Meet the Team

President and CEO

Jason Friedman

Prior to joining The Cradle in January 2021, Jason Friedman served as executive director of iMentor Chicago, a nonprofit connecting high school students in low-income communities with volunteer mentors. He also previously held senior leadership roles in Chicago and Washington, D.C. nonprofits, serving in development and communications roles for such organizations as One Hope United and The SEED Foundation. Friedman started his career as a TV news reporter, and his work was recognized with the National Edward R. Murrow Award. He holds a BA in Political Science and Journalism from Emory University.

Friedman and his wife, PBS Chicago Tonight host Brandis Friedman, have been part of the Cradle Family for years. They have two children, Blake and Miles, and Miles was adopted at The Cradle.

Chief Financial Officer

Damika Hayden

Damika Hayden is excited to begin serving with the team and partners in her new role with The Cradle. She has more than 20 years of professional experience with a diverse background in accounting, finance, banking, and insurance. Prior to joining The Cradle, Damika served as the Chief Financial and Operating Officer for LINK Unlimited Scholars where she was responsible for financial administration, facilities management, human resources, and IT operations. Damika’s career also included working with the Evangelical Church in America, Chubb Insurance, and State Farm Insurance where she successfully helped to launch the State Farm Bank now offering banking products with an alliance with U.S. Bank.

Damika holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Illinois State University and a Master of Public Administration with an emphasis in Nonprofit Management from DeVry University Keller Graduate School of Management.

Born and raised in Chicago, Damika is an advocate for the need for community-based help in raising healthy productive children. She continues to be a youth mentor and is a monthly sign language interpreter at her church. Damika is a writer who also enjoys relaxing with a delightful book and a caramel macchiato. She and her husband are the proud parents of two amazing children.

VP of Marketing, Education & Community Engagement

Jorina Fontelera

Jorina Fontelera has nearly 20 years of experience in marketing and communications across nonprofit and for-profit sectors. Before joining The Cradle in April 2023, she led the global marketing communications department for Stepan Company, a $2.7 billion specialty and intermediate chemical manufacturer based in Northbrook, Illinois. Prior to that, she was a foundational member of Burke Rehabilitation Center’s marketing department. There she was recognized with two Walter P. Daley Excellence Awards for her community health needs assessment reports for Westchester County, New York. Fontelera also has written for numerous publications as a print journalist, including The Milwaukee Business Journal, Houston Chronicle, SFGate.com and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s suburban weeklies.

Outside of her work at The Cradle, Fontelera is a volunteer performance team member of the Chicago Spirit Brigade, a Chicago-based fundraising group that supports local nonprofits providing direct care services to individuals with life-altering challenges. She is also a coach for the INCubator-edu program at Niles North High School in Skokie, Illinois. There she teaches students various marketing concepts — from channel selection and audience segmentation to value proposition development and promotional planning — while also providing real-world context that they can apply to their start-ups.

Fontelera holds a Master of Science degree in Integrated Marketing Communications from Lasell University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Writing Intensive English from Marquette University. She moved back to the Chicagoland area from New York City with her husband, two daughters and five cats. She is very excited to share her experiences and talent to help The Cradle flourish in its next hundred years.

Vice President of Development

Kristina Lederer

Over the last fifteen years, Kristina Lederer has served in leadership roles to help create impactful organizational growth for domestic and international nonprofits. Most recently, Kristina served as the Director of Development of Kakenya’s Dream, a nonprofit organization that empowers girls from severely underserved communities in rural Kenya through educational, health, and leadership initiatives and combats harmful traditional practices such as female genital mutilation and early marriage. In her role, she developed and implemented the organization’s annual fundraising strategy, established a donor giving program and corresponding donor stewardship plan to maintain a strong retention rate year-after-year, and managed a pipeline of institutional funders and prospects to increase organizational sustainability.

Prior to Kakenya’s Dream, she served as the Executive Director of WildlifeDirect and the Director of Development of Advancing Girls’ Education in Africa. Having begun her career as a middle school teacher, Kristina transitioned to nonprofit development at the National Kidney Foundation, eventually living in Uganda to focus on fundraising and program development to improve children’s access to education. Kristina currently serves as a Board Member for 200 Orphanages Worldwide and has consulted with domestic nonprofits across a range of missions.

