Meet the Legacy Adoptions Staff
Jordan Ward, LMSW, LCPAA
Case Manager Supervisor
Jordan graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in psychology. She then spent time in Honduras working as a teacher at a home for vulnerable children. She went on to earn her master’s in social work from the University of Texas at Austin and holds her LMSW certification. Jordan has experience working with birth parents and adoptive parents as well as with refugee youth in foster care.
Jordan’s own family has grown beautifully through adoption, and she feels honored to have the opportunity to support her clients as they navigate making an adoption plan or growing their family through adoption. Jordan and her husband Alex enjoy making homemade pizza, gardening, going two-stepping and enjoying time with their sons.
Danielle Fork, LMSW
Case Manager Supervisor
Danielle graduated from The University of Arizona with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. She went on to receive a Master of Social Work from The University of Texas at Arlington.
Danielle is a passionate advocate for empowering individuals to embrace their stories and accept both the triumphs and trials of life. With a heart full of empathy, she’s the friend who listens without judgment, the shoulder to lean on during tough times and the light that brightens the darkest of days.
After graduating high school, Danielle dedicated herself to working with women and children across the globe, including in Africa, Costa Rica and Brazil, before returning to Dallas. From helping youth navigate homelessness, mental health struggles and substance use challenges, to assisting formerly incarcerated adults on their path to reenter society, Danielle has made it her mission to stand by those who are often overlooked right here in Texas.
At Legacy Adoption Services, Danielle is deeply honored to walk alongside birth parents facing unplanned pregnancies, offering them a safe space to reflect, evaluate and ultimately make the choices that are right for both them and their children. For her, there is nothing more rewarding than helping others realize their strength and supporting them as they make life-changing decisions.
When she isn’t working, you can find Danielle traveling, spending time with family or sharing her gift of photography. She loves high school football on Friday nights and college football on Saturday mornings. She also enjoys hiking, getting her nails done, reading books and playing basketball. Danielle is ready to walk with you through your adoption journey.
Aimee Vengen, MSW
Agency Coordinator
Aimee graduated from the University of North Texas with a bachelor’s degree in social work. She went on to get her master’s degree in social work from the University of Texas at Arlington. She has a background in international adoptions and experience counseling and supporting birth parents throughout pregnancy. From a young age, Aimee has had an interest in adoption. Aimee enjoys facilitating the growth of families and working with all members of the adoption triad. She thrives in her role supporting adoptive families and the rest of the Legacy team.
In her personal time, Aimee loves watching and playing sports, running, and spending time with family and friends. Together with her husband, Jacob, she runs several Spartan races each year. Aimee is excited to support both expectant parents and adoptive families from their initial call through their adoptive placement, and the many touches in between!
Marcela Carrillo, BS, MBA
Options Counselor
Marcela “Marci” graduated from the University of Texas at El Paso with a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice before receiving her Master of Business Administration in human resources at the University of Phoenix-Santa Teresa Campus. Marcela has a heart for people who are struggling. It is this compassion and empathy for those in need that propelled her to be a juvenile probation officer for 25 years. After retiring from this role, Marcela knew she still wanted to help people, especially those who could not help themselves. This led her to write home studies for kinships and foster to adopt. Believing that every child deserves to be loved, know their worth and have stability led her to want to do more.
She became a paraprofessional and began working in the educational field. While standing in her classroom one day, Marcela wondered if there was more she could be doing to help others. This is when God answered her prayer and opened the door for her to walk alongside birth mothers, babies and adoptive families. Knowing that while some may be experiencing an unexpected pregnancy, it was not unexpected for God. Marcela is compassionate about wanting to help women who choose life, be healed and walk in the purpose God has for them.
When Marcela is not working, you can find her riding her bike, taking road trips, sitting in the mountains, cross-training or watching a good movie. Marcela is also a birth mother and ready to provide you with the emotional support you need to be healthy, feel worthy and be loved.
Melinda Duffy, BS
Options Counselor
Melinda is a native Texas girl, born and raised in West Texas. She is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran. After meeting her husband, who is a U.S. Air Force veteran, Melinda attended the University of North Texas College of Education and graduated in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in child development and family studies with a concentration in family and communities.
She has an extensive background working in public mental health and adolescent behavioral health. Melinda also serves as a volunteer advocate at Hope Women’s Center and has been with Legacy as an options counselor for several years.
Melinda and her husband have lived in McKinney, Texas, for 17 years and have raised their children, Jenessa, Joseph and Mila here. They have a grandson, Rowan, and a silver lab that they rescued, Lucky. Their home is loud and busy!
Melinda loves working out and stays active with her youngest in all her soccer endeavors. She is “that” soccer mom. She has an obsession with leopard/cheetah print, and you will never see her without it somewhere on her person. Melinda loves Jesus with her whole heart and is honored to give Him her yes every day, whether it is walking side by side with an expectant/birth mom or pouring into adoptive families on their adoption journey.
Samantha Hoffma, MSW
Options Counselor
Samantha graduated from The University of North Texas with a degree in social work and then received her Master of Social Work degree from the University of Texas at Arlington. Through the years, Samantha’s social work experience has consisted of working in crisis response, victim advocacy, youth prevention/intervention services and foster care.
She has lived in Texas most of her life, but after returning from a mission trip in Africa, Samantha became aware there was more the Lord wanted to do in and through her. At that time, she knew she was being called to attend ministry school in Redding, California. After three years of ministry/pastoral care and leadership training, Samantha was both excited and honored to return to Houston and join the team at Legacy Adoption Services.
