Board of Directors

Click the person's name or photo to learn more about them and why they serve on the USBC Board.

Paulina
Erices

Chair-Elect
Term: 2022-2026
Director
Term: 2020-2022

Scott Hartman

Treasurer
Term: 2021-2023
Director
Term: 2018-2021

Amber Kapuamakamaeokalani Estelle Granite

Elected Director
Term: 2022-2024

Sekeita Lewis-Johnson

Elected Director
Term: 2020-2024

Stephanne R. Rupnicki

Elected Director
Term: 2022-2024

Tina Sherman

Elected Director
Term: 2019-2023

Tiana Pyles, MHA, CLC: Chair
I consider the United States Breastfeeding Committee family since I first attended as a presenter for BSTARS; a Cultural Coalition listed with the USBC in 2016. In 2018, I was a recipient of the "Emerging Leader" award at the Eighth National Breastfeeding Coalitions Convening. As the Executive Director for the Orange Mound Development Corporation, the Tennessee Breastfeeding Coalition and a co-founder of BSTARS (Breastfeeding Sisters That Are Receiving Support), I understand that to truly help and empower families to be prosperous in their communities, it takes a “circle of support.” This “circle of support” must include family, adequate education and health care, affordable, quality housing options, peer support and good neighbors. I work hard on forging networking partnerships at local, state and national levels in order to better serve the community, city and state I am vested in and love.

I’m a proud mother of four and come from an unbroken family lineage of breastfeeding mothers. I actively work on bridging the disparities in community development, health care, and breastfeeding in Memphis, Tennessee, and beyond, by helping to create opportunities to support the much needed work. I continue to be entrenched in this work to honor my ancestral heritage and in efforts to leave a good example for my legacy to live by and to be proud of.

Paulina Erices, MS, BS Psych, IBCLC, IMH-E II: Chair-Elect
I want to see delight, connection, and love between parents and babies not shadowed by worries and judgment. I want to be part of the work that is shaping the opportunities for health and well-being in our communities. I started as a volunteer with La Leche League in Pennsylvania and Colorado. I became an IBCLC in 2011. I worked as an IBCLC in private practice working with families with preemies going home from the NICU. From 2010 to 2016 I also volunteered with the Colorado Breastfeeding Coalition as a Board Member and Conference Coordinator. I worked in a local health department as a Community Health Worker and then Maternal Child Health Specialist. In 2019, with other 12 amazing community leaders, we founded Cuenta Conmigo Lactancia supporting families that speak languages other than English. I currently work as a Program Director with Lifespan Local leading a community-driven maternal mental health program and community public health initiatives.

When people hear that I am an IBCLC, they often feel compelled to tell me that lactation and breast/chestfeeeding are important, that they are IN for the cause! They go on to share their stories and the multiple challenges they had to overcome. The conversations often end up with some broad version of "It's the system. It does not provide families with the education, accommodations, and protection they need to be able to do it." I would like people to understand that WE make the system, we have the experience and influence to inform decisions that would impact our community's health and well-being. I live in Denver, Colorado. I have three kids, one already in college, one in high school, and one in middle school. I am originally from Chile. I love to read and go for long walks with our two puppies.

Lindsay B. Groff, MBA: Secretary
As a former exclusive pumping mom and milk donor, I serve on the USBC Board of Directors to ensure that donor milk continues to be included in the overall conversation around infant nutrition. I've served as Executive Director for the Human Milk Banking Association of North America for the past five years. I also serve as a volunteer on the USBC Governance Committee. I volunteer as a parent advocate at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Donating to the USBC is an investment in the much-needed infrastructure for infant nutrition security. The USBC staff is a good steward of resources. I live just outside of Philadelphia where I co-parent my amazing daughter with our modern family. I love reading, cooking, the beach, authentic relationships, and a good belly laugh.