Kristina is excited to draw from her own experience as an adoptee to build upon The Cradle’s impressive foundation and help deepen the impact in the community. Originally from Maryland, Kristina moved to Chicago in 2019 where she enjoys volunteering with Urban Rivers, urban hikes with her dog, and sharing her passion for travel and the outdoors with her husband and 8-month-old son.

Vice President of Adoption & Family Support

Pamela C. Tancredi, LCSW

Pam Tancredi has an over 25-year career in child welfare. She earned her Master’s degree from the School of Social Service Administration at the University of Chicago. Prior to joining The Cradle in 2000, Pam worked with children and adolescents in residential treatment and independent living settings. At The Cradle Pam has held several roles over the years, including Birth Parent Counselor, Supervisor of Birth Parent Services, Helpline Coordinator and Co-Director of Adoption & Family Support. She began her current role in October 2023, overseeing the quality and integrity of the services delivered to clients at The Cradle.

Managing Director of Adoption & Family Support

Dana T. Davidson LCSW

Dana Davidson joined The Cradle in 2000 and was instrumental in the formation of The Cradle’s relationship with Planned Parenthood. She has held several positions over the years including Birth Parent Counselor, Adoptive Parent Counselor, Clinical Supervisor of Expectant Parent Services and Co-Director of Adoption & Family Support. Dana began her current role in October 2023, directly supervising Adoptive Parent Services and the Nursery. She oversees the quality and integrity of the services delivered to clients at The Cradle. Dana earned her Bachelor of Arts in Social Work from Catholic University in Washington, D.C., and Master of Social Work degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Originally from the East Coast, Dana relocated to Chicago for graduate school and has not looked back. She and her husband are raising their young children in Glenview.

Director of Human Resources

Arlene Jackson

Director of Adoption Learning Partners

Noreen Bigelow

Noreen holds a Bachelor of Science in Education from Northwestern University with a concentration in History. Before joining The Cradle, she worked for Northwestern University’s Institute for the Learning Sciences, the for-profit company Cognitive Arts (a division of NIIT), and Lake Point Interactive with The Cradle as her primary client.

She has spent more than 30 years designing and developing training for corporations, nonprofits, schools, and universities.

At The Cradle, Noreen has been with Adoption Learning Partners (ALP) for more than 20 years. ALP is The Cradle’s e-learning social enterprise which has served prospective and adoptive parents, and adoption professionals for twenty years. Under the Education and Engagement umbrella, ALP has expanded to include parents of all children and all professionals who work with children through the Our Children offerings and Professional Outreach.

As Director of Adoption Learning Partners, Noreen manages a staff of two and oversees Operations which includes content design and development, client relations, customer service, and site infrastructure. Noreen served on the Leadership Committee and on the employee recognition committee

Why I Love the Cradle…
I help people across the globe form their families! Being prepared makes for a better outcome. We have offered asynchronous online training for twenty years allowing a generation of learners access to experts and education.

Director of Post Adoption Support

Nina Friedman, LCSW

Nina Friedman has extensive experience working with adoptive and foster children and their families, adult adoptees, and birth parents. Prior to joining The Cradle’s staff, she worked with adoptive and foster families at Lutheran Social Services of Illinois and Community Counseling Centers of Chicago. She also had a private social work therapy practice working with individuals, couples, and families.

Nina has a Master of Social Work degree from Washington University in St. Louis with a concentration in Mental Health and a specialization in Family Therapy. As an undergraduate, she majored in Psychology with a minor in Family Relations and Human Development at The Ohio State University. Nina is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the State of Illinois, has her DCFS Child Welfare Employee Licensure and is a Licensed Direct Child Welfare Services Employee.

She represents The Cradle on the Illinois Adoption Registry-Confidential Intermediary Advisory Council, the Illinois Post Legal Adoption Services Meeting of Agencies, the Original Birth Certificate Access Oversight Committee, and the Stakeholder Advisory Team for the National Quality Improvement Center for Adoption and Guardianship Support and Preservation.

Infant Care Coordinator and Medical Liaison

Connie Herron

Hello, I am Connie Herron. I have lived in the Chicagoland area most of my life. I have been a nurse for 35 years. I worked in the neonatal intensive care unit at Northshore for 30 years, first as a staff nurse, then education coordinator, and clinical coordinator. I also have a masters in public health, and worked at a nearby university for 3 years during the COVID-19 crisis, planning and coordinating the university response. I taught in China and Vietnam during my career. I have one daughter and a 2-year-old granddaughter. I like to read, draw and paint, and like to travel.

