Thanked for Service: Kybele Board Members

One of the most rewarding opportunities has come through serving on the Kybele board of directors for the past 10 years.   I am in awe of all that Kybele has accomplished under the devoted and visionary leadership of my dear friend Dr. Medge Owen.  Our first meeting, under the most stressful conditions, resulted in a deep friendship and collaboration to change women's healthcare in labor and delivery's regional anesthesia practice.  I'm so very proud of all that Kybele has done to change and save lives of the countless women and infants from many countries.  In particular, the countries where Hopscotch shares in vision and work to also change and sometimes save lives through intercountry adoption, have been the most meaningful experiences.  Thank you Medge and Kybele for this incredible journey we've shared together.  Robin  

Thanked for Service – Kybele Board Members

The following three board members have served for numerous years on the Kybele board of directors and have rotated off the board.  We would like to sincerely thank them for the hundreds, if not thousands, of hours of service to our organization. Board service is a one of the most valuable contributions one can make to Kybele and the intellectual capital by our board members is invaluable. It has been a privilege and an honor to work with these three outstanding volunteers.     

Helen Akinc (Winston-Salem, N.C.)

For the past six years Helen has served as an active board member, vice president for business operations, newsletter editor, and Conflict of Interest Committee member. Her strong writing, networking, mentoring and communication skills; ability to bridge cultural divides; intelligence; and wit have guided us through strategic planning, project streamlining, fundraising, committee forming, hiring, and team leader summit organization.  Helen is a local board member, residing in Winston-Salem, and we look forward to her continued volunteer support from time to time. Thank you, Helen, for helping us stay focused on advancing the organization.

 

Virgil Manica, MD  (Boston, M.A.)

Virgil Manica has served on the board since 2007 and has been a team leader or co-team leader on programs in Romania, Republic of Georgia, and Armenia.  A native of Romania, Virgil is an OB Anesthesiologist at Tufts Medical Center in Boston.  Virgil has been a key player in initially developing these programs and has participated in numerous in-country conferences, lectures and training seminars.  He has also provided hands-on instruction, worked on networking and promotion, and helped to keep the Kybele store stocked with unique items from his travels abroad.  Virgil is an active member of the Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology (SOAP) and we look forward to his continued participation in the Romania/Moldolva programs.  Thank you, Virgil.

 

Robin Sizemore  (High Point, N.C.)

Robin has been involved with Kybele since 2004 when she met Medge Owen in the labor unit as Medge administered an epidural to Robin. Having mentioned to Medge that she had two adopted children from The Republic of Georgia (where Kybele would eventually start a program), they sparked a friendship that has lasted more than a decade.  Robin is the executive director of Hopscotch Adoptions in High Point, N.C., and while serving on the board has helped Kybele network with key leaders in both Georgia and Armenia. Thank you, Robin, for helping open new doors for Kybele. 

Meet Our Newest Hopscotch Adoptions Board Member Lisa Anne Kazazean

Lisa is the very proud single mother to two wonderful boys.  Her first son, Armen was adopted from Armenia 1n 2007 and her second son, Zain was adopted from Morocco in 2010.  Lisa’s father was born in Armenia and was a survivor of the genocide, although he would never speak about his early years,  he continued his Armenian pride and culture throughout his long life.

Lisa, originally from upstate New York, graduated from the University of Utah with a Bachelor of Science degree in nutrition.  

Lisa worked in the field of nutrition until she moved to Michigan in 1991.  At that time, she began working full-time in residential real estate.  After 15 years of a successful real estate career, she relocated to Colorado. She raised her boys in the beautiful resort area in Dillon, Colorado until 2014 when choosing to move closer to family on the east coast.

She is also a contributor and member of Project Discovery, an Armenian archaeological organization and Focus Armenia, an organization to help residents in Gumyri.  She also has donated to SOAR, Society for Orphaned Armenian Relief and served on the board of the Denver chapter.  She sits on the board of a Southwest Vermont Career Development Center, Bennington, VT and contributes time and resources to various other local charities. She has started a local Single Mothers Group to provide support to single mothers of all backgrounds.

Lisa believes her two boys have touched so many lives of people and opened up hearts of family, friends and strangers. She believes adoption is the promise of a future for children and parents alike. Her life has been enriched 100-fold by bringing these two boys into her world.