Cheryl regularly presents on adoption law, practice and ethics for the National Business Institute, the Nebraska Bar Association, and is a faculty member at Metropolitan Community College.

In the spring of 2001, Cheryl became part of her own adoption triad when she adopted her son, Reid. He was born in Florida and placed through ALW’s Infant Program. At 3 days old, Cheryl was able to bring him home from the hospital. Cheryl and Reid share an open adoption with his birth family who love and cherish him dearly.

Nicki Thamm, MSW, PLMHP
Foster Child Adoption Specialist-Supervisor

Nicki Thamm has a Master's degree in Social Work and has been working with children in varying capacities since 1993.  Nicki has been with Adoption Links Worldwide since 2002 providing case management, recruitment, and permanency planning.  During this time she has facilitated the adoption of at least 20 children from the Foster Child Adoption program and has homestudies and trained at least a hundred other families.  Nicki has a passion for educating, supporting, and building families through adoption.  She believes that every child despite age, race, or disability deserves a loving family to call there own.

Brenna Poindexter, BA
Wendy's Wonderful Kids Adoptive Family Recruiter

Brenna has received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology with a minor in Sociology.  Brenna is motivated to help family and children in many different areas, and she has worked with autistic children doing in home applied behavior analysis therapy.  She is currently providing recruitment for older, waiting children in the foster care program.  The focus of her position is child-specific recruitment to find forever families for these waiting children.

Child-specific recruitment includes: researching a child's case record to identify individuals important to the child, meeting with the child to identify his or her wants and needs in a forever family, forming a team of adults important in the child's life to brainstorm possible permanency options for the child, and utilizing the media to profile each unique child and their need for a family.  Working with children of all ages is of great importance to Brenna.  She believes that all children have the right to a good home and a forever family. Brenna is extremely dedicated to find a forever family for all of her older, waiting children.

Lisa Kelly, BA
Foster Child Adoption Specialist

Lisa earned her Bachelors degree in Education and Family Science from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. She graduated with an emphasis on Family Science and Psychology. Lisa has worked since 1999 serving children in different settings. She has experience providing direct support and care to at risk youth, experiencing emotional and behavioral disorders. Lisa provides case management and permanency planning for children that are wards of the state and who are legally free for adoption. She finds great joy in helping these children find some kind of permanency in their lives. Matching these children with forever families who will love and cherish them is the greatest reward for her.

Michelle has a Master's Degree in Social Work and has been working in child welfare since 2002. She has experience in providing direct support and care to children with emotional, behavioral and psychological disorders. Michelle also has extensive travel experience and has spent time in over 10 countries in 5 continents. She strongly believes that every child deserves a forever family and that establishing permanency for children around the globe is as important as establishing permanency for children in our own country.

Brandi earned her Bachelors degree in Psychology and her Masters degree in Community Counseling. She has worked with children and families in many different capacities including the areas of domestic infant adoption, older child adoption and work with children in the foster care and juvenile justice system. Her passion for families and children shows in her work as the Domestic Adoption Coordinator and in her work with Pregnancy Counseling. She believes in every birth mother's right to choose what is best for her child and understands that it is a very difficult decision to make. Her goal is to support both adoptive families and birth parents in the journey of adoption.

Mandy earned her Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from Doane College and is currently working on her Master's Degree in Social Work. Mandy worked for Health and Human Services for 5 1/2 years before joining the Adoption Links team. She works in the Adoption Partnership program, providing supportive services for children that are wards of the state and legally free for adoption. She believes in being an advocate for children's safety, well-being, and permanence. Mandy finds pleasure in helping children in foster care find adoptive homes.

Sue Lapp
Special Events Coordinator

Cindy Johnson
Administrative Assistant

Cindy has been with Adoption Links Worldwide since 2004.  She enjoys getting to know the families and children as they find each other through adoption.  She is the first friendly voice you hear when you call us to begin your journey.