Scott Hartman, MD: Treasurer
I strongly believe in the mission, vision, and values of USBC, and want to do everything I can to support the work of this great collaboration. I have been involved for many years in clinical research and health advocacy work in the areas of infant nutrition and pregnancy and postpartum health issues through the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine and the American Academy of Family Physicians. The USBC offers a unique model of coalition building using the Collective Impact model. The USBC has done an excellent job of centering equity in its work, and it lifts up the most marginalized populations and helps elevate their voices. It also helps raise up a pipeline of new leaders in the first foods field.

Amber Kapuamakamaeokalani Estelle Granite, IBC, GPCE: Elected Director
My purpose in serving on the board is to share the perspectives of lactation through a Native Hawaiian lense and to learn from others and work together towards a thriving lāhui (nation) that accepts and honors breast/chest feeding as our first food and medicine. Currently, my work includes co-coordinating the Hawaii Indigenous Breastfeeding Collaborative to support indigenous practitioners and I also serve as the Board President of Breastfeeding Hawaii, our Hawaii state coalition. I also work in the WIC setting as a Nutrition counselor supporting families in informed decision-making for themselves and for their ohanaʻs (familyʻs) physical, mental, emotional, lifestyle and environmental health.

The USBC is the kumu, the source, of understanding the vast landscape of lactation, particularly at the national policy level. In order to make or be a part of change, we need organizations like the USBC that build power for families by bringing many voices to the table to huli ka lima i lalo, turn the hands down to get the work done. Fun fact about me: my undergraduate degree is in Apparel Design. As part of my final project, I designed a rainbow-swirled evening gown for one of my favorite drag queens in Hawaiʻi.

Sekeita Lewis-Johnson, DNP, FNP-BC, IBCLC: Elected Director
The USBC has a rich history of strong action-oriented advocacy in the first food field. I serve on the USBC Board to influence and advocate for policies that are just and equitable. I am a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner, International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) and Birth Doula, as well as a Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree and Nursing Education Certificate. For over 20 years, my primary focus has been labor and delivery and maternal-child nursing. I am one of the Co-Founders of Southeast Michigan IBCLCs of Color and Mama's Mobile Milk. I am the Accredited Provider Program Director for Lactation Education Resources. A fun fact about me is that I love to roller skate, especially backward!

Stephanne R. Rupnicki, CLC: Elected Director
I serve on the USBC Board of Directors to be a continued voice and advocate for Indigenous people on Turtle Island. I also serve on the KBC (Kansas Breastfeeding Coalition) board of directors (current past chair) and am a Co-Founder and Leader of PBPNBC (Priaire Band Potawatomi Nation Breastfeeding Coalition) and a Breastfeeding Peer Counselor for the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation. I love to collaborate with other Lactivists. I love connections, meeting with people and sharing space. I'm an empath, extremely sensitive and feel very passionate and deeply about everything I'm involved with.

The USBC helps advocate for those voices not seen and heard and USBC’s passions helps drive for change and to improve policies for families. I graduated from an all Native American school, I've lived most of my life in or around my tribe or surrounding tribes in Kansas. I’m a daughter to passed parents, I'm a sister, an auntie, a friend and a mom to six beautiful children.

Tina Sherman: Elected Director
I am committed to ensuring that we as a society are meeting families where they are and that the lactating and breastfeeding communities continue to advocate and support public policies and practices that center them. I have dedicated my professional life to supporting and empowering birthing and lactating moms and families. Whether serving as a legislative aide in the United States Senate, working at child and women's advocacy organizations, or while supporting birthing families as a certified birth doula; centering moms and dads and supporting them in making the best choices for their families has always been my priority.
The USBC is committed to equity in the first food field and ensuring that the needs of lactating, breastfeeding, and formula formula-feeding families are a part of the national conversation. I drive an electric pink Jeep Wrangler. I call it my Pink Unicorn.

​U.S. Breastfeeding Committee Board of Directors

U.S. Breastfeeding Committee Board of Directors