Our Staff
In Flat Rock, NC
Anita Thomas | Chief Executive 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.
Patricia Ward | Executive Director
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.
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.
Sue Kramer | Ethiopia Case Manager
Sue began working with CWA in June 2002. She is currently a case manager for Ethiopia. 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.
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.”
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, Cambodia Program Director
A native of Western North Carolina, Michael joined CWA in March 2006. He came to the agency with a background in Russian language, with 20 years of experience translating and interpretating Russian. He holds a B.A. degree in Russian language from UNC Chapel Hill. Michael moved to the Ethiopia Department in April 2009, and has traveled to Ethiopia to live and work in the Acacia Village foster home, and most recently visited Cambodia to assist that country's government with the development of a child welfare database.
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 Kannapolis, NC with their two sons. “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.
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.
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Satellite Staff
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.
Board of Directors
Position Open | Chair
Anita Thomas | CEO
Brian Hopkins | Member
Jay Siltzer | Member
Brenda Logan | Member
Mark Lucas | Member |