Director of Operations & Governance

Ria Majeske

Supervisor of Expectant Parent Services

Jennifer Rogers, LCSW

Jennifer has extensive experience in a wide variety of areas, from providing clinical advice to attorneys to running parents’ and children’s support groups. She has also worked in private practice as a therapist and supervised child care programs. Jennifer received her Bachelor’s of Psychology and her Master’s of Social Work from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Adoption & Family Support Supervisor

Ashley Akiyama, LCSW

Before joining The Cradle, Ashley earned her Master’s degree in Social Work from the School of Social Service Administration at The University of Chicago. During this time, Ashley completed internships within adoption and children’s grief therapy. Most recently, Ashley worked in a community mental health setting, counseling teens and young adults, and providing coaching and support in their transition to adulthood and independent living. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.

Expectant Parent Counselor

Arletta Barbel

Ever since her experience as a peer mentor in the Big Brother/Big Sister program, Arletta Barbel new she enjoyed mentoring and offering support. Before coming to The Cradle, Arletta worked as a Crisis Counselor at Chicago Youth Centers and as a respite worker at Metropolitan Family Services. She received her Bachelor’s Degree from Southern Illinois University and her Master’s Degree from National Louis University.

Senior Therapist & Clinical Lead

Dori Fujii, LCSW

Dori Fujii is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has worked in the field of public and private child welfare and adoption since receiving her Master of Social Work degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana. She has consulted with DCFS in their pre- and post-adoptive services programs and since 1997 and has worked at The Cradle with families adopting domestically and internationally.

Dori has specialized training in attachment focused, trauma-informed treatment modalities and is a registered Circle of Security® Parent Educator and registered TBRI® Practitioner. She has particular interest in helping parents find effective ways of understanding, communicating and connecting with their children and teens. Her approach is practical and relationship oriented. She stresses the importance of being aware of how past experiences play a role in shaping the thoughts, feelings and actions of all members of the adoption circle.

Adoption Counselor

Katie Gattone

Katie Gattone has over 16 years of experience working in the field of social work. She has worked with foster and adoptive families throughout her career with experience completing subsidized adoptions and special needs adoptions. Katie also has experience in licensing and post adoption services. She has a Master’s in Social Work from University of Illinois-Chicago, Jane Addams College of Social Work. Katie enjoys being a part of a fabulous team at The Cradle and helping build families through adoption.

Expectant Parent Counselor

Elizabeth Mayes

Elizabeth Mayes is an Expectant Parent Counselor at The Cradle. With a passion for helping underserved communities and a personal connection to adoption, she brings both professional expertise and personal insight to her role. Elizabeth holds an MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Adler University and a BA in Psychology from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Before joining The Cradle, Elizabeth worked for six years at Thresholds, where she supported individuals with severe mental illness, substance use disorders, and trauma. She also completed a clinical internship at ThirdEye Counseling, enhancing her skills in providing compassionate, culturally competent care. As a biracial woman, Elizabeth understands the importance of intersectionality and integrates this perspective into her work.

Elizabeth is dedicated to creating a supportive and non-judgmental environment for expectant parents, guiding them through their journey with empathy and understanding.

Adoption Counselor

Lorrin Potts

Lorrin has worked in the adoption field since 2011. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, and her Master’s Degree in Social Work with a concentration in Children, Youth, and Families from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Prior to joining The Cradle, Lorrin worked as an Adoptive Parent Counselor, Expectant Parent Counselor, and Post-Adoption Specialist at an adoption agency in Wisconsin. She also worked for the Resource Link Children’s Mental Health Program with the Children’s Hospital of Illinois and completed an internship in Early Intervention Services. Lorrin chose to pursue a career in social work in order to work in the adoption field, and she is excited to continue her career at The Cradle.

Adoption Counselor

Kathy Santangelo

Kathy has worked in the social service arena for over 25 years. She has worked in the adoption field for the last 20 years, both in the public and private sectors. Kathy has several years of experience working with families adopting medically complex children through the foster care system. She also has experience with expectant parent counseling, domestic infant adoption and international adoption. Kathy received her degree from Northern Illinois University in Family Social Services. Kathy has truly found her passion in assisting families as they navigate their adoption journeys.

