MEET OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS

​The Stork Foundation is proudly led by an all-volunteer Board of Directors and leadership team, each deeply committed to our mission. With hearts rooted in empathy and a shared passion for making parenthood possible, our board members generously give their time, talents, and voices to support individuals and couples facing infertility. Their leadership drives our impact—and their belief in this work is at the heart of every grant we give.

Elizabeth Frattura, Founder

Beth is a Financial Advisor with Morgan Stanley and holds a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Business Administration from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville (SIUE) and a Masters of Business Administration (M.B.A.) from Washington University in St Louis. Prior to founding The Stork Foundation, Beth served on the Board of Directors for the SIUE Foundation and Endowment and held leadership positions with the St Louis Learning Disabilities Association. She is a current member of the Chicago Estate Planning Council and Daughters of the American Revolution. Beth grew up on a farm in Southern Illinois and credits this rural upbringing for many entrepreneurial and life skills.  Beth’s passion for helping the infertility community began with her own personal journey to conceive. She and her husband now have three beautiful children conceived with lots of love and IVF treatments. Beth’s hope is this foundation will provide a vehicle through which families like hers who have already ‘overcome’ infertility can support those who are still on their infertility journey.

Meredith Weber, President

Meredith is the Assistant Director of Development for Cubs Charities, the nonprofit arm of the Chicago Cubs. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Psychology from the University of Wisconsin – Madison and a Masters in Sports Administration from Northwestern University. Meredith grew up in Brooklyn, New York but traveled frequently to the Midwest to visit her family. While raised on the east coast she is a Midwestern at heart which is what brought her to Chicago.
Meredith has worked in the nonprofit space in Chicago for 20 years serving as the Executive Director of Back on My Feet Chicago and has also held other fundraising positions at Steppenwolf Theatre Company as well as Starlight Children’s Foundation.
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Meredith’s connection to the mission and work of Stork Foundation comes through her own experience with infertility. Meredith and her husband tried for four years to conceive through various rounds of IUI as well as IVF. After lots of needles, doctors’ appointments, ultrasounds and tears Meredith and her husband became pregnant after their fourth and final IVF treatment. On April 4, 2016, their son Theo was born.
Meredith is honored to be a part of the Stork Foundation to support others in their fertility journey.

Sonya Heer, Secretary

​Sonya had heard about infertility as most women do, but until her sister faced initial stages of an infertility diagnosis, she was quite naive about what would be a long and rigorous process of conceiving her own child. Still, she knew that with her supportive husband Rob, they wanted to build a family together. Prior to making the commitment to start “trying”, Sonya spent much of her time building her career in Talent Acquisition, earning her Masters degree in Speech Communications and leadership in a non-profit benefitting women’s education. These achievements required determination and hard work — building her family would be no different. After an extended period of time, various tests and with medical recommendation, Sonya and Rob decided to move forward in what, at the time, Sonya would name their IVF journey. This was a hopeful option for them, as her sister recently had her first child via IVF. Unfortunately, one cycle of IVF would not bring Sonya and Rob their dream of becoming parents. The confusing and frustrating diagnosis of “Unexplained Infertility” was only the beginning in what now Sonya has re-named their infertility battle. Sonya endured countless IVF cycles and treatments. Years later, with unwavering persistence and the help of several medical teams and support of friends and family, Sonya successfully became pregnant via IVF for the first time. In January 2019, Sonya and Rob were finally able to meet their miracle and dream come true, their spunky and beautiful daughter. Being part of The Stork Foundation means so much to Sonya. She hopes that her story may inspire others to not give up on their dreams, an invaluable gift during the darkness of infertility. Sonya feels privileged to be part of the Stork Foundation  so that she can fight alongside another family in their battle to be parents. 

Maria Braham, Board Member

Maria is a Financial Advisor with Morgan Stanley and holds a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Finance from Eastern Illinois University and a Financial Planning certificate from DePaul University.  She earned her Certified Financial Planner Designation (CFP) in 2017.  She is a member of the Chairmen's Advisory Council of the Big Shoulders Fund, which helps to provide catholic education for inter-city school children.  In addition, she mentors several children through the program.  She is a member of the Chicago Estate Planning Council, Financial Women's Association, Professional Women’s Club of Chicago (PWCC), CAC Executive Committee and Daughters of the American Revolution. Maria has a great appreciation for the IVF process after spending 6 years trying to conceive with 6 miscarriages and finally welcoming two wonderful boys. 

