Introducing the ACFB Board of Directors
Adoption is part of many people’s stories in different ways. From adoptees to birth families, to adoptive families and more, adoption touches the lives of many people. ACFB is grateful to have a board of directors that all have personal connections to adoption. Today, we’re introducing our board members and sharing a little about their experiences with adoption.
JoAnne Kron, JD (President) — Adoptive Parent
JoAnne serves as President of the ACFB Board of Directors. She spent 36 years practicing law in both public and private sectors. Since retiring, she has devoted her time to various volunteering activities, including PADS and Catholic Charities.
JoAnne became a mother through the adoption of her son in 1999. She shares, “We believe that open adoption was the right choice for our son, who has a strong relationship with his siblings and birth parents.”
JoAnne enjoys her involvement with the ACFB board because it allows her to give back to the adoption community and help both birth parents and adopting families through their adoption journeys.
JoAnne Kron, JD (President) — Adoptive Parent
JoAnne serves as President of the ACFB Board of Directors. She spent 36 years practicing law in both public and private sectors. Since retiring, she has devoted her time to various volunteering activities, including PADS and Catholic Charities.
JoAnne became a mother through the adoption of her son in 1999. She shares, “We believe that open adoption was the right choice for our son, who has a strong relationship with his siblings and birth parents.”
JoAnne enjoys her involvement with the ACFB board because it allows her to give back to the adoption community and help both birth parents and adopting families through their adoption journeys.
Melissa Hollenberg (Secretary/Treasurer) — Adoptive Parent
Melissa serves as the Secretary and Treasurer of the Board of Directors. She previously taught special education and has been a stay-at-home parent for many years. She recently started substitute teaching at her local elementary and middle school to ease back into the world of education.
Melissa and her husband have two children, one through adoption and one through birth. They adopted their daughter in the summer of 2006 through the Illinois Safe Haven Law. Having gone through the adoption process to grow her own family, Melissa has a lot of love for the work ACFB does. She says, “ACFB is a wonderful place because it treats birthmothers with great care and respect.”
Brian Moak, MBA — Adoptive Parent
Brian has been a board member of ACFB for nearly 10 years. He is the owner of HEART Certified Auto Care and Moak Holdings Group, which manages commercial property. In his free time, he loves to travel and play tennis.
Brian and his husband have two sons through adoption. Noah is almost twelve and Joey is 11 months old. They feel so lucky to be their dads! Brian is also grateful to be part of ACFB’s board. He shares, “Giving back to the organization that created our family is one of the highest honors. Knowing that I am helping this organization grow, thrive, and succeed so that it can help other families experience the joy and love that we have is a true pleasure.”
Brian Moak, MBA — Adoptive Parent
Brian has been a board member of ACFB for nearly 10 years. He is the owner of HEART Certified Auto Care and Moak Holdings Group, which manages commercial property. In his free time, he loves to travel and play tennis.
Brian and his husband have two sons through adoption. Noah is almost twelve and Joey is 11 months old. They feel so lucky to be their dads! Brian is also grateful to be part of ACFB’s board. He shares, “Giving back to the organization that created our family is one of the highest honors. Knowing that I am helping this organization grow, thrive, and succeed so that it can help other families experience the joy and love that we have is a true pleasure.”
Vickie Drendel, BS — International Adoptive Parent
In addition to being a member of ACFB’s Board of Directors, Vickie also serves as President of the Board for the Midwest Adoption Center and works for Not-for-Profit Resources as the Director of Strategic Partnerships. Vickie has a love of horses. She owns an American Saddlebred horse, Dreamacres Thrilled, who she shows regionally. She is also a volunteer at Main Stay Therapeutics Farm, which provides adaptive riding programs for riders with disabilities. Vickie has two adult children and several grandchildren.
Vickie Drendel, BS — International Adoptive Parent
In addition to being a member of ACFB’s Board of Directors, Vickie also serves as President of the Board for the Midwest Adoption Center and works for Not-for-Profit Resources as the Director of Strategic Partnerships. Vickie has a love of horses. She owns an American Saddlebred horse, Dreamacres Thrilled, who she shows regionally. She is also a volunteer at Main Stay Therapeutics Farm, which provides adaptive riding programs for riders with disabilities. Vickie has two adult children and several grandchildren.
