Dr. Brigette Schupay began her social work journey in 1992, starting as a volunteer Guardian ad Litem for neglected and abused children while attending the University of South Florida School of Social Work. Her passion for child welfare quickly grew, leading her to work in foster care and adoption after graduation. Following the privatization of Florida’s child welfare services, Dr. Schupay became the Adoption Director for Hillsborough County in 2003 under Hillsborough Kids, Inc., where she played a pivotal role in facilitating the adoption of nearly 1,000 special needs children. From 2005 to 2011, Dr. Schupay served as the Executive Director of Heart of Adoptions Alliance, Inc. and Heart of Adoptions, Inc.

In 2013, she earned her doctoral degree in social work at the University of South Florida, focusing her research on Post-Adoption Depression in adoptive mothers. In 2014, she became the Regional Director for the Mississippi Department of Families and Children, overseeing child welfare services across six counties. In 2022, Dr. Schupay returned to HOAA continuing her mission of finding permanent, loving homes for children. Her extensive experience and unwavering commitment to adoption have had a lasting impact on countless children and families.

Amanda joined HOAA in May 2019 as a bachelor’s-level social work intern. Her passion and determination led her to earn a master’s degree in social work just one year later from Northern Arizona University. Being an adoptee herself, Amanda has always felt a deep calling to work with children and families. She finds fulfillment in educating adoptive families and guiding them through the complexities of the adoption process. Today, Amanda serves as Adoption Programs Supervisor, where she continues to make a meaningful impact on the lives of children and their new families.

Dr. Marleen Milner joined the HOAA team in 2022 after retiring from her twenty-two-year academic position. 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.

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 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. She currently completes adoptive home studies and assists the Executive Director with program development and securing funding.

Amy joined HOAA in 2022 as a master’s-level intern from the University of South Florida. Following her graduation, she embraced the role of Adoption Support Coordinator. From a young age, Amy was driven by a desire to help individuals, families, and communities, which led her to social work. During her internship, she quickly developed a passion for adoption social work and is excited to continue supporting children and families on their adoption journeys. In addition, Amy oversees the Hope program.

Shannon joined HOAA in 2018 as a Senior Case Worker and Intake Coordinator, where she worked closely with birth mothers to conduct intake interviews, screen potential birth parents, and match families. In 2021, she transitioned to collaborate with community-based care agencies, completing child and home studies.

Shannon earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of South Florida in 2007. After graduating, she began her career in child welfare as a Case Manager before advancing to the role of Family Adoption Specialist. Her dedication and expertise allowed her to further progress in the dependency system, ultimately becoming an Assistant Program Director. Shannon’s extensive knowledge and background in child welfare, combined with her commitment to helping children achieve permanency, make her an invaluable asset in her current role.

Amy Nickerson joined HOAA in June 2018 as an adoption caseworker. She works closely with the birth mothers handling their day-to-day needs and 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 is an adoptee and has two children adopted internationally from Guatemala.

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

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.”

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.”

Bill Smoak is a shareholder with Alvarez, Thompson & Smoak, P.A. in Tampa, Florida. He is a very experienced trial attorney whose practice is focused primarily in the areas of commercial transportation law, negligent security/premises litigation, food safety, product liability law, and professional malpractice matters.

Following his enlisted service in the United States Marine Corps as an assault amphibious vehicle crewman, Bill received a B.A. from the University of South Florida as a double major in psychology and criminology. He attended Cumberland School of Law at Samford University and was a Senior Editor of the American Journal of Trial Advocacy. He also was a member of Cumberland’s perennially nationally ranked trial team, having won several trial competitions. Bill also obtained his master’s in business administration from Samford University. After receiving his Juris Doctor degree, he worked as a litigation associate with an insurance defense firm in Alabama. Ultimately, Bill returned to Florida and joined a well-known insurance defense firm in 2001.

Bill is the proud father of daughter Jacqueline, who was adopted as an infant and now aspires to become an attorney like her father. She plans to specialize in adoption law.

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.

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.

Seyran Celik is a civil engineer with more than 15 years of industry experience. She has been appointed as an expert in delay, quantum and technical matters, and provided expert services for international arbitration, litigation and mediation. She is currently a partner at HKA, and leads HKA’s growing Miami practice.

In addition to dispute resolution, Seyran also has significant project management and design experience as a geotechnical engineer. She has provided services relating to preconstruction phase feasibility studies, damage studies, remediation solutions, subsurface investigations, and environmental assessments. Her work consists of government contracts and embassy work, defense and military, transportation, infrastructure, healthcare, education, wastewater, and commercial high-rises.

Seyran is a member of the Association for the Advancement of Cost Engineers, the Project Management Institute, the American Bar Association, Arbitral Women, and the Society of Construction Law. She currently serves as president of the AACE Greater Miami Chapter and until recently, as committee chair of the HKA Americas Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Initiative.

As the only daughter to adoptive parents, Seyran is a firm believer in the mission and values of HOAA, and the wider adoption community. “Being adopted myself by a loving and deserving family was the single most important factor in the success, meaning, and happiness of my life; It has shaped my very personality. It is my absolute honor to help unite and form such families in the most meaningful way.”