Meet the Team

“I’m proud to be the leader of this incredible team full of enthusiasm, experience, knowledge, and passion to help people become parents through surrogacy.”

As the Founder & Legal Director of Worldwide Surrogacy, Vicki leads the agency with a passion for law and the family formation process. She brings over 25 years of experience practicing assisted reproductive technology law and surrogacy law to help people make their dreams of family come true—just as hers have. She and her spouse, Michelle Loris, have two sons, Sal and Nick. 

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At Worldwide Surrogacy, Vicki is most involved in meeting new clients, giving them expert insight and one-on-one attention as they learn about and consider surrogacy and family building options. She also meets with existing clients regularly, assisting them both personally and professionally. It is very important that Intended Parents have a legal advisor as they navigate their surrogate journey, and Vicki is their legal advisor every step of the way.

Vicki has been practicing assisted reproductive technology, surrogacy, and family law for over 25 years, and serves as the Founder & Managing Partner of  Ferrara Law Group, PC.

One of Vicki’s greatest achievements is the landmark decision of Raftopol v. Ramey, a Supreme Court case that created a new way to establish legal parentage in Connecticut. The case determined that an Intended Parent was granted rights to a child via a valid gestational agreement regardless of genetic connection to the child to be born to the gestational surrogate. 

Vicki frequently lectures and presents as a panelist in international surrogacy conferences all over the world and was awarded the LAMBDA Award for Outstanding LGBTQ Community Service in 2016. She is a member of the Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys, the Family Law Institute of the National Gay and Lesbian Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the Connecticut Bar Association, and the Greater Bridgeport Bar Association.

“I consider my work an extremely rewarding opportunity. I work with amazing women doing amazing things, and the reward is watching families grow!” ‍

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As Chief Operating Officer, Beth Anne leads business operations at Worldwide with skill, precision, and enthusiasm, ensuring that the Worldwide team consistently provides compassionate, concierge-quality support to Intended Parents and surrogates.

For over a decade, Beth Anne has overseen the staff, finances, and escrow for Worldwide. She is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the company ensuring that all of the systems, resources, and people are in place to achieve the goals of the company.

Beth Anne has over 25 years of experience in business operations management. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from Mercy College. Beth Anne joined the Worldwide Surrogacy team in 2007.

“It’s very rewarding to see people who thought that having a child was hopeless obtain their dream of becoming parents through surrogacy. I’m proud to be a part of that.”

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Kim’s comprehensive legal knowledge combined with her keen eye for detail and organizational prowess positions her as the perfect right-hand woman to Founder & Legal Director Victoria T. Ferrara.

When Kim first started working with Vicki, she was strictly on the legal side, but she now works at the intersection of both the legal and surrogacy fields. In addition to coordinating times for in-person consultations, phone/skype calls, and industry events, Kim works directly with clients on the ART Contract and Parentage Order processes, as well as second-parent adoptions.

Kim brings over 30 years of executive assistant and paralegal experience to the Worldwide Surrogacy team. She holds an Associate’s Degree from Post University, as well as a Legal Secretarial and Paralegal Certificate. She’s worked with Vicki for 20 years.

“The work we do at WSS is like no other. Creating families is our number one goal and it’s very special to see and hear the joy from parents.”‍

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Jen is the first touch point for Intended Parents, providing a wealth of information about the surrogacy journey. She walks them through the matching process, the screening process, insurance matters, and any and all other specific details regarding the surrogacy journey. As Director of Case Management, Jen provides ongoing support and case management to Intended Parents while supervising the other case managers who assist our Intended Parents. 

Jen started working with Worldwide as a part-time social worker, providing support for couples with fertility issues and helping them navigate alternative reproductive options. She began her current position as Director of Case Management 8 years ago and in addition to her current roles and responsibilities, Jen continues conducting social work assessments and interviews with potential surrogates and assists Intended Parents with the coordination of services. 

Jen has over 30 years of experience in social work. She holds a Master’s in Social Work from Rutgers University, and previously served as a Residential Caseworker for at-risk teenagers at The Vitam Center and Director of the Women and Families Shelter. Jen also worked as Development Director of the Connecticut Association for Children with Learning Disabilities, a non-profit organization dedicated to children with learning disabilities. She also served as a coordinator and instructor for a variety of parenting groups through the private sector. Jen joined the Worldwide Surrogacy team in 2010.

“To see all of the families created over the years, seeing how happy they are, and seeing that we aren’t just creating parents—we’re creating aunts, uncles, cousins, best friends—makes me very proud of being a part of the agency’s inception.”

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Serena works with Worldwide’s gestational carriers every step of the way. As a two-time surrogate herself, Serena is uniquely qualified to provide reliable support and exceptional guidance for our surrogates.

Serena has been a part of the Worldwide team since its inception in 2006. She focuses on the elements of surrogacy she’s most passionate about: the gestational carriers. Her personal experience and extensive knowledge give her the unique ability to support our surrogates throughout their journeys. From the matching process to the delivery, Serena helps our surrogates navigate their individual surrogacy journeys.

