Susan Millender, executive director Indianapolis, Indiana
Families for HoPE welcomed Susan Millender as its first Executive Director in 2021. Susan serves as an ex-officio member of the board, working with its directors to set Families for HoPE’s strategic direction and programming in support of children diagnosed with holoprosencephaly and related brain malformations.
Susan entered the role with a long-standing reputation for health advocacy work, specifically among children and families struggling to gain and maintain well-being and resilience. She is a member of the National Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health. Previously, she led Seattle-King County Washington’s Guided Pathways nonprofit family support organization as Executive Director and served as Program Director for the American Diabetes Association of Washington and Northern Idaho. She attended Ball State University, Muncie, IN and graduated from Calumet College, Whiting, IN with a BA in Mass Communications. You may contact Susan at Susan.Millender@FamiliesforHoPE.org.
Officers and Directors
john hunsinger, President wilmington, north carolina
John has served on Families for HoPE’s board since November 2024. He is a resident of Wilmington, NC. His wife Amanda and John are the parents of three-year-old daughter Ivey. “Since my daughter’s prenatal diagnosis of holoprosencephaly, I have wanted to be a part of a community and organization that supports my family, educates the community, and encourages hope to all HPE families,” John says. He and his family are looking forward to welcoming a second child in July 2026.
During his tenure on the board, John has been an active member of the program committee, involved in community outreach initiatives, online parent support and developed Holoprosencephaly Awareness Week themes and activities. “I want to educate the community so that everyone is aware of HPE and can offer a version of support for families like mine.”
John earned his BS degree in Business Administration in Healthcare Management from the University of Mount Olive. He is currently employed as an Intake Coordinator for Lifesource, Inc. Lifesource provides psychotherapy, psychiatry and primary care services to Nursing, Assisted Living, and Independent Living communities in states across the Southeast. His professional experience includes serving as a Patient Placement Specialist for the nonprofit Southeastern Regional Medical Center. “I have had a passion for healthcare for as long as I can remember.” Contact John at john.hunsinger@FamiliesforHoPE.org.
ROBERT HAMILTON, Vice president indianapolis, Indiana
Robert is a resident of Indianapolis, Indiana. He has worked on the board development and the family survey committees, since being elected to the board in 2022. He has been a senior executive at four public hospitals/health care systems with missions to serve the needs of the underprivileged and medically indigent of Indianapolis, Chicago, Austin, TX, and Seattle, WA, working closely with clinicians and social workers. Now retired, Robert is a consultant to health systems in the Midwest.
ARIKA GATES, TREASURER ELWOOD, Indiana
Arika lives in Elwood, Indiana. Her daughter Madelyn was diagnosed with holoprosencephaly prenatally and passed away in 2008 at the age of two. Arika is also the mother of son James who is Madelyn’s twin. She has worked in the agricultural business and management industry for two decades. After serving two board terms from 2008 to 2013, Arika returned to board service in 2022. Arika was elected treasurer of the board in 2023 and serves on its fundraising committee.
Brian hargrove, Secretary indianapolis, Indiana
Brian is a graduate of Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana, with a degree in Marketing. He has spent the bulk of his career in Market Research where he conducted research studies that had a direct effect on consumer spending, development of new products and/or systems. Brian is currently a certified web developer. He was a member of Kiwanis for 10 years during which he served as a board member and officer. He joined the Families for HoPE board in 2022 and has worked on its board development and survey committees. Brian is a native Hoosier and lives in Indianapolis, Indiana.
amy rose, Director wamego, Kansas
Amy is the mother of adult daughter Marina who has semi-lobar holoprosencephaly. Amy was elected to the board in 2024 and has worked on the program committee in addition to hosting online parent support groups. She has an affinity for learning with and from the parents of adult children with HPE. Amy is a licensed practical nurse. In addition to working in the field of dermatology for two decades, Amy has gained a wealth of knowledge from thirty-one years of lived experience as Marina’s mother and as a paid caregiver since her daughter’s eighteenth birthday.
margie wright, Director Stendal, indiana
Margie is the mother of son Kal-El who was born with holoprosencephaly in 2007 in Ft. Worth, TX. A military veteran, Margie learned of Families for HoPE when moving back to Indiana and researching physicians for her son’s care in 2009. “What interests me is being of assistance to the families and communities of children diagnosed with HPE,” she says. Margie has led multiple community outreach events in her community to raise awareness of HPE. “I want to bring more awareness so that the challenges and needs of families are better known.” She was elected to the board in 2024.
Steve Harley, Director Indianapolis, indiana
Steve’s son Sammy was born with semi-lobar holoprosencephaly in 2003 and passed away following a critical illness in 2008 at age 5. Steve wife’s Leslie is one of the five mothers who founded Families for HoPE. He joined the board in 2021. He served as board president from 2023 to 2026. Steve is passionate about using his lived experience of HPE and his business experience in the healthcare industry to help Families for HoPE move toward long-term sustainability while maintaining its focus on the mission to support, educate and encourage HPE families.
Families for HoPE is seeking qualified individuals to serve on its board of directors. For more information, please contact Susan Millender at Susan.Millender@FamiliesforHoPE.org.
