Meet Our Team

Robin Thompson

Executive Director

Robin started her career at Adoption Connection in 2011 as a matching specialist. She then served as the Foster Care Supervisor for a few years and has been ACPA’s Executive Director since 2014. Robin earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Special Education from Slippery Rock University and her Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice Administration and Management from Shippensburg University. She has a passion for children and began her 33-year career working in the Human Services field serving children and families.

In2024, Robin received the Civic Appreciation Award for her dedication and service to the youth in her community. She is a member of the School Board of the Beaver Area School District . She is also co-chairperson on the PA Citizens Review Panel, who charges themselves with identifying resources and strategies to improve Pennsylvania’s child welfare system.

Robin lives each day striving to make a difference in the lives of children and has experienced every facet of foster care and adoption. She and her husband have parented 20 children through the foster care system throughout the years. Robin resides in Brighton Township with her husband and 5 sons. In her free time she enjoys scrapbooking with her friends and spending quality time with her family.

Stephanie Gavel

Program Manager

Stephanie has been with Adoption Connection, PA since May of 2012. She has an Undergraduate degree in Human Services and a Master’s Degree in Organizational Leadership with an emphasis in Non-Profits and Ministry through Geneva College. In her history with ACPA, she has always worked within the foster care system either as a caseworker, supervisor, and currently as the Program Manager. When asked what excites her the most about ACPA, she will quite simply respond, “it’s the impact we get to make every single day in the life of a child, the families we serve, and with each other.” As the Program Manager, she is looking forward to growing our fostering program even more by expanding into the counties we serve in a very intentional way. She has four children of her own and resides in Brighton Township with her husband, Ron. She is an active member of Four Mile Church where she facilitates a Young Adult Ministry, is active in Women's Ministry and is part of the adult teaching team. One of her favorite scripture verses and the one that has been pressed upon her heart since college, is “Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow”. Isaiah 1:17.

Jacqueline Pleska

Family Recruitment and Outreach Supervisor

Kathleen Kovacs

Foster Care Supervisor

Kathleen began her journey with ACPA as an intern in the summer of 2018 and was later hired on as a case aide. After receiving her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Penn State, she became a full time foster care caseworker. She is currently working towards her Master’s degree. Kathleen has always had positions where she cared for children and is excited to be able to bring the same passion to a career where she is able to advocate for them.

Lois Blattner

Office Support Coordinator

Adoption holds a special place in the heart of Lois, our office manager. She is a proud adoptive parent of two children whom she adores.

Lois attended Slippery Rock University & Geneva College and majored in Elementary Education. She has a passion for working with children and has served as a preschool teacher as well as a Paraprofessional. Lois also has had many years of administrative experience. Lois enjoys being part of the ACPA staff and assisting families in their foster and adoption journey.

She lives in Beaver with husband, Tom & her two children.

Mary Gido

Administrative Office Assistant

Mary graduated from Duquesne University with a BSBA in Marketing/Management, and from The University of Pittsburgh with an Instructional I Certification in Elementary Education. Her previous career includes working with youth and teens at the YMCA, substitute teaching, and over 30 years in the corporate world as a business analyst. She joined our team in December of 2021 taking on the position of Administrative Assistant. Mary is an Eastern Orthodox Christian of Carpatho-Rusyn descent. She enjoys weaving, spinning, lace making and quilting. She volunteers her time to demonstrate these arts at different events and museums. She loves to read and collect books, tries to play the piano and guitar, and enjoys spending time with her family and friends.

Susie Clare

Office Assistant

Kathy Jo Peak

Family Recruiter & Outreach Coordinator

KathyJo joined Adoption Connection as the Family Partnership Coordinator in April 2023. She enjoyed working with children and families but was able to move into her current role as the Family Recruiter and Outreach Coordinator in November 2023. KathyJo has experience as a foster and adoptive mother as well as a foster parent trainer, which is something she truly enjoys. She is a proud adoptive mother of three and resides in Hopewell.

Lydia Tack

Outreach & Recruitment Coordinator

Lydia joined the ACPA team in June of 2024 as one of our Family Recruiter & Outreach Coordinators. Her main responsibility is to recruit foster families and raise awareness of the need for foster parents. Lydia graduated from Geneva College in December of 2020 where she majored in Student Ministry and minored in Sociology and Humanities. Lydia enjoys volunteering and spending time with her niece. She is a proud resident of downtown Beaver Falls where she lives with her two cats: Pippin and Bilbo. She is also a proud auntie to her niece and honorary nephew.

