Gift of Adoption is committed to organizational efficiency. Meet our dedicated and talented staff:
Pam Devereux, CEO (FT)
Prior to joining Gift of Adoption, Pam served as Executive Director of Make-A-Wish Foundation of Illinois, Chief Sales Officer for Zurich Direct, and Assistant Director within Ernst & Young’s Transaction Advisory Services practice. Pam is a Chicago native with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana and a Master of Arts degree in Industrial Relations from Loyola University of Chicago. She resides with her family in Lake Mills, Wisconsin.
Molly Baker, Grants Manager (FT)
Molly joined the GOA staff after graduating from Villanova University with a BA in Communication and Peace & Justice. During her time at Villanova, she was involved with local nonprofits and ran the Copy Desk of the school newspaper. Molly is excited to be starting her career at Gift of Adoption and supporting its incredible mission.
Shaneetra Gross, Chief Administrative Officer (FT)
Shaneetra has 20 years of experience specializing in small to mid-size organizations overseeing administrative operations. Her broad experience includes benefits, employee relations, payroll, talent acquisition, and management. Prior to joining Gift of Adoption in 2007, she worked for SBI and Company where she held a variety of positions including HR Manager, Facilities Manager, and Business Unit Accounting Manager. Shaneetra holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Human Resources and a Master’s of Business Administration in Human Resources and Management from Saint Xavier University.
Sarah Markman-Sayar, Foster Care Grant Program Director
Sarah Markman-Sayar is a seasoned executive with over two decades of experience in public health, child welfare, and community engagement. In 2024, Sarah joined Gift of Adoption, leveraging her expertise in adoption and post-adoption services to enhance permanency for older youth and children to have forever families. Throughout her career, Sarah has spearheaded innovative programs addressing family crises, mental health awareness, and community-based support systems. Her leadership roles in Florida’s child welfare system have been instrumental in shaping policies and practices that prioritize child and family well-being. Sarah holds Bachelor degrees in Psychology & Criminal Justice from the University of North Florida and a Master’s Degree from Purdue University in Human Services.
Brian M Murphy, Chief Financial Officer & Chief Operating Officer (FT)
Brian joined the GOA staff as the Director of Programs and Marketing in 2007. Prior to joining the GOA staff, Brian served in a variety of positions at the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Illinois, most recently as the Director of Program Services for five years. Brian also served as Treasurer on the Gift of Adoption of Illinois Board of Directors for two years prior to joining the staff team.
Julie Pendell, CFRE, Chief Development Officer (FT)
Julie is a seasoned non-profit leader with an extensive background in fundraising programs, donor relationship management, campaign development, staff and volunteer leadership, and strategic and operational planning. Prior to joining Gift of Adoption, Julie held development leadership roles at Make-A-Wish Illinois and Make-A-Wish Michigan, most recently as Vice President of Development. Julie has a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Alma College (MI) and a Master of Business Administration degree from University of Notre Dame. Julie resides in Ann Arbor MI.
Jane Rich, Director of Chapter Recruiting
Jane is Director of Chapter Recruiting for the Gift of Adoption Fund. She began volunteering with Gift of Adoption over 20 years ago, first in Chicago with the Illinois chapter and then in Colorado where she was a founding member of the Colorado chapter. She was an executive recruiter in the entertainment and advertising industries before joining Gift of Adoption. She and her husband and daughter live in Boulder, Colorado.
Heather Schwartz, Creative Services and Event Manager (FT)
Heather spent the last seven years at the foodservice dispensing company San Jamar, the last five years as the Creative Services Manager, before joining the Gift of Adoption team. Heather earned her design degree from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.
Susan Smith, CFRE Chapter Network Officer (FT)
Susan is an experienced executive leader with an extensive background in fundraising programs, donor relationship management, staff and volunteer leadership, and strategic planning. Susan began her journey in the non-profit sector at Make-A-Wish Michigan where she led several annual fundraising events, and worked with volunteers and community groups who hosted their own fundraising activities for Make-A-Wish. Most recently she held executive leadership positions with United Way of Washtenaw County and then United Way for Southeastern Michigan after the two organizations merged in 2023. Susan holds a BS from Eastern Michigan University and resides in Michigan with her family.
Nicole Wincek, Director of Project Management (FT)
Prior to joining Gift of Adoption, Nicole split her time between being a stay at home mom and running her Environmental and Safety consulting business. Nicole began her career at Material Sciences Corporation, a coil coating manufacturer, where she held a variety of positions including Environmental Engineer, Environmental Health and Safety Manager, and Corporate Environmental Health and Safety manager for several manufacturing locations throughout the United States. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Bradley University and a Masters of Science in Environmental Management from Illinois Institute of Technology.