Past Presidents of Families for HoPE, Inc. Becky Wilson – 2021-2022 Josh Timmerman – 2016-2020 Ed Tierney – 2013-2015 Shira Arnold – 2011-2012 Leslie Harley – 2006-2010
Leadership
Susan Millender, executive director
Indianapolis, Indiana
Families for HoPE welcomed Susan Millender as its first Executive Director in 2021. Susan serves as an ex-officio member of the board, working with its directors to set Families for HoPE’s strategic direction and programming in support of children diagnosed with holoprosencephaly and related brain malformations.
Susan entered the role with a long-standing reputation for health advocacy work, specifically among children and families struggling to gain and maintain well-being and resilience. She is a member of the National Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health. Previously, she led Seattle-King County Washington’s Guided Pathways nonprofit family support organization as Executive Director and served as Program Director for the American Diabetes Association of Washington and Northern Idaho. She attended Ball State University, Muncie, IN and graduated from Calumet College, Whiting, IN with a BA in Mass Communications. You may contact Susan at Susan.Millender@FamiliesforHoPE.org.
Officers and Directors
john hunsinger, President
wilmington, north carolina
John has served on Families for HoPE’s board since November 2024. He is a resident of Wilmington, NC. His wife Amanda and John are the parents of three-year-old daughter Ivey. “Since my daughter’s prenatal diagnosis of holoprosencephaly, I have wanted to be a part of a community and organization that supports my family, educates the community, and encourages hope to all HPE families,” John says. He and his family are looking forward to welcoming a second child in July 2026.
During his tenure on the board, John has been an active member of the program committee, involved in community outreach initiatives, online parent support and developed Holoprosencephaly Awareness Week themes and activities. “I want to educate the community so that everyone is aware of HPE and can offer a version of support for families like mine.”
John earned his BS degree in Business Administration in Healthcare Management from the University of Mount Olive. He is currently employed as an Intake Coordinator for Lifesource, Inc. Lifesource provides psychotherapy, psychiatry and primary care services to Nursing, Assisted Living, and Independent Living communities in states across the Southeast. His professional experience includes serving as a Patient Placement Specialist for the nonprofit Southeastern Regional Medical Center. “I have had a passion for healthcare for as long as I can remember.” Contact John at john.hunsinger@FamiliesforHoPE.org.
ROBERT HAMILTON, Vice president
indianapolis, Indiana
Robert is a resident of Indianapolis, Indiana. He has worked on the board development and the family survey committees, since being elected to the board in 2022. He has been a senior executive at four public hospitals/health care systems with missions to serve the needs of the underprivileged and medically indigent of Indianapolis, Chicago, Austin, TX, and Seattle, WA, working closely with clinicians and social workers. Now retired, Robert is a consultant to health systems in the Midwest.
ARIKA GATES, TREASURER
ELWOOD, Indiana
Arika lives in Elwood, Indiana. Her daughter Madelyn was diagnosed with holoprosencephaly prenatally and passed away in 2008 at the age of two. Arika is also the mother of son James who is Madelyn’s twin. She has worked in the agricultural business and management industry for two decades. After serving two board terms from 2008 to 2013, Arika returned to board service in 2022. Arika was elected treasurer of the board in 2023 and serves on its fundraising committee.
Brian hargrove, Secretary
indianapolis, Indiana
Brian is a graduate of Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana, with a degree in Marketing. He has spent the bulk of his career in Market Research where he conducted research studies that had a direct effect on consumer spending, development of new products and/or systems. Brian is currently a certified web developer. He was a member of Kiwanis for 10 years during which he served as a board member and officer. He joined the Families for HoPE board in 2022 and has worked on its board development and survey committees. Brian is a native Hoosier and lives in Indianapolis, Indiana.
amy rose, Director
wamego, Kansas
Amy is the mother of adult daughter Marina who has semi-lobar holoprosencephaly. Amy was elected to the board in 2024 and has worked on the program committee in addition to hosting online parent support groups. She has an affinity for learning with and from the parents of adult children with HPE. Amy is a licensed practical nurse. In addition to working in the field of dermatology for two decades, Amy has gained a wealth of knowledge from thirty-one years of lived experience as Marina’s mother and as a paid caregiver since her daughter’s eighteenth birthday.
margie wright, Director
Stendal, indiana
Margie is the mother of son Kal-El who was born with holoprosencephaly in 2007 in Ft. Worth, TX. A military veteran, Margie learned of Families for HoPE when moving back to Indiana and researching physicians for her son’s care in 2009. “What interests me is being of assistance to the families and communities of children diagnosed with HPE,” she says. Margie has led multiple community outreach events in her community to raise awareness of HPE. “I want to bring more awareness so that the challenges and needs of families are better known.” She was elected to the board in 2024.
Steve Harley, Director
Indianapolis, indiana
Steve’s son Sammy was born with semi-lobar holoprosencephaly in 2003 and passed away following a critical illness in 2008 at age 5. Steve wife’s Leslie is one of the five mothers who founded Families for HoPE. He joined the board in 2021. He served as board president from 2023 to 2026. Steve is passionate about using his lived experience of HPE and his business experience in the healthcare industry to help Families for HoPE move toward long-term sustainability while maintaining its focus on the mission to support, educate and encourage HPE families.
Families for HoPE is seeking qualified individuals to serve on its board of directors. For more information, please contact Susan Millender at Susan.Millender@FamiliesforHoPE.org.
Past Presidents of Families for HoPE, Inc.
Becky Wilson – 2021-2022
Josh Timmerman – 2016-2020
Ed Tierney – 2013-2015
Shira Arnold – 2011-2012
Leslie Harley – 2006-2010