Deric graduated with a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in music performance from Northwestern University and the University of Michigan, respectively. He enjoyed a professional career as a band director and then as a professional trumpeter as a member of the West Point Band. Deric's life was changed drastically in 2003 when his wife, Kristen, was diagnosed with stage 4 liver cancer. Apart from his time-consuming role as caregiver, he felt led to alter his professional aspirations. Deric and Kristen founded Inheritance of Hope in 2007, and after completing an MBA (with distinction) from New York University's Stern School of Business, Deric became the CEO of Inheritance of Hope. His passion is for serving and supporting families like his, families living with a parent battling a life-threatening illness. In 2015 Deric was named an Ellis Island Medal of Honor recipient.

Deric lives with his wife, Maitreya, and three children in North Carolina.

Eric holds degrees from the University of Northern Iowa (BA) and Duquesne University (MA) as well as a certificate in marketing strategy from Cornell University. Prior to joining the Inheritance of Hope family, Eric worked at the US Military Academy in West Point, NY, where he served as the Publicity Division Chief of the West Point Band. As Marketing & Communications Director, Eric oversees all print, press, web, and social media marketing materials while implementing Inheritance of Hope’s marketing/communications strategy. His energy, enthusiasm, and creativity increase awareness about Inheritance of Hope and strengthen engagement with our expanding audience. He is passionate about telling our story in order to serve more young families facing the loss of a parent.

Eric lives with his wife, Trina, and their two children in Iowa.

Jill graduated from Fairleigh Dickenson University with a BS degree and has worked as a physical therapy assistant. She cherishes her roles of wife, mother, and friend, and she aptly describes herself as a natural-born cheerleader. Her spirit is full, her voice is loud, and her smile is contagious. Her heart is tender for all those who struggle, and she is not one to sit by when she sees a need. Jill's life has been touched by life-threatening illness through the experience of loved ones, and she has always been the first at the door to lend support and encouragement. Her gifts, her talents, and her extraordinary heart have greatly blessed Inheritance of Hope's team and each family we have been honored to serve -- she is a perfect fit for our mission.

Jill lives with her husband, Adam, and their four children in Florida.

Betsy has a biology degree from St. Olaf College and a master's degree in youth and family ministry from Luther Seminary. She first heard Kristen Milligan speak in 2007 and was instantly drawn to the vision of hope-filled, intentional legacies. Betsy has served Inheritance of Hope as a Team IoH runner and fundraiser, Legacy Retreat® volunteer, and Legacy Retreat® Coordinator. She combines mastery of logistics with strong yet gentle leadership of the many people involved in our programs. No matter what challenges she faces (including a hurricane!), Betsy stays poised and leads with great graciousness. She is excited about thoughtfully planning programs that bring hope-filled resources and relationships to young families with terminally ill parents.

Betsy lives with her husband, Brian, and their three children in Minnesota.

Aaron graduated from Carson-Newman College with a degree in math and Spanish and served in ministries from Kids Across America in Missouri, to Pioneers International in Bolivia, to New York, where his hands were in the development of Inheritance of Hope since its earliest days. While working with IoH, Aaron completed his MDiv and MBA degrees from Mercer University. His focus is on making the best use of resources, finding ways to better serve our families. However, Aaron's role is not simply behind the scenes. His heart for each of the families is seen through his selfless and sincere service during our Legacy Retreats®. The children LOVE him! Aaron's gifts and talents ensure success in whatever he feels led to pursue, but our prayer is to keep Aaron with IoH for many years to come!

Aaron lives in Tennessee with his wife, Allison, and their 3 children.

