About NLCA
We are current and former Board Members of ILCA®, USLCA, IBLCE®, HMBANA, Baby-Friendly USA and many state breastfeeding coalitions. We are current and former Editors of the journal Clinical Lactation and authors of numerous journal manuscripts and textbooks. We are attorneys, APNs, RNs, Dietitians, University Faculty Members and LLL leaders and we are all holders of IBCLC® certification.
Meet the Board
Sylvia Edwards
President
Sylvia Edwards
Sylvia Edwards a graduate of Case Western Reserve and began nursing practice in pediatrics. She received her MS as a Pediatric CNS and Nurse Administrator at Ohio State University, a post graduate degree as an FNP and PhD studies at the University of South Carolina. She entered academia after starting a family. As an educator her roles included Instructor to Associate Professor. She received Honor Society Membership in Phi Kappa Phi and Sigma Theta Tau. She has been a coordinator and guest speaker for state and national conferences. Her Administrative roles include Nurse Manager, Director of Quality Assurance, Director of Nursing, VP/CNO of Nursing and VP of Patient Care. Throughout her career Sylvia has served as a Board member for numerous community service organizations. As an IBCLC®, Sylvia led University of Alabama in Birmingham through their journey to become Baby Friendly. She served United States Breastfeeding Committee as SE Regional Representative and United States Lactation Consultant Association (USLCA) representative. She served two terms on USLCA’s Board of Directors (BOD). She is past president and current BOD of the Alabama Breastfeeding Committee (ABC), Alabama Lactation Consultant Association, and the Breastfeeding
Education Support Team. Sylvia was a founding Board Member and is current president of the Mother’s Milk Bank of Alabama. She is a founding Board Member and President of the National Lactation Consultant Alliance. Sylvia’s favorite role has been raising 3 amazing children with her supportive
husband and being blessed with 7 grandchildren. Retired from full time employment she continues to be active in community service as a mentor for aspiring IBCLC®s and Lactation Consultant at Saint Vincent Hospital.
Alicia Simpson
Board Member
Alicia Simpson
Alicia is the only practicing registered dietitian who is also certified in feeding therapy for children with sensory processing disorders in the state of Georgia, providing a unique perspective in changing the long-term social and feeding behaviors of children who are resistant eaters due to sensory processing disorder and its related conditions.
Alicia is an award-winning published author who has authored 4 bestselling books including Quick and Easy Vegan Comfort Food (2009), Quick and Easy Vegan Celebrations (2010), Quick and Easy Low-Cal Vegan Comfort Food (2012), Boost Your Breastmilk: An All in One Guide for Nursing Mothers to Build a Healthy Milk Supply (2017) and chapters on Maternal Nutrition and Pediatric Nutrition for the Breastfeeding Child in the international Core Curriculum For Lactation Consultant Practice (2018) and Breastfeeding and Human Lactation, 6 th Edition (2019). She is also a contributing author for several magazines and publications including Parenting and Pregnancy and Newborn Magazine.
Alicia has been awarded the Terry Jo Curtis Award by United States Lactation Consultant Association (USLCA) in 2018 which recognizes the exemplary efforts of those increasing access and equity for the US IBCLC. She is the past chair of the membership committee for the USLCA where she presently serves as the USLCA liaison to the National Association of Professional and Peer Lactation Supporters of Color (NAPPLSC) helping to ensure that the USLCA remains firmly committed to equity among lactation professionals including lactation professionals of color.
Leah Aldridge
Board Member
Leah Aldridge
Leah Aldridge is a corporate attorney, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant®, small business owner and non-profit sector leader in Atlanta, Georgia.
