Meet the Staff & Board

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Staff

Eliza LaBelle

Executive Director

Eliza has worked for Kindred Life since 2019, first as the Lake County Program Director before becoming Executive Director in 2021. Eliza is honored to lead the team and this ministry of walking with teen parents. All is not lost because of an unplanned pregnancy, there is hope. Eliza has a BA, Communications from University of Illinois, Chicago and an Executive Certificate in Transformational Non-Profit Leadership, Notre Dame. She is married to Greg has 3 young adult children. They are part of a home church.

Anne Sopiarz

Business Administrator

Anne Sopiarz joined the Kindred Life team in 2017 and has served in a variety of roles in the ministry. With a Master’s Degree in Family Ministry from Bethel Seminary and certified Life Coach, she loves seeing lives changed through the saving power of Jesus. Anne loves teenagers, babies and the work we get to do. In her role as Business Administrator, Anne is excited to support our staff who work on the front lines with our teen parents and their children. Along with her husband, Chris, and their three daughters, Anne attends The Chapel, Grayslake.

Emily Ciesil

Lake County Counselor

Emily received an MS in Counseling from National Louis University in 2019. She works as an academic advisor at College of Lake County. She is excited to work with Kindred Life because the ministry provides young parents with practical, Christ-centered support. She is encouraged working alongside staff who love God and long to see parents and their children thrive! Emily’s home church is Willow Creek Community Church.

Liza Good

Program Director

Liza joined the Kindred Life Team in 2023. As a result of an unexpected teen pregnancy, she has seen the lasting impact of those life circumstances not only on her parents, but also on her grandparents, siblings and herself. Her hope is to be able to come alongside teen parents and their families to help provide the best resources possible for their families to not only survive but thrive. She believes that life is best lived within the context of community, so making sure that teen parents never feel alone is very important to her. Along with her husband and four children, Liza attends The Chapel Lake Zurich.

Kim Lurvey

1963-2026

Kim joined the Kindred Life team in 2018, bringing a passion for mental healthcare for under-resourced families, a deep commitment to empowering teen parents to grow and thrive, and an unwavering love for Jesus. She helped shape and strengthen our counseling program, offering wisdom, steadiness, and compassion in crisis.

Her calm presence, thoughtful guidance, and genuine care left a lasting imprint on our staff, volunteers, and the young families we serve. Kim’s strength, grace, and faith throughout her illness inspired us all.

Her legacy lives on in the lives she touched and in the heart of Kindred Life. We continue our work carrying forward the values she embodied.

Beth Taylor

Outreach Director and Counseling Supervisor

Beth has master’s degrees in divinity and in social work and loves combining the experience and knowledge when working in the community. She supports Kindred Life’s vision by building relationships and sharing client success stories with community leaders, pastors, and churches. Beth is married and the mom of 2 school-aged children. They attend The Chapel Grayslake.

Kristin Andrews

Supervising Program Director
Kristin joined the Kindred Life team in 2022. She finds it exciting to see families connect to resources and flourish with the loving support of the Kindred Life family. Kristin sees and embraces the opportunity to build a community based on the hope and healing of Jesus. She earned a Masters Degree in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (MATESOL) from Northeastern Illinois 2014, and a Bachelor Degree from Albion College 2000. Kristin brings extensive experience teaching ESL and working with parenting education and home visiting programs for families. Kristin and her husband, Jeff, have 3 children. Life on the Vine is their home church.

Jessica Rossi 

Program Director

Jessica Rossi joined the Kindred Life team in 2025. With a Master’s Degree in Clinical Art Therapy and 12+ years of clinical experience, she is a Board Certified Art Therapist dedicated to helping individuals and families heal and grow. Her background includes working with young women, children, and families, empowering them to recognize their strengths and build skills that foster growth.

She is grateful to serve at Kindred Life, where clinical excellence and ministry come together. Passionate about walking alongside pregnant teens and their families as they choose to honor life, she brings empathy and encouragement to each relationship. She believes parenthood can feel overwhelming, but through consistent support and hope in Christ, families can pursue their goals with confidence.