Heather earned an English degree from UNC-Chapel Hill and a teaching license from Brevard College. She has worked as a veterinary technician and receptionist, public school teacher, and homeschool teacher, and she has also taken on administrative and leadership roles with Cub Scouts and the children’s ministry at her church. In 2014 her husband, John, was diagnosed with ALS, and she became his full-time caregiver. Their family attended the August 2014 Legacy Retreat®. Since John's death in March of 2016, Heather has served as a Team IoH fundraiser, Legacy Retreat® Coordinator, 2017 Legacy Run Director, and Administrative Assistant. As Office & Supplies Manager, she makes sure our whole team and every family we serve have everything needed for enjoyable experiences. She is grateful that her experience with terminal illness allows her to connect with and inspire hope in families like her own.

Heather lives in South Carolina with her husband, Tom, and their 4 sons.

Mikki attended the University of Oklahoma and the Cleveland Institute of Music, earning degrees in music performance. While working as a trumpeter for the West Point Band, she learned of Deric and Kristen Milligan's story and was inspired to help in a capacity that showcased her incredible creative artistic ability. With camera in hand, she works tirelessly to capture memories made at Legacy Retreats®, furthering legacies with timeless portraits. Mikki's camera work has been published with Seventh Generation, Pampers, Canon, and Zillow. Her easy-going and can-do spirit, coupled with a keen eye for visual creativity, bring a fresh artistic vision to IoH's mission.

Mikki, along with her husband Joe and their 3 children are currently traveling the United States in their renovated bus.

Angie Howell is constantly inspired by the people she meets in the Inheritance of Hope family. Her connection to IoH goes back to Davidson College, where she met Kristen Grady Milligan the first week of their freshman year. At a college reunion, Angie heard about the work Kristen and her husband Deric were doing through IoH, and the two former hallmates got back in touch. Angie has served as a Legacy Retreat® volunteer and Coordinator. Now, as Communications Manager, Angie’s gifts for thoughtfully connecting with people and delivering articulate, inspiring communications shine as she discovers and tells the stories of IoH. Other than working for IoH, her favorite job has been that of a stay-at-home mom. Before having children, Angie worked as a NASDAQ market maker and listed equity trader.

Angie lives in Atlanta with her husband, Clay, their two daughters, and wild but lovable dog.

Gina has over 20 years of counseling experience, and most recently added a Master’s of Spiritual Formation and Leadership to her professional credentials. She earned her undergraduate degree from King University in Tennessee, and a Master’s of Counseling from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. In 2002, Gina moved to New York City to answer a call for counselors post 9/11. Since then, she has specialized in grief, trauma, and loss. In her private practice she sees clients of all ages, but she especially has a heart for the children of IoH families. Gina has also worked as a youth counselor and in curriculum development for psychoeducational programming. As our Legacy Resources Manager, Gina ensures that all IoH families experience the best resources IoH has to offer.

Gina lives in North Carolina with her terrier, Lily.

Rebecca graduated from Houghton College with a degree in biology. She has a huge heart to serve and the abilities and willingness to serve in many ways and in many situations. Rebecca has worked in sports ministry at Push the Rock and Sports Friends Ethiopia, on service projects in Mexico and Brazil and Germany, and volunteered and worked as a project assistant at Inheritance of Hope Legacy Retreats®. Also to benefit IoH families, she has run and fundraised in 4 half marathons and 3 marathons. Rebecca is a gifted organizer, keeping up with the countless details needed for smooth events. Her diligence to get things done and done well is matched by her humility; Rebecca never draws attention to herself, yet her impact is profound. She is excited to be serving families at IoH, and we are excited to have her in such a significant role!

Rebecca lives in New York.

Stephen Poquette's favorite memory of his own Legacy Retreat® was the feeling of belonging he experienced as the volunteers and staff welcomed his family when they first arrived. His mom passed away just a few weeks after their family was served on the November 2016 retreat to NYC, but that sense of belonging he experienced kept him involved with IoH. First as a fundraiser, then a volunteer, and now as a staff member, Stephen wholeheartedly works to ensure other families have the chance to make memories before it is too late. As our Program Manager, Stephen supports our Coordinators and makes sure our entire IoH family stays up-to-date on all we have to offer.

