Board of Directors & Staff

Jennifer Shaner

Executive Director of the Board of Directors

Jennifer Shaner is mother to two wonderful children who just happened to have been born in China. She and her husband Tony look forward to visiting China again to explore more of the amazing country, eat wonderful local cuisines, and teach their kids about their extraordinary heritage. Jen enjoys running, gardening and reading. As Executive Director of the Board of The Never Alone Foundation, she is committed to helping unite families who also have children who just happened to be born in other countries.

E-mail: Jen Shaner

Alex Constantinides

President of the Board of Directors
Dr. Alex Constantindes is a family practice doctor in Colorado Springs, CO. He also works as a Ringside Doctor for the Colorado State Boxing Commission and volunteers as the team physician for Doherty High School, Evangelical Christian Academy and the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.

“I am extremely honored that the Never alone Foundation is carrying on the legacy of my family. Laurel’s dedication to growing families through adoption was endless. My daughters were walking examples of the love that can grow from a family’s decision to adopt. Though their lives and love were ended far too soon, their legacy lives through the work of this foundation. I sincerely appreciate all those that give their support.”

Teal Peabody

Secretary of the Board of Directors
Teal Peabody is a mother of three beautiful children. Laurel was her social worker and rock to lean on during the adoption journey for her daughter, Zadie. Teal loves to hike, travel and play with her kids. Being a part of The Never Alone Foundation gives Teal a chance to pay back the love that she was given by the Constantindes family.

Gail Mayne

Treasurer of the Board of Directors
Gail Mayne is an oncology nurse who works for the Penrose Cancer Center in Colorado Springs. She and her husband Doug adopted their daughter Julia (Jiang Xiao Ke) from Guangxi Province, China in the fall of 2005 and have supported friends and neighbors in their adoption journeys along the way. As a close friend of Laurel’s she is deeply honored to serve on the inaugural board of directors of the Never Alone Foundation.

Gabriella Christians

Member, Board of Directors
Gabriella, a native New Yorker, lives with her daughter, Arianna, in Colorado Springs. She is an artist who loves nothing more than helping students of all ages to manifest their creativity, but mostly loves working with children and families. Gabriella teaches out of her home studio, and at Bemis School of Art, and has been known for organizing and participating in creative and artistic endeavors throughout her communities in Colorado and on the East Coast.

Gabriella and Arianna treasured the time they had with Hannah, Zoe, Lucy, and Laurel, and are committed to working on behalf of Laurel’s Message. The purpose of the Never Alone Foundation, to connect families, to bring more love into this world, has inspired Gabriella to serve on the board.

Tina Walrath

Member, Board of Directors
Tina Walrath lives in Laramie, WY and met Alex Constantinides while they were both working at Ivinson Memorial Hospital nearly 19 years ago. The two formed a quick and fun friendship and Alex even introduced Tina to her future husband, Josh! Tina met Laurel when she married Alex. Laurel and Tina became close as time moved forward, especially when Laurel & Alex went to China to adopt Hannah as Tina and Josh were waiting for their son, Tai, to come home from China as well. Laurel and Alex became a wonderful source of support and humor during this amazing time. Seven months after Hannah arrived “home”, Tai did too; Tai, only 5 days younger than Hannah. As their family grew to include Zoe, so to did Tina & Josh’s with the addition of Mindoe from the Anhui Province, which coincidently is the same province Hannah came from – yet different towns.

“To be a voice for the love Laurel showed for adoption, and all children, is an incredible honor and a responsibility I take seriously. The Never Alone Foundation is an awesome opportunity to help others manage the cost of international adoption, as well a helping families cope with adopting children with special needs. It is a much needed way to help families come together, and thrive. I couldn’t be more excited to bring forth more love and light which these four lovely ladies showered upon so many.”

Sue Nolan

Member, Board of Directors
Sue and her husband, Johnny have two children, Brooke and Blake. Sue is a stay at home mom. She and Brooke are in a mother-daughter charity league and volunteer weekly at the Humane Society. She and Blake love to read together. Johnny’s brother and his wife adopted their son Ben from China two years ago.

Sue is honored to be part of the Never Alone Foundation because Alex, Laurel and their beautiful girls were and still are such an inspiration, and what could be better than bringing parents and children together?

Nathan Archuleta

Member, Board of Directors
Nathan is a true Colorado native. Born and raised in Colorado Springs, he grew up on the Westside where he spent his school years playing music and sports. Nathan graduated from Manitou Springs High School in 2000 and moved to Boulder where he attained his Bachelors of Arts in Economics from the University of Colorado at Boulder.

Upon graduation, Nathan returned home to Colorado Springs and began a career in personal financial advice. During this time, Nathan met his future wife Nicole, and they were married in 2012. Nathan works with a local independent wealth management firm; he is passionate about educating clients while serving their financial needs and counseling individuals and families towards achieving long-term financial fitness.

Nathan currently holds the FINRA Series 6, 63, 7 and 66 securities registrations as an Investment Advisor Representative of Commonwealth Financial Network and is also licensed in insurance and Long Term Care. He also holds the Accredited Investment Fiduciary designation (AIF®) and is currently completing coursework required for the Certified Financial Planner designation (CFP®).

Nathan’s other passions include music and the outdoors. He loves to spend time playing the guitar and participating in local running and biking events with his wife Nicole. Together they are working on summiting the Colorado 14’ers and often spend a lot of time in the mountains hiking, camping and snowboarding. They have two dogs, Roxie the Boxer and Dakota the Husky who can’t wait for their next adventure.

Jeffrey A. Blaker, Esq.

Foundation Attorney
Jeff Blaker has been practicing law as a trial attorney for almost 30 years. Jeff and his wife Christine are the proud parents of Camille, adopted from Hunan Province, China, in November 2006. Jeff is deeply honored to provide legal counsel to The Never Alone Foundation. The happy family lives and loves in Boca Raton, Florida, with their dog Cassidy. When Jeff is not in the courtroom, he is goofing around with his family, who all enjoy cooking, traveling and “beaching it” together.

Tom O’Neal

Foundation Accountant
Tom O’Neal, CPA is an owner in the CPA firm BowersO’Neal, LLC. Tom has been in public accounting since 1990 and enjoys working with both for-profit and non-profit companies. Tom and his wife, Tressa, have two children, Tarryn and Teagan. Tom enjoys spending time with his family, golfing, and BMX racing. Tom is honored to provide accounting services to The Never Alone Foundation.