Serena has over 20 years of experience as both a gestational carrier and director of surrogate services. She previously served as a Paralegal at the Law Office of Michael Farrell, and as an Administrative Manager at both The Benefactory and The Salvation Army.

“Every happy, loving couple deserves to be parents. I believe that we’re helping make the world a better place.”

Anna combines her passion for helping families grow with extensive experience in both education and legal support services in her role at Worldwide Surrogacy. She assists in case management for Intended Parents, supporting them throughout the surrogacy process to ensure they’re both well-informed and comfortable. She also works directly with the Director of Case Management to successfully match Intended Parents and surrogates.

Anna supports the Case Management team, checking in with Intended Parents and assisting the Director of Case Management with the matching process. She provides direction to Intended Parents to help them navigate the surrogacy journey.

Anna previously served as a paralegal for a number of corporate executives and litigation attorneys. As a stay-at-home mom for a short period of time, she ran a preschool program at a gymnastics school where developed a companion circuit training program for parents so they could exercise while their children were enrolled. She also worked as a one-on-one support provider for an autistic elementary school student. She joined the Worldwide Surrogacy team in 2018.

“After completing three journeys as a surrogate with Worldwide, I am incredibly proud and excited to be part of such a remarkable team of women. It is my hope that I can help other gestational surrogates and Intended Parents have the same wonderful experience that I had, with Worldwide’s gentle guidance.”

Julie is a three-time surrogate withWorldwide Surrogacy resulting in boy/girl twins and 2 singleton girls. She brings a unique perspective and compassion to her role in supporting surrogates and Intended Parents. Julie guides surrogates on every step of their journeys, from the contract, testing, and cycling phases all the way through their pregnancies.

Julie maintains direct, personal contact with each surrogate, serving as their main point-of-contact with the agency from their initial match to delivery day and beyond. She builds close connections with each surrogate, combining her compassionate personality and her own personal experience with surrogacy to support them every step of the way.

In addition to years of experience as a surrogate with Worldwide, Julie has an education and background in the field of Social Work. She founded a Connecticut charity in 2012 that assisted over200 local families in need every year during its time. Julie’s passion for helping others and fulfilling the dreams of hopeful parents make her a wonderful resource to the women she supports. She and her husband live in Connecticut with their four children.

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It is such an honor to work for a company that not only helps create families, but also provides ‘family level’ comfort and support all throughout the journey. Whether you work with Worldwide Surrogacy as an Intended Parent, or as a Gestational Carrier, you can be confident that when your journey is over, you will walk away with two families; the one you have created, and your Worldwide family.

Lynden is a mom of 6 who has been immersed in the fertility and surrogacy community for over 10 years. She has a background in Social Work and Family Studies, and specializes in women’s hormonal health. She is a two time gestational carrier and egg donor, and also has experience with infertility, pregnancy loss, and HOM (high order multiple) pregnancy. She takes great pride in being able to help encourage and support people all throughout the ups and downs of their fertility and surrogacy journeys.

“What could be more rewarding than helping to make a family? The contact we have with the Intended Parents, the carriers, and definitely seeing the new babies is so fulfilling.”

Jackie combines compassion and competence in her work supporting our carriers throughout the surrogacy journey—and beyond.

Jackie provides one-on-one assistance to surrogates during the contract phase, as well as throughout the monitoring, testing, transfer, and pregnancy process. She also works directly with the finance department and escrow agency, reconciling and releasing payments to surrogates and managing payment to monitoring clinics.

Prior to her work at Worldwide Surrogacy, Jackie worked in corporate finance and public relations for over 40 years. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting & Business Management from Sacred Heart University. She joined the Worldwide Surrogacy team in 2013.

“Having worked on the clinical side of fertility, I’ve felt the joy of calling surrogates and Intended Parents to share the amazing news that they’re pregnant. Now, I get to work on the surrogacy side finding right-fit matches to create these beautiful families.”

Janie’s extensive clinical fertility experience and passion for helping families grow motivate her to find the best surrogate for every Intended Parent. She supports both the surrogate screening team and potential surrogates throughout the application process. 

Janie leads the surrogate screening team by procuring, reviewing, and coordinating all required documentation from new surrogate applicants. In addition to working directly with our surrogates in the initial stages of their journey, she coordinates between the fertility clinics and our Director of Case Management for IPs, Jen McArthur.

Janie previously served as a Fertility Medical Assistant at Reproductive Medicine Associates of Connecticut, as well as a Clinical Case Worker at Connecticut Fertility, and holds a Certificate in Medical Assisting (CMA). Janie and her husband are loving parents to two children: Cole and Mya. She joined the Worldwide Surrogacy team in 2018.

