Our Team

“Brave leaders are never silent around hard things.” — Brene Brown

Melissa Michaelis Thompson

Executive Director
“I am still fighting to make the world a better place and you can, too.” — Gabrielle Giffords

Ashlee G. Arcilla

Deputy Director
“There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest.” — Elie Wiesel

Jill Cohen

Director of Programs

Janet Miks

Chief Financial Officer
“Sometimes being a good ally is about opening the door for someone instead of insisting that your voice is the only one that matters.” – Mikki Kendall

Annette Mitchell

Legal Projects Coordinator
If you’re not outraged, you’re not paying attention.

Christy Van Gaasbeek

Training Director
Be kind!! Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about!!

Colleen Itzen

Attorney Payment Specialist
“The way to right wrongs is to turn the light of truth upon them.” – Ida B. Wells

Genevieve Manco

Case Strategy Director
“It’s the eye of the tiger. It’s the thrill of the fight.”

Jena Fleiner

Director of Administration
“Though no one can go back and make a brand-new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand-new ending.” —Carl Bard

Lana Trujillo

Administrative Specialist
Divided We Fail

Landry de Souza

Accountant
The world is waiting for you. Good luck. Travel safe. Go!

Malia Reddick

Director of Research
“Hope is a Discipline” — Mariame Kaba

Melanie Jordan

Policy Director
“No matter what happens in life, be good to people. Being good to people is a wonderful legacy to leave behind.”

Rachael Maestas

Attorney Payment Specialist
“You don’t change the world with the ideas in your mind, but with the conviction in your heart.” — Bryan Stevenson

Shawna Mackey Geiger

Director of Engagement
“Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.” — John Wooden

Zaven (“Z”) Saroyan

Appellate Director
“The opposite of poverty is not wealth. In too many places, the opposite of poverty is justice.” — Bryan Stevenson

Tracie Jones

Directory of Advocacy and Outreach
“To give anything less than your best, is to sacrifice the gift.” – Steve Prefontaine

Joe Stroh

Director of Parent Advocacy

Become a Contractor with ORPC

As a national leader in defending the right to parent, ORPC provides our contractors with the training, support and resources they need to be effective advocates in the fight to preserve families.

Become a Contractor

Intern with the ORPC

The ORPC also accepts applications from law student interns and social work interns. 

Intern with Us

“Every child deserves to have their parent represented by the best attorney in town.”

-Marty Guggenheim

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