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Meet the Better Together Team

Under the leadership of Megan Rose – and with the help of an amazing volunteer force – this small, yet deeply dedicated, team connects families and job seekers to the help they need.

MEGAN ROSE

Chief Executive Officer

LORA BOSTICK

Director of Development

ISIS LAROSE

Vice President of Strategic Partnerships & Market Development

Mellissa Foster

Executive Director of Church Relationships

GISELA WEIGEL

Better Jobs Project Manager

Pamela Hayford

Marketing & Communications Manager

Vanessa Estrada

Program Administrator

JESSICA BRAEMER

Sarasota and Manatee County Partnership Manager

Lisa Perry

Tampa Bay Region Family Care Coordinator

Dawson Jordan

Creative Director

Amanda Colafrancesco

Amanda Colafrancesco

Sarasota/Manatee Home Study Specialist

Yohana Resto

Southwest Florida Executive Director

Katie Malloy

Katie Malloy

Northeast Region Home Study Specialist

Barbara Mendez

Family Care Coordinator

Alexis Marriott

Family Care Coordinator

Sheena Wood

Sheena Wood

Northeast Florida Outreach Director

Kayla Palacios

Kayla Palacios

North Central Florida Executive Director

Sherry Loria

North Central Florida Family Care Coordinator

Amanda Chisholm

Amanda Chisholm

Family Care Coordinator

Amber Freeman

Amber Freeman

Family Care Coordinator

Jen Bauer

Jen Bauer

Development Grants Manager

Josh Escandon

Joshua Escandon

Digital Marketing Coordinator

Kristianna Soto

Kristianna Soto

Executive Administrative Assistant

Our team is dedicated to helping people help themselves. We empower them to find employment and provide a loving, safe and supportive foundation for their children.

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HEADQUARTERS

15275 Collier Boulevard
Suite 201-284
Naples, FL 34119
Tel: 239.470.2733
info@bettertogetherus.org
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Better Together Team
Megan Rose
Chief Executive officer
Megan came to understand the value of empowering families with support and resources through her own journey. When she was young, her father went through recovery and the family was split apart. He was able to get healthy, while strangers came alongside her family and showered them with support. Soon, her parents and family reunited. Those powerful lessons of compassion were the early inspiration for a life and career dedicated to the calling of strengthening families and reminding people of their dignity, worth, and value.

In addition to her passion for her helping families, Megan has a wealth of education, over ten years of dedicated experience in social services. She holds an undergraduate degree from Liberty University in Psychology and a Master’s in Human Services with a dual concentration in Executive Leadership and Family and Group Dynamics. After college, Megan worked abroad as a nanny, then returned to Florida where she worked for four years as a child welfare case manager before becoming director for a foster care agency. In 2015, she joined Safe Families for Children, then branched off in 2018 to start her own organization, Better Together.

Megan was the recipient of the Manhattan Institute Civil Society Award in 2018 and was accepted into their Fellowship in 2020. In October 2020, Megan was featured on the cover of Grandeur Magazine for her work at Better Together and also earned the Cape Coral Community Foundation’s Rising Organization of the Year Award.

Family is everything to Megan, and she counts her husband Mason and their three precious children, Brady, Ellie, and Emma, as her greatest blessings in life. Megan and her family approach this ministry together, and routinely host children in their home. They are a team, and her family continually supports her wonderful adventure as the leader of Better Together. She feels blessed to have her family’s support behind her and to be a part of a team of talented, passionate individuals who love people and want to help equip the faith community to grow the Better Together mission.

Better Together Team
Lora Bostick
Director of Development

Lora and her husband, Chris, were first drawn to Better Together when they heard about the organization at church. They immediately signed up to become a host family and get involved. Lora’s passion for helping others and her love for children eventually led her to a full-time role with Better Together as the director of development. Lora holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from West Virginia University.

Lora and Chris have three children: Jay, Nia and Olivia. They look forward to continuing to serve families in their community through this ministry and showing their kids the value of helping others.

Better Together Team
Isis LaRose
Vice President of Strategic Partnerships & Market Development

Isis started on the team as outreach director in 2018 and was promoted to the Better Families executive director role in early 2020. Prior to joining Better Together, Isis worked in the medical field for 16 years. She has always had a passion for helping others, but it wasn’t until being introduced to Better Together, and becoming a host family in 2017, that she realized her passion for helping families in need.

Over the last four years, her family has hosted 21 children. Her husband, Danny, and children, Asher and Ayden, are just as committed as she is in this ministry and share in the joy of being able to care for children while their families maneuver through crisis. Better Together is a way her whole family serves together and she’s thankful to have the support of her family in this mission.

