Board of Directors
Michael Garabedian, Esq., President
Michael Garabedian of Egan & Golden a general practice law firm located in New York, specializing in litigation and transactional matters for domestic, closely-held corporations, partnerships and business professionals. He received his undergraduate degree from New York University in 1982, and his juris doctor (i.e., law degree) from Union University, Albany Law School, in 1985. Along with being admitted to practice law in all of the courts of the State of New York, Michael is admitted in the United States District Courts for the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York, as well as the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals.
Michael is a third generation Armenian-American who is intensely proud of his heritage, and has worked to engender and preserve the best attributes of Armenian culture. Towards this end, Michael is the former Chairman of the Board of Directors for the New York Armenian Home, a non-for-profit assisted living facility located in New York City for senior citizens of Armenian descent. Michael currently serves on the board of directors for the John Jermaine Memorial Library in Sag Harbor, New York.
Michael and his wife are the adoptive parents of an Armenian child.
Brenda Smith, Co-Founder and Secretary
Brenda Smith, owner of a branding agency in New York City, is the adoptive mother of Ella, who came from one of the orphanages of the Republic of Georgia. Adopting Ella was a challenging and time consuming process that included four lost referrals, a political coup in Georgia, three adoption-related trips to Georgia, scant support from the adoption agency she used (not Hopscotch) and scores of delays. After Ella came home safe and sound, Brenda started working with Robin Sizemore to build the adoption agency she wished she had worked with: one that offered personal support, knowledgeable and accessible employees, and a transparent process.
Brenda’s three trips to Tbilisi in 2004 gave her unique opportunities to see and experience in stark reality what life in an Eastern European orphanage is like for children. Since bringing Ella home, Brenda has been an active fund raiser for humanitarian aid for these orphanages, and she is committed to improving both the physical and emotional environments in which the children live.
Fred Frank, Member
Fred Frank is a business professional in the industrial security industry. He has been employed as Branch Manager with Pathway Technologies, Inc. for over twenty years. He is experienced in all aspects of management and day to day business operations.
Fred and his wife are the parents of two boys who were adopted internationally. They have remained close to others in the international adoption community and are proud of their children’s heritage. He brings to the board a passion for children’s issues and firsthand experience with the special needs of internationally adopted children.
Fred has volunteered, in a leadership capacity, with various organizations including Boy Scouts of America and previously served as Grand Knight with his local Knights of Columbus Chapter. Fred and his family live in Kernersville, North Carolina.
Jason Bramblett, Member
Jason Bramblett is the owner of Jason Bramblett and Associates, Realtors and various other businesses located in Greensboro, North Carolina. Jason is also a long time certified instructor for Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University where he works with individuals in the community to learn to live debt free. He is also the host of a weekly radio show called “Triad Real Estate 911”. He is a well-known and respected among the local business community. Jason currently serves on the Board of Directors for Calvary Church where he is active in mission work in Panama, Cuba and Guatemala in building pediatric cancer centers, schools and homes.
Jason and his wife are the parents of one biological daughter and two daughters who were adopted internationally.
Erika Noonburg-Morgan, Member
Erika Noonburg-Morgan serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Ventura Foods, based in Orange County, California. Prior to this role, she worked in The Coca-Cola System for nearly 24 years, most recently as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Coca-Cola Beverages Florida. She also served in several international roles based in Europe, including The Netherlands and Switzerland, supporting the EMEA territory. She holds a BBA in Accounting from Emory University, a MBA in International Business from Georgia State University, as well as a CPA license from the state of Georgia. Erika and her husband, Mike, are proud parents of Nicolas (Nico), their young son who was adopted through Hopscotch Adoptions.
Fareeha Haroon Siddiqui, MD Member
Fareeha Siddiqui graduated from high school in Dubai in 1993. She then attended Aga Khan University Medical School in Karachi, Pakistan where she graduated in 1998 with an MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery) degree. She passed her Medical Board Examinations in 2000, which qualified her to pursue her residency and internship in the United States. Her three-year residency was completed at the University of Illinois in Chicago in 2003. She was a Fellow of Medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin from 2003-2006. In 2006, Fareeha began working at St. Anne’s Hospital in Fall River, Massachusetts, as a Hematologist and Oncologist. Currently, Fareeha is a Hematologist/Oncologist at the University of California San Diego (UCSD), holding the position of Associate Physician Diplomate.
Fareeha is Sunni Muslim and maintains a strong Islamic faith, as evidenced by her daily prayers and weekly attendance at the Muslim Community Center in Del Sur (San Diego, California). Fareeha celebrates Ramadan and has participated in the pilgrimage, Umrah, once. She hopes to go to Hajj in the future. Fareeha received kafala of her son from Morocco in 2022 and is committed to raising him in the Muslim faith.
Lucy Armistead, MA, CCPT, LPCC Member
Lucy comes to Hopscotch with vast experience, personally and professionally in intercountry adoption. She established All Blessings International and served as the Executive Director until 2021. Lucy is an International and domestic adoption subject matter expert recognized by national media, as well as the US federal court.
Furthermore, her expertise includes clinical issues, and regulatory compliance for Hague accreditation and is adoption competent. Lucy is also recognized as a trainer for the National Training Development Curriculum (NTDC) and served as a Hague peer evaluator for the Council on Accreditation (COA). Lucy graduated with an MA in Professional Counseling – from Western Kentucky University and a BA in Psychology – from Kentucky Wesleyan College.
As a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional of the Evergreen Institute, Hopscotch benefits from her informed guidance on many aspects of the services families have come to appreciate. Lucy was honored as a Congressional Angel In Adoption in 2006, was recognized by the Joint Council on Children’s Services, and served as Vice President of the Kentucky Adoption Coalition for many years. Lucy and her husband are most proud of having successfully launched all of their children into productive young adults.