Meet the Team

“I’m proud to be the leader of this incredible team full of enthusiasm, experience, knowledge, and passion to help people become parents through surrogacy.”

As the Founder & Legal Director of Worldwide Surrogacy, Vicki leads the agency with a passion for law and the family formation process. She brings over 25 years of experience practicing assisted reproductive technology law and surrogacy law to help people make their dreams of family come true—just as hers have. She and her spouse, Michelle Loris, have two sons, Sal and Nick. 
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At Worldwide Surrogacy, Vicki is most involved in meeting new clients, giving them expert insight and one-on-one attention as they learn about and consider surrogacy and family building options. She also meets with existing clients regularly, assisting them both personally and professionally. It is very important that Intended Parents have a legal advisor as they navigate their surrogate journey, and Vicki is their legal advisor every step of the way.

Vicki has been practicing assisted reproductive technology, surrogacy, and family law for over 25 years, and serves as the Founder & Managing Partner of  Ferrara Law Group, PC.

One of Vicki’s greatest achievements is the landmark decision of Raftopol v. Ramey, a Supreme Court case that created a new way to establish legal parentage in Connecticut. The case determined that an Intended Parent was granted rights to a child via a valid gestational agreement regardless of genetic connection to the child to be born to the gestational surrogate. 

Vicki frequently lectures and presents as a panelist in international surrogacy conferences all over the world and was awarded the LAMBDA Award for Outstanding LGBTQ Community Service in 2016. She is a member of the Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys, the Family Law Institute of the National Gay and Lesbian Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the Connecticut Bar Association, and the Greater Bridgeport Bar Association.

“I consider my work an extremely rewarding opportunity. I work with amazing women doing amazing things, and the reward is watching families grow!” ‍

As Operating Officer, Beth Anne leads business operations at Worldwide with skill, precision, and enthusiasm, ensuring that the Worldwide team consistently provides compassionate, concierge-quality support to Intended Parents and surrogates.

For over a decade, Beth Anne has overseen the staff, finances, and escrow for Worldwide. She is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the company ensuring that all of the systems, resources, and people are in place to achieve the goals of the company.

Beth Anne has over 25 years of experience in business operations management. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from Mercy College. Beth Anne joined the Worldwide Surrogacy team in 2007.

“It’s very rewarding to see people who thought that having a child was hopeless obtain their dream of becoming parents through surrogacy. I’m proud to be a part of that.”

Kim’s comprehensive legal knowledge combined with her keen eye for detail and organizational prowess positions her as the perfect right-hand woman to Founder & Legal Director Victoria T. Ferrara.

When Kim first started working with Vicki, she was strictly on the legal side, but she now works at the intersection of both the legal and surrogacy fields. In addition to coordinating times for in-person consultations, phone/skype calls, and industry events, Kim works directly with clients on the ART Contract and Parentage Order processes, as well as second-parent adoptions.

Kim brings over 30 years of executive assistant and paralegal experience to the Worldwide Surrogacy team. She holds an Associate’s Degree from Post University, as well as a Legal Secretarial and Paralegal Certificate. She’s worked with Vicki for 20 years.

"We fulfill lifelong dreams at WSS.  Creating families is our number one goal, and it’s very rewarding to be a part of this special journey."

Jen is the first touch point for Intended Parents, providing a wealth of information about the surrogacy journey. She walks them through the matching process, the screening process, insurance matters, and any and all other specific details regarding the surrogacy journey. As Director of Intended Parent Services, Jen provides ongoing support and case management to Intended Parents while supervising the other case managers who assist our Intended Parents. 

Jen started working with Worldwide as a part-time social worker in 2010, providing support for couples with fertility issues and helping them navigate alternative reproductive options. In addition to her current roles and responsibilities as Director of Intended Parent services, Jen continues conducting social work assessments and interviews with potential surrogates and assists Intended Parents with the coordination of services. 

Jen has over 30 years of experience in social work. She holds a master’s in social work from Rutgers University, and previously served as a residential caseworker for at-risk teenagers at The Vitam Center and Director of the Women and Families Shelter. Jen also worked as Development Director of the Connecticut Association for Children with Learning Disabilities, a nonprofit organization dedicated to children with learning disabilities. She also served as a coordinator and instructor for a variety of parenting groups through the private sector. 

“To see all of the families created over the years, seeing how happy they are, and seeing that we aren’t just creating parents—we’re creating aunts, uncles, cousins, best friends—makes me very proud of being a part of the agency’s inception.”‍

Serena works with Worldwide’s gestational carriers every step of the way. As a two-time surrogate herself, Serena is uniquely qualified to provide reliable support and exceptional guidance for our surrogates and our Intended Parents.

Serena has been a part of the Worldwide team since its inception in 2006. Her personal experience and extensive knowledge give her the unique ability to support our surrogates and Intended Parents throughout their journeys. From the matching process to the delivery, Serena helps our surrogates and Intended Parents navigate their individual surrogacy journeys.

Serena has over 20 years of experience as both a gestational carrier and director of surrogate services. She previously served as a paralegal at the Law Office of Michael Farrell, and as an administrative manager at both The Benefactory and The Salvation Army.