Mellissa FosterBetter Together Team
Mellissa Foster
Executive Director of Church Relationships

Mellissa has a heart to serve and love people exactly as they are and to connect them to a local body of Christ for encouragement and relational support. She comes to the Better Together team with a background in marketing and development and uses these skills along with her passion to serve and love others. Prior to joining the Better Together team, Mellissa worked in ministry for over ten years serving local churches in the Family and Children’s Ministry. She also serves at her local church in Jacksonville, where her husband, Jonathan, works as the Associate Design & Media Director.

Mellissa, her husband, and her children Jad, London, and Barrett have served as a host family and mentors for several Better Together families and look forward to continuing to do this as a family unit. Mellissa is passionate about the Better Families program because of the life changes she has seen by helping families in crisis. Mellissa believes serving as a family gives her children the opportunity to learn to love others with action in a tangible way.

Better Together Team
Gisela Weigel
Better Jobs Project Manager

Gisela was born and raised in Southwest Florida, so naturally, she has a strong passion and desire for helping people in this community. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Communication from Florida Gulf Coast University. She previously worked in the non-profit sector supporting foster children but then decided to pursue a corporate career. Gisela quickly learned that her heart belonged to serving those in our community through non-profit work, and this led her to Better Together. Gisela is excited to join the Better Together team and help lead our mission of keeping families together and children out of foster care.

Gisela loves spending time with her husband, and her precious dog Obi. When asked, others would describe Gisela as thoughtful, optimistic, and persistent. When Gisela is not in the office, she enjoys volunteering, watching the Hallmark Channel/reruns of her favorite shows, and making memories with her family and friends.

Better Together Team
Pamela Hayford
Marketing & Communications Manager

Pamela is a storyteller. In more than 25 years as a journalist, she worked as a writer, reporter, editor and page designer. She’s interviewed politicians and a celebrity or two but spent most of the last 15 years among Southwest Florida’s families as editor of Southwest Florida Parent & Child magazine. That’s how she first learned of Better Together and became excited to tell the stories of its mission, its families and its staff.

Pam grew up in Northeast Ohio and earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism at Bowling Green State University. Falling head over heels for her husband and her work eventually brought her to Florida. They’ve been living in Cape Coral since 2000 and have two teenage children, four if you count her spoiled pups.

Vanessa EstradaBetter Together Team

Vanessa Estrada
Program Administrator


Vanessa’s journey with Better Together began a few years ago as she volunteered assisting with fundraising events. Now, we are thrilled to have Vanessa on staff and for her contribution in this key role. She has previously worked in the non-profit sector for 7 years, serving children and families in foster care and at-risk youth. As a previous Program Manager, she is able to bring many years of administration experience on all levels. Vanessa’s strong faith and passion to help children and families in need are both evident by her commitment and willingness to always go the extra mile.

Vanessa was born in Fort Myers, Florida, and raised in Houston, Texas. Along with her husband Fabien and their two daughters, Arianni and Alyson, Vanessa now lives in Naples, FL. Vanessa loves spending time with her family and friends, mentoring at-risk youth, dancing, and event planning.

Jessica Braemer Sarasota and Manatee County CatalystBetter Together Team

Jessica Braemer

Sarasota and Manatee County Partnership Manager


Jessica has worked in the nonprofit sector through building and serving women and children, and families in her community. Jessica has a deep desire to do the Lord’s will in her life, and feels privileged to share her testimony of overcoming to bring hope into the lives of others. She has a passion to walk alongside those who are yearning for a better life. Jessica also works hand in hand with those struggling in addiction, domestic violence, human trafficking, and any life controlling issues. She lives a lifestyle of cultivating community. Jessica is excited to be part of the Better Together family by bringing resources and compassion to families in crisis.

Jessica and her husband, Joshua, share a beautiful blended family of six and have a powerful testimony of what the Lord can do in someone’s life. They have a passion to serve God, their family, their community, and are blessed to do together.

Lisa PerryBetter Together Team
Lisa Perry
Tampa Bay Region Family Care Coordinator

Lisa started with Better Together as a home study specialist and, in 2022, moved into the role of family care coordinator in the Tampa region. Prior to working with families in crisis, she was a kindergarten teacher for 20 years. After teaching, she became a certified child protection investigator. She worked and advocated for foster families, including as a resource specialist who assisted families and children in need. Lisa also holds a certificate in infant family mental health from the University of South Florida and volunteers at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in the NICU.

Lisa and her husband of 34 years have two grown children, C.J. and Jessica. They enjoy spending time with them and their four grandchildren as well as fur babies Ricky and Lucy — high energy, Frisbee-catching miniature Aussies.

Dawson JordonBetter Together Team

Dawson Jordan
Creative Director

Dawson is an exciting addition to the Better Together Team. Since graduating college in 2015 from Florida Gulf Coast University with his bachelor’s degree in Business Management he has managed to create a successful career for himself as a self-employed freelance videographer/photographer. He has recently relocated back to his hometown in SWFL and is excited to join the team as the Creative Director to help us tell the Better Together story. Dawson is passionate about telling stories through a creative lens, especially when it comes to seeing families stay together and for individuals to thrive and become the best version of themselves. When Dawson is not in the office he likes to hang out with his friends, workout, and watch sports.