Graduating from the University of Virginia in 1990 and Emory University School of Law in 1993, Leah specialized in corporate and regulatory healthcare law for Morris, Manning and Martin, LLP until 2000. As a new mother in 2000, she saw many unmet needs and, therefore, opportunities to better the lives of Georgian families. She began non-profit Board service with Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition of Georgia and led continuously for 20 years, including serving as HMHB’s Board President from 2015-2017. She became an IBCLC® in 2010 and co-founded Atlanta Breastfeeding Consultants, LLC, a clinic serving breastfeeding families in Sandy Springs, Georgia. She now leads the state by serving on the Secretary of State’s Georgia Lactation Consultant Advisory Group (2016-present). A recognized maternal and infant health expert, Leah has testified before the Georgia General Assembly and before federal regulatory committees numerous times over the past 10 years and was instrumental in passage of Georgia Lactation Consultant Practice Act in 2016. Leah has won numerous local and national awards, including the ROSE award of the Junior League of Atlanta, Inc. in 2006 and the US Lactation Consultant Association: National Award of Excellence in 2016. She has co-authored several published peer- reviewed lactation professional journal articles and is a founding Board Member of the National Lactation Consultant Alliance, Inc. She is the proud mother of three and loves to ski, run and cook!
Becky Mannel
Board Member
Becky Mannel
Becky has worked in lactation for almost 30 years. She has 2 bachelor’s degrees and recently completed her MPH at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (OUHSC). She managed the lactation service at OU Medical Center, Oklahoma’s academic teaching hospital, for 15 years. She is currently a Clinical Assistant Professor and Director of the Oklahoma Breastfeeding Resource Center in the Department of OB/GYN at OUHSC and Executive Director for the Oklahoma Mothers’ Milk Bank. She developed the Oklahoma Breastfeeding Hotline and leads the Becoming Baby-Friendly in Oklahoma project, both funded by the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH). Becky also provides professional training/education to Oklahoma hospitals, healthcare and public health providers to
improve breastfeeding care and outcomes. She developed the first formal clinical training in Oklahoma for aspiring lactation consultants.
Becky has presented extensively at state, national and international professional conferences. She served on the Editorial Review Board of the Journal of Human Lactation and was Lead Editor for two editions of the International Lactation Consultant Association (ILCA) textbook, Core Curriculum for Lactation Consultant Practice. Becky co-edited the 2018 Core Curriculum for Interdisciplinary Lactation Care sponsored by the Lactation Education Accreditation and Approval Review Committee. She is past Chair of the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE) and past President of ILCA. Becky is currently President for the Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA) and represents HMBANA on the US Breastfeeding Committee. She is a full member of the International Society for Research in Human Milk and Lactation.
Teresa-McCullen
Board Member
Teresa R. McCullen
Teresa R. McCullen is an IBCLC certified Lactation Consultant who holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology and over 30 years of distinguished experience in the field. Teresa is currently the Lactation Consultant and Childbirth Educator at the Augusta University Medical Center. She also simultaneously serves as: Vice President of the Georgia Breastfeeding Coalition; Board Member of the Southeastern Lactation Consultant Association (SELCA) and Trainer for the American Academy of Pediatrics EPIC Breastfeeding Program. Teresa brings a wealth of experience to the Board. She is a dedicated family advocate and educator who has worked closely with breastfeeding mothers and their families throughout her career. Notably, she has served as a La Leche League Leader in 6 states across the country— Alaska, Georgia, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas and Washington. Teresa and her husband of 46 years, Michael, are the proud parents of 5 fabulous children and grandparents of six adorable grandchildren, ages 17 to 18 months—and each one of their children and grandchildren were/are breastfed.
Ginger Carney
Board Member
Ginger Carney, MPH, RDN, LDN, IBCLC, RLC, FILCA, FAND
Ginger Carney is from Memphis, TN. She is a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist, and an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. Her current position is Director of Clinical Nutrition & Lactation Services at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Her passion is pediatric nutrition and the promotion and support of breastfeeding. She has been involved with establishing a lactation program at St. Jude as well as with her previous position in a general pediatric hospital. She also has also been involved in clinical lactation training for physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and dietitians. She currently teaches employee breastfeeding classes and mentors RDNs who have an interest in clinical lactation. She is also involved in providing prenatal classes for local
pro-life organizations.
