies and other adoption professionals throughout the United States.
E-MAIL:wade@americanadoptions.com
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Ted Mars - Vice-President of the Board of Directors
While Ted was not part of the initial founding of American Adoptions, he was very supportive of Susan and Scott's dream to make adoption better. Ted retired about 8 years ago from his job and now works along side Scott and the rest of the staff to help American Adoptions to grow. Ted is the jack of all trades handling accounting, computer, payroll, and health benefits for the staff of American Adoptions. Ted provides a healthy prospective of bringing old school ideas with new age technology all which helps American Adoptions maintain a competitive balance against other adoption professionals.
E-MAIL:ted@americanadoptions.com
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Susan Mars - Co-Founder - Secretary of the Board of Directors
Susan Mars was one of the original founders of American Adoptions. Susan and her husband Ted along with their son Scott kept babies who were being placed for adoption. They were able to share in the lives of 157 babies before they were able to go stay with their new family. This experience prompted Susan and Scott to start American Adoptions as they believed they could build a better adoption agency. Being involved in adoption was a very rewarding experience because it was Susan, Ted and Scott's way of giving back to adoption. While Susan does not come in the office as much as she use to, she still is an integral part by being on the board of directors.
E-MAIL:Susan_M@americanadoptions.com
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Mary Wheatley - Executive Director of FL
Hi, My name is Mary Wheatley and I am an Adoption Specialist with American Adoptions of Florida. I have worked in the field of Social Services over the past 10 years and have my Bachelors and Masters degrees in Psychology. As a new adoptive parent, myself, I have come to understand the blessing that adoption provides not only to a child, but to an entire family and community and feel I have found my true calling working in the field of adoption. It continues to be a pleasure to work with birth parents and admire their strength as they make adoptive plans for their child, as well as watch the miracle of new families created when uniting a child with an adoptive family. My focus is to continue to develop relationships within Florida, while assisting and reviewing Home Studies and Post Placements completed in the state, and maintaining licensing requirements for the agency.
E-MAIL:maryw@americanadoptions.com
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Elizabeth Falke - Administrative Director
I have been with American Adoptions since February of 1999. I have held many jobs over the years and I have had the privilege of getting to know many clients. One of my favorite duties included working closely with adoptive families who were in the adoption process. I witnessed many families grow from timid, sometimes unsure adoption hopefuls into confident parents. This has brought me tremendous personal satisfaction, not to mention some very good friendships along the way. In recent years I have switched my focus to agency administration duties, which include maintaining our state licensing in current states of operation, seeking licensure in new states, developing program policy and procedure, keeping updated on state law and regulatory changes that effect our agency and our clients. It’s a challenging, but rewarding position and I am proud to be a part of the American Adoptions family.
E-MAIL:liz@americanadoptions.com
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Michelle Wellwood - Birth Parent Peer Support
My name is Michelle Wellwood and I am a birth mother who is working here at American Adoptions. My primary focus is peer support for all those birth mothers that we are working with who need to know that they are not alone and that someone else understands how they feel. I placed my son for adoption in Feb of 1998. He is the love of my life and I know that it is because of adoption and his wonderful adoptive family that he has had all of the opportunities and experiences that he has been blessed with.
E-MAIL:michellew@americanadoptions.com
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Cara Hinkle - Director of Social Services (AR)
My name is Cara Hinkle and I am the Social Service Director for our office in Rogers, Arkansas. I am also an Adoption Specialist that works specifically with birth parents and like being able to provide them with the support they need to get through this time in their lives. I have a degree in Social Work and have worked 7 years in the social work field. Working with birth parents and adopting couples everyday is definitely the most joyous social work job I have had. Adoption has also touched my life personally because I am adopted. I have met my birth mother and am very thankful for the gift she gave me, my parents! I love being a part of the adoption field and look forward to working with you during your adoption journey!
E-MAIL:cara_h@americanadoptions.com
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Lara Sandusky - Adoption Specialist (AR)
My name is Lara Sandusky and I am a Licensed Social Worker and Adoption Specialist in Northwest Arkansas. I obtained my Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Texas at Arlington and have spent a majority of my post collegiate years working for or with a child placement agency.
My primary focus is to meet with potential adoptive families, complete home studies, as well as support and guide you through your wonderful adoption journey.
I look forward to meeting you all very soon!
E-MAIL:lsandusky@americanadoptions.com
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