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 2 (who were both 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 been married to her husband for 17 years and has 3 amazing teenage 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.
Milli Schaeffer IBCLC
BRC Lactation Consultant - Outpatient Offices
Milli found her passion for breastfeeding advocacy after the birth of her 1st child. She has been working with breastfeeding families since 2001 when she became a La Leche League Leader and a Breastfeeding Peer Counselor. Milli worked for the WIC Program for over 7 years before joining the BRC. She completed her certifications on CLC (Certified Lactation Counselor) in 2011, and CBS (Certified Breastfeeding Specialist) in 2015, before becoming an IBCLC in 2016. Milli is also a Certified Educator of Infant Massage (CEIM). She is fluent in English and Spanish. She lives in New Jersey with her husband and their children".
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 - Holy Redeemer Hospital
Melissa Donahue IBCLC
BRC Lactation Consultant - Holy Redeemer Hospital
Melissa became interested in becoming a Lactation consultant after experiencing trouble with her first son. She was amazed by the consultant’s knowledge. She became a peer counselor in 2015 and continues to serve as an active member. Melissa became an IBCLC in 2018 and has been fortunate enough to be part of the BRC in both her personal breastfeeding life and now as professional in this field!
Stephanie Brown IBCLC (she/they)
BRC Lactation Consultant - Temple University Hospital
Stephanie Brown (she/they) is a queer IBCLC and reproductive health advocate working and living in Philadelphia. They currently work at Temple University Hospital in addition to their private practice. Her professional work experience includes over ten years as a nanny, birth, postpartum and abortion doula and CLC (Certified Lactation Counselor). Originally from California, Stephanie has lived and worked in Philadelphia for 12 years. They offer LGBTQ+ competent care and have an inclusive practice that serves anyone and everyone. The work is home for her and they create that same safe space for clients and patients. Steph offers evidence based, non-judgemental support and options through every feeding journey and choice. They are currently pursuing a bachelors degree in Public Health and when not working or in school, Stephanie is hiking with her dog or napping with her cat!
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.
Tisa Thompson-Bradley IBCLC
BRC Lactation Consultant - Temple University Hospital
Danielle Hounshell RN, IBCLC
BRC Lactation Consultant - Temple University Hospital
Sarah Gibson
BRC Breastfeeding Counselor - Temple University Hospital
Hillary Chybinski
Hillary is our Program Director, and long-time volunteer at the BRC. 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 has worked in Accounting and Social Media prior to joining the BRC staff. Hillary enjoys spending time with her family, preferably on a warm, sunny beach.
Amber Molnar
Amber has a passion for helping others and enjoys making sure our clients receive the best care through her administrative role at the BRC. She loves music, nature, cooking, gardening, traveling and snapping photos of all of the above. Amber is also a certified Usui Reiki Level 2 practitioner. She seeks to continuously improve herself so that she can be of the greatest service to others.
One of her favorite quotes: “Once in a while you get shown the light in the strangest places if you look at it right.”
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
- Lauren Sponseller, PhD, OTD, MSOTR – President
- Dana Hasnass – Vice President
- Curt Parnes, MD, FAAP – Treasurer
- Lindsay Coffman – Secretary
Board of Directors
- Casey Ann Beck
- Courtney D’Avella
- Chrissy Glassman
- Dana Hasness
- James Knight, CPA
- Jackie Maniscalco, MS, RD
- 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.