BRC Staff
Colette M. Acker IBCLC (she/her)
Executive Director
Colette is the Executive Director and a founder of the Breastfeeding Resource Center. She certified as an IBCLC in 1998. Colette is the recipient of the 2017 USLCA Award of Excellence. She is the third person in history to win this coveted honor. Colette works tirelessly to keep this small non-profit organization afloat. Colette has three grown children and is the proud grandmother of 3 (who were all breastfed!). She resides in Glenside with her husband, Rodney.
Jennifer McClure IBCLC (she/her)
BRC Lactation Consultant - Outpatient Offices
Jen always knew she wanted to work with babies. She says, “I had many issues breastfeeding my second child. I was introduced to a breastfeeding counselor who helped me tremendously. After receiving that support, I wanted to repay the favor.” Jen became a peer breastfeeding counselor, and sat for her IBCLC exam in 2009. Jen has been with the BRC since 2007, starting in administration and then as an IBCLC. Jen loves her work at the BRC. She has three amazing adult children, all of whom were breastfed.
Louisa Brandenburger IBCLC (she/her)
BRC Lactation Consultant - Outpatient Offices
Louisa certified as an IBCLC in 2009. She has had the honor of working for the BRC since certifying. She has worked both in the hospital and outpatient setting. Louisa is certified in TummyTime!™ and is also a Professional Holistic Sleep Coach.
Louisa has been married for 25 years and has four amazing kids who were all breastfed. Three of her children are in college and one is in high school. She is never without her kindle as reading is her second passion (obviously, breastfeeding being her first!)
She enjoys blogging about books, cooking, and spending time with her family.
Jessica Lampe IBCLC she/her
IBCLC - Outpatient Office and Holy Redeemer Hospital
Jess joined the BRC as an employee after completing her internship. Jess provides care at both the Abington Office and at Holy Redeemer Hospital. Her passion for lactation peaked after nursing her daughter into toddlerhood. This empowered her to want to help families reach their goals.
Jess lives with her sweet daughter who was born in 2016, and if she’s not helping families with breastfeeding, Jess can be found at the barn with her horse, Chico.
Vera Khvedelidze IBCLC (she/her)
BRC Lactation Consultant - Holy Redeemer Hospital
Vera certified as an IBCLC in 2018 and instantly joined BRC as a Lactation Consultant. She has more than 13 years experience in HealthCare management, medical devices, in emergency medicine, physician relations... Strong healthcare service professional with a MD focus in infant’s feeding from Medical University of Georgia. Vera is passionate about breastfeeding and patient care and has a very high energy level, which keeps her moving at several different directions at once at Holy Redeemer hospital. Speaks English, Russian and Georgian. Favorite hobbies are traveling, cooking, gardening.
Nancy Hellendall RN, IBCLC
BRC Lactation Consultant - Abington Outpatient Office
Nancy became an IBCLC in 1997 while working as a nurse and patient educator at Rolling Hill Hospital (Breastfeeding and Baby Care classes). After taking a pause to raise 3 kids she started working with the BRC in 2012 and has worked with new families and nursing staff in the hospital setting. Recently, Nancy started working in our outpatient office. Nancy has three adult children, and lives with her husband in Elkins Park.
Chloe Acker IBCLC (she/her)
BRC Lactation Consultant - Temple University Hospital
After breastfeeding her daughter and enjoying the journey so much, Chloe wanted to help and support families to do the same. After taking the health science courses required to become an IBCLC, Chloe developed a passion for nursing and is currently enrolled in nursing school. Chloe loves spending time with her daughter, reading, and crocheting.
Samirah Brogden IBCLC
BRC Lactation Consultant - Temple University Hospital
Samirah is recently completed the BRC’s IBCLC internship program. In addition to her lactation services, she also helps families as a practicing doula. Samirah loves reading and crocheting and crochets breast models for lactation consultants to use! After having her son, Ellis, Samirah was looking for another way to be helpful to other moms, so she decided to become a lactation consultant as well.
Danielle Hounshell RN, IBCLC
BRC Lactation Consultant - Temple University Hospital
Sarah Gibson
BRC Breastfeeding Counselor - Temple University Hospital
Alice O'Brien she/her
Grant Writer
Alice has been our grant writer since 2019. She first came to the BRC for help with her daughter, an experience that turned her breastfeeding journey around. She now loves to incorporate her enthusiasm for the support that the BRC provides to families into grant applications! Alice has previously worked in Market Intelligence and business research in the UK. She loves spending time with her family, baking and gardening.
Hillary Chybinski
Hillary serves as our Program Director as well as our Finance Manager. She has been a long-time volunteer at the BRC, always happy to pitch in with communications and social media.. Hillary found her passion for breastfeeding after the birth of her first child, and took the NMAC Counselor Training Class in order to help other moms succeed with their breastfeeding goals. Hillary graduated with a BS in Accounting from Cabrini University and worked in Accounting as Social Media, prior to joining the BRC staff. Hillary enjoys spending time with her family and reading.
Our Board
The BRC Board of Directors consists of volunteers with varying backgrounds and experience. All board members bring their own expertise to the table in support of the BRC’s mission.
Board applications are accepted in October of each year. If you are interested in serving on our board, please contact Hillary at Hillary@BRC4Babies.com.
Executive Board
- Casey Ann Beck – President
- Lauren Sponseller, PhD, OTD, MSOTR – Vice President
- Curt Parnes, MD, FAAP – Treasurer
- Chrissy Glassman – Secretary
Board of Directors
- Anna Ehlenberger
- Jacqueline Maniscalco, MS, RD
- Malaeika Montgomery Davidson, Esq.
- Tia Rideout
- Kate Wilcox
The BRC Board of Directors meets 10 times per year including the yearly retreat in January. Each board member must commit to being part of at least one committee. The committees include, Executive, Fundraising, Finance, Communications, and Education.