Meet The
Heart to Heart Team

Donna is an irreplaceable member of our adoption agency, dedicated to aiding women who are contemplating placing their child for adoption. Helping women through an unexpected pregnancy has become her life's journey. She is seldom "off duty." On weekends she communicates with birth mothers to aid them with their financial concerns or traveling to a hospital to ensure they are receiving the best medical possible.

Her resolute dedication and heartfelt compassion make her an essential figure in supporting these women throughout their entire journey.

Donna ensures that every person who works at Heart to Heart Adoptions treats birth mothers and adoptive families with respect and compassion. She insists on a non-judgmental approach to every situation. She creates a safe and nurturing space for them to share their concerns, dreams, and worries. By approaching each individual with empathy and without judgment, Donna ensures that these exceptional women have the necessary guidance and resources to make well-informed decisions.

Donna's expertise within the Utah Adoption Agency lies in her ability to find the perfect match between birth mothers and adoptive families, making her an invaluable asset to our agency.

Jodi, a radiant heart beating at the core of Heart to Heart Adoptions, wears many hats. As a counselor with over two decades of experience, she offers invaluable guidance and understanding to women navigating the emotional complexities of placing a child for adoption. Whether it's late-night conversations filled with empathy or quiet craft sessions around a table overflowing with supplies, Jodi creates a safe space for these women to explore their options, make informed decisions, and feel empowered throughout their journey.

Jodi's dedication transcends therapy sessions. In the agency's Utah apartments, she fosters a sense of community and connection through meaningful activities like scrapbooking.

Beyond her professional expertise, Jodi embodies genuine compassion. She listens intently to each woman's unique story, recognizing their individual needs and desires. Her ability to connect on a personal level shines through in her warm demeanor, making her a trusted confidante and unwavering support system during this deeply personal chapter in their lives.

Her dedication makes her an invaluable asset to Heart to Heart Adoptions, leaving a lasting positive impact on the lives of everyone she encounters.

Lisa, an experienced and dedicated Adoptive Family Coordinator, has been an integral part of our adoption agency for the past 16 years. Her entire professional journey has been centered around the field of adoption, and she has played a crucial role in connecting birth mothers with adoptive families, ensuring a healthy and strong match.

In her role, Lisa specializes in supporting adoptive families throughout the application process. She meticulously reads home studies, gaining deep insights into the lives of these amazing families. Beyond the paperwork, Lisa goes the extra mile by facilitating post-placement calls, fostering a connection between adoptive families and their birth mothers.

Outside of her professional life, Lisa is a loving mother of three daughters. Family holds a special place in her heart, and she cherishes the time spent creating beautiful memories with her loved ones. Lisa and her daughters share a passion for travel, exploring new destinations together.

What truly resonates with Lisa is the gratitude expressed by adoptive families for the small yet significant role she plays in helping them grow. She emphasizes the collective effort within the agency, acknowledging that each team member contributes uniquely to the success of every adoption.

Lisa's dedication, expertise, and compassionate approach make her an invaluable member of our team, embodying the spirit of support and care that defines our agency.

Julie Glenn is an accomplished Chief Information Officer with over two decades of experience in web development, senior project management, and driving digital transformations. With a background that spans leading teams across multiple geographies and overseeing complex projects, Julie excels at aligning technology strategies with business objectives. Her expertise in user experience design and web development has been instrumental in achieving strategic goals and fostering innovation.

Outside of her professional life, Julie enjoys spending time with her two children, two Great Danes, and a Yorkie in sunny Florida. She is passionate about travel, surfing, paddleboarding, and exploring new adventures with her family. Julie values connection and thrives on hearing people's stories, which fuels her personal and professional journey.

Coleen is an assistant at Heart to Heart Adoptions, where she works closely with Lisa to support the adoption process. She handles phone calls from adoptive families, answering their questions and providing valuable information. In addition, Coleen is responsible for collecting and organizing all paperwork and documentation from adoptive families, ensuring everything is in order. She maintains constant communication with Lisa, keeping her informed on the status of files and ensuring they are completed quickly. This efficient process allows adoptive families to become active and ready for presentation as soon as possible.

