Board of Directors
Melanie Calhoun
Melanie has strong visions of promoting equality and compassion across work and health sectors, and works in consulting businesses in addressing diversity and inclusion with an expertise in studying the effects of racism and bias in organizations
Has worked as a marketing executive for over 15 years, currently a consultant with Yardstick Management.
Is committed to her community and through her leadership has made a significant impact on women and children’s issues.
Holds a MBA in management and has sought additional training in psychology, stigma and prejudice, and human resource development
Holds Atlanta Birth Center close to her heart as she welcomed her daughter there in 2018 and believes strongly that women deserve exceptional maternity care.
Stephanie Eason
Stephanie believes the first and the best gift you can give a child is an informed, empowered and nurtured mother. The journey to motherhood has been one of her most cherished experiences, so she is committed to ensuring every woman can create an experience born of confidence and strength.
Marketing and Communications Strategist with over 15 years of experience.
Passionate about issues centered around racial equity, women and children, criminal justice reform, and voter registration.
A native Spanish speaker and avid traveler, Stephanie is a graduate of The University of Texas at Austin.
After giving birth to her daughter Sage in 2017, Stephanie became an advocate of Atlanta Birth Center and the suite of support services available to new and expecting mothers.
T. Brandon Waddell
Brandon is a lawyer who has devoted his career to advising and advocating for people and businesses that impact the communities they serve. As the father of a child born at the birth center, Brandon is deeply aware of how vitally important Atlanta Birth Center is to our community and dedicated to ensuring it thrives and that the holistic, deeply personal, client-centric care it provides to women and families is available to anyone who needs it.
Brandon has served as an advocate and advisor to businesses and individuals in a wide variety of matters, including ones vindicating constitutional and voting rights, pursuing class actions to protect federal statutory rights, enforcing contractual obligations, and protecting artists’ intellectual property.
Before entering private practice, Brandon worked for the United States judiciary for nearly five years.
Brandon and his wife welcomed their son into the world at Atlanta Birth Center in 2019, supported by ABC’s brilliant midwives, staff, and their incredible doula. So Brandon’s passion for ABC is personal as well as principled.
Gina Critchet
Gina has spent her entire career working in higher education; supporting the operations, finances, and processes to enhance the future of clinical practice, nursing, education and research. Both of Gina’s children were delivered by a midwife. She is forever grateful for the support she received and believes every woman deserves and should have access to experience a supportive, competent, and healthy birthing experience.
Significant experience leading financial and strategic functions in healthcare and academic operations for more than 18 years.
Master’s degree in business administration from Wagner College and a bachelor’s degree in exercise and sports sciences from the University of Florida. Gina attained accreditation as a Certified Research Administrator (CRA) from the Research Administrators Certification Council in 2011.
Worked for Emory University since 2012.
After partnering with ABC and their midwives on several initiatives, Gina wanted to be more involved in supporting the Atlanta Birth Center and helping them expand their outreach to new and expecting mothers.
Andre Greenwood
A results-oriented, high performing executive, with extensive experience in the healthcare operations arena on both the payer and provider sides of the industry. A proven leader with a strong executive presence, capable of blending big-picture viewpoints with tactical considerations to inspire, build trust, and achieve substantial growth.
Substantial experience in comprehensive health and managed care contracting experience, includes, but is not limited to, Commercial, Medicaid, Behavior Health, Medicare, Exchange, Managed Care, and Workers Comp.
Extensive experience leading and directing high volume, complex hospital/facility contract negotiations, to include all the financial and language components.
Current development lead at Westside Future Fund, a nonprofit formed by Atlanta’s public, private and philanthropic partners who believe in the future of Atlanta’s Westside and are committed to helping Historic Westside neighborhoods revitalize and develop into a community Dr. Martin Luther King would be proud to call home.
Joyce Neal
Joyce is an advocate for women’s empowerment in all decisions involving the birthing and pregnancy process. Although her professional arena is the legal arena, she has always been active and involved in volunteering in and helping make holistic pregnancy options available to all women
A lawyer and judge by trade, Joyce received her Bachelor degrees from Louisiana State University and her Juris Doctorate from Emory University here in Atlanta.
She was thrust into advocacy after witnessing several friends and loved ones forced into having cesarean sections and epidurals. She shared their frustration with the medical hurdles surrounding pregnancy and delivery on their own terms.
She is motivated to help mothers and their babies have an increased chance at overall healthier and more successful and empowering pregnancies and births that are enhanced by the more holistic approach provided at a birth center.