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Meet Michael Wenhold!

We are excited to give our families a little glimpse of the staff here at GWCA and CAN, so that you can see who we are and why we love doing just what we do. Every day we come to work and love to connect with our families, but now we are going to show you whose faces are behind every phone call, letter and E-mail received.

This week we want to introduce you to someone that many of you might not know yet, our Administration Director, Michael Wenhold! Michael is one of this office’s best kept secrets. He is well-known and loved by all of our staff, but due to his behind-the-scenes role, you may have never had the sincere privilege of meeting Michael! He is consistently taking care of the staff and working diligently to make sure that everything around here goes off seamlessly. He is someone that will make your grey skies a little brighter, and put a big smile on your face- mainly because he always has one on his.

So without further ado… Meet Michael!

1. What is your job title and description here at GWCA?

My title is Administration Director.  I function as the Accounting Manager, Human Resource Manager, and Office Manager for GWCA/CAN.

2. How long have you been working at GWCA?

I started here in June 2012.

3. What do you enjoy most about your job?

I enjoy getting to work with all the Great Wall/CAN employees as they help families through the adoption process.  Our staff is filled with dedicated individuals that constantly go above and beyond to make sure families have the best adoption experience.  Getting to work with such selfless individuals makes my job great!

4. What is the most difficult aspect of your job?

My commute and dealing with Austin traffic.

5. How have you grown personally from working at GWCA and with their families?

Although I don’t get to work with families directly, I still feel like I have grown from working here.  Working at this organization has opened my eyes to the real problems around the world.  When I think about the problems in my life, they don’t compare in contrast to what others are dealing with.

6. Why do you love adoption?

I love adoption because it can help a make family complete.  Not everybody has the ability to have children but through adoption everyone can have a family.  Every child deserves to have loving parents and a place to call home.

Fun facts about Michael:

1. I was born in Plymouth, Massachusetts (where the Pilgrims landed).  I guess that’s why Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday (and the food)!
2. I love football.  My favorite team is the New England Patriots.  I have a man crush on Tom Brady.  Who doesn’t. I also play in a flag football league.
3. I am married to my high school sweetheart.  I have 1 son in the 6^th grade and 2 dogs.
4. My wife and I have a retirement plan to open a bed & breakfast on the East Coast.
5. I have never had any broken bones.

 “Michael is a great representation of GWCA because he embodies the values of the organization. He is hardworking, always willing to help others, and very resourceful. I love working with Michael because he takes pride in his work and makes everyone’s day easier because he works so diligently, consistently going above and beyond what is asked of him. He’s here early and stays late everyday, and that is just one example in how he makes a big difference for the families we serve.” -Michael’s co-worker

Meet Kristy Inman!

We are excited to give our families a little glimpse of the staff here at GWCA and CAN, so that you can see who we are and why we love doing just what we do. Every day we come to work and love to connect with our families, but now we are going to show you whose faces are behind every phone call, letter and E-mail received!

Our next staff member that we want to introduce you to is Kristy Inman, one of our international adoption counselors! Kristy is a case manager for our Latin American & Caribbean, European and Asian countries. She works exclusively for our CAN office, advocating for our families interested in adopting children from those regions. Kristy is a little ray of sunshine. She cares about connecting with the people around here, and that’s no exception for her families. She is there for them when they need her the most and she’s fiercely committed to their cause.

So without further ado… Meet Kristy!

1. What is your job title and description here at CAN?

My job title is International Adoption Counselor for Children of All Nations. I am the case manager for families in our non-Africa, non-China programs. Once a family sends back their contract I work with them to help complete their dossier all the way through the referral phase until they are ready to travel.

2. How long have you been working at CAN?

I have been with CAN since the summer of 2012.

3. What do you enjoy most about your job?

The best part about my job is knowing that all the hard work I put in goes towards helping fulfill the real need for children that do not have permanent homes. I enjoy getting to know my families and walking beside them on their adoption journey. Adoption is a unique process and it’s a privilege to labor on behalf of these children and families.

My favorite part in the process is issuing the referral of a child to a family. Each family spends so much time, energy and resources towards being able to offer their home to a child in need and I feel very fortunate to facilitate the family learning about this child for the first time. The child that they’ve planned and made sacrifices for now has a name, face, picture and identity.  After all the preparation the family has done it’s a joyful moment to share their referral with them.

