We want to express our deepest gratitude for making our lifelong dream of becoming parents a reality. Thank you all for helping us through a process that at times was overwhelming. Your professionalism, support, and love made us feel at ease.Eric and JoseParents, Boston, Daughter Alexa
Don and I want all of you to know that we will be forever grateful to Growing Generations for helping to make our dream come true. We appreciate the professionalism and care that everyone has shown us through this journey. Sometimes, it doesn’t seem real. Words cannot express how much we love our little babies.David and DonParents, Arkansas, Daughter Alena and Son Aiden
There are so many things I am thankful for when it comes to Growing Generations and the staff. I don’t think I could name them all. In a “nutshell”, thank you for taking such wonderful care of me and my guys.JessicaSurrogate
I wanted to thank you all for making my experience as a surrogate so amazing! It exceeded my expectations. Very few things in my life turn out better than I expect or imagine.TonyaSurrogate
Thank you seems like such a small thing to say for how much I feel. How do you thank people for helping me with one of the GREATEST experiences of my life! You each treated me like I was the most important person in your care.JenniferSurrogate
Growing Generations was by our side throughout the process of becoming parents – on the good – as well as the bad days. Now, we’re blessed with the two most beautiful girls in the world. Thank you GG for helping make our dreams come true.Eric and DougSan Franciso, Parents to Twin Daughters
Thank you for this incredible opportunity you’ve given me! Being a surrogate has been one of the most fulfilling things in my life and I cannot imagine doing any of this without you. Your support has been incredible and it means the world to me. I could never thank you enough!Christina S.Surrogate
I just needed to let you all know how touched I am by all the support and true concern you have shown me. Through the highs and lows, I have felt so surrounded by kindness.JenniferSurrogate
Thank you guys for seeing us through. We feel so fortunate that you decided to do what you do, when we decided to do what we’re doing with your help. How’s that for a tongue twister!Anthony and IraParents, Los Angeles, Daughter Noelle
Thank you, for my new family. The twins are beautiful and perfect in every way. After my parents, who gave me life, you have given me the most important gift I will ever receive. I will be forever grateful. What joy this is… like nothing I have ever known! Yours is the work of angels! Much Love.TimParent
GG.
We are Growing Generations. But, if you like, you can call us GG.
Our team is crazy about what they do. They strive to have the best lives they can and we expect nothing less of them.
They believe in family, they believe in their team, and they believe in being of service to others by helping you to fulfill your dreams.
Put simply, they seek to deliver a service that you will treasure forever.
Stuart Bell
CEO and Owner
Stuart Bell — CEO and Owner
Stuart Bell is the co-owner and CEO of Growing Generations, the largest surrogacy and egg donation company in the United States. Prior to joining Growing Generations, Stuart spent over a decade in executive level positions in both profit and not-for-profit companies. As a writer with a strong emphasis on gay rights issues, his work has appeared in numerous publications over the past 20 years. He is the author of Prayer Warriors, a memoir published in 1999 by Alyson publications. In February, 2008, Stuart and his husband welcomed their son into the world who was conceived through surrogacy and egg donation. He is active as a donor and volunteer with local and national organizations including currently serving on the board of the American Fertility Association. A native of Tennessee, Stuart holds a degree in Communications from Middle Tennessee State University, and has lived in Los Angeles since 1992.
Dr. Kim Bergman
Owner
Dr. Kim Bergman — Owner
Kim Bergman Ph.D. is the founder of Fertility Counseling Services, Inc., providing all aspects of psychological services to individuals and agencies in the field of fertility and assisted reproduction. Dr. Bergman also is a co-owner of Growing Generations LLC.
Dr. Bergman is a member of the Board of Directors of Family Equality, the only national non- profit organization solely dedicated to equality for LGBTQ parents and their families, through advocacy, education and support. Dr. Bergman's professional affiliations include the American Psychological Association, Los Angeles County Psychological Association, and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine.
Dr. Bergman and her partner of 28 years have two daughters, ages 15 and 13. Born in Los Angeles, California, Dr. Bergman completed her Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology at UCLA. She then went on to obtain both her Master's and her Doctoral degrees in psychology at the California School of Professional Psychology Los Angeles. Dr. Bergman has been a licensed psychologist since 1992
Teo Martinez
President
Teo Martinez — President
Teo Martinez graduated Magna Cum Laude with a B.A. from the University of California, Los Angeles. Later he earned an executive MBA from Pepperdine University's Graziadio School of Business and Management, where he was inducted as a Beta Gamma Sigma honoree. Martinez has been involved with client expense account administration since he started with the companies in 1999, and is an authority in the field of surrogacy and egg donation cost analysis. Martinez currently oversees the Marketing and Strategic Development for Growing Generations. In addition, he is the executive officer in charge of customer care and satisfaction. With his educational background and over 13 years of experience in the industry, Martinez is one of the most experienced and accomplished professionals in the field.
