Our Team
New York Surrogacy Center was created by Casey DiPaola and Joe Williams, attorneys with the law firm, Copps DiPaola Silverman, PLLC, which is well-know for its experience in surrogacy and other forms of assisted reproduction (egg, sperm, and embryo donation). Casey serves as the Director of Intended Parent Services for NYSC, and Joe serves as the Director of Surrogate Services.
Casey and Joe tirelessly advocated for the passage of the New York Child-Parent Security Act (CPSA), the law which legalized compensated surrogacy in New York State, for several years, and were actively involved in drafting and revising the legislation, including lobbying for its passage at the State Capitol. NYSC was the first agency licensed in NY and has been on the forefront of surrogacy in NY since it was legalized in 2021.
New York Surrogacy Center is a member of the Society for Ethics in Egg Donation and Surrogacy, which is a group of agencies that sets best standards for providing ethical services to all parties involved in the surrogacy process, including surrogates, intended parents and fertility clinics.
Casey and Joe oversee every aspect of the surrogacy journey, allowing them to provide personalized, attentive services to all participants in the surrogacy process.
Casey DiPaola, Esq.
(she/her)
Founder & Director of Intended Parent Services
- Attorney licensed in NY, NJ & VT
- Working in the surrogacy/assisted reproduction field since 2012
- Fellow of the Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys since 2015 & Conference Presenter
- President of New York Attorneys for Adoption & Family Formation (NYAAFF) from 2019-2025
- Annual participant in Resolve Advocacy Days
- American Society for Reproductive Medicine Member & Conference Presenter
- American Bar Association, Family Law Section, Assisted Reproduction Technologies Committee, Member & Conference Presenter
- Frequent lecturer on surrogacy to fertility clinics, attorneys and judges
Joe Williams, Esq.
(he/him)
Founder & Director of Surrogate Services
- Attorney licensed in NY & PA
- Working in the surrogacy/assisted reproduction field since 2018
- Fellow of the Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys since 2019
- Board Member, Legislative Committee Chair & Former Treasurer of New York Attorneys for Adoption & Family Formation (NYAAFF)
- Frequent lecturer on surrogacy to fertility clinics, attorneys and judges
- Member of various LGBTQ+ bar associations and advocacy groups
Melissa Reynolds
(she/her)
Senior Case Manager
Melissa understands the struggles that many people endure while trying to become parents. In 2015, she suffered the stillbirth of her twin boys, Liam and Jonah, followed by many additional first trimester losses. These experiences have provided Melissa with great compassion and empathy for others who long to become parents. Melissa still has great hope that she will bring a baby home one day, and she could not be more excited to help others experience the same. When not working Melissa enjoys being outside, quilting, and spending time with her cats.
As a Case Manager, Melissa works with our surrogates and intended parents from the time they are matched until the end of their journey. She will help coordinate the medical and psychological screening process, make all travel arrangements, assist with applications for various insurance policies, coordinate with the legal team and help plan for the hospital stay.
Serena Laverick
(she/her)
Case Manager & Former NYSC Surrogate
As an experienced surrogate who completed a surrogacy journey through New York Surrogacy Center in 2023, Serena knows firsthand the joy that this experience can bring! Serena joined the team at New York Surrogacy Center because she wants to help others navigate through their journey of surrogacy, and share her experience as a surrogate to make this process easier and smoother for surrogates and intended parents alike. As a Case Manager, Serena assists surrogates and intended parents with every step of the surrogacy process, from match through the end of their journey, and everything in between!
Shay Sotelo
(she/her)
Case Manager
As a Case Manager for NYSC, Shay strives to make every match feel informed and supported throughout their journey, as she recognizes that the surrogacy world can be full of unknowns. Prior to discovering her interest and joy in assisting with surrogacy journeys, Shay has experience working for a highly regarded Family Law firm. Shay also graduated from Clark University with a major in Psychology and minor in Women and Gender Studies where she researched both LGBTQIA+ and heterosexual couples’ experiences in diverse family building. She is ecstatic about bringing this academic insight into practice. Shay is honored to collaborate, guide, and empower Intended Parents and Surrogates through the incredibly rewarding journey of creating and fostering a happy and healthy family!
Outside of work, Shay loves to spend quality time with her partner Sarah, dog Oscar, and cat Ellie. Shay is also a big bookworm, enjoys visiting independent bookstores, crafting, and matcha.
Krystal O’Keefe
(she/her)
Case Manager & Former NYSC Surrogate
After 10 years in the medical field, 6 years as a parent, 1 year as a birth doula, and a lifetime of being a birth nerd, Krystal was elated to join the NYSC team as a Case Manager. She was one of the first surrogates to apply to work with NYSC in 2021 after the passage of the New York Child Parent Security Act (CPSA). After a somewhat “wild ride,” Krystal’s first belly buddy was born in the summer of 2023, and his Dads are now two of her best friends.