Samantha is deeply passionate about bringing the good news of hope, healing, redemption, freedom and adoption found in Jesus to the lost and hurting. She loves helping individuals see themselves as God sees them. Samantha considers it a gift to walk alongside those who are struggling and help them navigate through difficulties in life. It brings her great joy to watch transformation taking place and to see others overcome what once seemed to be completely impossible; all because someone showed up, was present, patient and believed in them because this just happens to be her story too.
Lakeya Toombs, BS
Options Counselor
Lakeya graduated from Langston University with a bachelor’s degree in child development and family consumer sciences with a minor in public health. Moving from Oklahoma to Texas, she spent time in education teaching pre-K for two years. She then transitioned to working with a nonprofit organization serving families throughout Tarrant County and providing education to promote birth outcomes for six years. Lakeya then moved to foster care and adoption as a case manager while pursuing her master’s degree in social work.
Lakeya expanded her knowledge in child and protective services by working as a permanency specialist servicing children in care for two years. Her professional experiences in social work have shown her to be a strong advocate for mental health and children and families in the community. Lakeya enjoys all aspects of case management and loves assisting families with Legacy Adoption Services. Her plans are to continue her master’s degree in social work and become licensed.
In her free time, Lakeya enjoys health and fitness and competing in the bodybuilding community as she is pursuing becoming a professional bodybuilder. She enjoys spending time with her husband, family and friends. Lakeya also enjoys traveling across the globe.
Karen Capson, BS
Community Partnership Manager
Karen graduated from the University of South Florida with an education degree, concentrating on specific learning disabilities. Her years spent as a special education teacher were well-suited for her innate sense of compassion, patience and desire to adapt curriculum to meet the individual needs of her students and help them rise to their greatest potential. Her efforts awarded her “Teacher of the Year”, though her greatest distinction was meeting (and later marrying) the Canadian-born, professional hockey player who made a public appearance at the school where she taught.
Eight years into their marriage, Karen and her husband excitedly adopted their beautiful daughter, fulfilling their long-sought desire to create a family. Their non-traditional journey to parenthood led to a harmonious and fulfilling relationship with their daughter’s biological mother. The gratitude Karen felt for such a selfless gift, along with a hope of providing her daughter with ongoing open communication throughout her upbringing, prompted Karen to author a children’s book about their family’s adoption story. The road paved by both birth and adoptive parents granted their daughter a childhood experience that was strengthened with purpose in her creation, along with a strong sense of identity and self-worth. Karen’s daughter, now in college, shares many traits with her mother, including a love of writing and adoption advocacy.
Now that her daughter has been successfully launched, Karen is enjoying her empty-nesting phase by traveling with her husband, baking, decorating, crafting and playing mahjong with friends and family. She is honored to work with the Legacy Adoption Services family, seeing her personal life experience and passion for adoption come full circle.
Alexis Thornbrough
Birth Mother Liaison / Community Outreach Specialist
Born and raised in Ohio, Alexis grew up in a family deeply rooted in service—her parents worked in social work and adoption counseling, and her father is a therapist. That early exposure to the world of foster care and adoption shaped her heart for helping others, especially women navigating difficult decisions during pregnancy.
A former Division I track and field athlete, she studied sociology and criminology in college and later found her calling working as a Senior Adoption Specialist at a pregnancy crisis center. She has also served as an options counselor and crisis intervention specialist, gaining extensive experience walking alongside women in their most vulnerable moments.
As a birth mother herself, Alexis brings a uniquely compassionate perspective to her work. Her passion is to support those courageously choosing adoption—offering not only professional guidance but also deeply personal understanding.
She and her husband are raising a beautifully blended family and spend most of their free time at baseball and softball fields or taking spontaneous weekend getaways. Paddle boarding with her daughter is her favorite way to recharge.
An active believer in Christ, Alexis lives to serve others and delights in watching God’s plans unfold—often in the smallest details. She considers it a true honor to walk alongside women and families on their adoption journeys.
Maxi Schultz, BS
Options Counselor
Maxi Schultz joined the Legacy Adoption team after eight years working in Children’s Advocacy Centers and CASA programs. Maxi graduated from Louisiana State University with a Bachelor’s in Child and Family Studies.
Maxi has served as a Volunteer Coordinator, and advocated for youth in the Texas Foster care system. Interacting with families as they navigate challenges is something she has a heart for. She has also served as a Forensic Interviewer for children who are victims of abuse.
She is a big sister to two brothers who were both adopted and made the family unit whole. She has long been passionate about serving children and families. It is her goal to provide a safe and positive space for people that she encounters through her work. Case management and regular interaction with clients is important to her in creating meaningful connections.
When Maxi is not working she enjoys hanging out with her two dogs Beau and Nola, practicing yoga, reading, and listening to music.
Maxi is elated to join the Legacy Team and be a support to families through the adoption process!
Lauren Imler, LMSW
Administrative Coordinator / Options Counselor
Lauren graduated from the University of North Texas with a bachelor’s degree in social work and a minor in human development and family sciences. She also earned a certification in trauma-informed care while completing her undergraduate degree. Lauren went on to receive her master’s degree in social work from the University of Texas at Arlington, where she specialized in helping individuals with mental health and substance misuse concerns.
As someone who was adopted herself, Lauren brings a deeply personal connection to her work in the adoption field. Her lived experience gives her a unique perspective and a strong sense of empathy for individuals completing the adoption process. She is passionate about supporting others through the adoption journey, helping individuals and families navigate each step with compassion, understanding, and respect. Lauren thrives in her role, walking alongside expectant parents and adoptive families with care and dedication. She is committed to creating safe, supportive spaces where lasting connections can grow.
In her free time, Lauren enjoys crocheting, painting, drawing, and all things creative. She also loves going for runs and spending quality time with her family and friends. Lauren is honored to be part of each family’s story—from their first call through placement and every meaningful moment in between.