Erica Bowers
Chief Operating Officer
Erica Bowers — Chief Operating Officer
Erica Bowers graduated with honors from Central Washington University with a B.S. in Business. In 2003, she began her career at Growing Generations as a college intern. Erica's role in the company has expanded significantly since 2003, and now--as Chief Operating Officer--she oversees all departments that manage care for intended parents, surrogates and donors. Erica also serves on Family Equality Council's Board of Directors. She and her husband, Marek, have two children: Gavin and Jack. Both boys were conceived with the help of an anonymous sperm donor. As a strong advocate for all families, Erica is passionate about helping people realize their dream of becoming parents.
Vanessa Leon
Client Development Manager
Vanessa Leon — Client Development Manager
Vanessa is the Client Development Manager, having begun her career as an Administrative Coordinator and working as a Client Services Coordinator. Originally from Palm Beach Gardens, FL, she attended college in Boston. She received her bachelor's degree in 2004 from Emerson College. Vanessa enjoys talking with surrogates, egg donors, and clients about this amazing journey. This Los Angeles transplant can be found exploring Southern California in her free time.
Andrew Ferren
Director of Client Development, Europe
Andrew Ferren — Director of Client Development, Europe
Andrew serves as our liaison to clients in Europe and first came to Growing Generations as a client himself. He and his husband Roger have twins from their first surrogacy cycle with the agency in 2011. After studying art history at Pomona College, Andrew worked for 20 years in media and public relations at leading US cultural institutions like The Metropolitan Museum of Art and LACMA. In 2002, he began working as a journalist in Spain, writing on travel, culture, and lifestyle for respected US and European publications. Across Europe, there is a new awareness of surrogacy as an option for those wanting to be parents, and as an American citizen living abroad, Andrew has a unique understanding of both the U.S. health care system and the concerns that international clients have as they embark on the process of creating their families.
Erica Benda
Donor Development Coordinator
Erica Benda — Donor Development Coordinator
Erica joins Growing Generations as a Client Services Coordinator for the Client Services Department. She received her Bachelor's Degree in Speech Communication and minor in Theatre from Ithaca College in 2008. She has a wide range of previous experience from hospitality service to assisting on grant proposals to provide broadband internet to rural regions in West Virginia. Erica enjoys musical theatre, antiquing, spending time with family and friends, singing in her car, and quoting the TV show FRIENDS.
Lisa Wippler
Surrogate Development Coordinator
Lisa Wippler — Surrogate Development Coordinator
Lisa joined Growing Generations in 2011 with 15 years of experience in the surrogacy community. In addition to her 15 years of professional surrogacy experience, Lisa has been a surrogate 3 times as well as an Egg Donor. In 1996 she gave birth to a baby boy for a couple in Connecticut, in 1998 she helped a couple add a baby girl to their family, and in 2002 she finished her surrogacy journeys with a baby boy for a couple in Maryland.
"I will never forget the day my first surrogacy ended with the birth of my couples' son. The intended father was up at my head trying to be respectful and my husband, a Marine Gunnery Sergeant, reached across my stomach with his hand extended to the dad and said, "Come here dad, you only get one chance to see your son be born". It finally hit me then, what we were doing was much bigger than I ever imagined. It was then that I got involved in surrogacy full time.
Lisa resides in Alabama with her husband of 20 years, John a retired Marine. She is a former Marine and has two sons John, 1, who is currently serving on active duty as a U.S Marine and Zachary, 18, a freshman in College. In her free time Lisa and her husband operate an all-volunteer Non-Profit dog rescue, saving dogs from High Kill shelters in her area.
Anna Stewart
Surrogate Development Coordinator
Anna Stewart — Surrogate Development Coordinator
Anna is a previous surrogate of twins with Growing Generations and had a wonderful experience! She has come to Growing Generations to help other women realize their dreams of helping others. Originally from Texas, she has been a stay at home mom and bringing up her brood there for the past few years. With this new opportunity she very excited to share her experience as a surrogate and mom with other women. In her free time Anna likes to explore historical districts, read, cook and play card games. Hanging out with family and friends is a great pastime for her too.