“Every happy, loving couple deserves to be parents. I believe that we’re helping make the world a better place.”

Anna combines her passion for helping families grow with extensive experience in both education and legal support services in her role at Worldwide Surrogacy. She focuses on matching Intended Parents with the best possible surrogate, supporting them throughout the process to ensure they are well-informed and comfortable.

Anna leads Intended Parents from onboarding through to the match. She works closely with the Director of Intended Parents and Recruiter/Screening Teams to facilitate the best match possible all while helping her IPs navigate the surrogacy journey.

Anna, a Sacred Heart grad, previously worked over 25 years for corporate executives, general counsels, and litigation attorneys. She also worked as a one-on-one support provider for an autistic elementary school student, and is very involved in local-, national-, and international-level philanthropy helping marginalized children. She joined the Worldwide Surrogacy team in 2018.

“After completing three journeys as a surrogate with Worldwide, I am incredibly proud and excited to be part of such a remarkable team of women. It is my hope that I can help other gestational surrogates and Intended Parents have the same wonderful experience that I had, with Worldwide’s gentle guidance.”

Julie is a three-time surrogate with Worldwide Surrogacy resulting in boy/girl twins and 2 singleton girls. With this, she brings a unique perspective to her role in supporting surrogates and Intended Parents. Julie guides the match from the very beginning of their journey together — from the contract, testing, and cycling phases all the way to delivery. She builds close relationships with each surrogate and intended parent, combining her compassionate personality and her own personal experience with surrogacy to support them every step of the way.

In addition to years of experience as a surrogate with Worldwide, Julie has an education and background in the field of social work. She founded a Connecticut charity in 2012 that assisted over 200 local families in need every year during its time. Julie’s passion for helping others and fulfilling the dreams of hopeful parents make her a wonderful resource to the matches she supports. She and her husband live in Connecticut with their four children and 2 fur babies, Teddy and Willow.

“I have had the privilege of giving birth to a little girl for a beautiful set of intended parents.  The second they saw their baby I knew I had just witnessed love at first sight. Now, I have the pleasure of leading surrogates and their intended parents to the same beautiful new beginning. When you have witnessed the kind of love that comes from a surrogacy journey it makes you realize that all of the best love stories have one thing in common, you have to go against the odds to get there!”

Casey was actually a surrogate before coming onto the Worldwide Surrogacy team. After carrying her first little girl for a couple, she realized that she didn’t want to leave the surrogacy industry just yet, and now is with Worldwide to help guide surrogates and Intended Parents through the surrogacy process. 

Casey serves as the main point of contact between the surrogate and Intended Parents, from the initial match to beyond delivery. With her personal surrogacy experience, she has a unique understanding of their wants and needs throughout the process.
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Before coming onto the Worldwide team as a journey coordinator, Casey served as  a special agent with the state police, researched sentencing disparities in the criminal justice system, and even volunteered at state correctional facilities teaching re-entry into social skills. She loves going to Disney with her two sons and husband, and when she’s not traveling she likes outdoor activities from snowboarding to swimming.

“There are several things I’m proud of in my life, but nothing beats being a mom and being a surrogate. Because motherhood is so fulfilling, I became a surrogate. Because surrogacy is so fulfilling, I’m now happily working in a field where I can support others’ parenthood dreams.”‍

Cara is an experienced Gestational Carrier. She delivered a singleton boy in 2009, and delivered twin boys in 2016. She also navigated through the second trimester loss of a singleton boy with her IPs on a sibling journey, in 2021. She has invested over fourteen years in the surrogacy community, providing support and education online through blogs and support groups. 

Here at WSS, Cara is the main point of contact between surrogates and Intended Parents, from the initial match to beyond delivery.
 
Before joining our team, Cara was working as a Postpartum & Bereavement Doula and Infant Care Specialist, assisting new parents in the overnight care of their newborns. Her calm, easy going, compassionate nature set new parents at ease, while she affirmed their parenting choices. She remains active in the doula community, and also in the bereavement community through her volunteer work at the non-profit organization Angel Babies of MA. Cara homeschools her two teenagers in Massachusetts. 

“It is such an honor to work for a company that not only helps create families, but also provides ‘family level’ comfort and support all throughout the journey. Whether you work with Worldwide Surrogacy as an Intended Parent, or as a Gestational Carrier, you can be confident that when your journey is over, you will walk away with two families; the one you have created, and your Worldwide family.”

Lynden is responsible for supporting both the surrogate screening team and potential surrogates throughout the application process. She leads the surrogate screening team by procuring, reviewing, and coordinating all required documentation from new surrogate applicants. In addition to working directly with our surrogates in the initial stages of their journey, Lynden coordinates between the fertility clinics and our Intended Parent Services team. She’s responsible for getting potential surrogates screened and cleared to match with intended parents, but also walks alongside them throughout the process, keeping them excited and informed throughout the beginning of the journey.

