Meet the Adoption Circle Staff
Learn About Our Team and And Culture
We are a team of dedicated professionals, ready to do what ever it takes to help you with the adoption Process
Pamela Hook, MSW LISW-S - Executive Director
Pamela has been actively involved in the field of adoption for over 30 years. Prior to joining Adoption Circle, she worked as an obstetric social worker. Pamela frequently has presented at the National Adoption Center Conference, Regional Adoption Summit, and RESOLVE (a support group for adoptive parents).
Pamela is the Executive Director of Adoption Circle. Her adoption case worker experience and management skills make her an invaluable member of the Adoption Circle team. Pamela is married with four wonderful children.
Susan Brewer, BSSW - Birthparent Financial Counselor & Post-Placement Coordinator
Susan is a 1985 graduate from The Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Science in Social Work. She is a state-licensed adoption assessor who spent the early years of her professional career as a birthparent social worker. Susan, a founding member of Adoption Circle, and the Agency Administrator. Susan is the mother of two adult sons.
Kim Blajsczak-Blayney, MSW - Director of Birthparent Services, Adoption Assessor
After working for over three years for the Franklin County Public Defender’s Office, Juvenile Unit, advocating for the best interest of children, Kim joined the Adoption Circle staff. Since 1998, she has worked extensively with birthparents throughout the state. She has her Master’s Degree in Social Work and is an important member of the Adoption Circle team. Kim is married with two children.
Carrie West - Administrative Assistant
Carrie joined the Adoption Circle team in 2006 and is the daughter of Barb Rankin, who worked for Adoption Circle as an Administrative Assistant for a number of years before she retired. The mother-daughter team is an example of our warm family atmosphere. As Barb did, Carrie continues the tradition of providing excellent customer service and help to all of our clients. Carrie not only has professional experience with adoption, but also personal experience, considering she has an adopted sister. She is an additional member of our team that is available to support our families through her valuable computer experience, organizational, customer service skills, and most importantly, her cheerful demeanor and welcoming personality. Carrie resides in Westerville with her husband and has three adult sons and two grandchildren.
Chris Soto - Billing Coordinator
Chris joined Adoption Circle in 2014. She is a graduate of Capital University. Although she is willing to help in any area her specialty is in finance. She has over 30 years in the financial field. Chris is the person you can reach out to for your invoices, statements, budgeting your adoption or general questions. Chris is married with two adult sons and is a grandmother.
Brittany Montgomery, MSW, LSW - Adoption Assessor
Brittany Montgomery first joined the Adoption Circle team as an intern in 2015 while pursuing her Master's degree in social work. Upon graduating a year and a half later, Brittany was hired on as staff. She pursued both her Bachelor's of Psychology and MSW at The Ohio State University. Brittany has been in several roles during her time with the agency and currently works part-time overseeing stepparent homestudies, managing birth mother living expenses, and providing support to waiting adoptive familes. She also works part-time for a large healthcare system and has experience as a NICU and women's health social worker. Brittany lives with her husband and beautiful daughter in Marion.
Lucie Blumenthal, MA, LPC - Founder, Adoption Specialist
Lucie received her Bachelor of Science from The Ohio State University in Family and Child Development. She spent many years working with delinquent youth in the institutional and community settings as a parole and probation officer. Lucie earned her Master of Arts in Guidance and Counseling in 1980. She began working in the field of adoption in 1985. Lucie is a Licensed Professional Counselor as well as a certified adoption assessor in Ohio.
Lucie is one of the founding mothers of Adoption Circle and currently a Board Member. She is the mother of three children and she is a grandmother. Lucie enjoys volunteering at the Columbus Zoo.
Nancy Burley, LISW-S - Founder, Adoption Specialist
Nancy is a Licensed Independent Social Worker who began working in adoption in 1986. Nancy is a national speaker who covered a variety of adoption topics. She also previously worked as a trainer for the state of Ohio-- training state-certified adoption assessors. Nancy is one of the founding mothers of Adoption Circle and currently serves on the board.
Nancy was an integral member of the team of professionals who re-wrote Ohio's current adoption law. She is highly regarded by birthparents, adoptive families, social workers, attorneys, and judges for her expertise in the field of adoption. For her work in adoption, Nancy was honored by the U.S. Congress as Senator George Voinovich's nominee to receive the 2011 Angel in Adoption Award.
Nancy is married and has two adult children. She is also a grandmother.
Debbie Melucci, MSW, LISW - Adoption Assessor
Debbie graduated with her Master’s degree in Social Work in 1993 from The Ohio State University. She is a Licensed Independent Social Worker and a Certified Adoption Assessor for the State of Ohio. She has always had a passion for working with families. This is reflected through her work experiences as a children services foster care worker, hospital social worker on the OB unit and as an adoption assessor. She has enjoyed completing home studies and post placement visits for nearly 20 years. Debbie is married and has five adult children and is a grandmother. Adoption is very close to her heart as her youngest daughter joined the family through adoption.
Kelsie Jo Deeds, MSW, LISW, LCSW - Adoption Assessor
Kelsie Jo began her Adoption Circle journey as an intern in 2008 and quickly fell in love with adoption. Kelsie was hired in 2008 to assist working with birthparents. Kelsie then graduated from The Ohio State University with her Master's Degree in Social Work in 2009. Despite moving closer to family in 2010 and leaving the Adoption Circle family, the passion and desire for adoption stayed with her. In 2019, paths crossed again and an opportunity arose where Kelsie was able to join as a contract worker. Kelsie is dually licensed as an LISW in Ohio and LCSW in Indiana. Kelsie enjoys working with the adoption triad and looks forward to helping each family move through their adoption journey.
Full time, Kelsie works for a hospital in Fort Wayne. Kelsie resides in Indiana. She is the mother of two children.
Taranna Francisco, MSW, LSW - Adoption Assessor
Taranna has been with Adoption Circle since November 2019. She graduated from The University of Akron with her Masters in Social Work in 2009. Taranna has been a social worker for 27 years and has specialized in several areas which includes child welfare (intake, ongoing, and adoptions), mental health, and adults with developmental disabilities. She has also instructed several social work courses at The University of Akron, Youngstown State University, and Stark State College. Taranna has a passion and enjoys working with families, especially adoptive families as they travel through their adoption journey. In her spare time, she loves spending time and making memories with her 4 grandchildren. She also loves having family dinners at her home, scrapbooking, arts and crafts, reading, and just relaxing and watching television.
Full time, Taranna works for Summit County Children Services as a Protective Supervisor and she is a part-time mental health therapist and an adoption assessor completing domestic and international adoptions.
Kathie Killean - Adoption Assessor
Kathie has been with Adoption Circle since 2022. She graduated from Ohio State University with a Bachelors in Social Work. She is a Licensed Social Worker and certified Adoption Assessor.
Kathie has been a social worker for 29 years. She worked for 14 years in a prenatal clinic and then transitioned into adoption work.
She finds great joy in doing post placement visits with families who have adopted a baby. Kathie is married and has two adult children and three young grandchildren. She loves spending time with family, traveling, walking, and reading.