There is little Krystal enjoys more than being helpful, so she takes pride in the opportunity to make the surrogacy journey as smooth as possible for all parties involved. Because she’s never done learning, in the near future Krystal also hopes to become a certified lactation consultant, infertility doula, childbirth educator, and bereavement doula.
Mackenzie Letus
(she/her)
Program Coordinator
Mackenzie works alongside Casey and Joe as the Program Coordinator for NYSC. She is the first point of contact for both intended parents and surrogates, scheduling consultations and facilitating the pre-screening and matching process.
Before joining the NYSC team, Mackenzie worked at a leading Process Serving Agency in the Hudson Valley area. She acted as a liaison between subcontractors, process servers, and clients and performed various administrative duties. Prior to that, she was a Paralegal at a well-established Family Law firm in the Capital Region. She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology and criminal justice with a minor in anthropology from SUNY Oneonta. In her free time, she enjoys crafting for her small business, attending concerts, and spending time with her partner Michael and their dog, Obi.
Mackenzie understands that family building looks different for everyone and is thrilled to be a part of such an amazing process.
Ashlee Pestuglicci
(she/her)
Office Manager & Former NYSC Surrogate
Ashlee is an experienced surrogate through New York Surrogacy Center and thoroughly enjoys spreading awareness about surrogacy. Her journey has been such a rewarding experience, and has provided her with great empathy for those who long to become parents.
As our Office Manager, Ashlee oversees the administration of human resources and maintaining accounts receivables and payables. Additionally, she performs various administrative tasks to support the team behind the scenes. Ashlee is ecstatic to be part of the NYSC team and loves watching families grow.
Testimonials
“We can’t recommend NYSC enough! Our journey with them has been terrific, they really took care of us the whole way through. Matching was made easier (and faster!) because of them, and the entire process has been seamless. They are classic over-communicators, which we really appreciated! It never felt like we were waiting long for a response from them, they are really proactive when it comes to providing updates. They were always there (day or night) to answer our many questions, and we are so thankful to have them as our agency. Thank you NYSC!”
“We can’t recommend NYSC enough! Our journey with them has been terrific, they really took care of us the whole way through. Matching was made easier (and faster!) because of them, and the entire process has been seamless. They are classic over-communicators, which we really appreciated! It never felt like we were waiting long for a response from them, they are really proactive when it comes to providing updates. They were always there (day or night) to answer our many questions, and we are so thankful to have them as our agency. Thank you NYSC!”
The team at the center went above and beyond to ensure that I understood each aspect of the process, patiently answering all my questions and addressing any concerns that arose. They kept me informed and involved at every stage, providing timely updates and guidance that made me feel empowered and reassured.
What truly sets this center apart is their dedication to making the entire process as easy and seamless as possible. Despite the complexities involved in surrogacy, they navigated everything with remarkable efficiency, leaving no stone unturned to ensure a smooth journey for me and my future family.
Thanks to the New York Surrogacy Center, I am now the proud parent of a beautiful daughter, and I couldn’t be more grateful for their expertise, professionalism, and genuine care. I wholeheartedly recommend them to anyone considering surrogacy – you won’t find a better partner to guide you through this life-changing experience.”
“As a single parent embarking on the journey of surrogacy, I couldn’t have asked for a better experience than what I found at the New York Surrogacy Center. From the initial consultation to the birth of my precious daughter, every step of the way was marked by exceptional communication and unwavering support.“Excellent agency. From start to finish, they did a fantastic job. Professional, knowledgeable, responsive, made us a perfect match, and ultimately we achieved success. Do not hesitate to work with NYSC, they are best in class!”
“Of all of the hard things I had to do during my infertility journey, after speaking with Casey during the Summer of 2022, I realized this might be the easiest one of them all. I was right. From the moment we started with NYSC (literally the very first welcome email), everything was laid out so that it felt like I could breathe, understand what was coming, and know that I was in great care. The organization of the process ( i.e., next steps, setting up meetings, finding resources, etc.) was laid out so clearly, and there was no stress! Their compassion, empathy, and communication were above and beyond. They did all of the leg work, and I could focus on being at my appointments with my surrogate and my baby.
Fast-forward to Spring 2024. I have the best little miracle boy! I will forever be grateful for NYSC and will always champion their work, how they do it, and who they are.”
“Of all of the hard things I had to do during my infertility journey, after speaking with Casey during the Summer of 2022, I realized this might be the easiest one of them all. I was right. From the moment we started with NYSC (literally the very first welcome email), everything was laid out so that it felt like I could breathe, understand what was coming, and know that I was in great care. The organization of the process ( i.e., next steps, setting up meetings, finding resources, etc.) was laid out so clearly, and there was no stress! Their compassion, empathy, and communication were above and beyond. They did all of the leg work, and I could focus on being at my appointments with my surrogate and my baby.
