National Council For Adoption (NCFA) has announced the officers of the Board of Directors, who began their terms in May 2018. Wayne Winston Sharp Ph.D., of McLean, continues as Chairman of the Board of Directors for a second two-year term. Returning to their previously-held leadership positions are Heidi Brugel Cox J.D. as Vice Chairman, and Lisa A. Sinclair Esq. as Secretary, who will each serve a two-year term. Andrea T. Vavonese Esq., returns as Vice Chairman and Phillip Littleton as Treasurer for a one-year term. Jane Castanias joins the Executive Committee in a newly-created role of Strategic Plan Coordinator.
Adoption has touched all of their families, and each officer has an individual story of how adoption changed their lives. Chairman Wayne Winston Sharp Ph.D. was adopted at birth in Dallas, Texas, by Bob Henry and Mayana Yates Sharp, and raised on the family’s “Knickerbocker Ranch” near San Angelo, Texas. After receiving his Ph.D. at Michigan State University, Dr. Sharp had a distinguished 25-year career in the U.S. Foreign Service, was twice awarded the "President's Meritorious Foreign Service Award," and served two years in the White House as an Assistant Director of the President's Council on International Economic Policy. Upon his retirement in 1991, he became a Certified Financial Planner (CFP), and for 18 years directed a financial planning practice, retiring in 2009.
Dr. Sharp and his wife Linda devote their time, leadership, financial and planning skills as volunteers and philanthropists in the areas of adoption, food assistance, musical arts, and community service.
“As an adopted person, I can affirm that adoption has played a positive and transformative role in my life,” says Dr. Sharp. “My parents always said I was unique because I was chosen, and told me I even helped choose my sister, but as I was only 3 years old, maybe that was just a story, yet it always made us feel special and loved. Thus when I joined NCFA’s Board, I was excited to further the cause of adoption for other orphans through an organization that has such an ambitious mission. Throughout my tenure as Chairman, we’ve developed a strong strategic plan to propel NCFA into the coming years as we remove barriers to adoption for children everywhere in need of families.”
Dr. Sharp joined the NCFA Board in 2007, and has also served as Treasurer, Vice Chairman, and Chairman Elect. He was instrumental in establishing the Foster Care Task Force in 2013, and growing it into NCFA’s largest and most active Board-driven committee. On Nov. 8, 2017, Dr. Sharp chaired the NCFA Adoption Hall of Fame at the Business Roundtable in Washington, D.C.
Dr. Sharp is a 46-year resident of McLean. He served as President of the Potomac Hills Citizen Association, the Chain Bridge Forest Association, and the Tysons McLean Orchestra. In 2012, he received the Chairman’s Award by the Greater McLean Chamber of Commerce for “Outstanding Leadership of the McLean Orchestra and Support and Service to the McLean Community”.
For more information, visit www.AdoptionCouncil.org