While Kathy originally hails from Illinois, she has been proudly calling Utah her home for the past three years. Her warm smile and unwavering commitment make her an invaluable member of our adoption agency as a birth mom case manager.

Kathy possesses a natural ability to connect with others and thrives on creating meaningful relationships with women who are considering placing their children for adoption. Kathy's true passion lies in supporting these women throughout their journey. She goes above and beyond simply guiding them through the process. She forges lasting friendships that often extend beyond the adoption. Her daily texts include some of her best friends whom she met when they came to Heart to Heart to place their child for adoption. Some decided to parent, but still communicate with Kathy. Others placed their child for adoption and are still connecting with the adoptive parents and with Kathy.

Kathy's genuine empathy and steadfast encouragement shine through in every interaction, ensuring that each woman feels heard and supported. For Kathy, collaboration is paramount. She highly values teamwork and sees her colleagues as essential partners in achieving success.

Sharyn is the Travel Lead/Adoption Specialist and CRM Manager at Heart to Heart Adoptions. She holds a BS in Family Science with an emphasis on Family Counseling and is a Creative Arts Therapist. Sharyn also serves as the Non-Profit Board Secretary for New Outlook Associates and has taught piano for 15 years. She is passionate about the miracles that unfold between birth moms and adoptive families. Outside of work, Sharyn loves playing the piano and capturing significant life moments through photography, such as weddings, new babies, and graduations. Sharyn is married to a wonderful, supportive man, and they have seven children and three grandchildren. They live on a farm with chickens, dogs, cats, cows, and ducks, and she hopes to add sheep and llamas in the future.

Deanna is the Financial Director at Heart to Heart Adoptions, bringing over 30 years of experience in accounting and finance to her role. She is a QuickBooks Pro Advisor and holds both a Montessori Teaching certificate and an Early Childhood Education certificate. Deanna is dedicated to staying current with adoption laws and economics, ensuring that the agency provides the best service to its clients. Outside of work, she enjoys reading, swimming, playing cornhole, and spending time with her family, particularly her grandchildren. Deanna is a proud mother of five children, grandmother to eight, and a pet owner to two dogs.

For the past three years, Patti has dedicated her expertise to the financial engine of the agency. With great precision, she handles personal and medical billing, ensuring seamless operations so our team can wholeheartedly support birth mothers and adoptive families.

With a background nurtured at Utah Tech State College and Weber State University, Patti spent 11 fulfilling years directly supporting birth mothers.

Although her current role keeps her behind the scenes, Patti's passion for our mission remains steadfast. "I have the privilege of working with some of the most incredible women," she reflects, thinking back to the birth mothers she has supported. "It truly takes a team effort to achieve success, and I am grateful to be surrounded by amazing individuals."

Besides her strong work ethic, Patti embraces an active lifestyle. You may catch her cycling, competing in a lively round of pickleball, or enjoying quality time with her children and grandchildren, spreading joy and boosting her own spirits.

Patti's dedication to precision and her compassionate nature, combined with her profound understanding of how our work affects families, make her an indispensable member of our team. Though she may work behind the scenes, her contributions provide vital financial stability to our agency, allowing us to continue impacting the lives of birth mothers and adoptive families in a profound and meaningful way.

Lori, our dedicated Legal Coordinator at Heart to Heart, infuses her expertise with a genuine warmth that touches every adoption journey. With a background in human resource development from BYU and years of volunteer experience, including serving as PTA president and in various church roles, Lori effortlessly cultivates connections and fosters collaboration.

Her journey at Heart to Heart began nine years ago as a compassionate case manager, where she found fulfillment in supporting birth mothers through their unique experiences. Now, in her role as the Legal Coordinator, Lori ensures that every adoption process unfolds seamlessly and complies with legal requirements.