Erica List

Matching Specialist

Erica graduated from Robert Morris university in 1998 with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management. She has served Robert Morris as a softball coach on and off for the past nineteen years, as well as manage her own pitching lessons business. This career path allowed her to be at home to raise her children. Now that her children are more independent she feels it was time to embark on a new journey. She feels that her own life experiences in working with youth will help her tremendously in her new endeavor as Matching Specialist for ACPA. She is willing and eager to learn all that she can about the Human Service industry. She is also excited to serve her community and help families and children. Erica married her college sweetheart, Nate, They reside in Beaver with their three beautiful children.

Emmalinn Fischer

Wendy's Wonderful Kids Recruiter

Emma joined ACPA in late February, taking the new position of Wendy's Wonderful Kids® Adoption Recruiter. She holds her BSW from Slippery Rock and is passionate about adoption. She calls the Wendy's Wonderful Kids® position her "dream job", helping to find permanency for the most at risk youth.

Emma is also a part-time cheer coach at North Catholic High School. She lives with her handsome best friend, Dioge, a two-year old Akita. She loves spending time with her family and hiking with her dog. Her favorite TV shows are Criminal Minds and Gilmore Girls.

Becca Birge

Family Preservation Caseworker II

Caitlin Flores

Family Preservation Caseworker

Caitlin has always had a deep and personal connection to the foster care system. Adopted from Guatemala at 18 months old, she grew up in Beaver, Pennsylvania, where her early experiences helped shape her passion for supporting children and families.

After moving to Michigan as a young adult, Caitlin met her husband, Tony. Together, they later returned to Beaver County when Tony was offered an opportunity to intern on Pittsburgh’s North Side, working with at-risk youth. 

Today, Caitlin continues to follow the path she has always known she was meant for—making a meaningful difference in the lives of children and families.

Hannah Newham

Family Preservation Caseworker

Jamie Leasure

Family Preservation Caseworker

Adoption Connection is thrilled to have Jamie on board as a Family Preservation Case Worker. Jamie has been working for ACPA since January 2022, though she started as a case aid. She has a deep love for children and had worked professionally to make a difference in kids' lives for thirteen years before joining our staff. Jamie brings lots of fun-loving energy to the office and shows her dedication to our mission by always being willing to lend a helping hand. 

Madison Manicini

Family Preservation Caseworker

Noelle Hobrat

Family Preservation Caseworker

Tammy Bable

Foster Care Admin

Tammy Bable is a Foster Care Administrative Assistant with a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and experience in mental health, security, and substance abuse services. She is passionate about supporting families and enjoys reading mysteries and spending time with her husband, kids, and grandbabies.

Cayla Schmolitz

SWAN Supervisor

Emma Raybould

SWAN Permanency Specialist

Jesse Riesmeyer

SWAN Permanency Specialist

Leslie Wise

SWAN Permanency Specialist

Leslie came to ACPA in July 2019 from Robert Morris University food service, where she served as a supervisor. The youngest of 10 siblings, Leslie was adopted by her aunt and uncle at a very young age. She grew up with many cousins, nieces and nephews. Thanks to a friendly and outgoing personality, her mom says, “Leslie has never met a stranger.” She has a warm and caring nature and because of this, the students at RMU called her “Mama Les.” Leslie strives to use these traits and experiences to create a welcoming and comfortable environment for all the children she works with as a Case Aid at ACPA. Leslie attended Geneva College majoring in Elementary Education. She enjoys scrapbooking with her friends. Leslie and her husband have two adult sons.

Shelley Boyd

Case Aide

Taylor Ortiz

SWAN Permanency Specialist

Since graduating from Youngstown State University in 2024, Taylor has gained experience working with children and families. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in Social Work. During college, Taylor worked at a daycare for two years, where she gained valuable experience supporting children and understanding their individual needs.

Taylor currently works as a SWAN Caseworker, where she supports children and families through meaningful, individualized services. She is also pursuing a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from Capella University. Taylor is passionate about working with youth and helping them feel heard, supported, and understood. Her favorite part of her role is working one-on-one with children and building strong, trusting connections.

Catie Kellner

Foster Care Case Aide and Family Time Coach Supervisor

Catie began her career at Adoption Connection, PA as a student intern in the summer of 2018, then became a case aide while finishing her senior year of school. After graduating from Waynesburg University with her bachelors degree in May of 2019, Catie became a permanency specialist at ACPA. She loves being able to serve her community by bringing families together and being a light in children’s lives through foster care.

Azrielle Rose

Wendy's Wonderful Kids Adoption Recruiter

Azrielle joined the ACPA team in October of 2024. She has worked as a Family Time Coach with ACPA and currently works as a Wendy's Wonderful Kids® Adoption Recruiter. Azrielle graduated from Moody Bible Institute in 2021 with a BA in Human Services. She is passionate about working with families and children. Her hobbies include cooking, art, and running.