“One of the most amazing feelings is watching an Intended Parent see their baby for the first time. Being a gestational carrier allowed me to be a part of something so special. Now working with Worldwide Surrogacy, I get to be a part of something special daily and be a part of a team that helps families grow."

‍A three-time gestational surrogate herself, Andrea brings a personal, compassionate perspective to the surrogate screening process. She is responsible for supporting the surrogate screening team by procuring, reviewing, and coordinating all required documentation from new surrogate applicants. 

Andrea completed her first journey in 2016, delivering a healthy baby girl. In 2018, she completed her second journey, bringing a set of boy/girl twins into the world. She completed her third journey in 2020, delivering another healthy baby girl.

Andrea knew after completing her first surrogacy journey that she eventually wanted to pursue her interest in a surrogacy or fertility setting. With 12 years of experience as a nurse in a variety of medical settings and three successful surrogacy journeys completed, she brings a natural understanding of the surrogate screening process to the Worldwide Surrogacy team. Andrea and her husband, Brandon, have two daughters, Gracelyn and Stella.

“I’m incredibly proud to be working with such a wonderful group of smart, caring women at Worldwide Surrogacy Specialists.”

As an exemplary and skilled professional with over a decade of experience in the insurance and accounting industries, Maureen brings sharp attention to detail to every aspect of the financial process for both Intended Parents and surrogates.

As Escrow Manager, Maureen works closely with our Intended Parents to manage their escrow funds, ensuring accurate deposits and payments are made in a timely manner from the time a match is made, throughout the entire surrogacy journey until all payments have been made and the escrow account is closed.

Maureen holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance and a Master’s Degree in Accounting from Pace University. In addition to her work at Worldwide Surrogacy, she manages a wide range of community services throughout Fairfield. She joined the Worldwide Surrogacy team in 2015.

“I’m proud to work with such a compassionate and dedicated group of women. To see couples and individuals fulfill their dreams of becoming parents—and to work directly with the incredible surrogates who dedicate themselves to helping them reach their goals—is exciting and a true honor.”

Katie is responsible for making payments on our surrogate’s medical bills in an accurate and timely manner, as well as ensuring that these billing transactions are clearly communicated and wholly transparent to the Intended Parents. Katie is responsible for releasing payments to surrogates at various stages of their journeys and works with our escrow company to maintain proper financial records for monthly reporting.

Katie brings over 11 years of administrative and billing experience—and 4 years of experience in the third-party reproductive medicine industry—to the Worldwide team. Her experience spans a range of fertility/ART agencies, including the Sher Institute of Reproductive Medicine, CT Fertility, and American Fertility Services. She joined the Worldwide team in 2019.

“This organization works with the highest ethical standards, the best practices, and exceptional personal care for each gestational surrogate and intended parent to ensure a meaningful and successful journey toward creating a family.”

A hands-on and meticulous therapist, Michelle ensures that each gestational carrier is carefully evaluated before approval. She conducts comprehensive psychological evaluations of potential gestational carriers to ensure they’re fully qualified and committed to become surrogates.

Michelle has been a licensed clinical psychologist in private practice for two decades, bringing extensive experience in the assessment of surrogacy-related cases and evaluation of potential surrogates to the Worldwide team.

Michelle currently serves as Associate Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences at Sacred Heart University. In addition to her role as a Licensed Clinical Psychologist, she is also a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.

“I’m proud to work with an agency that does such high-quality work, and the passion the staff shows for helping both carriers and Intended Parents.”

Sean’s extensive history of conducting a wide range of psychological evaluations—including surrogacy and oocyte donation evaluations—allows him to ensure that the most appropriate, effective recommendations are made.

Sean is responsible for evaluating the psychological suitability of prospective carriers and assessing Intended Parents’ understanding of the process and the responsibilities of parenting. He works directly with Intended Parents regarding any concerns they may, using comprehensive, data-based reposts to provide in-depth understandings of all parties involved to ensure happy, healthy journeys.

Sean holds a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) degree from Fielding Graduate University. In addition to his work with Worldwide Surrogacy, he conducts surrogacy and oocyte donation evaluations for a number of other agencies. Sean also works at Bridgewater State Hospital in Bridgewater, Massachusetts.

“The opportunity to work with such a great team makes me proud to be a part of Worldwide Surrogacy. Vicki’s vision and leadership are inspiring.”

Deb represents our commitment to meticulous record-keeping and exceptional client services. With a keen eye for detail and remarkable time management skills, she manages all of Worldwide Surrogacy’s financial records with steadfast precision.

Deb upholds complete discretion and confidentiality for all of our clients. She’s responsible for all aspects of bookkeeping, including accounts payable, accounts receivable, bank reconciliations, and payroll.

Deb brings over 20 years of experience supporting law firms and their companies to the Worldwide Surrogacy team. She holds an Associate’s Degree with a concentration in Finance from Sacred Heart University, and is a member of the Fairfield Chamber of Commerce and the American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers.