Meet the People of Holt International

Dan Smith

President & CEO

Dan is a seasoned executive known for successfully integrating people, processes and technology for mission-driven organizations. Prior to becoming President & CEO, Dan served for five years as Holt’s CFO and VP of Finance and Administration. Dan spent four years in Tanzania serving as a missionary where he held the title of Finance Director for the Lutheran Mission Cooperation. Dan has effectively served in leadership positions for complex organizations in multiple capacities: CAO, VP of Finance and Administration/CFO, Interim CFO, VP of Program Development, Finance Director and Interim Executive Director. Prior to his nonprofit work, he served as Regional Director of Procurement and Logistics for a Fortune 100 company in the supermarket industry. Dan has a multifaceted approach for increasing revenue, expanding services and establishing long-term strategic visions. He and his wife have three adult children, the youngest of whom was adopted from China. Dan is a lifelong musician who has enjoyed a variety of roles on his church worship team. He is also a world traveler and avid cyclist. To learn more about Dan, visit his LinkedIn profile.

Thoa Bui

Vice President, Programs & Services

Thoa implements Holt’s vision and strategic leadership to ensure growth in Holt’s programs for vulnerable children in Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, Eastern Europe, Latin America and the U.S. Thoa has more than 20 years of experience in advocacy, financial and international program development and management, fundraising, and developing family strengthening and adoption services for vulnerable children in developing countries. She holds a master’s degree in social work awarded by the Fulbright Scholarship and had direct field work experience at the Holt Vietnam office prior to coming to Holt International. She has worked in numerous countries and systems. This experience gives her a unique perspective and understanding about the cultures, institutions, the needs and challenges faced by vulnerable children and families, and the possible solutions that will bring holistic and sustainable change.

Jian Chen

Vice President, China Regional Programs

Jian has played a crucial role in expanding services to children and families throughout China, building and maintaining critical collaborative relationships with Chinese officials, and creating and training a highly dependable in-country staff. Through these efforts, Jian has helped grow the China program to one of Holt’s largest, serving thousands through child welfare programs and placing hundreds of orphaned and abandoned children in loving homes every year. Jian holds a master’s degree in interdisciplinary studies and cultural anthropology from Oregon State University, focusing on cultural differences between China and the U.S. A native of China, Jian raised her two children in the U.S. In 2005, she received an Angels in Adoption award from the U.S. Congress.

Rick Ericson

Vice President, Marketing and Development

Rick has over 15 years of experience as a fundraising professional, focused on empowering fundraising teams to grow donor pipelines, implement donor-focused strategies and communications, and leverage technology and digital mediums to fuel philanthropic growth. Before becoming vice president of marketing and development at Holt, Rick worked for a decade in higher education advancement, most recently as the director of annual philanthropy at his alma mater, the University of Oregon. Rick has served as a speaker and panelist at conferences and events including the Association of Fundraising Professionals, PNW Engage Conference and Pacific Northwest Annual Giving Consortium.

Susie Doig

Senior Executive, U.S. Programming

Susie is a licensed, master’s degree-level social worker with 25 years of experience in international child welfare, including family strengthening, domestic adoption and international adoption. Susie provides leadership and strategic direction for Holt’s U.S.-based programming, growing Holt’s services to children and families domestically, and oversees Holt’s post-adoption services program. Susie has served as a peer reviewer for the Council on Accreditation and strives to build collaborative relationships with other child welfare professionals so together they can help transform the lives of children and families around the world. Susie and her husband are parents to two children, a son and a daughter both adopted from Thailand.

Sarah Halfman

Senior Executive, International Programs

Sarah is a compassionate international relief and development professional with more than 18 years of program management experience overseeing multicultural teams and navigating the complexities of working with stakeholders in a myriad of cultural and political contexts. Before joining Holt, Sarah served in a number of roles, including senior leadership roles in Latin America and East Africa where she was responsible for managing diverse and innovative portfolios slated for growth as well as supporting global, regional and country-level strategic planning processes from design and implementation to monitoring and evaluation. In her role at Holt, Sarah is responsible for program performance and quality, ensuring our teams implement high-impact programs that lead to transformational change for children and families in the communities we serve.