Amanda ColafrancescoBetter Together Team

Amanda Colafrancesco
Sarasota/Manatee Home Study Specialist

Amanda was born and raised in Rhode Island and moved to Florida in 2016. She earned her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Science degrees in administration of justice from Salve Regina University. Upon graduation, she began a career in child welfare, specifically toward a goal of preventing children from entering the foster care system. Amanda brings diverse experiences in serving children and families in their home environments to her work with Better Together as a home study specialist. She is also a certified child welfare protective investigator through the Florida Certification Board and has over six years of child welfare experience. In her spare time, Amanda enjoys visiting with family and friends.

Better Together Team

Yohana Resto
Southwest Florida Executive Director

Yohana brings to Better Together 15 years of experience working in child welfare. She has served in various roles, including case manager, clinical services specialist, relative search specialist, foster family recruiter, and most recently a role conducting comprehensive assessments for children in foster care or relative care. Yohana has a heart and passion for serving children and families, and she brings to the organization a wide breadth of knowledge and experience. A graduate of Southeastern University and Nova Southeastern University with a bachelor’s in psychology and Master of Science in counseling, Yohana has a caring and compassionate heart to support families in need.

Yohana loves spending time with her husband, Miguel, and their four children—Isabela, Natalia, Jaxon and Jayden. You can frequently find them at a soccer game, as their girls enjoy playing competitive travel soccer. Yohana credits her relationship with God and personal salvation as the motivating force behind her desire to continue to serve her community.

Katie MalloyBetter Together Team

Katie Malloy
Northeast Region Home Study Specialist

Katie was born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida, and attended the University of Mississippi, where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. Katie has been working with children and families in the foster care system in Duval County since 2015. Her passion is advocating for children in care and helping build strong and healthy families. During Katie’s childhood, her church community was a great support system for her and her family. She’s a firm believer that the more people who love a child, the better.

Better Together Team

Barbara Mendez
Family Care Coordinator

Barbara has always enjoyed working with people. After graduating from Florida State University in 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in international affairs, and a minor in public administration, she started her career as a family service counselor and then an adoption specialist, where her passion for serving families grew. Serving children and families felt like a calling and seeing various family situations that led to child welfare getting involved made her realize that sometimes parents just need a support system. Barbara felt drawn to Better Together’s mission to help families and keep children out of foster care while empowering the church to be Jesus’s hands and feet. 

In her free time, Barbara enjoys traveling and hanging out outdoors with her two fur babies, Henna and Theo.

Better Together Team

Alexis Marriott
Family Care Coordinator

Alexis brings to the Better Together team 20 years of experience working with children and families, mental health, and adult case management. After taking time off from college, Alexis completed her bachelor’s in psychology at Columbia College in Jacksonville in 2013. Throughout those years, she built her experience and knowledge working with children in foster care. Alexis has a passion for helping others and bringing out the best in people, no matter how big or small the change. She’s excited to be a part of the Better Together team and dedicated to serving her community.

When Alexis is not working, she loves to spend time with her husband and two boys. She loves to travel, shop, and hangout with friends.

Sheena WoodBetter Together Team
Sheena Wood
Northeast Florida Outreach Director

Sheena, her husband, Josh, their four precious children, and lovely dogs, live in Fernandina Beach, where they are heavily involved in the community and their church.

Sheena earned her bachelor’s in social work with a minor in psychology from Huntington University in 2007. She has served in multiple social work positions in Indiana and Ohio, including roles as a child and adolescent case manager in a mental health hospital and as a resident specialist within a faith-based homeless shelter. Sheena’s last role was at a faith-based eating disorder treatment facility as a mental health technician and case manager in Fernandina Beach.

Sheena is reminded of a favorite quote by Max Lucado, “The sweetest satisfaction lies, not in climbing your own Everest, but in helping other climbers.”

Sheena spent the first nine years of life in and out of foster care, before finally being adopted. That journey was full of trauma and heartache. Therefore she is passionate about working diligently to provide a better way for children in her state and community so she can help drastically reduce the number of children having to walk a similar road.

Sheena considers being a part of the Better Together team an honor and one of her highest privileges as it has been a dream of hers to champion a Christ-centered proactive approach to child welfare.

Sheena holds fast to Jesus as she passionately works to equip and empower local churches to uniquely meet the needs of the people in their communities that they care so much about.

Sheena and her family enjoy animals, entertaining, going to the beach, riding bikes, swimming and other outdoor activities.