4. What is the most difficult aspect of your job?

When working in international adoption you cannot escape the fact that there are a lot unknowns. I work with my families for such a long period of time that in many ways I experience the highs and lows of their adoption right along with them. When there are questions that can’t be answered for a family I feel frustrated too. I often wish I had a crystal ball on my desk to reference so I could alleviate all of those unknowns for every one of my families.

5. How have you grown personally from working at CAN and with their families?

I have learned so much during my time here at CAN. I have never worked harder, and never been more satisfied with my work. I am constantly understanding more what it means to do something fulfilling and how believing in what you do can make all the difference.

My families have taught me a lot about perseverance and sacrifice when caring for others. Families will go through great lengths, inconveniences and expenses to care for a child they may not even know yet. It serves as a constant reminder of what we’re capable of—and what we’re capable of can be astounding.

6. Why do you love adoption?

Over the last few years I have had several friends go through the adoption process, both domestically and internationally. Before I started at CAN I knew that adoption can be difficult, but worth all the effort. Since I’ve been an adoption counselor I have grown to comprehend what a gift these children are and how much they bless their adoptive families.

The picture of adoption is beautiful because it speaks of hope. Adoption is not necessarily how things are suppose to be. Children are not supposed to lose their first families. Yet there are millions of children without a home and without the ability to change their circumstance. Adoption is a reminder there’s always hope—and some for all of us.

Fun Facts about Kristy:

1. One of my career goals was to work for an adoption agency.
2. Growing up I was a competitive figure skater.
3. In college I took a semester off and taught English to elementary-high school aged kids in a small mountain town in Peru.
4. The biggest reason I may never leave Texas is queso and Tex-Mex.
5. I have been playing the cello for 15 years.
6. Sometimes I still dream of wining an Olympic gold medal.

“Kristy is so caring and kind with all of the families she works with and gets genuinely excited for them each step of the way. She makes a personal connection with them and spends a lot of time on the phone chatting with them. She has such a great bubbly and positive attitude!” –Kristy’s co-worker

Meet Jenny Teague!

We are excited to give our families a little glimpse of the staff here at GWCA and CAN, so that you can see who we are and why we love doing just what we do. Every day we come to work and love to connect with our families, but now we are going to show you whose faces are behind every phone call, letter and E-mail received!

Our next staff member that we want to introduce you to is Jenny Teague, our Travel Advisor! Jenny is the definition of committed. You can tell that she loves her job, values her clients and will go to whatever lengths to make sure that families have a good experience once their case comes across her desk. She inspires the rest of us to match her caliber of service.

We think her zeal will be obvious, so without further ado… Meet Jenny!

1. What is your job title and description here at GWCA?

I am the Travel Advisor and oversee travel for our China program, our CAN program and our Legacy Journey program. I handle all inner-country arrangements, from making sure families attend their adoption appointments to helping them schedule their international flights to and from whatever country they’re going to in order to be united with their child! I help families gather all their travel documents to take with them, and make sure they understand the culture in the country that pertains to them.

I work closely with our inner-country reps to make sure that all families are well taken care of when they land to complete the adoption of their child or children. These reps make the finalization of the adoption necessary, and more enjoyable, as adoption is stressful, but exciting for the families and for me. Having our inner-country reps is what sets us apart from other agencies.

Our Legacy Journey program is an awesome program where I am honored to send families back to China with their adopted child or children, usually about 5-6 years after adoption. This program brings particular joy to me because I am able to connect with families who have adopted many years ago, and want to show their child their homeland. There are no adoption meetings to attend. There are no schedules to meet, except tours. This is a time they get to share in their child’s heritage and just learn where their child came from and it’s a time for their adopted children to learn more about their culture through immersion. I arrange all the elements of these trips, and even get to arrange visits to their child’s orphanage, if they desire to go.

2. How long have you been working at GWCA?

I have been with GWCA/CAN since April 2010.

