Meet The Team
Kristi Gleason
Vice President of Global Programs - Global
Kristi Gleason manages Bethany’s portfolio of international programs, including family preservation, domestic and intercountry adoption and family-based care. She has worked in the arena of child welfare for 17 years in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and the Americas. Kristi’s areas of expertise include program development in international settings, community development, and child protection.
Alison Adema
Family Preservation Manager - Global
Alison Adema, Family Preservation Manager, has been with Bethany Global since February of 2000. Alison earned a BA in Asian Studies and has more than 17 years of experience spending most of her time working in the China, South Korea, and Hong Kong programs. Additional efforts over the years have been in the Philippines, Taiwan, South Africa, Ethiopia, Haiti, and Colombia; this allows for her ability to transfer knowledge, ideas, and solutions between programs. She is especially dedicated to permanency planning, community development, process efficiency, use of technologies for case management, and evaluation. Her belief that all children deserve and need a loving family has kept her dedicated to serving vulnerable children.
Catherine Lafler
International Services Manager - Global
Catherine Lafler has a BA in Social Policy and Administration from the University of Hull in England and a Masters in Social Work from Leicester University. She has worked in child welfare for 13 years. Her prior work experience includes work in Family Support and Child Protective Services in the UK, working with at risk families in their homes alongside foster care and adoption work. Catherine also worked as part of a ‘leaving care’ team supporting youth transitioning out of foster care, and worked as an advocate in a project assisting adults with learning disabilities whose children were at risk of neglect. Catherine joined Bethany Global in December 2011, and has been in her role as the International Services Manager since 2015. She oversees our adoption programs and provides clinical programmatic training across our social services programs.
Kimberley Batts
International Services Manager - Global
Kim has worked at Bethany Global since 2009, and in the area of adoption for 16 years. Prior to this, she worked with children and adults with special needs for 4 years. She received her bachelor's degree from Calvin College and her Master of Social Work from Western Michigan University. Kim oversees Bethany Global's intake process and birth family search and reunion program, as well as international adoption services in Michigan. Kim is also an adoptive mom.
Nicholas Threloff
International Business Director - Global
Nick Threloff has 10 years managing and overseeing financial operations and reporting and has worked with Bethany Global since 2014. Nick is responsible for the Bethany Global operational and sponsorship budgets, which include three country offices and nine additional country programs. Nick has an MBA and provides expertise on integrating in-country and home office business and financial reporting. He also has extensive experience with budget planning and administration.
Rose Oaklander, LLMSW
- Global
Rose earned her Master’s Degree in Clinical Social Work from the University of Michigan- School of Social Work in 2010. She has worked in a variety of settings and with diverse groups of children. Rose provides both therapy and assessment services for children, young adults, and families using an integrated approach tailored to the unique needs of each child/family. Although a native to Michigan, she has had the opportunity to work with youth in both Michigan and Tennessee. At a young age, Rose was introduced to Christ. This transformed her life and awakened a new found compassion, love, and care for others. Rose believes that change happens when one is given the support needed to draw on their strengths and realize their potential.
