Meet the Beachy Family.

Their story is one of perseverance and resilience. After nearly five years of struggling to start a family, they knew IVF was the next step — but the financial burden made the journey feel overwhelming and insurmountable.

💖Then they found the Fertility Foundation of Texas.

From their first interaction with our organization, Travis and Rosa felt seen, heard, and supported by people who understood the emotional and physical toll of infertility. The kindness of the board members and staff gave them a renewed sense of positivity.

When they were selected as grant recipients, it was a pivotal moment in their journey. Our financial assistance we gave them the opportunity to pursue IVF — something that once seemed out of reach.

Fast forward to today, and their story is one of joy. After three rounds of IVF, Travis and Rosa are now proud parents to three adorable children.

Infertility can be an isolating experience, but for Travis and Rosa, the Fertility Foundation of Texas was a beacon of hope. Their family is a testament to the impact that compassion, support, and community can have on someone’s fertility journey.

We are honored to be part of their story!💖

Amy Frederick joined the Fertility Foundation of Texas as the Administrative Assistant in 2023. Through her role, she has connected with many individuals facing infertility challenges and feels grateful to contribute to a platform that provides vital support to these families. In her free time, Amy enjoys spending quality time with friends and family, reading, crafting, and traveling.

Carol Silverberg co-founded the Fertility Foundation of Texas with a deep commitment to helping others navigate the financial challenges of infertility treatment. She brings a wealth of skills to the organization, including strategic thinking, advocacy, passion for community service, and a legal mind as a graduate of Vanderbilt University Law School.

Because of Carol’s dedication and hard work, the Foundation has awarded tens of thousands of dollars in grants since its inception in 2013. Through her unwavering leadership, Carol continues to make a lasting impact on those struggling with infertility, ensuring that financial obstacles do not stand in the way of building a family.

Carol enjoys spending her free time with her husband, four adult children, and wonderful grandchildren. She finds pleasure in gardening, reading, hiking, and biking.

Michele Rosas joined the Fertility Foundation of Texas Board, inspired by her own journey with infertility. After experiencing fertility challenges and undergoing IVF, Michele and her husband are now proud parents to three boys. Her personal story fuels her commitment to our mission of providing hope and financial assistance to families on similar paths.

With her lived experience, Michele brings a compassionate perspective to her board service, understanding the emotional and financial struggles many families face. She is honored to contribute her time and connections to help expand our outreach and support network, while also gaining valuable experience in nonprofit board leadership.

Michele enjoys spending time with her husband and their three boys. Whether cooking, taking a walk outside, or trying a new restaurant, Michele cherishes moments that bring her loved ones together.

Amanda Wheeless joined the Fertility Foundation of Texas board after her own fertility journey. After years of navigating infertility, she discovered the Foundation and applied for a grant to support her first round of IVF. The experience was life-changing, not only for the financial assistance but also for the warmth and compassion of the Foundation’s team members, who brought comfort during a challenging time. After the birth of her son, Amanda felt a deep desire to give back. Two years later, she connected with the Foundation to contribute her skills and help other families on similar paths. With a background in marketing, writing, and graphic design, Amanda now plays a key role in supporting the Foundation’s mission. She also volunteers with the ACE Mentor Group of Austin, guiding high school students interested in careers in architecture, construction, and engineering.

Outside of her professional and volunteer work, Amanda loves traveling and exploring with her husband and their two young children, Miles and Matilda. At just 3 and 2 years old, their boundless curiosity makes every outing—whether visiting family, hiking around Austin, or discovering new parks—an exciting adventure. Amanda also treasures quieter moments, often finding joy in a cozy coffee shop with a good book and a warm cup of coffee.

Phil became a dedicated board member in 2017, bringing her passion for helping others navigate fertility challenges. Originally from St. Louis, she moved to Austin to attend The University of Texas McCombs School of Business. After devoting a large part of her career to recruiting in Dallas/Fort Worth at a Texas hedge fund and later at Goldman Sachs, she moved back to Austin in 2015.

Phil and her husband, Adam, had their own fertility struggles but have been blessed with two boys, conceived through IUI and IVF.  In addition to her advocacy for infertility, Phil is a proud board member of Shalom Austin. In her free time, she enjoys trying new recipes, CrossFit light, and listening to audiobooks.

Phil is a co-editor of Fertility & Beyond: Join the Conversation, a book published by the Fertility Foundation of Texas, available on Amazon. The book raises awareness and provides education to individuals facing fertility challenges.

Suzanne Schlesinger has been a dedicated member of the board since its inception. Her passion for supporting others stems from her own challenging fertility journey. After enduring six miscarriages, numerous surgeries, and countless IUI and IVF procedures, she ultimately welcomed her twins. Suzanne knows firsthand the emotional and physical toll of infertility and felt a deep calling to help others navigate their own journeys. Her personal experience fuels her commitment to the Foundation’s mission and its efforts to provide hope and support to families facing similar challenges.

Suzanne is a true people person, and enjoys helping with event planning and donor connections. She enjoys an active lifestyle that includes playing pickleball, walking her new puppy, and indulging in her love of exercise. Suzanne also treasures quieter moments, whether reading with her book club, playing mahjong, or planning her next travel adventure.

Heather Tankersley serves as Board President and has been a dedicated board member for nearly 10 years. Her fertility journey, which included multiple IVF cycles and a difficult miscarriage, led her to a turning point when she received the news that two of her embryos successfully passed genetic testing. Inspired by the support she received and her desire to help others facing similar struggles, Heather joined the Board shortly thereafter. With her background in marketing, graphic design, and technology, Heather lends her expertise to the Foundation’s growth initiatives.

