Staff
Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep is operated by a dedicated, compassionate, and skilled staff that guide our large team of volunteers in the community.
Gina Harris
Chief Executive Officer
Gina Harris
Gina has been the CEO at NILMDTS since October 2011. Gina has extensive expertise in nonprofit management and has personally been touched by the services of NILMDTS.
In 2007, Gina was pregnant with her first child. During a routine prenatal visit, she and her husband learned that their unborn son had a rare condition called Potter’s Syndrome, which is not compatible with life. The Harris’ chose to carry him to term. Prior to delivery, Harris contacted Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep to request photographs in which Co-founder Sandy Puc’ captured the images of David.
Not even a year later, the Harris’ lost their second son, Ethan from another, unrelated fetal condition called hydrops and cystic hygromas. Because his condition was so severe and the shock they were in, the couple did not get pictures of him. Gina says it has left an empty hole in her heart. She understands from firsthand experience the significance NILMDTS images have on the grieving process.
Gina spent most of her career at a national youth-serving agency for over 12 years. The last five years of her career there, she took over for the founder and became the executive director.
Gina is a sought after national speaker in the fields of relationship education, bereavement, and positive youth development. Gina is a contributing author in the books, “Unshakable Character” and “The Burning Heart of a Difference Maker.” Her story (listed under her maiden name Gina Waegele) is featured in the book, “Sister Freaks,” edited by Rebecca St. James. She has been featured in major media including CNN, The LA Times, The Washington Post, Extra, NBC, People Magazine, all the major Denver media, as well as dozens of local newspapers and radio shows.
Gina has a Master’s of Science in Nonprofit Management from Regis University. She graduated from Colorado State University with a bachelor of arts in television news and video communications and has worked as a reporter and anchor for a CBS affiliate. Gina is a three-time state championship cheerleading coach and choreographer and was the 2008 John Lynch Foundation Coach of the Year. She has been married to her husband Rob since 2004. Rob, Gina, and her rainbow baby RJ along with their dog Lily reside in Colorado.
Ali Furtwangler
Volunteer Program Manager
Ali Furtwangler
Ali came to know Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep when her first baby, Zachary, was stillborn in 2011. She began volunteering as a Community Volunteer in 2013 assisting with recruitment and in 2015, she became the Seattle Area Coordinator. After a year of great administrative and logistical advancement for her local team, she joined the ranks of west coast Regional Coordinator in 2016. To help drive consistency and connectivity within the organization, she continued as a Volunteer Coordinator until she was asked to join the staff as Volunteer Care Specialist in 2018. She now manages the volunteer program as our Volunteer Program Manager.
During her time at NILMDTS and her own personal experience receiving photos, she realized the importance of images and found a deep desire to take up photography. After months of leaning fundamentals of professional photography, in 2017 Ali started her photography business, Life Under the Stars Photography, named for her son, and also became a Seattle area Affiliated Photographer volunteer.
Ali enjoys honoring her son’s memory by helping others experiencing loss and showing them there is hope after such a significant and devastating loss. She first found her own version of hope by welcoming her daughter, Vivian, at the end of 2012 and has since welcomed a healthy baby boy, Conner, in 2014 and second daughter, Claire, in 2016. Besides her roles within NILMDTS she is also actively involved as the President of Parent Support of Puget Sound, a Seattle area non-profit supporting families experiencing miscarriage, pregnancy loss, stillbirth and infant death.
Ali resides in Sammamish, Washington with her loving husband, three lively children, two dogs and a cat.
Lisa Manchester
Retouching Services and Session Specialist
Lisa Manchester
Lisa and her husband Todd live in Vermont and have 6 children and a son in law. Elyse, who is married to Will, Alex, Jonathan, Anna, Erika, and Mark, and a few fur babies, too.
Lorri Sisemore
Marketing Manager
Lorri Sisemore
Prior to her role as Marketing Manager, Lorri was the Director of Events for a regional chamber of commerce. She planned and executed over 120 events per year for regional members, including an annual Washington D.C. Fly-In. Lorri has extensive experience in the field of marketing and communications, as well as sponsorship generation and fulfillment.
A native Oklahoman, Lorri has a BA in Journalism-Advertising from The University of Central Oklahoma. Lorri is married to her high school sweetheart, Stephen and together they welcomed their second daughter in December 2017 and third daughter in November 2019. In her free time, Lorri enjoys traveling to new places, gardening and attempting Pinterest crafts and recipes.
Melanie Rodger
Volunteer Program Coordinator
Melanie Rodger
Melanie found NILMDTS in 2010, shortly after the loss of her first son, Bennett Ian. She was unable to have NILMDTS services at the hospital she gave birth at and once discovering what the organization did, was determined to be a part of giving back one day. Melanie joined as a community volunteer in 2018, shortly after the birth of her second son, Lachlan, and became heavily involved in dispatching phone calls and recruiting local volunteers. She quickly stepped up to take on the volunteer role of Area Coordinator after the position became available at the end of 2018 and has been a part of helping her Seattle team grow ever since. Melanie was involved in sales and sales management prior to her involvement with NILMDTS.
Melanie resides in Bellevue, WA with her husband and her son. You can guarantee to find them either outdoors, discovering the latest foodie spot, or on a plane to somewhere new in their free time!
Melisa Ramsey
Design and Data Coordinator
Melisa Ramsey
Melisa is a wife to her middle school sweetheart, Ross and mother to Jordan, Emily, Reagan, Cole. Also a part of her family forever is Dublin (her furry son) and Baby Eddie in Heaven. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends, capturing everything she can as they are currently traveling around the country, crafting of any type, and being of service to others any way that she can.
Missy Thomas
Director of Programs
Missy Thomas
A native West Virginian, Missy has a BA in English from West Virginia University and a MS in Accounting from Texas A&M University-Commerce. She currently lives in Omaha, NE with her husband, three kids, and three crazy dogs. In her spare time she most enjoys reading and traveling.
Rachel Fine
Communications Coordinator
Rachel Fine
Rachel began volunteering with NILMDTS during the 2017 Remembrance Walk in Orlando, Florida, which soon developed into becoming a team member in February 2018. Rachel fell in love with helping people when she was a teenager. She was inspired at a summer camp and developed a deep passion for charitable work. This resolve stuck with her through college, leading her to get a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Central Florida. She is married to her high school sweetheart and together they have two children. Rachel and her family enjoy camping, fishing, biking, going to the beach, Disney World, spending time with friends and her large extended family.
Interested in joining the NILMDTS Team? See a full list of available employment opportunities here.