Beyond meticulously handling placement paperwork and coordinating legal approvals, Lori finds joy in personal connections. "Meeting our birth mothers is always a highlight," she shares with a smile. "And witnessing the joy of adoptive parents holding their new baby – it's pure happiness!"

Lori's satisfaction stems from contributing to these life-changing moments, driven by the belief that every child deserves a nurturing home. She values the opportunity to support both birth and adoptive families, guided by compassion and empathy.

Recognizing the importance of teamwork, Lori emphasizes the agency's collaborative spirit. "I'm incredibly grateful to work alongside such caring individuals," she notes. "Together, we form a supportive team dedicated to making a positive impact on every adoption journey."

Lyssa is a proud mother of four children and grandmother to five wonderful grandchildren. Alongside her cherished dog, she finds joy in their company. Outside of her professional life, Lyssa thrives on outdoor adventures such as skiing, hiking, and biking. She's also an avid pickleball player and enjoys the creativity of cooking and watercolor painting. A passionate reader, Lyssa finds immense fulfillment in connecting with others and hearing their unique stories.

With a background in journalism and graphic arts, ViAnn brings a wealth of experience from teaching at both high school and university levels and contributing to news media outlets. Her passion for storytelling led her to her current role, where she produces impactful media content for our adoption agency.

Beyond her professional endeavors, ViAnn's heart is deeply connected to adoption. She is the proud parent of five children, four of whom joined her family through adoption. Now a grandmother of four, ViAnn finds immense joy in her extended family.

ViAnn has learned that the content she creates has the power to comfort birth mothers after they've made the selfless decision to place a baby for adoption. The idea that a birth mother can read a story and feel a profound connection brings her a deep sense of fulfillment.

Jordan's role at Heart to Heart as a website technician and graphic designer reflects his diverse talents and expertise. Armed with a degree in art and graphic design, he seamlessly navigates between projects, from collaborating with graphic design companies to consulting with universities on website development. Jordan's knack for improving websites extends beyond technicalities; he's a problem solver who enjoys refining details, ensuring that every aspect, from typos to visual presentation, is polished and impactful.

Within his role, Jordan tackles server maintenance and plays a pivotal role in training writers on optimizing their content through backend functionalities and graphical enhancements. He thrives in the dynamic environment, handling various moving parts with finesse and a keen eye for detail. "I'm a problem solver," Jordan affirms, emphasizing his dedication to perfection and functionality.

Outside of work, Jordan's artistic flair extends to his personal endeavors. He spends his spare time drawing, exploring new artistic techniques, and enjoying quality moments with his dog.

What truly sets Jordan apart is his collaborative spirit and patience. He listens attentively to team members' ideas, no matter how ambitious, and delights in sharing his expertise to help others grow. His calm and thoughtful approach to questions and challenges makes him a valuable asset, fostering a creative and supportive work environment.

Ashlyn Johns is a Birth Parent Case Manager at Heart to Heart Adoptions, dedicated to walking alongside birth mothers with empathy and professionalism throughout their adoption journey.

Wendy Knowles provides essential front-line support and on-hand care administration at Heart to Heart Adoptions. Wendy answers phones from potential birth mothers. She is often the first point of contact for birth mothers in the agency's care.

She knows the support that Heart to Heart Adoptions can give birth mothers. She also knows what community support is available to birth mothers and is willing to take time to explain all the resources and options for a woman who is involved in an unexpected pregnancy.

Sherry Clark serves as Heart to Heart's Data Design Specialist, managing the agency's database infrastructure and file systems for over 20 years. Her precision and organizational expertise ensure that critical records are accurate, accessible, and secure — the backbone of smooth adoption operations.

Lonn Litchfield is a licensed Utah attorney with more than 28 years of legal experience and a deep commitment to building families through the law. A partner at Sorensen Litchfield in Salt Lake City, Lonn has conducted hundreds of adoption finalization hearings and hundreds more petitions regarding parental rights — and to date, not a single one of his adoption clients has been prevented from finalizing.

