Board of Directors

FOUNDER

Lisa and her husband Adam tried to have a child for 5 years. During that time, they suffered multiple unexplained losses including a 20 week stillborn. After the fifth loss, they looked at other options to grow their family. In August 2019, they welcomed their son born from a gestational surrogate.

Lisa is passionate about helping people grow their families. She has experienced the joy of parenthood because of surrogacy and she wants to help others have the same opportunity. It’s her dream to have Families from South Dakota Surrogacy become a resource for anyone going through surrogacy in South Dakota and eventually have grants for future parents to help offset some of the costs of surrogacy.

In her spare time, Lisa and her family like to go hiking, camping, visit with family, and play board games. She also has two Golden Retrievers (Riley and Loki) who are loving the extra “treats” from having a toddler in the house.

CO-FOUNDER

Emilee Gehling is a lawyer with a focus on gestational surrogacy and adoption. She is a Fellow of the Academy of Assisted Reproductive Technology Law Attorneys (AAARTA) and has been involved in hundreds of surrogacy matters and cases. Emilee is passionate about uniting parents with a child or giving them a chance to start a family through surrogacy. As a mother of four herself, she understands the joy and meaning a child brings to the home and works hard to make that joy a reality for each family.

Outside of work, Emilee enjoys skiing, boating, and lakeside bonfires with her husband, Aaron, and their four children. She also cheers for her alma mater, the Fighting Irish, during the fall season. After graduating from law school at the University of Iowa, Emilee acted as Counsel to the Judiciary Committee of the United States Senate before moving back to the Siouxland area to work in the private practice of law.

Emilee has been recognized for her work and named a SuperLawyers Great Plains Rising Star from 2013-2020 and is a Martindale AV-rated attorney. In 2019, she was named one of Siouxland Magazine’s Top 11 Under 40 and she was crowned Mrs. Iowa International. During her reign as Mrs. Iowa International, she used her platform to support local charities and bring awareness to the discussion on alternate ways to grow a family. She partnered with the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, a national non-profit that promotes foster care adoption, to make this initiative a reality.

BOARD MEMBER

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BOARD MEMBER

Amber Rikansrud is a resident of Sioux Falls, SD, where she resides with her husband and three children, including a 17-year-old son, a 14-year-old daughter, and a 6-year-old son. After the birth of her youngest child, Amber learned about two acquaintances who were gestational surrogates at the time. She felt a strong desire to help another family who were unable to carry on their own and became a surrogate herself, giving birth to a beautiful boy who now resides with his family in Dallas, Texas. This journey has been one of the biggest blessings of her life, and she remains passionate about helping other families and advocating for surrogacy in South Dakota.

Aside from her work in surrogacy, Amber is an active volunteer in the Sioux Falls community. She serves as a Co-Chair for the SF West Volleyball club, NICU baby rocker at Sanford Hospital, Junior Achievement classroom teacher, First Impressions team member at Embrace Church-Sertoma campus, and Booster Club Chorus Rep for Lincoln High School. In her free time, Amber enjoys spending time with her family and friends, working out, camping, and participating in other recreational activities.

BOARD MEMBER

Adelle Bauerle is a dedicated mother and professional who resides in Sioux Falls, SD with her husband Richard and two children, Nicholas and Ava. She is a three-time surrogate and has been fortunate enough to help two families struggling with infertility. Adelle’s first surrogate baby was born in Tel Aviv, Israel in October 2019, while her second surrogate baby was born in July 2021 and now resides with her parents in New York. Adelle most recently completed a sibling journey, delivering a beautiful baby girl in October 2022, who unfortunately passed away due to RSV and Pneumonia complications at only 24 days old. Despite this heartbreaking outcome, Adelle remains close with the family and is planning another journey in the future.

Adelle first became interested in surrogacy after meeting a few surrogates and hearing about their experiences. She realized that her family was complete and wanted to help others in need. Adelle currently works as a Patient Care Technician/Unit Secretary in the Birthplace at Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls, and also serves as a substitute with the Sioux Falls School District, where she previously worked as an Education Assistant. Additionally, Adelle and Richard own and manage rental properties.

Aside from her professional and personal responsibilities, Adelle is actively involved in the community. She is a member of the Board of Families from South Dakota, Inc., and serves as Vice Chair for the South District 15 Democrats, where she volunteers extensively in political work. In her leisure time, Adelle enjoys spending time with her children and engaging in outdoor activities like swimming and going to the park. She also loves to travel, especially to destinations with a beautiful beach.

BOARD MEMBER

Gina is a dedicated professional and family-oriented individual who resides in Sioux Falls with her loving husband and three beautiful daughters. As an embryology supervisor at Sanford Health, Gina has accrued almost two decades of invaluable experience in the field. With her extensive knowledge and expertise, she has been able to help countless patients with their fertility struggles.

Having personally experienced the challenges of fertility issues, Gina and her husband underwent two IVF cycles before finally welcoming their first daughter. Subsequently, they were incredibly blessed to conceive twins naturally. This journey has enabled Gina to empathize with her patients and provide them with the compassionate care they deserve.

In her free time, Gina stays active and involved by taking her children to various activities and lending her support in their classrooms. She treasures her family and friends and values the time spent with them. Gina is a remarkable individual who is deeply committed to her profession and her loved ones.