National Council For Adoption Introduces New Board Chairman and Officers

Media Contact:
Kevin Wrege
(703) 299-6633 kwrege@adoptioncouncil.org

National Council For Adoption Introduces New Board Chairman and Officers

May 4, 2016 – Alexandria, VA – National Council For Adoption (NCFA) is proud to announce that Wayne Winston Sharp, Ph.D., of McLean, Virginia, has been unanimously re-elected as Chairman of the Board of Directors, effective May 1, 2016, for a two-year term. As Chairman-Elect since May 2015, Dr. Sharp succeeded previous Chairman Kevin Wrege, Esq., as Acting Chairman in November 2015, and became Chairman in January 2016. NCFA also congratulates Heidi Brugel Cox, J.D. as our incoming Vice Chair and Lisa A. Sinclair as Secretary. Vice Chair Andrea T. Vavonese, Esq., and Treasurer Phillip Littleton remain in their current roles.

Chairman Wayne Winston Sharp, Ph.D. was adopted at birth in Dallas, Texas, by Bob Henry and Mayana Yates Sharp. After receiving his Ph.D. in International Trade & Finance at Michigan State University, Dr. Sharp had a distinguished 25-year career in the U.S. Foreign Service, was twice awarded the "President's Meritorious Foreign Service Award," and served two years in the White House as an Assistant Director of the President's Council on International Economic Policy. Upon his retirement in 1991, he became a Certified Financial Planner (CFP), and for 18 years directed a financial planning practice, “Sharp, Konopaske & Associates,” retiring in 2009. Dr. Sharp and his wife Linda now devote their time, leadership, financial and planning skills as volunteers and philanthropists in the areas of adoption, children's health, musical arts, and community service. Dr. Sharp joined the NCFA Board in 2007, and has also served as Treasurer and Vice Chairman.

“We have seen Dr. Sharp’s excellent leadership over the past year as Chairman-Elect, and I’m sure that his visionary guidance will help NCFA grow in the years to come. He is a real asset to our team and is a passionate advocate for children,” says NCFA Executive Director Kevin Wrege. “As the Chair of NCFA’s Foster Care Task Force, Dr. Sharp has generated some excellent conversations around how to best meet the needs of children waiting for their forever homes. We are thankful for his commitment to our organization and we are excited to leverage his knowledge and strategic expertise in all areas of our work, including not only foster care, but domestic infant adoption, global adoption, and our advocacy, education, and awareness efforts.” NCFA’s Board of Directors, under the leadership of Dr. Sharp, is currently creating the organization’s three-year strategic plan.

Heidi Bruegel Cox, J.D., is the Executive Vice President and General Counsel at Gladney Center for Adoption. She has served the adoption community as an attorney for over 23 years and has worked with over 4,000 adoptions. She was honored with NCFA’s Adoption Hall of Fame Award at NCFA’s Great Expectations Gala on November 5, 2015. Heidi previously served in the role of Secretary of the Board. She follows Stacey Reynolds in the role of Vice Chair.

Lisa A. Sinclair is Vice President of Legal Affairs and Deputy General Counsel at Northeastern University in Boston, MA. She is a cum laude graduate of Mount Holyoke College and Boston College Law School. Prior to law school, Ms. Sinclair was a social worker with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, serving the needs of children and families in crisis. This is Ms. Sinclair’s first officer role on NCFA’s Board of Directors. She follows Heidi Cox in the role of Secretary.

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ABOUT NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR ADOPTION

Founded in 1980, National Council For Adoption (NCFA) is a global adoption advocacy nonprofit that promotes a culture of adoption through education, research, legislative action, and collaboration. As the authoritative voice for adoption, NCFA’s areas of focus include domestic infant adoption, adoption and permanency outcomes for youth in foster care, and intercountry adoption. Passionately committed to the belief that every child deserves to thrive in a nurturing, permanent family, NCFA serves children, birth parents, adopted individuals, adoptive families, and adoption professionals. In addition, we work tirelessly to educate U.S. and foreign government officials and policymakers, members of the media, and all those in the general public with an interest in adoption.

For more information, visit www.AdoptionCouncil.org.