Eileen Martindale, Board Member

Eileen has always felt called to motherhood, but as she grew into adulthood, she quickly realized the path was not straightforward.  Sometimes through whispers, Eileen was a confidante that many friends and family battling infertility turned to. Conversations were similar and feelings of loneliness were recurrent.  She knew that although common amongst her circles, infertility was not talked about nearly enough. Eileen and her husband, Taylor experienced loss as they started a family and during that period of grieving, she wondered if she too would feel the darkness of infertility.  Thankfully, Eileen is now a mother to two beautiful children and is grateful for the gift of being a "mommy", a title she does not take for granted.  Eileen has been involved with several non-profit organizations including serving on executive boards in leadership positions.  She has focused her philanthropy work primarily within women's education, youth outreach programs, alumni relations and local community service projects.  Supporting family-building grants through her involvement feels empowering, as Eileen has experienced the life-changing moments that being a parent provides. 

Heather Martinez, Past President

Heather is a marketing consultant who is dedicated to helping women grow their small businesses. She is all too familiar with the struggles of trying to conceive and fought for 12 years to finally hold a beautiful healthy girl in her arms. The battle was long and ended up requiring IVF. She has always been passionate about helping others and her fertility journey inspired her to help other local women struggling to conceive. In 2017, she founded the Pineapple Squad, an infertility support group that offers events and resources to women in the Chicagoland area struggling with infertility. She recognized a gap in her community and quickly got to work in creating a network to bring these women together. Heather continues to fight for women’s rights in the fertility space and advocates for women to be heard by their doctors and politicians. When she is not dedicating herself to her career, family, and support groups, she is often trying new experiences and loves traveling.

Tony Mazzaferro, Board Member

Tony is a senior medical student at Saint Louis University School of Medicine and is applying to Obstetrics and Gynecology residency next month. Tony Has a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Biology from Brigham Young University – Idaho. Before attending college, Tony left his home state of California and served a two-year church mission in the state of Alaska and lived in multiple, rural, Native Alaskan villages. Upon his return, he started college in Idaho where he met his wife, Kristen. During college Tony worked as an anatomy and physiology, chemistry, and biology tutor, and also worked as an academic advisor during his last year. In medical school he worked as an anatomy tutor and continued volunteering at his church, local clinics, and served as the school chapter President of the Benjamin Rush Institute and as OB/GYN Student Chief in his senior year. His interest in infertility arose from his wife’s tumultuous journey to conceive. After a trial of multiple medications, it was soon suggested they see a reproductive endocrinologist. Thankfully, after lots of shots, medication, and patience, Kristen got the coveted positive pregnancy test in April of this year. Tony and his wife are expecting a baby boy due in December 2020.

Julie Ferguson, Board Member

As a woman entrepreneur and a known "storyteller" herself, Julie’s passion for healthcare starts with being able to share a patient's story and then simplifying complex scientific data. As a communications professional, she has been utilizing creative PR strategies as it relates to healthcare for more than 20 years, including at companies Abbott and Pfizer. Julie has a passion for women empowerment and helping mentor and guide other women with their infertility journey. When she was in her thirties, she saw many of her friends struggle with trying to conceive for many years. Julie's journey to motherhood has been unconventional - in 2017, she tried to conceive with her former husband, but after suffering a miscarriage and then a divorce, she decided at age 40 to start to pursue the path of single motherhood by choice (SMBC) by choosing a sperm donor. In 2021, Julie pursued one IUI and five rounds of IVF after freezing her own eggs and now has three embryos she is preparing to transfer at the Colorado Center for Reproductive Medicine with Dr. William Schoolcraft. Julie also serves as an adjunct professor at her alma mater, DePaul University, where she teaches undergraduate courses in Media Relations, Healthcare Communications and Public Relations Writing. 
Julie looks forward to helping other families through their fertility struggles and spreading more awareness to others who have gone through this journey.

