Meet Our Dedicated Team
Jennifer Lake
Founder and Executive Director
Jenn has been personally and/or professionally involved in the world of foster care and adoption for nearly 21 years. She holds a Master of Science in Family and Community Development from Oklahoma State University and a Graduate Level Trauma Certificate from Lock Haven University. She is a graduate of the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (IPEC), credentialed through the International Coach Federation (ICF) as a Professional Certified Coach (PCC). Jenn has been a trainer, facilitator, event speaker, and workshop presenter for nearly twenty years. Early in her career, Jenn was a classroom teacher in both the public and private sectors. She holds an education (B.S.) degree from Messiah University, with a focus on family studies.
In 2016, Jenn began her professional career in Family Advocacy while employed as a Family Resource Specialist and Post-Permanency Specialist.. There, she recruited, trained, and supported foster and adoptive families on their journey to and after permanent placement.
In 2019, Jenn earned the title of TBRI Practitioner through the Karen Purvis Institute of Child Development at Texas Christian University. Additionally, Jenn is a Making Sense of Your Worth Facilitator through the HALO Project and a Cultivating Connection Facilitator through Empowered to Connect.
Jenn is a passionate champion of caring for orphans, vulnerable children, and the families that love them. She lives with her husband in Williamsport, PA, and has three adult children. Their family was blessed with the gift of adoption in 2004 when God joined them with one of their sons.
In addition to her family, Jenn loves having coffee with loved ones, getting lost in a good book, freedom and flexibility, hiking, wide-open spaces, and opportunities to be creative.
Lynn Warwick
Regional Director | Columbia/Montour Counties
Lynn has been passionate about foster care and adoption for as long as she can remember. She and her husband, Taylor, have been foster parents for nine years and have welcomed fifteen children into their home, two of whom are now part of their forever family. Dwell was introduced to her by a kind stranger in Target. This encounter and introduction can only be described as divine intervention.
Lynn holds a Bachelor of Science in Bible and a Bachelor of Social Work from Cairn University. She completed her TBRI Practitioner Training in 2022 and is honored to be able to share the tools of Trust Based Relational Intervention with others. She credits TBRI for many of the changes and healing she has personally seen in her own children from hard places. Of all jobs she has held, and continues to hold, being a mom and teacher to her kids is her favorite. At her core, she has been deeply loved and desires to love the kids and birth families in her life deeply.
Jody Russell
Care Coordinator AND TBRI Practitioner | Lycoming/Clinton Counties
Jody has personally been touched by the fostering/adoptive world. In 2017, Jody and her husband, Aaron, began their foster-to-adopt process. Jody and Aaron were blessed to complete a respite stay for two sibling brothers and instantaneously felt that they would become a part of these special boys’ lives. In December of 2018, the boys were placed with them permanently, with final adoption occurring in August of 2019.
Jody has turned to, and incorporates, the principles of TBRI (Trust Based Relational Intervention) to navigate daily life with her boys. Knowing the outcomes and results of TBRI, Jody was fortunate enough to complete extensive training to become a TBRI Practitioner in April of 2021. She is passionate about sharing this information with other foster and adoptive families as well as classroom teachers. As Dwell’s Care Coordinator, Jody has the privilege of organizing monthly Mom’s Night Out for local foster, adoptive, and kinship parents. Having intentional time to connect and support other mothers on a similar journey is a passion of Jody’s. She is a tenured professor at Lock Haven University, where she teaches in the Health Science Department and practices clinically as an athletic trainer. Jody has over 20 years of experience teaching in higher education and has taught Physical Education at the high school level. “Teachers spend so much time with our kiddos, and it is important that they are provided the tools and necessary support to understand how to address the needs of vulnerable children. The journey is not always easy, but being equipped with the principles and tools of empowering your kiddos, connecting with them, and correcting behaviors in a way that disarms their fear makes every day a bit easier and the rewards that much sweeter.”