Better Together Team
Kayla Palacios
North Central Florida Executive Director

Kayla comes to us after 12 years in the field of education, most recently as an assistant principal. Years of working with children who have experienced the trauma of a broken family has made her extremely passionate about keeping families together. Kayla believes that one life can change the world, through the power of Jesus, and that each and every one of us is made on purpose for a purpose. It was that belief that led her to Better Together, after hearing CEO Megan Rose speak at her church about the incredible impact the organization is having on families and the community.

Kayla serves on the worship and kids’ ministry teams in her local church and engages in ministry serving children in the foster care system, residents in a local drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility, and people who are in need of free dental, optical, and medical care through an organization in the local community. Kayla has a bachelor’s degree in Spanish with a minor in Latin American studies and a master’s degree in educational leadership, both from the University of Florida. She is currently working on her doctorate in education in Christian leadership from Liberty University.

Kayla and her husband, Alex, have three beautiful children who they are looking forward to bringing alongside them in serving families through Better Together.

Sherry Loria is the North Central Florida Family Care Coordinator

Better Together Team
Sherry Loria
North Central Florida Family Care Coordinator

Sherry worked in education for 18 years as a school teacher, academic coach and school counselor before joining the Better Together team. While in her role as a school counselor, she assisted many families and children in crisis and helped them navigate through their trauma with counseling and connections to community resources. Sherry is also a Nationwide Youth Mental Health First Aid Instructor who teaches others what to do in crisis and non-crisis situations regarding mental health.

Prior to her roles in education, Sherry served in the U.S. Navy for 8 years as an information systems technician. She was named Sailor of the Quarter and then Sailor of the Year for the Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet. While in the Navy, she became Surface Warfare qualified, a damage control leader, the Morale, Welfare and Recreation president as well as the Community Relations treasurer to help beautify communities, orphanages and schools throughout the world.

As a child, Sherry was homeless for a short time and lived with a mom who struggled with severe mental health issues. This ignited a desire within her to help others who are dealing with the same issues. She was the first member of her family to obtain a college degree and has a passion to help others break the cycle of poverty and reach their goals and dreams.

Sherry has a Bachelor of Arts in English from Chaminade University and her Master of Arts in Counseling from Webster University. Currently, she attends classes in discipleship through Inste Global Bible College, is married to her best friend, Carlos, and together they are blessed with four boys.

Amanda ChisholmBetter Together Team
Amanda Chisholm
Family Care Coordinator

Amanda brings years of experience serving in various capacities in the substance use and mental health fields. Her personal journey created a passion in her to help others from a place of empathy and compassion with whatever struggles they may face. Her goal in all her interactions is to provide hope, love, support, and encouragement, with the belief that real change is possible, and everyone deserves a happy, healthy, productive life.

Amanda is a graduate of Grand Canyon University with a bachelor’s in science of counseling with an emphasis on substance abuse. Her course work in spirituality as it relates to mental health helps solidify her belief in God and the ability of connection to heal.

Amanda enjoys spending time with her husband, Dave, and their two daughters, Mackenzy and Jennifer (and of course their two dogs!). Amanda unwinds by building and refinishing furniture and creating.

Amber FreemanBetter Together Team
Amber Freeman
Family Care Coordinator

Amber brings an immense passion to advance an alternative to our current child welfare system. She brings years of experience in child development, child welfare and family prevention and diversion. Amber has coupled her experience and passion together and understands that we are indeed better together. Amber enjoys traveling with her family, photography and opportunities to be the Lord’s hands and feet.

Jen BauerBetter Together Team
Jen Bauer
Development Grants Manager

Jen has a heart for nonprofits and has a lengthy history of involvement both as a volunteer and employee. She has worked extensively with organizations that serve underrepresented individuals and is thrilled to bring her experience to Better Together. Jen is a mom of three and is eager to support the team and mission through her work.

Josh EscandonBetter Together Team
Joshua Escandon
Digital Marketing Coordinator

Josh is a Los Angeles native with a passion for digital marketing. He gained many years of experience working as the director of marketing at a Bible college in Southern California. Josh’s skills in photography, graphic design, and social media have serve him well in his freelance business as well as his local church, C3 Los Angeles, where his wife is currently on staff. Josh is excited about his role as the digital marketing coordinator, because he believes strongly in the Better Together mission.

Kristianna SotoBetter Together Team
Kristianna Soto
Executive Administrative Assistant

Kristianna is the executive administrative assistant at Better Together and a host family volunteer with the organization. She’s also a professional photographer with J&K Soto Photography, as well as an attorney who previously served the indigent accused as an assistant public defender for over a decade.

Kristianna graduated from the University of Florida Law School and Florida State University, majoring in international affairs and Spanish with a minor in criminology.

Kristianna has always had a passion for serving her community and has held various positions as well as volunteered with community organizations such as the Junior League of Fort Myers, Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Lee County Bar Association and the Rotary Club.