Keele Moore, Board Member

Keele is a Senior Regional Public Sector Manager at Medicines360. Prior to Medicines360, she served in various sales roles at biotech start-ups, pharmaceutical, and specialty pharmacy companies and across many disease states including cardiology, neurology, rheumatology, GI, psychiatry, and now women’s health. Keele received a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of MO and an Executive M.B.A. from Washington University in St. Louis. Outside of work, Keele loves spending time and traveling with her husband and three children.

Christy Hild, Board Member

Christy is a Client Partner with Franklin Covey and a Director of Programming for a Public School District in Illinois. Christy holds a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Degree in Elementary Education from Eastern Illinois University, a Master of Education (M.Ed.) Degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Illinois, an Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) Degree from Eastern Illinois University, and her Doctorate of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership from Illinois State University, with a focus on a leader’s impact on organizational culture, change, and growth mindset. A daughter of two public school educators, Christy has always valued service to others, strong relationships, and hard work.  Her career has spanned public school teaching, school principalship, consulting, and teaching undergraduate and graduate students in education, while also serving on the Board of Trustees for The Little Theatre on the Square fundraising for St. Jude Children’s Hospital, and creating a local Women’s Leadership Circle through Lean In. 

Her most important roles continue to be that of a loving partner to her husband, Shonn, and a devoted mother to their amazing children, Beckett and Harper. Christy is committed to being a caring friend and strong advocate for those who long to be parents, which stems from her own lengthy experience with infertility and ultimate success with IVF.

Kathryn Boyer, Board Member

Kathryn is a Sales Enablement & Analytics Consultant at Allied Solutions in Carmel, Indiana, but the most important job she is fortunate to have is “Mom”. Kathryn and her husband, Campbell, welcomed Margaret Lane into their lives in July 2020 and the rest is history, as they say. Unfortunately, Kathryn experienced an isolating pregnancy and a very difficult 18+ month postpartum recovery that led to becoming a fierce advocate for women in any stage of their journey to starting a family. She lives her day-to-day life to ensure women feel heard, valued, appreciated, and educated as she knows how overwhelming and silencing the journey to becoming a mother can be.

​Kathryn is overjoyed to be part of the growing impact The Stork Foundation is making, to further her education in infertility, and become the strongest supporter for families struggling to conceive. She loves making memories in the kitchen baking with Campbell and Margaret and traveling to explore new cities and cultures when she can.

​LEGAL
​COUNSEL

Christina Pannos, Founder & Legal Counsel

​​Christina Pannos is an associate with Howe & Hutton, Ltd., a law firm that specializes in representing nonprofit organizations.  The firm has carved a niche in the unique and highly regulated areas of not-for-profit and hospitality law, representing trade associations, professional societies, charitable foundations and other related organizations. Christina has advised and represented clients in contract negotiation, corporate and not-for-profit structure, intellectual property protection and registration, commercial real estate leasing, employment, antitrust and data privacy.   She has managed and represented an international art gallery and has worked for major international auction houses and museums in London and Chicago.   Christina has presented to groups on issues including effective contract negotiation; licensing intellectual property; risk management; and data privacy, social media and security. Christina is an adjunct professor at DePaul University College of Law teaching two legal drafting courses: Art Market Transactions and Intellectual Property Licensing.

MEDICAL ADVISORY BOARD

Dr. Kenan Omurtag, M.D.

​Kenan Omurtag, MD is an Associate Professor in Reproductive Endocrinology and infertility at the Washington University St. Louis School of Medicine, Department of OBGYN. He received his medical degree from the 6 yr Combined BA/MD program at the University of Missouri - Kansas City School of Medicine and completed Residency in OBGYN at Emory in Atlanta, GA where he was an administrative chief resident. He came back to his native Missouri to complete Fellowship, in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the Washington University-St Louis School of Medicine.  He completed his formal training at age 31 and became Board Certified in 2015, making him, one of the youngest Board Certified physicians in both Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. Dr Omurtag is a nationally known scholar due to his research efforts focusing on three core fronts: social media and education, fertility preservation for transgender individuals and the use of technology to improve the patient and physician experience.  Dr. Omurtag is highly lauded by his patients as he works to help couples and individuals navigate the highs and lows of the short, or sometimes long, journey to parenthood. Along with the fertility treatments he can offer, Dr. Omurtag believes in the power of compassion, advocacy and the most innovative technology and resources to help people become parents.