Vickie and her husband planned to adopt from early on in their relationship. Their daughter Jennifer is by birth and their son Sean was adopted from South Korea in 1994. Vickie feels that her life has been enriched though adoption in so many ways. She says, “As an adoptive parent, I continually work to educate others on the adoption topic. Many people have asked about Sean’s story and how we came to a decision to adopt. It gives us a chance to truly explain how wonderful adoption can be. I feel being part of ACFB gives me another chance to help in the adoption community. We all need to work together on this to build our community!”
Diane Mauerer, JD — Adoptive Parent
Diane has both personal and professional connections to adoption. In her professional life, she worked as a court administrator at the Cook County Juvenile Court for 27 years. Through her job, she saw many new families created through adoption. Diane also welcomed her son Caleb through adoption.
Diane recently retired to stay home with her son. When she’s not chauffeuring Caleb around to his activities, she enjoys reading and trying her hand at cooking. Having gone through the adoption process herself, Diane finds a lot of fulfillment being a member of the ACFB Board of Directors. She shares, “I like working at ACFB in hopes of helping families in any way with the adoption journey.”
Dan Hogberg — Husband of Adoptee
Dan has 30+ years of experience working for software and technology firms in a variety of roles. He currently leads the Midwest sales organization for Broadcom Software Group. He has served on several non-profit boards, including the Nativity Catholic Church Men’s Club Board in St. Paul, Minnesota and Benet Academy Alumni Board in Lisle, Illinois. When he’s not working, he enjoys cycling, skiing, golf, and time with my family, including his five children and four grandchildren.
Dan Hogberg — Husband of Adoptee
Dan has 30+ years of experience working for software and technology firms in a variety of roles. He currently leads the Midwest sales organization for Broadcom Software Group. He has served on several non-profit boards, including the Nativity Catholic Church Men’s Club Board in St. Paul, Minnesota and Benet Academy Alumni Board in Lisle, Illinois. When he’s not working, he enjoys cycling, skiing, golf, and time with my family, including his five children and four grandchildren.
Dan’s wife, Jennifer Hogberg, and her twin sister, Julie McGue (who is also an ACFB board member), were adopted by wonderful parents, Jack and Sue Ryan. Dan has known Jennifer and Julie since high school, and he was involved with their lengthy search for their birth parents. He also has multiple close friends and family who were adopted or have become adoptive parents. On becoming a member of the ACFB Board of Directors, Dan shares, “I’m excited to work with and support ACFB as they strive to grow and continuously improve the care and services that allow birth mothers, adoptive parents, and especially children to become part of healthy, loving families. ACFB’s services are as relevant and imperative as ever, and I enjoy helping them envision and achieve their mission: ‘Creating Families Through Adoption with Heart’.”
Julie McGue — Adult Adoptee
Julie is an adult adoptee and author of award-winning memoir, Twice a Daughter: A Search for Identity, Family, and Belonging. She is also a mother to four grown children and a grandmother to five grandsons. When she’s not at her computer, she’s out exploring with her Nikon or on the tennis courts.
Julie was adopted at three weeks old along with her twin sister. Because their adoption was closed, Julie and her sister knew nothing about their birth relatives, family background, medical history, or why they were placed for adoption. At 48, a breast biopsy prompted them to begin their search. She chronicles the ups and downs of their search and reunion in her memoir.
Julie McGue — Adult Adoptee
Julie is an adult adoptee and author of award-winning memoir, Twice a Daughter: A Search for Identity, Family, and Belonging. She is also a mother to four grown children and a grandmother to five grandsons. When she’s not at her computer, she’s out exploring with her Nikon or on the tennis courts.
Julie was adopted at three weeks old along with her twin sister. Because their adoption was closed, Julie and her sister knew nothing about their birth relatives, family background, medical history, or why they were placed for adoption. At 48, a breast biopsy prompted them to begin their search. She chronicles the ups and downs of their search and reunion in her memoir.
Julie’s experience with her own adoption inspired her involvement in adoption advocacy and work with ACFB. She writes, “The intricate process of connecting with family members highlighted for me the very real need for improved education and conversation between society and the members of the adoption community. There are still a lot of myths and fallacies surrounding adoption that need to be addressed. The battle over the “right to know” versus “the right to privacy” is one that society and lawmakers struggle to get right. I believe that every individual should have access to all information that concerns them. Through my involvement in the adoption community and through my writing, I strive to educate others about the intricacies of the adoption experience.”
November is National Adoption Month – a time to celebrate and acknowledge the impact of adoption. We’ll be sharing more from Julie and others who have been touched by adoption. Be sure to stay tuned to the ACFB blog!