Danielle Stewart
Surrogate Development Coordinator
Danielle Stewart — Surrogate Development Coordinator
Danielle is a 2009 graduate of West Liberty University with a Bachelor?s Degree in Communications and a minor in Social Work. She has joined the team at Growing Generations to put her passion for helping others to work in a positive atmosphere. She feels blessed with the opportunity to play a small part in the incredible journey of surrogacy and to help others achieve the happiness of building a family. Her experience includes years of activism and involvement in the LGBT community, fighting for equality, and promoting acceptance of LGBT youth and families. In her free time, Danielle loves working out, experimenting with new recipes, and spending time with her partner and their mischievous pups! She is also an avid supporter of local and organic farmers and always looks forward to the markets that spring up during the warmer months.
Mallorie Roberts
Client Development Coordinator
Mallorie Roberts — Client Development Coordinator
Mallorie Roberts is one of our newest Client Development Coordinators. She received her Bachelor's Degree in Psychology and a Minor in English at California State University Northridge. Prior to joining the Growing Generations team, Mallorie was working in various areas of the fashion industry, but later decided that she wanted to go a different route. Mallorie's parents used a surrogate and an egg donor in order to expand her family, so Growing Generations was the perfect fit. In her spare time, Mallorie enjoys shopping, dancing, and spending time with loved ones.
Alisha Burns
Surrogate and Donor Development Coordinator
Alisha Burns — Surrogate and Donor Development Coordinator
Alisha happily joins the Growing Generations family as an Admissions Coordinator. She received her Master's Degree in Social Work with the concentration of Children, Youth, & Families from the State University of New York at Buffalo. Over the past 5 years, Alisha has worked in the social service field providing case management and therapeutic services with "at-risk" youth as well as foster children and their families. She is proud to be a part of a team that helps intended parents fulfill their dream of becoming a family. Alisha enjoys spending time with her husband, family, friends, and two dogs. In her free time, you can often find her cooking, baking, outdoors, traveling, and making improvements to her home. She is passionate about animal rescue and is an active volunteer with a dog rescue organization.
Nicholas Wells
Client Development Coordinator
Nicholas Wells — Client Development Coordinator
Nicholas joins Growing Generations after previously working in the environmental industry. Originally from Orange County, California, Nicholas obtained his Bachelor's Degree from the University of California, Irvine in 2007. Nicholas enjoys traveling and is always down for a random, spur of the moment road trip. Nicholas enjoys taking in all that Los Angeles has to offer, and is quite honored to be working for a company that helps people of all walks start their families. In addition, Nicholas enjoys cars, music of all sorts, pretty much anything to do with the Hollywood Bowl, and spending time with family and friends…and eating Mexican food at levels quite higher than the national average.
Heidi Gast
Client Services Manager
Heidi Gast — Client Services Manager
Heidi joined the Growing Generations family as a Client Services Coordinator in the Ohio Valley office and was promoted to Client Services Manager. Heidi attended Kent State University where she majored in Child Psychology. Prior to coming to Growing Generations, Heidi spent the previous 16 years working in the Social Service field. She spent 8 years at a Residential Treatment Facility working with at risk youth, as well as 8 years providing Early Intervention Services for families in need of Child Development Education and Social Service Support. Heidi is married and has one daughter. Heidi enjoys time with her family, lounging by the pool, reading, and watching reruns of "Friends".
Jessica Junyent
Director of International Relations
Jessica Junyent — Director of International Relations
Jessica was born and raised in Spain and completed her Bachelor of Arts degree in Law in Barcelona. She, also, proudly holds a Master's Degree in Spiritual Psychology from the University of Santa Monica. Prior to moving to Los Angeles in 2000, Jessica practiced law for six years and specialized in probate and litigation. Her passion for travelling and exploring different cultures led her to live in several European countries and to be fluent in English, Spanish, Italian, French, and her native Catalan. Her professional background also includes years at the executive level in the entertainment industry and in real estate, where she was recruited by the Beverly Hills North Office of Coldwell Banker, the #1 office in the United States. Jessica loves everything related to the culinary arts and is happiest when among friends in a great restaurant!
Lacey Locke
Client Services Coordinator
Lacey Locke — Client Services Coordinator
Lacey joins Growing Generations as a Client Services Coordinator. She received her Bachelor's Degree in Specialized Studies with concentration areas of Social Work, Health, and Psychology from Ohio University and recently received her Master's Degree in Social Work. Lacey comes to Growing Generations with seven years of experience in the Social Services field, as well as experience in the Hospitality Field. Lacey has a strong desire to help enrich the lives of others. She enjoys relaxing in the sun, going for walks, and spending time with friends and family.
