Advisory Board Members
Wade Lijewski, Program Director at Children’s Home Society of Florida
Wade Lijewski has worked in the child welfare field for 13 years including residential treatment, juvenile justice, dependency case management, and foster care licensing. Wade is currently the Program Director for Children's Home Society of Florida in Hillsborough County, overseeing their case management organization and foster care licensing, recruitment, and retention program. He has presented on child welfare topics for state and nationwide child welfare conferences. In 1997, Wade obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Michigan State University. He received his Masters of Science degree in Psychology through Walden University in 2007 and is currently enrolled in Walden's Ph.D. program in Organizational Psychology. Wade resides in Lakeland, FL with his wife and two children.
Melissa Sharpsteen, Attorney at Law at Melissa R. Sharpsteen & Associates, P.A.
Ms. Sharpsteen is a trial lawyer practicing in criminal law, family law, bankruptcy, personal injury, probate, and wills and trusts. She operates her own practice in St. Petersburg, Florida and is a graduate of the University of Michigan. Ms. Sharpsteen has been a member of the Florida Bar since 1995. She brings her compassion and expertise to Fighting For Children from her own personal experience of having been a foster child herself.
Tonya Hellwege, Director of Operations at Neighborhood Lending Partners
Mrs. Hellwege is a resident of St. Petersburg, Florida and has worked for Neighborhood Lending Partners, a nonprofit organization, for over a decade. Mrs. Hellwege provides oversight of loan administration functions, including loan closings and construction draw administration, as well as provides assistance in portfolio monitoring and reporting. She is also responsible for managing the human resources function, organizing marketing efforts and providing accounting support to the CFO. Mrs. Hellwege provides oversight to Fighting For Children and brings a wealth of knowledge to the organization to assist with growth strategies and the structuring of the foundation.