Therapist

Deva Suckerman, LCPC

Deva Suckerman is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and Certified Clinical Trauma Professional. She received her Masters Degree in Art Therapy and Counseling from the University of Illinois at Chicago and has focused her career on working with children, youth and families in the context of child welfare.

Deva is trained in adoption competent mental health and has extensive experience working with individuals with tough starts and developmental trauma. She is attachment focused and trauma informed in her approach. Her work with families emphasizes therapeutic parenting and helping families build connection, communication, emotional attunement, and an understanding of the impact of their individual and collective histories. Children and youth can benefit from incorporating art into the therapy space as an alternate and sometimes less threatening mode of communication and self-expression. In addition, Deva has particular interest in mindfulness skills for people of all ages as a means of increasing self-awareness, learning to respond rather than react, and building compassion for self and others.

Community Engagement & Referrals Specialist

Carmen Knight

Carmen has been working in the adoption field since 2006. Before joining the Cradle, she worked with both Bridge Communications, Inc. in Chicago, and The Ties Program-Adoptive Family Travel in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She also interned as a therapist at the International Adoption Clinic at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin. Some of Carmen’s past experiences in the adoption field include working at culture camps and adoptee camps, leading classes and seminars on adoption topics at various conferences and for adoption agencies, speaking on panels, helping families prepare logistically and emotionally for touring their child’s country of birth, emotionally supporting families doing birth searches and reunions, and working with adoptive families as a therapist. Carmen earned her Bachelor’s Degree from Knox College in Social Science Education and Secondary Education, and her Master’s Degree from Edgewood College in Marriage and Family Therapy.

Resource and Support Specialist

Sandy Holway

Home Study Support Specialist

Iyanna McNeely

Originally from Georgia, Iyanna has found herself in Illinois for the last four years and has fallen in love with Chicago. She graduated with a Bachelor’s in psychology and has since worked as a home visitor providing parent education, as a coordinator at a surrogacy agency, and as a counselor in residential centers for at-risk youth. She’s very excited to become a part of the team at The Cradle, as family building is one of her passions. Other passions include learning about maternal health and early child development, reading, exploring new restaurants or foods, and spending quality time with my chosen family, friends included. 

Grant Writer

Nikki Michele

Originally from St. Louis, Nikki has spent the majority of their career in the nonprofit sector, wearing many hats — from program associate to executive director. Their passion for mission-driven work has led them to focus on grant writing, and in recent years, secured funding for eight different organizations, both in the Chicagoland area and internationally.

As a proud parent of four, Nikki understands the importance of family support, which makes joining The Cradle especially meaningful for them. In their free time, they enjoy practicing taekwondo and fostering kittens. Nikki is excited to be part of an organization that has been a pillar in the community for over a century, and looks forward to helping bring in new revenue to expand The Cradle’s ability to assist families in need.

Marketing Communications Specialist

Jonah Wright

Jonah has years of experience in communications. Before joining the team at the Cradle, he worked in creative and administrative roles for ministries. He loves using words and images to support important work, and is excited to do so at The Cradle.

Instructional Designer and Curriculum Development Specialist

Nick VanZandt

Nick VanZandt joined the Marketing, Education and Community Engagement team as an, focusing on new content for Adoption Learning Partners.

A native Chicagoan, Nick also has spent time in New York, Charleston, S.C., and Kalamazoo, Mich. He has extensive experience in training for the cannabis and pharmaceutical industries and is excited to be part of an organization devoted to diverse families.

Development Associate

Violet Karcher

Violet has many years of experience with fundraising for non-profit agencies as well as for her alma mater, Michigan State University.

Development Associate

Jack Leist

A Texas native, Jack graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 2023. During his college career, he worked in development and communications for several nonprofits, including Kakenya’s Dream, the Bipartisan Policy Center, and the Borgen Project. He now lives in Denver, Colorado, where he loves to read, play disc golf, and go on hikes with his dog, Cara.

Client Success Coordinator

Shane Krim

Development Consultant

Susan Matejka

HR and Client Services Assistant

Mike Brauer

Originally from Wisconsin, Mike moved to Chicago about 30 years ago from the Twin Cities. He is a professional singer with the Chicago Symphony Chorus, and a teacher at the Old Town School of Folk Music. In addition to extensive work in church music, he has also done administrative work for several churches, and most recently the Music Institute of Chicago.

Building Maintenance/ Driver

George Mitchell