Shawn Zierke
MBA, MPH-Policy, SHRM-CP

As the CEO/Executive Director for the National Association of State Pregnancy Wellness Coalitions, she is also the principal and consultant with Zierke Consulting Group LLC. Shawn has over two decades of non-profit leadership experience in the pro-life world. She has converted pregnancy counseling centers to pro-life pregnancy help medical clinics. Shawn leads her consulting group and has been contracted by for-profit and non-profit organizations for business, board governance, finance, human resources, and healthcare grant development. Most recently, she authored and was warded grants to fund the roll out of a registered RN Apprenticeship in Ambulatory Women’s Health for pro-life pregnancy help medical clinics in both Iowa and Florida. Shawn played a key role in casting the vision for the National Knights of Columbus initiative to place ultrasound machines in clinics across the nation following her speech at the 2008 State of Iowa Knights convention. Shawn has provided research for and written grant proposals for public health initiatives from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, County Health Rankings and Roadmaps, private foundations, State of Iowa, State of Florida and other local NGO grantors. She has been forming non-profit organizations, specifically state coalitions of pregnancy wellness organizations since mid-2022, offering lobbying training and guidance for these new leaders. Shawn was a lobbyist for the Older Iowans Legislature from 2010 to 2017, advocating for individuals with disabilities and end of life, as well as the lobbyist and Executive Director for the Iowa Counties Public Health Association from 2013 to 2016. Shawn is an alumnus from the University of Iowa with a Master’s in Public Health – Health Management and Policy and holds an MBA in Social Entrepreneurship. She and her husband live in the Gainesville FL area, they have been married over 31 years, have 5 natural adult children, two sons- in-law, a daughter-in-law, a 2- year-old grandson, and their own recently adopted infant son, Samuel, who underwent a heart transplant in June 2021.

Lisa Maloney
Vice President (CT-PCC)

Lisa A. Maloney, LMFT, the Executive Director of the Pregnancy Support Center Inc. in CT, has been with the Center for over 23 years. She became involved in the Pregnancy Support Center because of her own experience as an unwed mother at the age of 20. After serving two years as a board member, Lisa became a Center Director. In 2005 Lisa became the Executive Director. Lisa holds a Master’s degree in marriage and family therapy from Southern Conn State University and a license to practice therapy in CT. In 2015 Lisa was a founding member and now President of the CT Pregnancy Care Coalition. Lisa regularly speaks at women’s events on Forgiveness and Healing from past trauma. Lisa and her husband Patrick have been married for 32 years and have 2 sons, 2 daughter in laws, and 4 amazing grandchildren.

Jon Merwarth
Treasurer (PPWC)

Jon is a seasoned leader with a profound passion for guiding teams and empowering individuals to excel in their careers, paralleled by a deep commitment to his faith. His journey began in the sales and service sector at the age of 19, rapidly advancing through the Retail Automobile industry. From a Sales Representative, Jon ascended to the position of General Manager over a decade, showcasing his leadership and operational acumen.

Transitioning into the Pest Management Industry, he further honed his skills in managing regional operations, significantly improving branches grappling with inefficiencies and underperformance. His 13-year tenure in this field culminated in the successful establishment of Lehigh Valley Pest Control, a testament to his entrepreneurial spirit and industry expertise.

Beyond his professional endeavors, Jon is deeply rooted in his religious community, actively involved in religious studies and counseling, focusing on individual, marriage, and pre-marital guidance. His involvement stems from his longstanding association with a small church in Easton, which has been a cornerstone in his life.

Jon’s commitment to community service is exemplified by his decade-long dedication to a local pregnancy resource center. Ascending from volunteer to Executive Director to CEO of Bright Hope Pregnancy Support Centers, he has been instrumental in its remarkable growth. Under his leadership, the organization has expanded its staff, volunteer base, and revenue, now serving nearly 1000 clients annually and providing risk avoidance education to over 10,000 individuals each year. Bright Hope also has a resale store and maternity home in addition to their pregnancy help medical clinic operations in two locations, and a mobile unit.  

As a founding board member and Treasurer of the Pennsylvania Pregnancy Wellness Collaborative and the NASPWC board, Jon brings his extensive experience in leadership, operational management, and community service to the forefront, striving to make a significant impact in the realm of pregnancy wellness.

Laura Messick
SE Regional Director (TN-PCN)

Laura Messick is the Executive Director of Portico Pregnancy Care Center. Laura has been with the center since its beginning in 1986 as one of the founders, and has been involved as a volunteer and board member until becoming the Executive
Director in 2008. After a career at home raising her 3 children, she re-entered the workplace first as a manager of a local special events company, which became the springboard to Occasions Consulting, her home based business of wedding planning and coordinating. In 2008 she left the party rental business (while retaining Occasions Consulting) to become the Executive Director of The Pregnancy Support Center. Since that time, she has overseen a total rebranding and renaming of the
ministry in 2013, and the addition of mobile medical services in the community in 2015. She recently oversaw the purchase and complete remodel of a new state of the art 8000 square foot building, which Portico has occupied since October 2021.

Laura began to facilitate network meetings in the state of TN when she became the ED at Portico in 2008, and became the first President of the Tennessee Pregnancy Center Network, TNPCN, upon the completion of its 501c6 in 2022.

Laura has been married to her high school sweetheart Trent Messick for 45 years. They have 3 children Caralyn Ignatz (Todd) of Murfreesboro, TN, Meagan Dow (Jason) of Lascassas TN and Brandon Messick (Brooklyn) of Murfreesboro, TN, 10 grandchildren, Campbell (17) Mary Austin (15) Anderson (13) and Delaney (11) Ignatz: Jackson (16) Caleb (13) Olivia (11) Harper (9) Dow: and Mavyn(3) and Ada Jane (1) Messick.

Laura and Trent consider their family to be their biggest blessing and treasure, and the absolute light of their lives.

Threesa Sadler
SW Director (LAT)

Threesa Sadler has always had a passion for rescuing lives and rebuilding families. In 1999, she discovered her calling from the Lord to utilize her nursing expertise, life experiences as a post-abortive woman, and passion for aiding women and families in healing by serving at pregnancy centers. 

Threesa has served as Executive Director of Raffa in Greenville, Texas since 2012 and has grown the organization from a small 2 person team to an operational budget of over $740,000 and a team of over 60 staff and volunteers. She serves on multiple boards of directors in her community and is President of the Life Ambassadors of Texas, a statewide coalition of pregnancy centers and serves on the board of the National Association of Pregnancy Wellness Coalitions. She is frequently called upon to consult on board governance, organizational management, and speak on pro-life issues.

She married her high school sweetheart 26 years ago and they have been blessed with four of the most amazing kids you will ever meet. One of which came to their family through the gift of adoption. They live on 19 acres of trees and trails surrounded by corn fields in Caddo Mills, Texas and spend as much time on the back porch around the firepit as possible.