Stephen lives in Fort Collins, Colorado, with his golden retriever, Peyton, where he is also involved in serving with his local church.

A child-life specialist and former palliative care and hospice worker, Heidi brings a wealth of experience to our IoH team. She graduated from Sacramento State University with a degree in Child Development. Heidi has a special heart for IoH families--as a child, she watched her father overcome a life-threatening illness only to have her mother succumb to cancer a few years later. Her deep compassion and commitment to our mission drives Heidi to help families facing the loss of a parent feel loved. After previously serving as our Families Manager, she now leads our retreats for families across the country, and her goal is to give each family attending a top-notch experience from the first contact to the last hug goodbye.

Heidi lives in California with her husband, Brian, and three children.

Before staying home full-time to homeschool her children, Dena was the owner/operator of a retail picture framing business in Grand Rapids, MI. Dena began volunteering at Legacy Retreats® with her husband, Blake, in October, 2016. Their dear friend, John Crawford, and his family attended a Legacy Retreat® in 2014, and after hearing about the impact Inheritance of Hope had on the Crawfords, Dena and Blake knew they wanted to get involved. Dena has also served as a Coordinator and Venues Manager. She now leads our Hope@Home™ groups that give families IoH resources and relationships year-round in the comfort of their homes, and she also leads IoH Family Reunions. Dena is passionate about helping families make memories and leave a legacy--just as she herself strives to do for her own children and grandchildren.

Dena lives in Brevard, NC, with her husband, Blake and their teenage son.

Dillon Padgett studied at Florida Atlantic University, earning a bachelor’s in computer science and a minor in Spanish. He worked for IBM for four years and now serves as the Technology Lead for Inheritance of Hope, leading our Hope@Home™ app for families and many of our administrative technologies. Dillon holds himself to the highest standards in everything he does. He is diligent, disciplined, and committed to excellence. At Legacy Retreats his tender heart shines through, and he is gifted at relating to many different kinds of people. Dillon can be counted on to help with whatever needs to be done; he is very capable individually and is also a team player who gladly serves wherever there is a need. He also has a passion for fitness and holds a Certification in Personal Training.

Dillon currently lives in Lansing, MI, as a new homeowner, with his dog Nylah.

Spencer Reid’s introduction to Inheritance of Hope was in May 2015 when his family was served on a Legacy RetreatⓇ. As soon as he could, Spencer began volunteering himself, and joined the IoH staff shortly thereafter. Having worked for Marriott for four years, Spencer has experience in operations, Human Resources, and sales. His heart for serving families combined with his sharp analytical skills and attention to detail make him the perfect fit for his role as Development Coordinator. As the director of Team IoH, Spencer helps our athletes meet their fundraising goals, and he also works behind the scenes to keep our internal development systems working smoothly. Spencer graduated from the University of Maryland with degrees in Economics and French, and previously created a YouTube channel.

Spencer lives in Atlanta, GA.

Anna graduated from Davis College with a bachelor’s in ministry. She was served at a Legacy Retreat® in January 2011 and fell in love with Inheritance of Hope immediately. The impact IoH had on Anna left her with a desire to give back to other kids and families, which she has done as a volunteer, Legacy Retreat® Coordinator, Preschool Group Facilitator, and Legacy Video Coach. Now as the Marketing & Communications Coordinator, Anna uses her passions for writing and social media to raise awareness and share the story of IoH with others.

Anna lives in the Atlanta, Georgia area and is a graduate student at Regent University.

Daniel recently graduated from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ. He majored in Information Technology and Informatics and minored in Critical Intelligence Studies. Daniel joined the Inheritance of Hope team as our Technology Intern in the summer of 2020, in the midst of a global pandemic. He is diligent and dedicated in his work ethic and is kind-hearted and sincere in his character. We are grateful to have Daniel as part of our team!

Daniel lives in Englewood, New Jersey.