Our Staff

Andrea Totaro is the Director and co-founder of ANA Adoptions. She has over thirty years of adoption experience, working closely with adoptive parents as well as birthparents. Andrea is in the office around-the-clock, answering hot-line calls from birthparents and providing them with immediate attention and adoption information. She is also readily available to couples, beginning with the preparation of their profile book, guiding them through that first conference call with a birthparent and then advising throughout the adoption journey. Andrea also continues close contact with birthparents throughout their pregnancy.

Andrea began her career in adoption on a date with Attorney Sam Totaro when she accompanied him to a hospital to assist in an adoption. This was the Totaros’ very first placement in what has proven to be a marriage devoted to families and adoption. Over the years, Andrea and Sam have opened their home to women in need of a place to stay, answered pregnancy hotlines, accompanied women to doctor’s appointments, and offered reassurance and friendship both during and after the adoption process.

After losing their first child to a stillbirth, they too hoped that adoption would be their answer to building a family. Andrea and Sam are proud parents of two children, both adopted at birth and now in their twenties. They have successfully maneuvered from the first call advising of imminent parenthood through college boards and beyond. It has been a wonderful journey! While their ties are not through a bloodline their bond in love is as strong as any conventional family. Andrea and Sam will forever hold a special place in their hearts for the two brave and courageous women who entrusted their children’s lives and future to them.

In 2005, Andrea received the prestigious Congressional “Angels in Adoption Award” in Washington, D.C., honoring her commitment to Birthparents and Adoptive Families alike.

Samuel C. Totaro, Jr., Esquire, serves as Legal Counsel to prospective adoptive working through ANA Adoptions in building their family. He is also a well respected adoption litigation expert helping families throughout the country.

Sam has served as President of the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys, and was on their Board of Directors for many years. He continues to be an active member of the Academy, and he is also a member of the Pennsylvania Academy of Adoption Attorneys. Sam is a former member of President Reagan’s White House Task Force on Adoption and also served as an advisor to the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws’ Uniform Adoption Act Committee. Sam was named a “Pennsylvania Super Lawyer” in the field of adoption in 2004, 2006, 2007, and 2008. He has successfully completed over 4,000 domestic adoptions over the past thirty-two years and continues to appear on television and radio as a guest expert on adoption issues. Sam was awarded the Congressional Angels in Adoption Award in Washington, D.C. in 2005, being recognized for his lifelong commitment to adoption.

Jane Ellen Nugent is our Office Administrator. Jane Ellen runs our office with precision and dedication. She is committed to helping birthparents and adoptive couples, and always takes a personal interest in every aspect of your adoption journey. Married and the mother of two grown children, she has been invaluable to our agency.

Christy S. Hallas brings a unique perspective along with her many years of experience when providing support services to both birthparents and adoptive parents. With her parents blessing and support, Christy met her birthmother and half brother when she was eighteen years old. She continues to have a close relationship with Linda and Eric to this day. Christy credits her Mom and Dad’s incredibly insightful and confident parenting skills for her positive feelings about adoption. She grew up with parents who really wanted and waited to have kids, and with the knowledge that there was an amazing woman out there that gave her life.

Christy started working in the field of adoption as caseworker in 1991. She quickly realized this work was not just a career, but a calling. She went on to co-found an adoption agency, serve as Executive Director, sit on various adoption boards and panels, and promote adoption education at a myriad of speaking engagements. Christy has worked for hundreds of birthparents; from helping to create a birth plan, acting as a birth coach, as well as providing grief support.

Birthparents respond to Christy’s judgment free and caring approach. By sharing how she grew up feeling so grateful her birthmother chose adoption, Christy is able to genuinely reassure birthparents. As she describes it, "It is why I’m here."