Meet the Team

Angela Carey earned her Bachelors Degree in Psychology from Culver-Stockton College in 1991. She is a Certified Temperament Counselor through the National Christian Counselors Association and a Certified Open Adoption Practitioner. As the Executive Director, she is responsible for all aspects of A Bond of Love’s adoption services. Angie’s 25 plus years as an Adoption Counselor at A Bond of Love have given her extensive experience in all aspects of adoption services. Angie has gained invaluable insight into placing children with their forever family.

During her career, Angie has counseled many birth parents to help them look at all of their options in permanency planning for their children. In addition, she has assisted numerous families to realize their dream of becoming parents through adoption. She is committed to providing critical services to families, with a focus on the health of the whole family unit.

Debbie was born in Hamilton, ON. She graduated from Brock University with a dual degree in Sociology and Communications in 2000. During this time, she volunteered at the Niagara Police Crisis Unit. She received hands-on real-life experience and acquired an understanding of several issues and areas in need. She began working in human resources and then at DCF in 2008 in child abuse investigations. Throughout her time at DCF she worked in partnership with local communities to protect the vulnerable, promote strong and economically self-sufficient families, and advanced personal and family recovery and resiliency.

After 16 years, Debbie decided to switch careers and began working at A Bond of Love as an adoption counselor. She provides support and guidance to adoptive parents and children, birth mothers, and ensuring healthy matches and prepared adoptive homes.

Heather attended the University of South Florida, where she earned a Bachelors degree in Psychology with a minor in Criminology. She has a great love for children which inspired her early coursework in Childhood Development. At A Bond of Love, she works as a contract adoption counselor. Heather is very passionate about family, she enjoys serving and assisting adoptive families and birth parents as they create forever families. Her heart is blessed to be a part of the loving gift of adoption.

Paula completed her Bachelor of Science degree in Social Work from Florida State University in 2002 and her Masters of Arts degree in Counseling in 2015. She came to work at A Bond of Love in 2018 providing counseling to birth parents, conducting home studies, and providing post-placement supervision for adoptive families. Paula enjoys working with birth parents and adoptive parents in the Florida panhandle. She has spent over 16 years working in the field of adoption and loves sharing her knowledge and helping others build their families through the love of adoption.

Penni received her Bachelors of Interdisciplinary Studies from Keiser University. She has worked in the medical field for over 20 years as a Registered Medical Assistant, Office Manager, and Financial Counselor. She found her love for adoption working with our legal advisor, Attorney Susan Stockham as her Legal/Office Assistant. She is now our Office Manager and Bookkeeper. She absolutely LOVES babies and enjoys seeing them placed with their forever families.

Ms. Stockham has been practicing law in Florida since 1982. She is the founder of A Bond of Love and the Legal Adviser. Susan is also in private practice and in her 30 plus years of practice she has assisted over 2,000 couples in domestic, independent and agency adoptions, and international adoptions. Ms. Stockham is a Florida Bar Board Certified Adoption Law Attorney. She has also been a member of the prestigious American Academy of Adoption Attorneys since 1990.

She is a recipient the of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute’s 2004 Angel in Adoption Award; Lifetime Achievement Award from The Florida Adoption Council, and a Fellow, past Board member, Vice President of the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys, past board member, Fellow of the American Academy of Assisted Reproductive Technology Attorneys and has served on many state and national committees on adoption. Ms. Stockham serves on the Florida Bar Adoption Law Board Certification Committee.

Her interests in adoption go beyond her professional work, as she is the adoptive mother of four handsome and happy grown sons and known as a Mom to many others who have become a part of her family, including two beautiful granddaughters!