Lonn earned his law degree cum laude from Brigham Young University's J. Reuben Clark Law School and went on to earn a Master of Laws degree with merit in International Business Law from the London School of Economics and Political Science. He has been a member of the Utah State Bar since 1997 and is also licensed to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the U.S. Court of International Trade.

His practice spans adoption, family law, probate and trust administration, real estate, and complex civil litigation. He served as Chair of the International Law Section of the Utah State Bar in 2005-06 and as President of the Utah Adoption Council in 2019-2020.

Lonn brings a rare combination of scientific background, meticulous legal drafting, and genuine warmth to his work. Whether navigating an uncontested adoption or a complex contested matter, his clients consistently praise his responsiveness, expertise, and ability to put families at ease during high-stakes moments.

Heart to Heart Adoptions is proud to work alongside Lonn Litchfield in supporting families through the adoption journey.

Additional Admissions / Certs: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (2001); U.S. Court of International Trade

Lui Castro is an Account Manager at Disruptive Advertising. He loves the psychology of how people consume marketing. His love of psychology is matched by his love for analytics, which helps tell the story of how people are interacting with websites, media platforms, search engines, videos, and online advertisements.

Lui has personally managed millions of dollars in marketing spend a year, and his team likewise manages several million in marketing spend yearly. Lui and his team have grown dozens of companies revenue-wise every year.

When Lui is not working, you will find him spending time with his family and focusing on being present with them.

Leonardo "Leo" Santana has spent more than 25 years building software that can't afford to fail. His expertise spans software architecture, high-scale systems, automation, information security, and cryptography, developed on large-scale, mission-critical systems for global technology companies including Amazon and eBay. He has been writing production PHP since before Laravel existed and has kept his skills current. He holds certifications in advanced Laravel development and in agile project management with Scrum.

Leo co-founded Arkan Tecnologia, a Brazilian software company, and served as its CTO, leading the company's entire technical architecture. Arkan starts every project by asking how the software will make the client money, and it hands clients the full source code for everything it builds. The company reports more than 73 platforms and 400 white-label products delivered across industries from fintech to marketplaces, with operations reaching financial markets in Portugal and the United States. Leo is also the sole source-code author of TITAN, Arkan's proprietary platform for solving operational problems in the oil and gas industry. TITAN has a patent pending and was selected as a Beta Startup at Web Summit Rio 2026.

Today Leo is helping a startup turn ambitious ideas into systems that can actually be built, tested, and maintained. He leads the technical side of website architecture, structured information, custom AI, integrations, automation, and the safeguards that keep technology useful and reliable. He doesn't add technology just because it's new. He starts with what the business needs, what the system has to do, and where human review still matters.

Leo lives in Brazil and works fluently in Portuguese and English.

Being the serious one apparently doesn't stop him from playing drums for the band Rock4Jam, which may explain his feel for systems that have to keep perfect time. His artistic and technical sides aren't as far apart as they seem. Whether he's working through a song or a complicated software system, Leo pays attention to structure, timing, and the way each part locks in with the rest.

Nathan Gwilliam has worked in adoption for more than 30 years. He built and sold Adoption.com, the world's most-visited adoption platform.

He developed the strategy and led the team at the KSL.com and Deseret.com parent company, where the platforms grew to reach 280 million+ monthly uniques and 130 million+ monthly social follows. He also led the team that added $5 million in new revenue for FamilyLink in his first year.

Today Nathan is the founder and CEO of PodUp, an all-in-one platform that helps people create, grow, and earn from a podcast, all in one place. He is based in Rexburg, Idaho.

Haley's bio is coming soon. Check back to learn more about Haley and her work supporting birth mothers at Heart to Heart Adoptions.

Michelle's bio is coming soon. Check back to learn more about Michelle and her work supporting birth mothers at Heart to Heart Adoptions.

Fred Bonney's bio is coming soon. Check back to learn more about Fred and his role on the Heart to Heart Adoptions Board of Directors.

Joel Jones's bio is coming soon. Check back to learn more about Joel and his role on the Heart to Heart Adoptions Board of Directors.