Ginger has contributed to many publications related to breastfeeding and lactation, as well as presented to numerous groups on the importance of breastfeeding as optimal infant nutrition and the dietitian’s role in its promotion. She has been active locally, state-wide, and nationally serving in professional organizations, including USLCA and the Women’s Health and Pediatric Nutrition Dietetic Practice Groups of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. She is currently serving on the Academy’s Breastfeeding Policy and Advocacy Collaborative. She is an original founder of the Memphis Area Lactation
Consultant Association, serving as President and long-time board member. She also serves on the board of the Shelby County Breastfeeding Coalition and is active in the TN Department of Health State Breastfeeding Initiative.
Ginger is a founding board member of the National Lactation Consultant Alliance. She is currently serving as President of the Tennessee Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
Marsha Walker
Board Member
Marsha Walker
Marsha Walker is a registered nurse and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). She is a graduate of Case Western Reserve University and Boston University School of Nursing. She earned academic society membership in Sigma Theta Tau and recognition in Whos’ Who in American Nursing. Marsha maintained a large clinical lactation practice at a major Massachusetts HMO where she was the Director of the Breastfeeding Support Program. Marsha is a previous board member of ILCA, USLCA, Baby Friendly USA, the Massachusetts Breastfeeding Coalition, and the Massachusetts Lactation Consultant Association. She is a past USLCA representative to the FDA’s Breastfeeding Promotion Consortium. Marsha co-founded the National Alliance for Breastfeeding Advocacy, the IBFAN
organization in the US that monitored the Code and is a past member of the US Breastfeeding Committee. She sits on the Clinical Committee for Baby Friendly USA. Marsha serves as an associate editor of the journal Clinical Lactation. She is a frequent speaker, having provided hundreds of presentations and is a published author of numerous books and journal articles. Marsha is a founding board member of the National Lactation Consultant Alliance where she also chairs the Federal Policy Committee. Her two children and six grandchildren form a very active sporting family that keeps her busy attending track meets, basketball games, cheering competitions, soccer games, lacrosse games, football games, and gymnastics meets.
Claire Eden
Board Member
Claire Eden
Claire Eden has been supporting breastfeeding families for over 20 years as a La Leche League Leader and has been an IBCLC since 2009. She was among the first lactation consultants to be licensed in Georgia. She currently serves as the Director of the EPIC (Educating Physicians and Practices in their Communities) Breastfeeding Program at the American Academy of Pediatrics, Georgia Chapter. Claire has served on the board of directors of several breastfeeding and maternal child health organizations in Georgia including the Georgia Breastfeeding Coalition. She has had a varied career in lactation, working at a pediatric practice, in private practice and at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta in addition to the Georgia Chapter- AAP. She and her husband are the proud parents of three daughters and her family has enjoyed putting down roots in the Atlanta area for 20 years.
Dr. Genae Strong
Board Member
Dr. Genae Strong
Dr. Genae Strong has more than 29 years of experience supporting breastfeeding women through teaching, research and service. Dr. Strong is an international speaker and author in the field of lactation. Dr. Strong has the reputation of an expert and strong supporter of lactation for mothers and families. Dr. Strong received the 2015 “Award of Excellence in Education” from AWHONN. Dr. Strong was recognized as “Best Researcher/Scholar- Nursing” (2014-2015) in the United States and featured as one of the 20 Outstanding Professors of Women’s Health Nursing by nursepractitioners.com (2014). Teaching at both the undergraduate and graduate level, Dr. Strong remains committed to equipping the next generation of health care providers. Dr. Strong maintains a program of funded research focused on overcoming barriers health care providers face while assisting and supporting new breastfeeding moms. In 2019, the Tennessee Health Department awarded Dr. Strong a three-year, $442,600 Project Diabetes Grant to develop a Lactation Support Program at the University of Memphis to minimize separation of mothers and infants during employment and/or student enrollment. New mothers face enormous challenges in finding breastfeeding-friendly environments and lactation support on college campuses. Serving in numerous leadership roles, Dr. Strong previously served on the board of MALCA as president, SCBC as Academic Chair, USLCA as Director of Professional Development, and the TBH Advisory Board. Currently, Dr. Strong serves as Treasurer on the Board of the Tennessee Breastfeeding Coalition (TBC). Former committee service includes ILCA;s Research Committee, IBLCE’s Research Committee, and Research Committee.