Lynden is a mom of six who has immersed herself in the fertility and surrogacy community for over 10 years. She has a background in social work and family studies, and specializes in women’s hormonal health. She is a two-time gestational carrier and egg donor, and also has experience with infertility, pregnancy loss, and HOM (high order multiple) pregnancy. She takes great pride in being able to encourage and support people all throughout the ups and downs of their fertility and surrogacy journeys.

“What could be more rewarding than helping to make a family? The contact we have with the Intended Parents, the carriers, and definitely seeing the new babies is so fulfilling.”

Jackie combines compassion and competence in her work supporting our carriers throughout the surrogacy journey—and beyond.

Jackie provides one-on-one assistance to surrogates during the contract phase, as well as throughout the monitoring, testing, transfer, and pregnancy process. She also works directly with the finance department and escrow agency, reconciling and releasing payments to surrogates and managing payment to monitoring clinics.

Prior to her work at Worldwide Surrogacy, Jackie worked in corporate finance and public relations for over 40 years. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting & Business Management from Sacred Heart University. She joined the Worldwide Surrogacy team in 2013.

“One of the most amazing feelings is watching an Intended Parent see their baby for the first time. Being a gestational carrier allowed me to be a part of something so special. Now working with Worldwide Surrogacy, I get to be a part of something special daily and be a part of a team that helps families grow."

‍A three-time gestational surrogate herself, Andrea brings a personal, compassionate perspective to the surrogate screening process. She is responsible for supporting the surrogate screening team by procuring, reviewing, and coordinating all required documentation from new surrogate applicants. 

Andrea completed her first journey in 2016, delivering a healthy baby girl. In 2018, she completed her second journey, bringing a set of boy/girl twins into the world. She completed her third journey in 2020, delivering another healthy baby girl.

Andrea knew after completing her first surrogacy journey that she eventually wanted to pursue her interest in a surrogacy or fertility setting. With 12 years of experience as a nurse in a variety of medical settings and three successful surrogacy journeys completed, she brings a natural understanding of the surrogate screening process to the Worldwide Surrogacy team. Andrea and her husband, Brandon, have two daughters, Gracelyn and Stella.

“I’m incredibly proud to be working with such a wonderful group of smart, caring women at Worldwide Surrogacy Specialists.”

As an exemplary and skilled professional with over a decade of experience in the insurance and accounting industries, Maureen brings sharp attention to detail to every aspect of the financial process for both Intended Parents and surrogates.

As Escrow Manager, Maureen works closely with our Intended Parents to manage their escrow funds, ensuring accurate deposits and payments are made in a timely manner from the time a match is made, throughout the entire surrogacy journey until all payments have been made and the escrow account is closed.

Maureen holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance and a Master’s Degree in Accounting from Pace University. In addition to her work at Worldwide Surrogacy, she manages a wide range of community services throughout Fairfield. She joined the Worldwide Surrogacy team in 2015.

“This organization works with the highest ethical standards, the best practices, and exceptional personal care for each gestational surrogate and intended parent to ensure a meaningful and successful journey toward creating a family.”

A hands-on and meticulous therapist, Michelle ensures that each gestational carrier is carefully evaluated before approval. She conducts comprehensive psychological evaluations of potential gestational carriers to ensure they’re fully qualified and committed to become surrogates.

Michelle has been a licensed clinical psychologist in private practice for two decades, bringing extensive experience in the assessment of surrogacy-related cases and evaluation of potential surrogates to the Worldwide team.

Michelle currently serves as Associate Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences at Sacred Heart University. In addition to her role as a Licensed Clinical Psychologist, she is also a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.

“I’m proud to work with an agency that does such high-quality work, and the passion the staff shows for helping both carriers and Intended Parents.”

Sean’s extensive history of conducting a wide range of psychological evaluations—including surrogacy and oocyte donation evaluations—allows him to ensure that the most appropriate, effective recommendations are made

Sean is responsible for evaluating the psychological suitability of prospective carriers and assessing Intended Parents’ understanding of the process and the responsibilities of parenting. He works directly with Intended Parents regarding any concerns they may, using comprehensive, data-based reposts to provide in-depth understandings of all parties involved to ensure happy, healthy journeys.

Sean holds a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) degree from Fielding Graduate University. In addition to his work with Worldwide Surrogacy, he conducts surrogacy and oocyte donation evaluations for a number of other agencies. Sean also works at Bridgewater State Hospital in Bridgewater, Massachusetts.

“The opportunity to work with such a great team makes me proud to be a part of Worldwide Surrogacy. Vicki’s vision and leadership are inspiring.”

Deb represents our commitment to meticulous record-keeping and exceptional client services. With a keen eye for detail and remarkable time management skills, she manages all of Worldwide Surrogacy’s financial records with steadfast precision.

Deb upholds complete discretion and confidentiality for all of our clients. She’s responsible for all aspects of bookkeeping, including accounts payable, accounts receivable, bank reconciliations, and payroll.

Deb brings over 20 years of experience supporting law firms and their companies to the Worldwide Surrogacy team. She holds an Associate’s Degree with a concentration in Finance from Sacred Heart University, and is a member of the Fairfield Chamber of Commerce and the American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers.