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Staff

R. MICHELLE BARRETT, MSW - Director Michelle came to Bethany Christian Services in the spring of 2004 with a passion for helping women and children and, after serving as Birthparent Counselor for almost a year, she became the Director in June 2005. Michelle is a graduate of the University of Central Florida with a Master’s degree in Social Work and a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Concordia College in New York. She is the mother of one son, Nicholas, and they attend Trinity Lutheran Church.

JOANNE POTEAT, Administrative Assistant Joanne came to Bethany Christian Services in the spring of 2008. Her background includes work as a travel agent, and she brings many years of experience in customer service. Being adopted herself, she enjoys being a part of the adoption experience that Bethany offers. Joanne is the mother of two children, Eric 17, and Kaitlin 15, and has been married to Dan for 18 years. She enjoys vacations with her family, spending time outdoors, and loves to dine out with family or friends. Joanne and her family attend Ocoee Oaks United Methodist Church.

SALLIE CHAPMAN, BA - Adoption Specialist Sallie came to Bethany Christian Services with over 30 years experience with the Department of Children and Families. Sallie holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Welfare from Florida Atlantic University. Sallie feels blessed to spend her career finding homes for children, allowing her to watch them grow to their full potential. In her spare time, Sallie enjoys photography, gardening, and reading. Sallie attends Northland: A Church Distributed.

KAREN REALE, BA – Adoption Specialist Karen came to Bethany Christian Services with over 25 years experience with the Department of Children and Families. Karen holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Work from the University of Massachusetts. Karen feels privileged to be a part of bringing birthmothers and adoptive families together to create forever families. Karen is the mother of two children; Luis and Kristin, and wife of Tony. Karen and her family attend Annunciation Catholic Church.

NANCY OSBORNE, MS – South Florida Adoption Specialist Nancy began working with Bethany Christian Services in 2003 and has a desire to serve God and make a difference in the lives of the children and families she serves. She received both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Counseling Psychology from Palm Beach Atlantic University in West Palm Beach, Florida. Nancy has been working in the field of child welfare, social work, mental health, foster care and adoptions for almost ten years. She is currently a supervisor within the community mental health field, and serves Bethany clients in the south Florida region as a contracted adoptions worker. She has been actively involved in various ministries of her church, First Baptist Church of West Palm Beach, for over twenty years.

SARAH SCHMIDT, BA - Central Florida Pregnancy Counselor Sarah came to Bethany Christian Services in the fall of 2008. She has a passion and a heart to serve women who find themselves in crisis situations. She has experience counseling and providing support to expectant mothers in crisis pregnancy centers, along with work in other non-profit organizations and ministries serving women and children. Sarah graduated from Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Human Development and Family Studies. Sarah feels blessed to serve our birthmothers and to see the transformation from an initial hurt to an ultimate joy through adoption. Sarah and her husband Ben, attend First Baptist Church of Windermere.

ALISON J. SCHMINKE, MSW – Safe Families Coordinator Alison came to Bethany Christian Services in the summer of 2009. She received her undergraduate degree in Child and Family Services from Iowa State University and obtained her Masters in Social Work from University of Iowa. Alison has experience working and volunteering with families and children in international adoption, orphan and adoption ministries, and orphan relief projects. Through her work and volunteering she has had an opportunity to work with at risk children and visit orphanages in India, Mexico, Guatemala and Costa Rica. Alison attends Trinity Lutheran Church.

PAM FIGORAS, LCSW - South Florida Adoption Specialist/Pregnancy Counselor
Joined Bethany in 2009 after working in both private and public adoption for five years. Pam is committed to the mission of bringing families together. Prior to doing adoption work she worked for many years as a Clinical Director for several hospital-based programs serving children and families in the Southeast. Pam earned her Bachelors Degree in Social Work from the University of New Hampshire and her Masters Degree in Social Work from the University of Georgia. She is married and has three children, two of which are adopted. Pam and her family attend Calvary Chapel in Jupiter Florida.


STEPHANIE GETEJANC, BA - South Florida Pregnancy Counselor
Stephanie began working with Bethany Christian Services in the spring of 2009. Stephanies background includes work with a variety of populations, yet her passion is to utilize her skills to empower women and children. Stephanie holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from Queens College in New York, and is bilingual (Spanish). She attends St. Jude Catholic Church of Boca Raton.