As Executive Director, Julie Swanson is responsible for Emma’s Footprints’ day-to-day operations, fundraising, grant writing, and event planning. While she was appointed to the position in October 2018, she is not a stranger to the organization. Julie and her husband, Mike, were served by Emma’s Footprints when they lost their 4-month-old son Gus to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) in June 2016. Julie and Mike understand all too well the emotional, social, and financial challenges that families face after losing a child. Julie began actively volunteering and fundraising for Emma’s in honor of Gus soon after his death and is now honored to be serving in this new role. Julie and Mike are also the proud parents to two healthy boys; Walter(7) and Chuck(3).

Ashley Westgate is the Director of Operations for Emma’s. Perhaps more importantly, she is Emma’s Aunt and the #1 Cheerleader for Tracy, Emma’s Mom! As Director of Operations, Ashley builds organizational capacity to serve more families and serve them well by developing policies and procedures, establishing data collection processes, streamlining event planning primarily, and (most notably) supporting the amazing women that run the organization. She is also an SBD Doula and a volunteer with Erie City Moms. Ashley is called to serve others of all shapes and sizes by providing holistic care in many forms: a shared walk, a new piece of furniture, or a listening ear, just to name a few. Ashley is married to her partner in crime, Rich Ligo, lives in Erie, and has worked in community development since 2013. Besides her family and work, she loves organizing, cleaning, anything outside, board games, and prayer.

As Director of Engagement, Khristina oversees donor relations, internal and external communications and podcasting for Emma's Footprints. She became involved with the organization after the loss of her son, Jacob, at nearly 18 weeks gestation in July 2020. Passionate about supporting families through pregnancy and infant loss, she now channels her skills into furthering Emma’s mission. 

Khristina is happily married to her husband, Josh, and together they are the proud parents of two living children, Elena and Asher. 

Falon Gervais is the Director of Intake and Grief Support. She holds a master’s degree in psychology and an SBD doula certificate. She is a mother to Owen, Corbin and Vivian. Falon and her husband, Erik, lost their first son Owen in April 2017 shortly after birth due to shoulder dystocia during delivery. Owen continues to make Falon brave daily by forcing her out of her comfort zone.

Falon became connected to Emma’s Footprints for financial support but found so much more when she started attending support group. Falon began leading support groups for Emma’s in 2019 and continues to watch families grow in their grief through the support and connection they receive through Emma’s Footprints.

Today, Falon supports new families reaching out to Emma’s by assisting with funeral expenses and providing essential grief resources. She is dedicated to ensuring that no family ever feels alone in their journey after loss.

Meghan’s grief story started when she and her husband lost their first pregnancy on October 19, 2014. After almost 2 years and lots of emotional healing she was finally open to talking through her grief with Tracy and other moms.

When Meghan’s rainbow baby Jackson turned a year old she started a course to become a certified birth and bereavement doula. She knew in her heart that no mom should have to walk this road of grief alone.

Tracy Dailey is Co-Founder and Board President of Emma’s Footprints. Tracy and her husband, Bryan, lost Emma Kathryn Dailey on May 30, 2007; six years later she felt a tugging on her heart to “climb into the trenches” with families suffering pregnancy and infant loss. In 2014, Emma’s Footprints was born.

They have three handsome boys that also keep them busy, own two businesses, are very active in their church and love being able to bless others.

Kristen Banocy is Co-founder of Emma’s Footprints. Kristen founded Emma’s with Tracy Dailey in 2014. She has served the organization in every role, including Board Chair, Executive Director and now as a board member at large. In 2018, Kristen and her husband, Chris,  moved to Cincinnati, OH.

When she isn’t serving Emma’s, Kristen is taking care of her four children. She’s also on the board for the Fort Thomas Education Foundation, and she loves traveling to new and exciting places around the world with her family. 

Kristen is grateful to be part of an organization that not only provides support to families financially but emotionally, with an emphasis on personal healing for every member of the family.

Dr. James Hodge is the Director of Susan Hirt Hagen CORE, located on the campus of Penn State Behrend. James received his Ph.D. in Social Psychology from the University of Vermont in Fall 2018, and he specializes in research design and statistics. James is an avid fan and supporter of Penn State Football, enjoys spending time outdoors, and serves on the worship team at Elevate Church. James and his wife ,Brianne, are expecting their first child in July 2020.

Joe Mineo is the Treasurer of Emma’s Footprints. Joe and his wife, Joyce, lost Michael James in 1986 and granddaughter, Josephine Noel, in 2016. As a bereaved parent, he has a heartfelt passion for the families that Emma’s Footprints serve.

Riki Hay's journey with pregnancy loss started with the life-limiting diagnosis and eventual loss of her daughter Eleanor Jean Hay in May of 2021. Riki did not immediately get connected with Emma's Footprints and walked that dark path alone for a short while. After receiving services from Emma's her life and grief journey were forever changed for the better.