Audrey K. Thompson
Board Member
Audrey K. Thompson
Audrey K. Thompson is a Women’s Services RN and Residency Director in Atlanta, Georgia. She frequently speaks at conferences about breastfeeding, childbirth and ethics topics, publishes opinion pieces and reviews, and educates families and future IBCLCs. A leader and member of many lactation, childbirth, and family focused organizations, Audrey advocates for children with special needs and families everywhere, both professionally and in volunteer capacities. She currently serves as Executive Director of the National Center for Lactation Equity, along with several regional and state boards, passionately advocating for increasing equity and access to the IBCLC profession.
Jennifer Jones
Board Member
Jennifer Jones
Jennifer Jones is a registered nurse and an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) with over 27 years experience helping breastfeeding families in both the hospital and community setting. Jennifer has been the licensure chair of the Florida Lactation Consultants Association since 2014 and a board member since 2016. Jennifer has also been a board member of the International Affiliation of Tongue Tied Professionals since 2016, and is a current board member of the Florida Breastfeeding Coalition. Jennifer is a member of the United States Lactation Consultants Association and the INternational Lactation Consultants Association. College level courses, lactation specific education, clinical practice hours, and passing a board exam differentiate the IBCLC from all others providing lactation education. As one of the founding members of NLCA, Jennifer sees the IBCLC profession growing like many other health professions have done in the past. Growing pains are a natural part of the early stages for a health profession as they set a standard to meet guidelines for providing effective clinical patient care. Becoming a Medicaid and private insurance reimbursable profession takes licensure in this great nation of ours. As a NLCA board member, Jennifer is dedicated to advancing the IBCLC profession through licensure of all those who have clinical practice hours and pass the IBLCE exam.
Judy Gutowski
Board Member
Judy Gutowski
Judy Gutowski earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology in 1982 and worked in management prior to entering the lactation profession. Judy’s personal breastfeeding journey, along with the shared experiences of mothers, caused her to realize the need for healthcare system support of breastfeeding and preempted becoming an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant in 1995. She is a volunteer in La Leche League, since 1985, providing community breastfeeding support for families while also holding leadership positions in the regional organization over the years. As an IBCLC, Judy has provided clinical lactation care through employment in private practice and in public health. Judy has worked as a lactation consultant in pediatric practices for the past 16 years. She provides breastfeeding education for colleagues as a conference speaker and for healthcare professionals. Judy has been a member of the International Lactation Consultant Association and the United States Lactation Consultant Association, serving on the Licensure and Reimbursement Committees since 2005. For the past 10 years she was a Chair of the USLCA committee, advocating for legislative and policy initiatives to improve access to lactation care for families and for reimbursement of IBCLC services. She is the Director of Healthy Keystone Kids Initiative with the same mission, in Pennsylvania. Judy serves as an executive committee member and public policy chair, and is past chair, of the Pennsylvania Breastfeeding Coalition. She has been a member of the Western PA Chapter of USLCA for 20 years serving in a variety of leadership roles. In these advocacy roles Judy has conducted research and published documents in peer reviewed journals on advocacy topics.
Aside from breastfeeding work, she most appreciates spending time with her husband, nine children including their spouses, two precious grandchildren and her dogs. When relaxing she enjoys having coffee and swinging on the front porch, bible study with friends, gardening and crocheting.