Jodi Miyama

Senior Executive, International Adoption

Jodi provides leadership and strategic direction for Holt’s intercountry adoption programs as well as clinical oversight for family recruitment and advocacy for waiting children. She is a licensed, master’s degree-level social worker with over 25 years of experience working in child welfare and over 22 years in the field of adoption — both in executive-level leadership and direct service roles. Additionally, Jodi holds experience in intercountry adoption program development and oversight, and has advocated for policy change that helps children join permanent, loving families through adoption. Jodi has also served as a speaker at local, national and international adoption conferences, and she is a certified Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI®) practitioner.

Lisa Vertulfo

Senior Executive, International Adoption

Lisa provides guidance and leadership for every step of the adoption process, and continually seeks creative ways to develop Holt’s services to children and families. Lisa is a licensed, master’s degree-level social worker with over 25 years of experience in international adoption. Lisa began her Holt career while still in college, as a summer volunteer in Korea, and worked for Holt in Thailand and Ecuador — giving her a unique perspective on all parts of the adoption process. She has several family members who were adopted internationally, and she stands committed to elevating the voice of adoptees and drawing upon their experiences to inform Holt’s work and practices.

Derek Parker

Chair

Derek and his wife, Danielle, have three children and live in the San Diego area. In 1973, Derek was abandoned at the gate of Holt’s Ilsan Center in Korea. He was personally picked up by Molly Holt and was adopted in 1976. Derek holds an MBA from the University of Phoenix and has worked in finance for over 20 years. He currently owns and operates two businesses in Southern California. Derek feels honored and privileged to serve on the board of Holt International. He is grateful for the Holt family and wants their vision and commitment to children to continue through their organization.

Dan Dietrich

Vice-Chair

International adoption is a cornerstone of Dan’s life and family. Adopted from Korea through Holt, Dan and his wife, Megan, have nine children, two of whom are adopted from Korea. Megan is also a Korean adoptee and both Dan and Megan are active in the adoptee community where they live in the Denver, CO area. A technology innovator who developed the thermal traffic detection system used worldwide, Dan is also a strategic business developer and has served in leadership on numerous committees and within Christian organizations. Dan leads the Colorado Korean Adult Adoptee group, participates in the local Korean Adoptee Camp and hosts the annual Holt Picnic in Colorado. Both Dan and his wife have a strong commitment to serving Holt’s mission.

Tom Feely

Secretary

Tom and his late wife, Mindy, adopted their daughter Sarah Rose through Holt in 1990. Tom has been a member of the Holt family since that time and now sponsors a child in China. Tom received his bachelor’s degree from Portland State University and his master’s degree in business administration from Willamette University. He spent his career in the public sector working for the Oregon State Legislative Assembly and for 26 years at the City of Portland — specializing in finance functions as well as a wide variety of other management activities. Tom retired from public service in 2009. He has dedicated much of his personal time to helping children, and his favorite volunteer activity has been tutoring students at his own children’s former grade school. Tom also serves in the House of Delegates of the Oregon State Bar as a citizen member. He is thrilled to join Holt’s board of directors and is looking forward to assisting wherever he can contribute.

Linda Voelsch

Treasurer

As the sister of a Holt adoptee and a sponsor for nearly 40 years, Linda holds Holt close to her heart. She has a master’s degree in social work administration and spent her career with both non- profit and for-profit organizations before now enjoying retirement. She remains active in her church and also serves as treasurer of Transform African Ministries. Linda has visited Holt programs in Korea, Mongolia, Thailand and Uganda and loves seeing children grow and be placed with adoptive families or be reunited with and supported by their birth families. Linda is committed to Holt’s mission and is humbled to serve children and families through sponsorship and her participation on the board of directors.

Kristine Altwies

Kristine has over 30 years of experience leading an intercountry adoption agency and is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in parenting, attachment and adoption. Kristine received her BA in art history from Kalamazoo College, her MA in counseling psychology from Argosy University and is an EMDR-trained trauma specialist. Her work in adoption took her to more than a dozen wonderful countries, including South Korea from which she personally carried the last child who traveled to their family via escort through her agency.  Kristine has five children, two adopted from China. She considers her experiences as a mother the best training for just about everything. Kristine grew up with many cousins and childhood friends who were adopted and is grateful to work in a field that is equal parts challenging and rewarding. She is especially excited to serve on the Holt Board of Directors, supporting the important work started in 1956 by Harry and Bertha Holt. 