Riki began volunteering with Emma's in the summer of 2021 and joined the Board of Directors in January of 2022 as the Board Secretary. She and her husband enjoy being outdoors; hiking, backpacking, gardening, kayaking, and cross-country skiing.

Pamela Presler is a Relationship, ADR (Mediator, Family and Civil Collaborative Practice Professional and Coach) and Grief Specialist located in Erie, Pennsylvania. Pamela has dedicated 20 years in her field developing an effective and successful approach to guiding the growth of healthy systems and building leadership confidence in families and businesses.

Pamela credits her educational foundation in Clinical Social Work from The Ohio State University, along with early professional development in various mental health agencies in Central Ohio as the "bootcamp" that prepared her shift from traditional therapy to Mediation, Collaborative Practice and Coaching. Using this necessary foundational footprint, Pamela has supported countless families and businesses as a neutral Communication and Relationship Specialist to create lasting changes and outcomes. Her work has evolved by drawing upon these to skills develop an effective preventative approach for supporting intact families and businesses to bolster those systems in an effort to promote generational and lasting health. She also serves as a Grief Specialist and is passionate about developing new services and innovative ways to promote healthy grieving.

Pamela presents and trains professionals, both nationally and internationally, and enjoys developing and facilitating curriculuum to meet the specific needs of organizations. She also consults on cases across the country to provide professional feedback, guidance and education. Pamela continues to support those in need of individual coaching services who challenge themselves to grow personally and professionally, and is passionate about empowering professionals to become emotionally aware and strong leader in the families and communities.

Peggy Boyd graduated from nursing school in 1983 with a BSN from Villa Maria College. She received her MSN from Gannon University in 1994 with a focus in Perinatal Nursing. Peg received her CNM certificate from Frontier University for Midwifery and Family Nursing in 2000 and has been practicing midwifery in Erie, Pennsylvania since her graduation. Most recently Peg received her DNP from Gannon University. Peg is the mother of two boys. Her hobbies include gardening, furniture refinishing, and reading when she is not attending births. She joined OB/GYN Associates of Erie in January 2015.

Parris J. Baker, PhD., MSSA, Associate Professor & Director, Social Work, Mortuary Science, and Gerontology Programs, Department of Criminal Justice & Social Work, Gannon University. He received his undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees in social work from Gannon University, Case Western Reserve University, Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences, and the University of Pittsburgh, School of Social Work respectively.

In 2011, Dr. Baker became the first African American tenured professor at Gannon University. In 2021-22, Dr. Baker became a member of the Philadelphia Regional Chapter, North American Association of Christian Social Workers, a Jefferson Education Society Scholar-In-Residence, and a Harry T. Burleigh & Beyond Fellow.

An ordained elder, Dr. Baker is the senior pastor of Believer’s International Worship Center, Inc., and founder and director of Abba Fathers Program. Presently, Baker is a consultant with Strategic Consulting Partners charged with conducting a diversity, equity, and inclusion assessment of City of Erie administration, police and safety, public works, City Council, and City of Erie Stakeholders.

Dr. Baker is married and has five children, Marquita, Jonathan, Brooks, Bremont and Samantha.

Bryan Griffin has been working within the rare disease community for over a decade by servicing patients as well as assisting the hospitals who treat them. After the loss of his son Brooks to SIDS in May of 2021, he decided to combine his acquired knowledge in healthcare as well as some hard learned life lessons to become an advocate for better mental health access within the loss community. After starting ‘Brooks Mission,’ his wife Leigh met the team at Emma’s which provided an established outlet to advance shared goals.

Bryan and Leigh honor ‘Brooksy’ by helping others in his name. The Griffin family, which includes there 5 year old son Landon, enjoy as many adventures together as possible ensuring they never take a moment for granted. If you look for them, you can most frequently find them at the beach, on the boat, poolside or on a plane traveling somewhere to enjoy those activities.

Courtney Frazier became familiar with Emmas Footprints shortly after losing her first son, Easton, when he was just 5 months old in 2020. Although she lives in Florida, Courtney was able to find and connect with the Emmas community via social media. They have helped guide her in her grief journey from over a thousand miles away.

Courtney hosted her first virtual memorial walk in Melbourne in honor of Easton in 2020 to raise money for Emma’s and their mission. The event has grown each year and will continue to serve loss families in Florida as it has become a permanent location for the Emma’s Footprints Annual Memorial Walk. Courtney also works as a Nurse Practitioner and enjoys spending time with her husband and their two rainbow babies, Hudson and Hadley.

Carol, Joanna Rose’s mama, knows the loss community firsthand. After losing Baby Bean at 6 weeks and Joanna Rose at 26 weeks in 2014, she connected with Emma’s Footprints through a care package. Since moving back to PA in 2017, Carol has volunteered tirelessly—helping with memorial walks, fundraising, digital marketing, and as a Care Team Mom.

Carol, her husband Bill, and their children, Leo and Calleigh, honor Baby Bean and Joanna by supporting Emma’s mission to ensure no family walks alone. We’re so grateful for Carol’s passion, dedication, and heart!