Jody and her husband live in Lock Haven, PA, with their two adoptive sons, two cats, and two mini Bernedoodles. She earned her Ph.D. in Kinesiology from Penn State University, a M.Ed. in Health and Physical Education from Valdosta State University, and a B.S. in Physical Education from Salisbury University. As a family, they enjoy traveling (especially their trips to Maine), outdoor adventures, and pool time.
Alicia Boyer
Marketing & Development Director
Born, raised, and residing in the Williamsport area, Alicia lives with her husband and 3 children. She attended West Chester University and earned a Bachelors of Science in Business Administration. As Alicia has spent the majority of her career in sales and marketing, you may know her as the owner of the Williamsport business, Arrow and Thread. Although she has worked hard over the years to build her own business, Alicia explains she is "passionate about charitable work, supporting those facing challenges, and lifting up the nonprofit sector."
When asked why she was excited to join Team Dwell, Alicia said, “When I first spoke with the Director (Jenn), I immediately knew we were meant to connect and that we would do great things together within, and around, our community. I want to leave this earth knowing I made a difference. My passion to serve continues as I join the Dwell team to help encourage others to get involved in supporting foster, adoptive, and kinship families in our community.”
Alison Storm
Hope Chest Coordinator and Church Engagement Specialist | Lycoming County
Heidi Mnkandhla is a Williamsport native and serves as Dwell’s Hope Chest and Church Engagement Specialist. She and her husband, Raphael, pastor of City Church in Williamsport, have six children—three biological and three adopted.
Heidi’s journey into foster and kinship care began unexpectedly when her adopted brother’s sons—her nephews—were placed in her care as newborns. Through this experience, she developed a deep passion for ensuring that foster, kinship, and adoptive families feel seen, supported, and connected within their communities. She is excited to live out that passion through her work at Dwell.
Whenever she finds a little spare time, Heidi enjoys reading, meeting a friend for coffee, spending time in nature, and traveling to new places.
Heidi Mnkandhla
Hope Chest Coordinator | Columbia County
Born and raised in PA, Alison has degrees in Education and Anthropology. For nearly a decade, Alison served as a direct support professional, offering assistance to individuals with special needs. After a brief departure, she's grateful to be back in a role that resonates with her authentic desire to serve others.
As our Columbia County Hope Chest Coordinator, Alison coordinates donations at our Bloomsburg location. Additionally, Alison curates Hope Bags for children entering foster care in Columbia, Montour, and Northumberland counties as well as Foster Family Care Packages for the entire family unit.
Her role extends to fostering collaboration with volunteers and the community, as well as educating others on Dwell's mission to positively impact the lives of children in foster care.
Outside of work, Alison's downtime is filled with simple joys—whether she's exploring thrift stores, hiking, traveling, or enjoying the company of her fiancé and newborn son, pup, and two kitties at home.
Kathie Sinibaldi
Made to Celebrate! Coordinator
Kathie leads Dwell’s Made to Celebrate! program, a heartfelt initiative designed to bring joy to children experiencing foster and kinship care on their birthday. She works closely with caseworkers and caregivers to create personalized birthday packages, ensuring children feel valued and cherished on their special day. With a deep passion for supporting children from hard places and a love for celebrating birthdays, Kathie is thrilled to be part of the Dwell team. Combining these two passions into one role is a dream come true for Kathie.
When she’s not making birthday dreams come true, you’ll find her cheering on Penn State football with her family—season ticket holders for 35 years and counting! Saturdays in the fall mean blue and white, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. In the summer, she trades the stadium for the garden, growing and sharing fresh produce with family and friends.
Erin Kearney
Post Adoption Support Group Coordinator
Erin Kearney, a Clarion University graduate currently living in Sunbury, knows firsthand that the adoption journey is full of joy, challenges, and plenty of unanswered questions. As an adoptive mom of three, she’s experienced the ups and downs and understands how isolating it can sometimes feel. That’s why she’s passionate about creating a space where adoptive families can connect, find support, and build strong, lasting relationships.