Becca Brandt

Becca and her husband, Kim, are Holt parents with six adopted children and two birth children. As a board member and family physician, Becca has visited Russia, Hong Kong, Haiti, China, India, Nepal, the Philippines, Ukraine, Korea, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Mongolia, Vietnam, Colombia and Thailand. She does volunteer work with a Down syndrome parent support group and is a member of various committees in her church. She also enjoys gardening, traveling and quilting. As a Holt board member, Becca enjoys “involvement with Holt on so many levels, getting to know other board members and strengthening my faith.” Becca says, “I was deeply touched by knowing Grandma Holt. I always try to remember, ‘What would Grandma Holt do?'”

Yolaine Dauphin

Yolaine is a judge in Chicago and she volunteers extensively with legal organizations in the area. She is a member of the Illinois Judicial Council, the Black Women Lawyers’ Association, the Cook County Bar Association, and the Illinois State Bar Association. As the second vice president of the Haitian American Lawyers’ Association, she has organized Help Haiti Rebuild — an ongoing dinner fundraiser that raises money to help rebuilding efforts in Haiti following the 2010 earthquake devastation. Yolaine actively participates in community organizations and at her church. She has served as a member of World Vision Chicago’s Vision Council, where she acted as a child ambassador. In 2007 and 2008, she chaired the planning committee for the World AIDS Day walk and concert, to raise awareness about the plight of orphans around the world. Yolaine is also a member of the operations team at her church. Yolaine is a graduate of Northwestern University and the University of Chicago Law School.

Margaret Fitch-Hauser

Margaret was Holt case number 324 in 1957 and came home to the United States in 1958. As a first-wave adoptee from Korea, Margaret is honored to serve on the Holt board and hopes to help other children find loving families and live their dreams. She is currently an emeritus professor, retiring from Auburn University. Margaret has also served as a trainer and consultant to numerous organizations on the subjects of managerial and leadership communications, and public relations. In her spare time, Margaret reads, grows roses and takes landscape photographs. She is a graduate of Stephen F. Austin State University and the University of Oklahoma.

Kim Lee

Kim was amongst the “first wave” of Korean adoptees and was escorted to the USA by Mr. Harry Holt in 1956. As an adoptee and parent through adoption, she has a unique appreciation and perspective regarding both sides of adoption. She has been an avid supporter of Holt through her involvement and participation as a Holt sponsor since 1978, Heritage Camp counselor and a volunteer escort with more than 40 trips; escorting newly adopted babies and toddlers to their families in the USA and Europe. Her final escort trip was bringing her son home in January 1991. Kim is humbled and honored to serve as a board member and is committed to the original mission of Harry and Bertha Holt.

Cheryl Myers 

As a first-wave Holt adoptee and through extended family, Cheryl is grateful for the many ways adoption has touched her life and is honored to contribute to Harry and Bertha’s ongoing legacy. Her background includes policy, organizational and economic development, education/youth advocacy and a history of assisting organizations to construct equitable cultures and embed collaborative practices. She is currently the Oregon Deputy Secretary of State and her prior public service includes operations and engagement director for the Educator Advancement Council, chief of staff for the Higher Education Commission and as director of economic and business equity on the Oregon governor’s cabinet. She is also a longstanding private sector business owner. Cheryl has served in a variety of community roles, including eight years as an elected school board member for a large Oregon school district and in numerous local and national nonprofit board roles.

Susan M.W. Tahir

Susan has over 20 years of experience with Fortune 500 companies and start-ups, including founding her own company catering to endurance athletes. She is a product leader in tech and passionate about addressing challenges in health and wellness and early childhood development. Her international perspective stems from building products for global markets and living as an expat in Hong Kong and Korea. Susan received a BA in international studies from the American University and an MBA from the University of Michigan business school. Susan’s history with Holt began with her own adoption from Korea in the ‘70s. She has two younger sisters who are also adopted, one from Korea and one adopted domestically. Susan lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her family, including two young children who are adopted from Korea through Holt. She holds a very special place in her heart for Holt and is humbled and honored to serve children all over the world as a member of the board.