3. What do you enjoy most about your job?

There is nothing better than hearing the happy squeals, laughter and tears when I tell a family it’s time to travel to their country. This part of the process is the hardest from what families tell me. It means they’ve been matched with their child and that they are now waiting to travel. So, I get to turn a family (who has only looked at pictures) into uniting them with their child by hugging them!

So, being able to give them actual travel dates is the best part of my job. The phone calls are fun, exciting and meaningful, where I get every reaction in the book from, laughing, crying, shock, etc.

4. What is the most difficult aspect of your job?

The most difficult aspect of my job is dealing with foreign entities, such as the Embassy and the local government of the country the parents are adopting from. It’s sometimes a very long process, and I help my families understand by making sure they understand the process of their inner-country experience, while explaining that I have to abide by the rules governed by the Embassy and local governments. Each country’s Embassy and local government is different, and I have to make sure I’m treating each representative with respect and honor, as countries feel it is our privilege to adopt from their country.

This part of the process can sometimes delay travel for the families, and because they aren’t familiar with dealing with foreign entities, it’s my job to make them feel at ease and give them realistic timelines.

5. How have you grown personally from working at GWCA and with their families?

Working at GWCA/CAN has definitely changed my life for the better. I have never had the honor to be part of such an amazing experience. I feel connected to the families I work with, and while I’m an employee here, I feel a bond with all my families through this process, and when they are happy, I am honored to share in that joy. When they’re sad, I enjoy making them feel better. When families are anxious and feel like they might never travel, I give them pep talks. This job allows me to use my ability to help people feel better in all the different emotions that come with adoption.

This job has shown me that there is still hope in the world, and I see what I call little miracles every day. Seeing families united, and being part of the process when they’re in country is simply amazing, and knowing that there are families out there who love their children before even meeting them is a rewarding feeling. I am kinder, more patient and feel more humble than I ever have in my life. This is not just a job to me, but a mission, and when I was given the opportunity to work here, I felt like I was being given the opportunity to learn more about myself.

I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else, and no matter what the day brings, I know in the end, I’m helping families be Forever Families. Nothing beats that!

6. Why do you love adoption?

I love adoption because it brings a feeling of warmth, awe and happiness. It shows that the world has some amazing people in it, and that there are still people out there who are filled with unconditional love, especially in international adoption. There are so many unknowns and these families know that and don’t care what the unknowns might be. They only know that their son or daughter is out there, in whatever country, just waiting for them. They see a picture and fall in love. They get an update, which most of the time is not very informative, and they fall in love. They open their hearts and minds and never look back. They know in their hearts that their son or daughter is there, and no matter what, they love them without hesitation.

I also love adoption because it means there’s one less orphan in the world. Our goal is to have no orphans and no need for adoption, but until that time occurs, our families will continue to find their sons and daughters all over the world and give them the life they could never hope to have in their current situations.

Fun facts about Jenny:

1.    I have 2 children – my son is 19, a Marine, and newly married, and stationed in California completing his training to be a linguist. My daughter is 15, a dancer and singer and we have a ton of fun, being that it’s only her and I now. They are the joys in my life.

2.   I have 4 kitties, and 1 puppy. I know. I know. I must be crazy, but I have a soft spot for animals, and I adopt them all from the Humane Society here in Austin. I will say that my new puppy was left on my doorstep with a note attached. I opened the door and opened the box she was in and never looked back. She is a wonderful addition to our animal farm!

3.   I am a singer, and love the opportunity to sing for anyone who wants to listen! My daughter is following in my footsteps and wants to go on the X Factor before she graduates high school.

4.   I love reading, and typically read 3-4 books a week on my Kindle Fire. It’s how I wind down from my work day. I was a book snob for a long time, but once you get a Kindle, you never look back!

5.   Adoption has touched my life as well. My children’s Dad was adopted, and I was lucky to help him find his birth mother, brothers, and learn more about this heritage. My father was also adopted and he was able to find his birth mother, and his birth sister, who I had the honor of meeting when I was younger.

“Families are very important to Jenny. She dedicates her time and heart into helping families transition smoothly through the travel process. She makes a personal effort to ensure families picking up their little ones- whether it is in China, Africa or another country- have the absolute best experience!” –Jenny’s coworker

Check back next Wednesday to see who our next staffer profiled will be!