National Safe Haven Alliance Executive Director; Arizona Safe Baby Haven Foundation Board President, R.N., B.S.N, BTMC Pediatric Emergency R.N. and Banner Healthcare Safe Haven Coordinator

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As the Executive Director for the National Safe Haven Alliance, she leads an extraordinary team of leaders from across the country. After working with Arizona Safe Baby Haven for seven years and as the Executive Director for over four years she was sought after to provide leadership and direction for NSHA in 2017. She is a wife, mother of three children, and grandmother. She has experienced the tragedy through the unnecessary death of a newborn firsthand, and this life-changing event propelled her motivation to save the lives of precious newborns and help parents in desperation.

Heather’s commitment to the Safe Baby Haven mission and raising awareness to provide an alternative to infant abandonment has led to many babies finding forever homes, and a safe place for a parent to find care and support in a heartbreaking and at times dangerous situation. She has shown love for her community, parents, and babies and is a gracious leader in the Safe Baby Haven realm. Her passion to provide safety and hope shines a light in a time of darkness, she has developed partnerships across the country to be the answer. Heather is also the administrator of a comprehensive training program for healthcare systems to provide best practice and subject matter expert direction in mother and infant safety and prevention.  She is now a national speaker and a voice for the voiceless, changing the tide of fear by presenting the knowledge, answers, and resources to make an impact.

Shannon McCloud lives in Maryville, Tennessee with her husband and two children. She is a native of Virginia and a graduate of Hollins College in Roanoke.

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Shannon served as the Executive Director of A Secret Safe Place for Newborns of Tennessee from 2004 to 2019. She has more than 20 years of experience in non-profit program management and has worked with numerous committees and organizations related to maternal/infant health and early childhood issues.

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She previously coordinated the Resources Mothers/Early Head Start Program at People Incorporated in Abingdon, Virginia, where her jounry to help young pregnant women and their babies began.

Leah lives in Richmond, Virginia with her husband, three children, and several pets. She grew up overseas, in Luzon, Philippines, and has been involved in mission work in South America, Europe and Asia. She is a graduate of Gardner-Webb University in North Carolina and is currently pursuing an MBA at Liberty University in Virginia.

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Leah previously served with the International Mission Board for 12 years as a recruiter/event planner and most recently served as Director of Communications for the Pregnancy Resource Center of Metro Richmond. She also served as a NSHA state rep for Virginia and was effective in working with legislators to expand their safe haven law this past year. She has 15 years of experience in non-profit work and her passion is caring for vulnerable women and children.

Executive Liaison Officer, Will Burner, has been working with the Arizona Safe Baby Haven for nearly eight years and is now with National Safe Haven Alliance. He is a husband, father, and grandfather. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Arizona State University’s College of Public Programs and began his 24+ year Public Safety Career as a Police Officer. He is currently a Captain/Paramedic with a municipal Fire Department and regularly deploys nationally in the Incident Command System. His relationships and understanding of the Police, Fire, and EMS cultures is integral to the mission of the National Safe Haven Alliance.

Dylan Anderson joined NSHA’s Leadership Team in 2022 with nearly a decade of experience in health care specializing in family practice and IT knowledge. He graduated from Everest College Phoenix in 2014 with a Certificate in Medical Assisting at the top of his class and with perfect attendance. Prior to his role as Communications Strategist with NSHA, he spent eight years as the Front Office Manager at an MDVIP concierge doctor’s office in Mesa, Arizona. 

As an Arizona Native and 27-year resident of the desert state, Dylan has a deep connection to NSHA’s place of origin and headquarters. He currently lives in Temple, Texas with his wife Jorden, NSHA’s former Director of Marketing and Media, their young son, and Chihuahua-Min Pin rescue, Nugget.