Frank Garrott, President & Chief Executive Officer

                             
Frank Garrott joined the Gladney Center for Adoption as Chief Operating Officer in 2007. One year later he was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer, just the 8th person to lead Gladney throughout its illustrious 125 year history. Garrott had previously served nine years on Gladney's Board, but his affiliation with Gladney dates back much further – to 1987 when he and his wife, Rebecca, adopted Phillip and four years later adopted their daughter, Hayden. They completed their family in 1993 with the arrival of their biological son, Sam.

Garrott served on the Board of the Christian Mission for the United Nations Community for several years when he and his family lived in the New York area. He enjoyed a long career in business consulting and banking with Price Waterhouse, Citibank and Bank One in New York and Texas. He recently joined the Board of Directors of the Joint Council on International Children's Services, a Washington, D.C.-based child welfare advocacy organization. He also sits on the Board of Children's Home Society of America, an affiliation of agencies that share a common heritage.

Garrott received his B.A. from Duke University and an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin. He and Rebecca reside in Austin, where they attend Grace Covenant Church and are active in the church's Bridges of Grace adoption and orphan care ministry.

Mark Melson, Chief Development Officer & Executive Vice President

I earned both my BBA and MBA from the University of North Texas and then worked as a financial consultant and in various fundraising capacities with North Texas not-for-profit organizations. Just before joining Gladney in 2008, I served for seven years as Director of Finance and Gift Planning for Harris Methodist Health Foundation and then as Chief Development Officer for Big Brothers Big Sister of North Texas.

Ellen Wilson, Chief Financial Officer & Senior Vice President, CPA (Certified Public Accountant)

I earned my BBA in Accounting from the University of Texas at Arlington. I have been with Gladney since 1999, and recently took the reigns of Chief Financial Officer helping Gladney ensure good financial stewardship of the resources entrusted to us.

Articles Written:
Love and Practicality: Adoption Financing

Heidi Bruegel Cox, General Counsel & Executive Vice President

I received my B.A. in History and a minor in both German and Philosophy from Trinity University. I also attended the University of Freiburg, Germany for one semester for general studies. And finally, I went to Texas Tech University School of Law for my Doctor of Jurisprudence.

After my schooling I worked for the Texas Attorney General's Office as an Assistant Attorney General for 3 years. I became an employee of Gladney in January of 1990. I chose Gladney because of their strong child advocacy focus. Permanency for children was my goal and Gladney offered the opportunity to positively impact thousands of children.

My motivation at Gladney is to continue to grow and expand my knowledge and gain a greater ability to help children with systemic change to the state social services department and the legal system.

J. Scott Brown, Executive Vice President of International Programs

                   
I graduated from The University of Texas at Arlington with a BBA in Accounting. My wife and I have three children, two are married and they have five biological and three adopted grandchildren between them. We adopted our third child from Ethiopia in 2007 when she was 7 years old.

Prior to working at Gladney, I was Director of Finance for the Harris Methodist Affiliated Hospitals where my duties included the oversight of financial operations for six rural hospitals, physician office management, a physician billing service, and a mobile diagnostic imaging service.

I joined The Gladney Center for Adoption team in 1990 and was initially responsible for the organization, direction and control of the accounting department, physician contracting and relations, plant operations, purchasing, insurance, information systems, the security and telecommunication functions of the Center. I now oversee all existing country programs as well as Gladney's child welfare programs in the foreign countries where we are involved.

Vickye Schultz, Senior Vice President, Domestic Adoption

I joined Gladney in 1993 to lead the Human Resources department. In 2000 I had the opportunity to lead the Birth Parent Services program where I strive to advocate for young women experiencing unplanned pregnancy to place children in forever families. I am now responsible all aspects of our Domestic Adoption program. Our goal is to provide comprehensive services to clients throughout the adoption process. We ensure all clients receive quality, professional and ethical adoption services as well as the support, encouragement, and guidance they need.

I graduated with a B.S. in Business Management from Le Tourneau University. In 2007 I was the first at Gladney to become a Child Placing Administrator.

Nonya Jordan, Vice President, Development & Events

I graduated from Texas Tech University with a degree in Child Development and Family Relations and have been with Gladney since 2000.

Sandy Owen, Vice President, Major Gifts, CFRE (Certified Fund Raising Executive)

I attended TCU and received my B.A. in English and Journalism. I'm originally from Shreveport, LA, where I was head of development for Sci-Port Discovery Center for almost 8 years. I then came to Gladney in December 2006.

To be a truly successful fundraiser, you must absolutely believe in the mission of the organization you serve. I have known about and respected Gladney since my teenage years, and feel honored to be a part of the team of professionals who make up this wonderful place. Writing and developing donor relationships are intertwined as two of my passions. Both attributes serve me well in my role at Gladney, and I love it!

Preparing for my work means I frequently sit down with members of the Gladney staff to hear their stories about Gladney's adoption mission from their unique perspectives. My role is to "wrap a ribbon" around those stories, tying them into a cohesive snapshot that I can share with prospective donors verbally or in writing to help them visualize the incredible life changes that result for so many children and families every year because of Gladney.

Gongzhan Wu, Vice President, Managing Director, Asia

I have been with the Gladney Center for Adoption since 1994. Before I joined Gladney, I was working for ESPN Sports Network as its Director of Mandarin Language Service. I did my undergraduate in the Shanghai International Studies University, formally known as Shanghai Foreign Language Institute before I came to U.S. in 1987. With a Fulbright scholarship, I attended Columbia University and obtained a Master of Philosophy in Political Science in 1989. In the past seventeen years, I have been responsible for Gladney's New York Office and running the Asia adoption programs.