Board and Staff

Stacy Davis has been inspired by her own lived experiences of being a Black woman and mother trying to navigate inequitable systems. She has dedicated her professional experiences to addressing inequities in infant nutrition and maternal child health. In the past 10 years, Stacy has assisted in the creation of programs and services aimed to address racial and health inequities, including instituting Pathway 2 lactation programs in Historically Black Colleges and Universities, which seek to positively impact the maternal and infant mortality and morbidity rates, improve maternal and child nutrition outcomes, and increase, strengthen, and diversity in birth and lactation supporters and providers. 

Stacy has received extensive training in racial equity, and cultural competence and humility through participating in cohorts such as Race Forward’s (formally known as Center for Social Inclusion) First Food Racial Equity Cohort and the Advancing Health Equity to Achieve Diversity and Inclusion AHEAD in WIC Health Equity Champion. 

She obtained her undergraduate degree from Davenport University and graduate degree in Public Health from Western Michigan University. Currently, Stacy is the Senior Manager of Health Equity and Community Partnerships for the National WIC Association. Stacy is a lifelong resident of Detroit, MI and mother to four sons. 

Jackee Haak of North Dakota is currently an RN Manager Lactation Services at Sanford Hospital. She is also the President-Elect for the North Dakota Breastfeeding Coalition.

The course of her career as a lactation consultant, mother, nurse and soldier and has not only honed her leadership skills, but has unearthed a passion for lactation care, policy, research and advocacy.

Lisa Brock of Wisconsin has grown professionally within her state chapter, the Wisconsin Association of Lactation Consultants (WALC) as an IBCLC and is currently a WALC member. She has been a Pediatric RN since 1988 and an IBCLC since 1998.

Her career has brought her the ability to work with diverse populations and deliver evidence based practices to the bedside of hospitalized critically ill neonates and their families, outpatient clinics as well as provide presentations to hospital staff, and continuing education conferences. She is passionate about the lactation profession and how increased scientific research has brought amplified knowledge and awareness regarding the mind blowing benefits of human milk.

Kim Welvaert has been a proud lactivist since she was 4 years old, “breastfeeding” her stuffed animals, even in public and not discreetly. Proudest achievement in life has been breastfeeding and providing milk for her sons, Brady and Seth. Kim decided to become a lactation specialist while in nursing school at the University of North Dakota. She has worked in a variety of settings, both inpatient (pediatrics, level 3 and 4 NICUs, PICU, mother baby care, lactation) and outpatient (pediatrics, lactation). Obtained several certifications along the way: IBCLC (1999), CLC, ANLC, Pediatric Certified RN, RNC-MNN, and CCRN. La Leche League Leader for 7 years. While living in Wisconsin, Kim served as Secretary of the Wisconsin Association of Lactation Consultants, chair of the Western Wisconsin Breastfeeding Coalition and co-chair for a hospital that achieved Baby-Friendly designation.

Currently, Kim works with lactating families in a level 3 NICU in central Minnesota. Breastfeeding/chestfeeding sick and/or premature infants present numerous challenges and barriers so having support is crucial. Kim has co-chaired 4 Global Big Latch On events (Minnesota and Wisconsin). She facilitates a NICU Milk & Cookies group and “pump-a-thon” events. Co-chairs her hospital’s lactation team and Central Minnesota Breastfeeding Coalition. She is a member of the Minnesota Breastfeeding Coalition’s Equity & Access committee and was recently selected to AWHONN’s Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion committee. A top 5 finalist for Minnesota March of Dimes Neonatal Nurse of the Year 3 times and awarded the Distinguished Nurse of the Year in 2019. Kim strongly advocates for the use of human milk for all children, helping break down barriers so lactating parents/families can achieve their feeding goals, and the IBCLC as THE gold standard for human lactation. Keep calm and latch on!

Bryna is a neurodivergent and queer IBCLC, adult educator, birth doula, mentor, and private practice owner. They have also sought additional training and continuing education in the areas of oral function and infant feeding, Rhythmic Movement Training (RMT), primitive reflexes and brain development in infants, cultural humility, trauma-informed care, harm-reduction approaches to clinical care, and other counseling strategies for client-facing care. Inclusivity and accessibility are central values that Bryna holds as they approach their work. They also recognize that their background as a white person in the United States places them in a position of privilege, and they work to be cognizant of how that lens impacts their work. When not working, Bryna can be found staring up at huge trees in awe or inhaling the salty air at the coast in the Pacific Northwest where they live with their children, partner, and dogs.

Rachel Kaufman (She/Her) is a Graduate of Pennsylvania State University with a degree in Human Development and Family Studies and Certifications in Financial Management, Effective Communication and Supervisory Training. Rachel’s passion for advocacy has greatly impacted both her professional and personal life. As a social service ambassador, she has worked with medically fragile individuals, leading programs to effectively assist them in navigating successful lives. She has spent the last 10 years working with older adults in the Home Health Care Industry as both Executive Director and Resource Manager. Rachel has learned throughout her career that in order to make the most impact, one must be willing to think holistically, continuously grow and focus on development, motivation and most importantly; lead with purpose!
Rachel is looking forward to utilizing her combined knowledge and experience to promote growth within the United States Lactation Consultant Association community. Rachel is eager for the opportunity to work with USLCA and collaborate with Lactation leaders on a National Level in order to continue the fight for Lactation Education, Awareness and Equality!
Personally, Rachel is a single mother, raising two fiercely independent daughters in Philadelphia Pennsylvania. She enjoys spending time with her family and is actively involved in her local community’s Foster & Adoptive support programs.

Shirley Monge is a Los Angeles-based marketing strategist of Costa Rican heritage who has more than 20 years of volunteering + working with non-profits.  Part researcher, part strategist, part creator, I specialize in presenting data fused with storytelling. I’m currently enrolled in childbirth educator and doula training as well as breastfeeding studies. Pura Vida!

Debbie Sandberg joined USLCA in January of 2022.  She earned her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from The University of Central Florida in her hometown of Orlando, Florida.  She grew up at Disney World as the child of a parent who worked in corporate Disney for 40 years.  Her interest in lactation stems from her personal positive experience working with lactation consultants during her own challenging, and eventually successful breastfeeding journey.  She is passionate about helping to grow the organization and serving USLCA members in any way she can.  She currently lives in San Antonio, Texas and enjoys traveling, exploring new restaurants and spending time with her husband, three-year-old son and pug.

Ashleigh Richmond joined USLCA in August of 2022 as the Professional Development Coordinator. She started working with new families as a postpartum doula for 8 years before finding her way into lactation as a La Leche League Leader and eventually as an IBCLC in 2021. She no longer works as a doula, but uses those skills every day with her lactation clients to ensure they are supported no matter how they choose to feed their children. She splits her time between USLCA and her private practice in SE Wisconsin. Ashleigh lives in Pleasant Prairie, WI with her husband, Aaron, and their two children.