Candice Lovett

Volunteer Alumni Coordinator

Candice has volunteered with Kindred Life since 2014, first as a teen mom mentor and then as board member. She achieved a MA degree in Management and is a recently retired Respiratory Care Practitioner. Candice has enjoyed the opportunity to learn new things as a board member and building relationships with parents, volunteers, staff, and board. She is married to Michael, is mom of three grown children, grandmother of 5, and great-grandmother of 3! Her home church is River Ridge Church in Spring Grove.

Interested in a job that helps teen families thrive – in every area of life?
Would you like to work for a ministry that makes a big deal about living an abundant life?
If so, we invite you to visit our employment page.

BOARD

Rebecca Robinette

Board President

Rebecca is a Director of Training & Talent Development. She earned a BA and MBA, both from UIC. Rebecca is proud to serve on the board of a Christian organization that helps young moms to be successful with the kinds of resources Kindred Life provides. Rebecca is married to Joel and is the mom of 1 daughter. Their home church is The Chapel Libertyville.

Mona Boelens

Board Member

Mona has worked in the non-profit and ministry areas of adoption, teen pregnancy and parenting for 30 years. As a founding member of Kindred Life Ministries and the ministries’ former Executive Director, she has witnessed first hand God’s transformational power in the lives of the young families Kindred Life serves. Mona is married to Erik and is the mom of three young adult sons. They make their home in Southwest Michigan.

Mike Lee

Board Treasurer

Michael is an attorney at a firm in North Barrington. He serves as a board member out of a joyful heart, as one saved by grace through faith in Christ. Mike is married to Sandy and has four high school and college-aged children. They attend Willow Creek South Lake in Lincolnshire.

Hannah Shallenberger

Board Vice President and Secretary

Hannah’s full time work is in fundraising and alumni relations. She is proud to serve on the board because Kindred Life provides abundant and practical care to young parents and their children. Hannah is married to Eli and they have an English Bulldog, Watson. Her home church is NorthBridge in Antioch.

Brad Gustafson

Board Director
Brad Gustafson is the Regional Pastor of The Chapel Wisconsin Campuses. He received a Bachelor degree from Cornerstone University in Bible and Youth Ministry. Brad and his wife, Laura, have 4 daughters. Over the last decade, he has been involved with Kindred Life in a variety of ways and is eager to contribute to the strategy behind the mission through his tenure on our Board of Directors. He believes the staff are boldly following a call and is grateful to support that.

Jessica Klincewizc

Board Director
Jessica is a Registered Nurse providing in-home patient care. With a Bachelor of Science from Carthage College, she is one of the remarkable, few teen moms who earned a college degree before age 30! As a mom at 16 and program alumnae, Kindred Life holds a special place in Jessica’s heart. She is grateful to be able to give back to the ministry. Her home church is The Chapel.

Bill Young

Board Director
Bill Young earned a Bachelor Degree in Science from The University of Illinois and a Master of Business Administration from Lake Forest College. Following a long career in the medical device industry, Bill became an Assistant Professor focusing on management, leadership and strategic planning. As a long standing ministry partner he sees the work that Kindred Life does as an awesome example of being God’s hands and feet to the world and is excited to lend his expertise to the Kindred Life team. He and his wife have 3 adult children. Their home church is The Chapel Palatine.

April Brabender

Board Director
April Brabender, co-founder of Brabender Creative, is dedicated to helping mission-driven brands grow and thrive. Joining the board of Kindred Life is a commitment to their mission to cultivate growth, build relationships, and meet the needs of teen parents and their families.
With 10+ years of experience in Brand Strategy and Project and Account Management, April brings a wealth of expertise in helping businesses grow through thoughtful, client-focused communication. Her background includes roles in educational coaching and youth ministry, where she cultivated a passion for supporting teams. Along with her husband and three boys, April attends Village Church of Gurnee.
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