Our Staff
Tomilee Harding | Founder / Chief Executive Officer
Tomilee travels internationally frequently to work with government officials and to develop new programs. She is also responsible for the daily operations of CWA, is an advocate for pro-adoption legislation, and former board member of the Joint Council International Children’s Services (JCICS). Bob and Tomilee have two adopted daughters, Rachelle and Regina. Adopting Rachelle was their inspiration to start CWA in 1990. Tomilee is a Certified Adoption Investigator licensed to do home studies in the states of North Carolina and South Carolina.
Robert Harding | Founder
Robert owned an investment firm before deciding that the Lord wanted
him to help needy children. Bob's extensive financial expertise is now used to serve orphans. Bob is the Founder and Chairman of Christian World Foundation, which distributes humanitarian aid
to orphanages and children in countries all over the world.
In Charleston, SC
Yu-Qin (Jane) Jiao | China Program Director
Yu-Qin (pronounced Yu-cheen) was born and raised in China, and has a bachelor’s degree in American and English literature. She is a former language and travel coordinator for the Chinese government. In that capacity, she facilitated groups of adopting American parents in China before coming to the U.S. Jane has been working for CWA since 1996, and in January 2004 returned to China to establish a CWA China office in Changsha, Hunan Province. Jane travels frequently within China, and meets often with Chinese adoption officials, so she is able to stay abreast of any changes in policy. She also visits children’s welfare centers and is able to advocate for special needs children. Jane has a huge heart for the abandoned children of China.
Yongmei (Mei) Bellack | China Case Manager
Mei (pronounced ’may’) was born and raised in China, and has a bachelor’s degree in English Education in Anhui, China. Following graduation she worked in a middle school in China teaching Chinese students English. She came to the United States in 1986 and received a Master’s Degree in Clinical Counseling from The Citadel. For the last ten years she has worked as a counselor in clinical and academic settings in Charleston, SC. Mei is relatively new to CWA, starting in 2005. Her bi-lingual skills and translation ability made her a natural for the complicated task of adopting Chinese children. She has a warm and enthusiastic personality and cherishes her relationships with all her “special” parents and children.
In Flat Rock, NC
Anita Thomas | Chief Financial Officer
Anita’s 14 years of experience in administration and accounting is varied giving her valuable insight into the work of our agency. Her military experience abroad as a supervisor in telecommunications gives her a unique understanding of complex computer and communications systems as it applies to international affairs. Her background also includes extensive experience in all aspects of accounting and office procedures.
Pat Mendock | Finance Manager
Pat joined the CWA staff in April of 2005. She brings with her over 25 years of administration and accounting experience. She has always loved children and truly believes that God brought her to CWA. Pat and her husband, Marty, have two children, Jessi and Josh.
Luke Allison | Finance Manager
Luke holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from Florida Atlantic University. He has over 8 years experience in finance and accounting and even did some missionary accounting work in Uganda. He has been married to his high school sweetheart Mandi since 2000. They have two sons, Jonah and Levi. He joined CWA in February 2010 and is excited to bring his gifts and talents under the Lord’s service.
Sue Kramer | Ethiopia Case Manager
Sue began working with CWA in June 2002. She is currently a case manager for Ethiopia, a home study investigator. She graduated from Appalachian State University with a degree is psychology and a concentration in child development. Since l995, Sue has worked in Human Services in various positions including case management for adults and children with mental retardation and coexisting conditions. Sue has always had a heart for children and is most grateful that God led her to CWA.
Aster Hiruye | Ethiopia Case Manager
I was born and raised in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Completed law school with LLB and served as a high court judge and legal advisor for about 15 years. Came to the U.S. in September 1999 and have worked in both Texas and Virginia. I’m very happy to work with CWA.
Emily Beddingfield | Ethiopia Waiting Children Coordinator
Emily is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte with B.A. degree in International Studies and Political Science, with a concentration in International Politics, and a minor in religious studies. As part of her university course work, she studied abroad in London, England during the summer of 2004. Emily joined CWA in March 2006 and has found a passion for helping to bring home children from all around the world to loving homes. “It is easy to see that God has His hand in this organization, its employees, and its families. I am so excited to see what He will continue to do through CWA in the future and feel blessed to help in any way that I can.”
Patricia Ward | Ethiopia Program Manager
Patricia holds graduate degrees in both counseling and administration. She previously worked in domestic adoption, as well as a variety of denominational ministry settings. A former missionary to the Republic of South Africa, she is delighted to once again be serving the people of Africa through her work with CWA. Patricia is the mother of two married daughters.
Ludmilla Mikhailova, PhD | Eastern Europe Program Director
Born in the Ukraine and raised in Kazakhstan, Ludmilla holds a Ph.D in Linguistics and Psychology. Ludmilla has acted as a certified translator and in other aspects of adoption before joining CWA. Her familiarity with the cultures and fluency in the languages of both Russia and the US, make her a valuable addition to the CWA staff. Ludmilla assists families throughout the adoption process.
Anya Rutherford | Ethiopia & Russia Case Manager
Anya is originally from Velikiy Novgorod, Russia, but she has lived in the United States since May 2002. Anya has a Masters degree in Business Management, which was verified in the U.S. Currently she works as the Document Systems Manager for the Eastern Europe program, assisting the Program Director and Case Managers with document processing, case management, data base management, training, and other administrative duties. She also assists in the communication between the CWA staff and our Russian speaking facilitators in the foreign countries. “I feel like I’m the happiest person in the world by having a chance to work for CWA. I truly believe that God brought me to this agency and I’m so happy to have opportunity to help families and children to find each other.”
Michael Arrowood | Document Systems Manager
A native of Western North Carolina, Michael joined CWA in 2006. He comes to the agency with a background in Russian language, with 20 years of experience in translating and interpretation Russian. He holds a B.A. degree in Russian language from UNC Chapel Hill, and has traveled extensively in the former Soviet Union. Michael is pleased with the opportunity to join the CWA documents department. He is married to Carrie, a high school special education teaching assistant.
Ben Dalton | Ethiopia Case Manager
Ben holds a B.A. degree in History from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He has worked with several different Christian ministries and churches over the last ten years. Ben and his wife, Brooke, live in Fletcher, NC with their son, Caleb. “I couldn’t be happier working with an organization that so vividly expresses God’s heart for orphans. It is my pleasure to work for Christian World Adoption.”
Esther Dolder | Director of Post-Adoption Services
Esther holds a B.S. Degree in Management and her background includes working as the Client Relations Manager and legal assistant for one of the largest law firms in the Southeast. Esther and her husband have two delightful little boys, and their family also includes two Irish setters, with whom Esther can occasionally be seen in the show ring. Esther assists CWA clients with completing re-adoption paperwork, assists CWA clients with post-adoption questions (such as social security cards, U.S. passports, and Certificates of Citizenship) and manages the post-adoption process for CWA social worker.
Mary Patrick | Post-Adoption Manager
Mary was brought into the CWA family in November 2003. She brings with her over 25 years of office administration which includes hospital, banking and digital technology. Mary and her husband Joe have raised three daughters. Mary is now enjoying a Christian life in Hendersonville, NC and feels truly blessed by God to be working at CWA to assist families with their post-adoption reports.
|
|
Satellite Staff
Priscilla Mack | Home Study Administrator
Priscilla has worked in the administrative field for over 14 years and began her career with CWA in January of 2000. Priscilla completes the majority of the home study process for all CWA home study providers in South Carolina, and also for some in NC. Priscilla and her husband William, have five adult children and four grandchildren. Priscilla feels that it is not only a blessing but an honor to work for CWA. She finds her position to be very rewarding as she sees the Lord’s work being completed when the orphaned children find their forever families, knowing this is part of His plan.
Kathy Killough | Counselor
Kathy has a Master’s Degree in Elementary Guidance Counseling, and she began her teaching career working with emotionally disturbed children. For the past seventeen years, Kathy has been an elementary school guidance counselor, and she works part time for CWA. She assists the Ethiopia program by making the orientation phone calls, and she spends a lot of her time working with CWA families. She is available to families throughout their adoption, and you may call her with any questions you have concerning your child. She assists families as they transition their child into their family. Kathy is also an adoptive mom. She feels blessed to be a part of CWA.
CWA Board of Directors
Jayne Byrum | Chairperson
Tomilee Harding | CEO
Robert Harding | Secretary
Bart Bingham | Member
Brian Hopkins | Member |
