Leadership

Mark M, President & Chief Executive Officer

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 Sisters of North Texas.

Heidi C, Executive Vice President & General Counsel, JD

Heidi Bruegel Cox is the Executive Vice President and General Counsel for the Gladney Center in Fort Worth, Texas, and has worked as an attorney in the field of adoption for over 25 years. She is a Fellow in the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys and serves on the board as secretary for the National Council for Adoption.

As a child advocate, Heidi is active in educating the public and promoting legislative initiatives to protect children and support positive adoption practices, Heidi previously served as a gubernatorial appointee to the Texas Adoption Review Committee which examined the child welfare system, seeking solutions to remove barriers to adoption for children in foster care.

Heidi has also served on the board of the Texas Family Law Council, which supports the efforts of the Family Law Section of the State Bar of Texas. Heidi was inducted into the Adoption Hall of Fame at the National Council for Adoption Annual Gala in Washington, D.C.

Lisa S, Chief Development Officer & Executive VP Community Engagement, Development

Lisa Schuessler joined Gladney in 2008. Throughout her tenure at Gladney she has served in various fundraising capacities and now leads Gladney’s Donor Relations efforts. Lisa has a Bachelor of Arts in Communication with an emphasis on Advertising from San Diego State University.

Lisa’s favorite role is to serve as a connector for Gladney, linking people’s time, talents, and treasures with the heart of our mission. Her team does that through written requests, creative communications, one-on-one conversations, genuine and intentional relationship building, updates for donors on the impact of their gifts, and special events, including The Gladney Cup.

Personally witnessing the impact you can make when you serve alongside those who need you, fuels her desire to be an adoption advocate and volunteer with several organizations in her community. Lisa found her love for community engagement at a young age when she found herself constantly looking for ways to serve. She and her husband, Jeff, have three sons and are proud to call Fort Worth home.

When you couple giving hearts, who want to see lives changed, with Gladney’s belief that every child deserves a loving and caring family – anything is possible. Together, We Are Gladney!

Gongzhan W, Vice President & Executive Director - Asia, PHM

I joined the Gladney Center for Adoption in 1994. Before 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 twenty-three years, I am responsible for Gladney's New York Office and running its Asia adoption programs from New York.

Kristin P, Vice President of Clinical Services, Counseling & Gladney Home, LCSW-S

Kristin Porter, LCSW-S received her undergraduate degree in Psychology from Samford University and her graduate degree in Social Work from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. She has 20 years of experience in the adoption field, working with birth parents, adoptive parents, and adoptees. She is certified in Trust Based Relational Intervention TBRI® through Texas Christian University and is currently working toward her Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy certification. She has a passion for working with children who have experienced trauma. Her goal to provide a safe and trusting environment for children and their families to heal.

Andrea C, Chief Human Resources Officer, HR

With years of experience in Organizational Development and Human Resources, Andrea has proven herself to be an invaluable asset to Gladney. As the founder of Cadence Organization Design, she has helped countless businesses unleash their full potential and achieve outstanding results. Andrea's extensive experience as a Leader and HR Business Partner in the technology and manufacturing industries with companies such as Texas Instrument, Raytheon, Yahoo!, and Kobe Precision Steel has equipped her with a unique perspective on Leadership Development, Compensation and Rewards, Organizational Assessment, and Interventions. Her passion for people and her ability to bring them together as a partner, trusted advisor, and career coach has made her a catalyst for success in every organization she works with. 

Oakley J, Director of Digital Marketing

David M, Chief Financial Officer, Finance, CPA, CMA, MSAC

David comes to Gladney from serving as Chief Financial Officer for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas where he oversaw Finance, I.T., Operations, Facilities, and 25 plus Clubs across Dallas and Navarro Counties. Prior to this David was Chief Financial Officer with AMTEL, a leading T-Mobile Premium Retailer (TPR) with 152 locations across multiple U.S. geographies, including Texas, California, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, New York and Massachusetts. He also held senior management positions at T-Mobile USA. David’s background also includes his role as Adjunct Faculty, teaching Finance and Accounting in Seattle and Dallas.