Lorraine Mejias, MPA
President
Lorraine Mejias is a postpartum doula, educator, and mother of one from Central NJ. She is passionate about increasing the safety in health care and reducing health care disparities, especially within maternal health. Her advocacy for breastfeeding began after realizing how powerful breastfeeding is after having her first baby. She was able to successfully breastfeed for the first three years of her daughter’s life and hopes to reduce the stigma behind breastfeeding toddlers through education. Lorraine loves seafood, traveling, and finding new hiking trails to explore. She holds a Masters in Public Administration and a Bachelor of Science in both Psychology and Criminal Justice, all from Rutgers University.
Danice Miranda, IBCLC
Secretary
Danice Miranda, IBCLC, is a mother of 2 from North Jersey with a passion of supporting, educating and bringing communities of breastfeeding families together. Her professional career includes earning a degree in Health Science from Long Island University and as an educator teaching various science and math courses to pharmacy and medical assistant students. Her aspirations to become a full-time supporter for breastfeeding families, an IBCLC, did not come until she grew her own family, experiencing her own trials and tribulations breastfeeding her two children and through starting her own breastfeeding support group to help her get through those bumpy roads. She realized her love for educating and now her love for supporting families should become one. She has also served as a Peer Counselor in WIC NY Presbyterian and while not working with families she volunteers her time hosting a support group in her local area. During her free time, you can find her hiking through trails at National Parks with her family, taking road trips exploring new places in NJ and reading a good book while sipping coffee at local cafes.
Brook Cook, IBCLC, CCCE, CPD
Treasurer
In 2008, Brook Cook made her passion into her profession when she started working as a peer counselor at the Burlington County WIC where she gained experience working with expectant parents teaching breastfeeding education classes. In addition to the hands-on experience, Brook took additional related trainings as a postpartum doula with DONA International, with CAPPA (Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association), and with Active Birth Institute. Brook became a certified birth doula and a childbirth educator with CAPPA. After earning her an IBCLC, Brook worked in the hospital setting and then returned to WIC, where she became the Breastfeeding Supervisor in 2021. She eventually left WIC to focus on her private IBCLC practice. In addition to raising three boys, Brook is a Breastfeeding Counselor with Breastfeeding USA.
Ellen Maughan, JD, IBCLC
Ellen Maughan, JD, IBCLC, is a retired attorney and mom of three breastfed kids, now grown, who has been helping families achieve their lactation goals for 25 years, first as a La Leche League Leader and then as an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. Ellen’s breastfeeding support journey was birthed from the struggles and empowerment she experienced while breastfeeding her premature firstborn son and her two daughters. Ellen has supported lactation in hospital, WIC and pediatric office settings as well as in her own private practice. She also worked with the Central Jersey Family Health Consortium to draft the New Jersey Breastfeeding Strategic Plan submitted to the New Jersey Department of Health in early 2020 and passionately advocates for innovative lactation programs and policies in the state. In addition, Ellen also speaks at lactation conferences on advocacy topics and loves to garden and explore nature.
Kay O’Keefe, MSN, RN
Kay O’Keefe is a retired registered nurse with a Masters in Nursing who has worked for 40+ years in various positions as a Maternal Child Health Nursing professional. She is a breastfeeding advocate and has experience convening and collaborating with professionals in the maternal child health field as well as with community and state agencies in an effort to improve healthcare for childbearing age families.
Judy M. Schneider, IBCLC
Judy M. Schneider, IBCLC, is a grandmother of 12 grandchildren. Her primary breastfeeding advocacy motivation is to promote, protect and support breastfeeding for future great grandchildren and their friends. She is a retired International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) and an active La Leche League (LLL) leader in Southern New Jersey with decades of experience as a breastfeeding advocate. Her professional experience includes being the Assistant Coordinator of the WIC Breastfeeding Initiative for the counties of Burlington, Gloucester, Cumberland, Salem and Cape May, New Jersey, where she collaborated with community and state agencies to increase breastfeeding rates and duration.
Beth Toner, RN, IBCLC
Beth Toner is a compassionate, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant and Registered Nurse who lives in South Jersey with her family. As a mother of seven beautiful children, she understands first-hand that each breastfeeding experience is unique, and may be filled with both joy and challenge, as well as the difference a lactation consultant can make. Beth has had the pleasure of assisting diverse families along their lactation journey, in settings such as the Department of Public Health and hospitals. Her mission is to empower families through support and evidence-based education to help them meet their lactation goals and make informed decisions. As a trustee, she desires to advocate for lactating families on a larger scale and promote the lactation profession.
Danielle Tropea, MPH, IBCLC
Danielle Tropea is an International Board Certified Lactation Consulatant based in Maplewood, dedicated to enhancing maternal-infant health through expert lactation support. Her approach emphasizes mental health and well-being, offering families personalized guidance for their unique breastfeeding journey. Danielle holds an MPH in Community Health Education from Montclair State University, complementing her role as the NJ WIC State Breastfeeding Coordinator at the NJ Department of Health, where she provided leadership to ensure effective delivery of lactation services. She also has hands-on clinical experience from working in three North Jersey hospitals, offering specialized care for complex breastfeeding challenges. As a mother of two breastfed children—her daughter recently started college, and her son began high school—Danielle’s personal experience fuels her dedication to empowering families with confidence and care.
Maida Valentin, BS, IBCLC
Maida Valentin is a bilingual (English-Spanish) International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, former Nutritionist, and current Breastfeeding Coordinator at the Jersey City WIC agency in New Jersey. As the mother of four breastfed daughters, Maida tackles obstacles at home and work while working on her Masters in Healthcare Administration and Leadership. She enjoys reading drama and suspense novels and completed her first 10k marathon in May 2022. Maida is also working on her faith and spiritual connection. She looks forward to contributing to bridging gaps in the maternal and child health field while advocating for breastfeeding among working families in urban communities. She prays to one day become an educator at a local University.