Mary Varlas
Client Services Coordinator
Mary Varlas — Client Services Coordinator
Mary joined Growing Generations in January of 2011 starting in the Operations Department and soon thereafter joining the Client Services team in her most current position as a Client Services Coordinator. Mary attended college in Philadelphia while working in the fashion industry and most recently is completing her studies in political science at West Virginia University. Mary plans to attend law school and continue to work in the surrogacy and reproductive rights field. In her free time Mary likes to relax with her family and do all things crafty.
Amy Ramsey
Client Services Coordinator
Amy Ramsey — Client Services Coordinator
Amy joins Growing Generations as a Client Services Coordinator. She spent 16 years working in the behavioral health field working with adults and children with varying types of developmental disabilities and mental illnesses. More recently she spent time working in a residential treatment facility working with “at risk†youth. Helping others is Amy's driving force. She is passionate about impacting lives, making a difference and equality for the LGBT community. Amy enjoys being in the kitchen making fabulous meals (and then eating them of course as she loves good food!), being near any body of water and she adores music and art in all forms. She is the proud mother of two daughters.
Jennifer Chang
Client Services Coordinator
Jennifer Chang — Client Services Coordinator
Jennifer has enthusiastically joined the Growing Generations team as a Client Services Coordinator. Prior to graduating from UC Berkeley with a B.A. in Media Studies, Jennifer had the opportunities to study abroad in Seoul, Korea and Shanghai, China. She loves traveling, learning new languages, and exploring other cultures. Although she started at Growing Generations with a limited knowledge of surrogacy, she has learned something new every day and feels lucky to have the chance to help build happy families. In her spare time, Jennifer likes to spend time with her family, friends and pets, as well as watch Law and Order: SVU. She tries to visit a new eatery every week, so feel free to discuss food recommendations with her anytime!
Jamie Lutz
Client Account Manager
Jamie Lutz — Client Account Manager
Jamie is the Client Expense Account Manager and has worked in finance support roles in the banking, customer service and medical fields. She has struggled with infertility for many years and therefore can relate to many of our clients. After 2 rounds of IVF with Dr. Bradford Kolb at Huntington Reproductive Center, Jamie and her husband welcomed their first child Noah in 2011. She feels very blessed to have him in their lives, and for working for a company that allows others the same possibility of making their dreams come true. She hopes that by sharing her story she can help others that are struggling with the same issues and be an inspiration to them as well. Jamie loves reading, watching movies, shopping, dancing, listening to music, and spending time with her family and friends.
Nicole Cattran
Financial Coordinator
Nicole Cattran — Financial Coordinator
Nicole joins Growing Generations as a Financial Coordinator. She studied accounting at The University of Akron and has over six years of experience in finance. She loves spending time with her family and is very proud to be part of a team that creates new families each and every day. In her free time, you can find Nicole spending time with her family and friends or listening to music. She also enjoys traveling and being introduced to new places and people.
Dan Laslo
Financial Coordinator
Dan Laslo — Financial Coordinator
Dan is privileged to have joined the Growing Generations family in August 2011. He works as a Financial Coordinator in our Ohio Valley office. He received his Bachelor's Degree in Accounting from Franklin University in December 2010 and has thirteen years of banking experience. He enjoys spending time and traveling with his wife of 14 years, his daughter, and their two dogs. Dan is an avid fan of Jeff Gordon and The Ohio State Buckeyes.
Craig M. Conley
Operations Manager
Craig M. Conley — Operations Manager
Craig is the Operations Manager, having begun his career as an Operations Assistant before moving to the Finance Department as a Finance Coordinator. Craig is a graduate of Marshall University in West Virginia, where he received a Bachelor's Degree in Finance. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time and traveling with his wife and son, watching and attending sporting events, golfing, snow skiing, playing ice hockey, cooking and relaxing with friends and family.
Meghan Collins
Operations Coordinator
Meghan Collins — Operations Coordinator
Meghan joins growing generations as an Operations Coordinator. Meghan is a graduate from West Liberty University, where she received her Bachelor's Degree in Health. She brings 6 years of experience in the Hospitality Field and Event Coordination. Meghan has planned events as small as 20 people to 2000 plus. She found her true passion to help others by serving as a youth mentor for the past 6 years; she was dedicated to building lasting friendships with teenagers and helping them prepare for their futures. In her spare time Meghan likes to spend time volunteering with her youth kids, hanging out with her family, and enjoying the great outdoors with her husband and dog. She is always looking for the next big adventure!