“We couldn’t have been luckier! We have two beautiful, amazing children each born via surrogacy. Our daughter was born in 2017 and my (Jenn’s) sister was our amazing gestational carrier at that time. When we thought about trying to give a sibling to our daughter, we were initially hesitant and nervous about finding someone who would be a good match to help us complete our family. But we hit the jackpot! We were matched with Sam and her family through NYSC, and we clicked with them instantly. We all immediately knew that this match was meant to be, and what started as a match between strangers turned quickly into a family friendship that we all still hold dear. Throughout the journey, we made it a priority to involve each of our families—making embryo transfer, the 20-week ultrasound, and of course the delivery, all family visits. Because of our comfort with one another, we were able to freely discuss things throughout the journey, which allowed things to work very smoothly. We remain in at least weekly contact even months later and look forward to visiting with our new lifelong friends again soon!”
“We couldn’t have been luckier! We have two beautiful, amazing children each born via surrogacy. Our daughter was born in 2017 and my (Jenn’s) sister was our amazing gestational carrier at that time. When we thought about trying to give a sibling to our daughter, we were initially hesitant and nervous about finding someone who would be a good match to help us complete our family. But we hit the jackpot! We were matched with Sam and her family through NYSC, and we clicked with them instantly. We all immediately knew that this match was meant to be, and what started as a match between strangers turned quickly into a family friendship that we all still hold dear. Throughout the journey, we made it a priority to involve each of our families—making embryo transfer, the 20-week ultrasound, and of course the delivery, all family visits. Because of our comfort with one another, we were able to freely discuss things throughout the journey, which allowed things to work very smoothly. We remain in at least weekly contact even months later and look forward to visiting with our new lifelong friends again soon!”
“My journey with NYSC was amazing. From the very first meeting through matching with my Gestational Carrier to providing me support through the pregnancy, I always felt cared for, important and like my personal experience had value. As a single intended parent I relied on NYSC as a support system during what was a new experience filled with a lot of emotions. I’m forever grateful for the entire NYSC team and the role they played in helping me bring my son home.“
“We are intended parents who utilized the surrogacy process to start a family. Katie (intended mom) was born with a rare condition called MRKH and is not able to carry a child so we always knew we would not be able to have children the traditional way. After multiple rounds of IVF, we reached out to NYSC to start the surrogacy process. After a short time, we were matched with our Angel of a surrogate, Angie. We will forever be grateful to Angie, our clinic (New England Fertility) and NYSC for making it possible to have the family we always dreamed of. Our precious baby girl Sylvi arrived on November 30, 2023.”
“We are intended parents who utilized the surrogacy process to start a family. Katie (intended mom) was born with a rare condition called MRKH and is not able to carry a child so we always knew we would not be able to have children the traditional way. After multiple rounds of IVF, we reached out to NYSC to start the surrogacy process. After a short time, we were matched with our Angel of a surrogate, Angie. We will forever be grateful to Angie, our clinic (New England Fertility) and NYSC for making it possible to have the family we always dreamed of. Our precious baby girl Sylvi arrived on November 30, 2023.”
“Working with the New York Surrogacy Center was an incredible journey for us. For a same-sex male couple, the path to parenthood can often feel daunting, and we had a really negative experience working with another agency. But from the moment we connected with Casey & Joe, we knew we were in good hands.
Working with the New York Surrogacy Center was an incredible journey for us. For a same-sex male couple, the path to parenthood can often feel daunting, and we had a really negative experience working with another agency. But from the moment we connected with Casey & Joe, we knew we were in good hands.
The team at the New York Surrogacy Center guided us through every step of the process with warmth, professionalism, and unwavering support. From the initial consultations to matching us with our amazing surrogate, they ensured that we felt empowered and informed at every turn.
Our surrogate helped us realize our dreams of parenthood, and she’s now a cherished part of our extended family. The care and compassion she showed throughout the pregnancy affirmed that we had chosen the right agency, and the right person to help bring our child into the world. Everything fell into place and felt meant to be.
The New York Surrogacy Center didn’t just help us build our family; they became an integral part of it. We will forever be grateful for their expertise, dedication, and the love they brought to our journey. Thanks to them, we are now proud fathers to a beautiful baby, and our hearts are fuller than we ever thought possible.”
“Working with the New York Surrogacy Center was an incredible journey for us. For a same-sex male couple, the path to parenthood can often feel daunting, and we had a really negative experience working with another agency. But from the moment we connected with Casey & Joe, we knew we were in good hands.
