OFFICERS

Cassie Branch – President

Gina Rogers – Vice President

Gina Rogers is a dynamic, passionate individual who is eager to serve at-risk children and families. Currently, Gina works at Boys Town North Florida on the Development Team; her title is the site’s Donor Relations Specialist. Gina has earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Social Work and has been certified in Child Welfare Practice as well as Leadership in Executive and Administrative Development. Gina is determined to serve children and families in need and believes in maximizing every child’s opportunity to succeed.

Pending – Secretary

Secretary: Pending Bio.

Belinda Heys – Treasurer

Belinda Heys is a former foster mom and now adoptive mom. Her passion is advocating for kids to find their forever families. She has been volunteering for the Heart Gallery Big Bend for the last six years.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Taylor Witherow – Director

Taylor Witherow was primarily raised in Spring Hill, FL and moved to Tallahassee, FL to attend college.  Taylor received her Bachelor’s degree in Family and Child Sciences from Florida State University.  She currently serves as the Circuit 2 Adoption Specialist with Children’s Home Society.  Taylor previously worked as a Dependency Case Manager to help reunify children and their families.  Taylor loves her position as the Adoption Specialist because she enjoys helping find families for children who do not have an identified adoptive family.  Taylor believes that there is a perfect family out there for every child, and she is thankful for the Heart Gallery Big Bend for helping us find forever homes for children in our care.

Madonna Finney – Director

Madonna Finney is an attorney who limits her practice to adoption law. She is one of the first attorneys in the state of Florida to be Board Certified in Adoption Law and is the only Board Certified Specialist in the panhandle. She is a Fellow of the Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys, and serves as a Director and the long time Legislative Chair for the Florida Adoption Council. She is past President of the Florida Association of Adoption Lawyers, and has served on the Florida Bar Family Law Section Committee on Adoption. She is actively involved in adoption issues before the State of Florida Legislature and has testified before numerous committees. She is a former professional lobbyist, and a founding member of the Florida Association of Professional Lobbyists. She is a former Assistant General Counsel for the former Florida Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services. One of her greatest honors was serving as Law Clerk to the late Honorable William E. Gladstone, a pioneer in child welfare.

In 1995, the Florida Supreme Court and Governor Lawton Chiles recognized her for outstanding Pro Bono service to the court for her representation of abused, abandoned and neglected children. She graduated from the University of Florida College of Law in 1987, and has been a member of the Florida Bar since 1988. Ms. Finney is also admitted to the Bar of the United States Supreme Court. She has achieved the highest rating from Martindale-Hubbell, meaning she’s rated at the highest level of professional excellence by the legal community.

Debra Walters – Director

Debra Walters worked in child welfare for 16 years, 11 in case management and 5 in adoptions.  Debra has a master’s degree in counseling and psychology, CWCM certified, Adoption Competent trainer, am a former protective services supervisor, and currently the c14 adoption home finder.  Debra favorite qualification is she is an adoptive parent of the two most incredible children ever (although she does admit to certain bias).  Debra does understand all the little ins and outs of creating a family where there wasn’t one before with children who have experienced trauma because my family lives it every day.  Debra thinks that experience, insight, and knowledge is very helpful to the families seeking to adopt, and to the children trusting us to find them healthy, safe families.  Working for children from hard places is truly my life passion and she is so blessed to be able to be a part of the process.

Kimmora Mcconnell  – Director

Kimmora Mcconnell: Pending Bio.

LEGAL 

Christina Thurman, Esq. – Legal Advisor

Christine Thurman was born and raised in North Florida. She attended Lincoln High School, Tallahassee Community College and received her B.S. from Florida State University in 1999. She is a graduate of the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law and recipient of both the Memphis Bar Association Irvin Bogatin Social Justice Award and Dean’s Distinguished Service Award.  D. Christine Thurman has practiced law since 2004 and is self-employed practicing in the areas of adoption, family law, civil litigation and estate planning.  Christine is a certified family law mediator, dependency trained mediator, collaborative divorce attorney and guardian ad litem.

Christine is a member of the Florida Bar Family Law Section and is involved in issues/legislation involving or affecting children, adoption and domestic violence.  Christine has worked with various child placing agencies on adoptions since 2005 as well as the Heart Gallery of North Florida. Christine is an active member of the Florida Adoption Council.  In 2011, Christine was named as a “Rising Star” with the Superlawyers magazine.

In addition to her employment and involvement in legal issues and advocacy, Christine has been actively involved with Good Samaritan Network/Chelsea House, Angelwingz, the Tallahassee Community College Foundation, William Stafford Inns of Court, Capital Collaborative Group, NEBA, and is a past Chair of American Lung Association Advisory Board for the Tallahassee Chapter.

In her spare time, Christine enjoys spending time with her significant other, family, friends and her animals (she has lots of them).  She enjoys travel, wine tasting and loves to laugh.

PARTNERING ADODTION AGENCY MEMBERS 

Colleen Santiago – Circuit 2 CCC Adoption Supervisor

Colleen Santiage- Pending Bio.

Natasia Robinson – Circuit 2 CCC Adoption Home Finder 

Natasia Robinson- Pending Bio.

Danielle Rabon – Circuit 14 Twin Oaks Adoption Supervisor 

Danielle Rabon-Pending Bio.

Casen Patterson – Circuit 14 Twin Oaks Adoption Home Finder 

VOLUNTEERS 

Donna Whittle – Local Volunteer

Donna Whittle is a native of Tallahassee, FL. Donna professionally holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Management and has worked for the State of Florida since September 2008. She is a certified traditional foster parent for the State of Florida Department of Children and Families, which began November 2017. Donna has welcomed nine children into her home, ranging in age from an infant to teenagers, over the past five years. Donna stated, “All the children that I have fostered will always have a piece of my heart. Each child that has left my home are forevermore my godchildren.” Donna’s passion is advocating and caring for children. In November 2019, Donna adopted three sibling brothers that were her past foster children. Donna stated, “My boys are a true blessing. I am so grateful that I get to be their mother.” Donna began volunteering for the Heart Gallery Big Bend in June 2021. She has taken on the role of social media coordinator, became a board member in October 2021, January 2022 became the Vice President, and May 2023 stepped down to become the Secretary, and December 2023 stepped down to become local volunteer. Donna studied website design for three years and participated in yearbook design all four years of high school. She enjoys updating and designing for the Heart Gallery Big Bend website and social media platforms. She is confident that expanding our platform to promote and advocate for children, will increase their chances of getting adopted. She believes every child should have a loving, caring, supportive family. By volunteering, she hopes that she can make a difference by helping children find their forever homes.

Shannon Whitaker – Local Volunteer

Shannon Whitaker-Pending Bio.

Glenna Schluck – Local Volunteer

Glenna Schluck -Pending Bio.

Ashley Wright – Local Volunteer

Ashley Wright -Pending Bio.