Diane Hogan, President and Owner of A Step Ahead Adoptions, Inc, holds a BS and MA degrees in education. Along with her 20 years in education, Diane has been actively involved in the adoption community since 1992. She was President of Southern Piedmont Adoptive Families in 1998. Diane has been able to develop relationships with adoption professionals across the country. In addition, Diane is a freelance writer/editor and works contractually for textbook publishers. Diane and her family live in Colorado Springs, CO. Through the miracle of adoption, Diane and her husband, Pat, have a daughter and a son. to Diane.

Donna Drialo, International and Special Needs Adoption Consultant, has a BS degree in Business Management. She works as a volunteer for several adoption agencies, since the arrival of their first daughter in 1993. She has served as an adoption educator and resource contact in Charlotte before moving to Colorado Springs, CO in 2002. Donna and her husband, Richard, have four adopted daughters from the countries of Russia, India and the United States. to Donna.

Donna Armstrong, Domestic Consultant, holds a BA degree in Psychology and a MA in Counseling. She has worked in school settings and with pregnant unwed mothers. Donna and her husband, Bobby, have a daughter and a son. Donna released a daughter for adoption 14 years ago. In addition to her domestic consulting work, she serves as a birthmother counselor for adoptive parents-to-be. to Donna.

Teri Heidemann, Domestic Adoption Consultant, has a BS degree in Business. She has worked in sales and in education for 18 years. Teri and her husband, Mark, live in the eastern part of the United States with their biological 13-year old daughter, and their 4-year old adopted son. to Teri.

Natalie Erb, a Registered Nurse and Adoption Consultant from Colorado, received her MSW degree in the summer of 2006. She provides CPR training for ASA families in Colorado, too. Natalie and her husband, Kevin, have three children through the miracle of domestic and international adoptions—two sons and one daughter. to Natalie.

Cindy Lanphier, Adoption Consultant, holds a BS degree in Health Education; Corporate Wellness. She has worked at a developmental gymnastic center for 6 years as a lead instructor with parent/child classes as well as children from toddlers to 10 years of age. Cindy and her husband, Mike, have a 3-year old adopted daughter and reside in the state of North Carolina. to Cindy.

Shannon Murphy-Johnson, our Mid-West Adoption Consultant, comes to us after working in the world of professional ice skating as a figure skater and a coach. Shannon’s strength is in her knowledge of adoption, first and foremost, as an adoptee and then as a parent. Shannon and her husband, Kenneth, live in Kansas along with their two biological daughters and one adopted daughter and son. to Shannon.

Heather Milliken, Domestic Consultant, after working at a Texas adoption agency for several years decided that her heart would always be in adoption. Heather is a proud mother of three boys that she lovingly placed for adoption. Heather and her husband, Jason, live in Texas where she offers her assistance and guidance to ASA families regarding domestic adoptions and birthmother counseling for adoptive parents-to-be. to Heather.

Carol Tate, Domestic Consultant and Developmental Psychologist, holds BS and MA degrees in Psychology. She also holds a PhD. in Applied Developmental Psychology. Carol was a professor and researcher before becoming a stay at home mother. Carol and her husband, Greg, live in Central Florida with their two adopted daughters. to Carol.

Heidi Short, Domestic Consultant from the Mid-West and ASA alumni, was added to the consulting team in the Fall of 2006. Heidi holds a triple associates degree in management, marketing and general business. Heidi has spent time counseling women with unplanned pregnancies and providing administrative assistance to the Crisis Pregnancy Centers in Arizona and the Pregnancy Care Center in Austin, TX. Heidi and her husband, Marc, live in a small town in Oklahoma with their adopted son. to Heidi.

Natalie and Dave Rimmer, Natalie, a school social worker and adoption consultant, holds a MSW degree and most recently served on the board of directors of Southern Piedmont Adoptive Families of America (SPAFA) as the Director of Programs and Education for 2006. Natalie and her husband, Dave, join the consulting team together. Dave, an adoption consultant and account manager in the technology industry, experienced the miracle of adoption in 2005 when he became the proud daddy of a baby girl. Since then, Dave has become pasionate about adoption and enjoys speaking with couples and helping them through the adoption process. Natalie and Dave live in South Carolina, along with their two-year old adopted daughter. to Natalie and Dave.

Carla Pace, domestic adoption consultant, has a BA degree in Communications and Political Science. After working in New York City's fashion industry for 13 years, she chose to spend more time with her adopted daughter Scarlett Rose (an ASA baby!), so she became a substitute teacher within the public school system. Carla decided to adopt Scarlett as a single mother and can help counsel other singles who want to become adoptive parents. Carla lives in Bronx, NY, and will be a regional consultant for families in the northeastern United States, as well as a consultant for single parent adoptions. Send email to Carla.

Charlie Marquardt, International and Domestic adoption consultant, is from Charlotte, North Carolina. Charlie holds BA and MA degrees in education. Her previous work experiences was as a classroom teacher and a school principal. Now, she is a stay-at-home mom to her four children and an adoption consultant. She and her husband, Bill are the proud parents of biological twins (boy & girl), a son adopted from Guatemala, and a daughter adopted domestically. Charlie & Bill used ASA’s services for the adoption of their daughter, Anna Bryan.