Heather authored and co-edited Fertility & Beyond: Join the Conversation (available on Amazon), an impactful book from the Fertility Foundation of Texas. Through this work, she shares her deeply personal fertility journey, while furthering the Foundation’s mission to support and empower individuals navigating fertility challenges.

Outside of her board role, she is a full-time real estate investor and agent, helping families create financial freedom through real estate. Her hobbies include party planning, cooking, photography, traveling, and spending quality time with her husband and two young daughters. Though her life is busy with young children, Heather cherishes the moments in which she can find joy and relaxation with her family.

Julie Lindholm has over 15 years of diverse experience in the nonprofit sector, bringing an extensive background in leadership, fundraising, and donor relations, enhanced by a data-driven approach to donor cultivation and strategic growth. Her career has been defined by a commitment to creating meaningful impact, combining innovative program development with strong donor engagement to drive organizational success.

Her connection to the Fertility Foundation of Texas mission is both professional and profoundly personal. After navigating her own fertility challenges, Julie received financial assistance that ultimately led to the incredible gift of their daughter.

Julie previously served as Executive Director of a cancer nonprofit, leading initiatives, developing support programs, and strengthening stakeholder relationships to boost the organization’s impact and sustainability.

Beyond this, her passion for advocacy has extended to causes like horse therapy for individuals with disabilities, animal rescue, and the wine industy.

In her free time, she balances staying active through fitness, relaxing with a good book, traveling with her husband, and creating memorable moments with their two adult children.

Dr. Turner was recruited to Austin in 1993 by Dr. Thomas Vaughn, the Texas Fertility Center founder who established the city’s first IVF program at St. David’s. As Director of Austin IVF (now Ovation Fertility Austin), Tom oversaw the growth of the lab to employ seven embryologist and increasing the number of IVF cycles from 95 in 1993 to over 2000 in 2016.

Tom’s career began at Human Embryology’s infancy in the early 1970s. He was the embryologist who performed the world’s first GIFT (gamete intra-fallopian transfer) procedure at the UT Health Science Center in San Antonio.

In addition to running several successful IVF laboratories, Tom has served in national leadership positions and as a consultant to IVF programs worldwide.

Megan McCoin, MD, is an obstetrician and gynecologist (ob-gyn) at Ascension Seton in Austin, TX. She listens to understand you and your preferences as a woman. Then, she works with you to deliver compassionate, personalized prenatal care throughout pregnancy, labor and delivery. Dr. McCoin has a special interest in providing compassionate care in both the obstetrical and gynecological setting. When not caring for patients, she enjoys reading, running and traveling.

Tara Joyner (herself, an former infertility patient) is a licensed professional counselor with a private practice in Austin who, for nearly a decade, has helped bring healing to couples and individuals faced with infertility, intimacy barriers and other challenges.

Representing private equity funds, hospitals, surgery centers, home, health agencies, physician practices and specialized service providers, myriad of players in the healthcare industry benefit from Amanda Jester’s ability to structure and execute sophisticated transactions. Amanda’s deal experience is complemented by her ability to help navigate clients through the regulatory and compliance issues that often arise in complex corporate transactions.

An integral member of Waller’s expansive national healthcare department, Amanda brought her cutting edge skill-set to the firm in 2013 to guide investors, owners and operators in mergers, acquisitions, dispositions, joint ventures, contracting and compliance issues. Whether she is representing private equity funds investing in national dental service organizations or advising healthcare portfolio companies as they examine strategic investment opportunities, Amanda is a trusted partner for the rapidly growing private equity and venture capital backed presence in today’s healthcare market.

Originating Branch Manager at Crosscountry Mortgage

Ashley Brueckner is a Managing Director at J.P. Morgan Private Bank. As a leader of the Austin Market, Ashley oversees a group of Advisors who specialize in advising affluent clients and institutions, helping them think through their complex needs in order to make the best possible financial decisions. 

Ashley engages with key leaders and strategic partners, playing an influential role in broadening J.P. Morgan’s impact on the community. In her multifaced role, Ashley has collaborated with some of the most prominent families and institutions in the region and leverages this experience to build an environment of excellence for her team. Her focus is on bridging the gap between the global resources of an industry leader and the differentiated needs of her clients in Austin. 

“Passionate” and “enthusiastic” are apt descriptors for Ashley’s approach to her role. Ashley’s clients value her devotion to them, as well as her sound, straightforward advice that’s always focused on their best interests. A natural and enthusiastic connector, Ashley has a talent for making introductions, whether linking like-minded entrepreneurs or providing networking opportunities for companies and capital providers. Ashley is passionate about supporting women founders and investors, and chaired the first PowerHER conference for 250 female business leaders in Austin. 

Katie joined the FFOTX Board in 2025, bringing both professional expertise in nutrition and a deeply personal connection to the Foundation’s mission. A native of Columbus, Ohio, she began her journey in service through the Peace Corps following her graduation from The Ohio State University. Her dedication to community health led her to pursue a Master of Public Health at The University of Texas at Austin.

As a former FFOTX grant recipient and adoptive mom, Katie offers a uniquely compassionate perspective. Her own path to parenthood fuels her commitment to supporting individuals and families navigating fertility challenges. She is passionate about advancing the Foundation’s mission through education, advocacy, and emotional support.

Outside of her work, Katie enjoys pottery, yoga, and gardening. She lives in Austin with her husband and three children, and cherishes time spent with family and friends.