Meet the Team
Jarret Zafran, Esq.
Founder and Executive Director
(he/him)
Jarret is an attorney and father through surrogacy and egg donation. He and his husband Elliot worked with a large, reputable agency to have their daughter, Naomi. Their experience was fine and their surrogate was wonderful, but a certain personal touch was missing. After New York legalized compensated gestational surrogacy, Jarret began to envision a new type of surrogacy agency, one that married competence and professionalism with the type of compassionate guidance and personalized support a person expects more from a friend, not an agency. Jarret wanted to be that deeply knowledgeable friend for clients, committed to ethical practices and individualized support for surrogates and parents alike.
Jarret received his A.B. from Harvard University and his J.D. magna cum laude from NYU School of Law. Prior to founding Brownstone, Jarret worked as a litigator at WilmerHale LLP, focused on complex litigation, regulatory, and enforcement matters, and pro bono cases related to criminal justice, immigration, and LGBT rights.
Jarret also served as a law clerk to two federal judges, Raymond J. Lohier, Jr. of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and Alison J. Nathan of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. Before law school, Jarret worked as an analyst for Benenson Strategy Group, conducting qualitative and quantitative research for political, corporate, and nonprofit clients, including for President Obama’s re-election campaign in 2012. Jarret is a member of the American Bar Association’s Assisted Reproductive Technology Law Committee. He lives with his husband two daughters, Naomi and Annie, on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.
His hobbies include all things food (cooking, baking, restaurants and bakeries); travel (US and abroad); tennis; local politics; admiring other people’s dogs.
Yesenia Lemus
Director of Surrogate Services
(she/her)
Yesenia is a two-time surrogate who is deeply passionate about surrogacy and family building. Pregnancy has always come easily to her, and she considers it a privilege to help others experience the joy of parenthood. Since completing her first surrogacy journey in 2020, carrying twins for a California-based couple, she knew she never wanted to leave this field. After spending some time consulting and mentoring, she stepped into her role at Brownstone Surrogacy as Co-Director, where she ensures every surrogate feels supported, empowered, and celebrated throughout their journey.
Before joining Brownstone full-time, Yesenia built a career in public service, always striving to advance health equity and cultural awareness. She worked with at-risk youth and county mental health programs, as well as serving on the board of directors for a nonprofit advocating for victims of domestic violence. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Global Economics from UC Santa Cruz and a Master’s in Public Administration with a specialization in Organizational Leadership from National University.
Yesenia lives in Central California with her husband and high school sweetheart, whom she’s been with for over 20 years. She’s also a proud mom to two incredibly busy kiddos whose sports, music, and theater pursuits allow her to live vicariously through them, since she has absolutely no athletic or artistic talents of her own. When she’s not acting as their personal chauffeur, her hobbies include traveling, attempting adventurous recipes (some more successfully than others), indulging in reality dating shows, and enjoying meals she didn’t have to cook. She also has an inexplicable love for bright colors and a talent for finding the best snacks wherever she goes.
As Director of Surrogate Services, Yesenia is committed to making a lasting impact in the surrogacy community—one incredible journey at a time.
Bianca Mantooth
Case Manager
(she/her)
With a passion for helping others, Bianca brings both personal and professional experience to her role as a Case Manager at Brownstone Surrogacy. Having been a gestational surrogate three times—including a sibling journey—she understands firsthand the emotional and logistical aspects of the surrogacy process.
Her background in healthcare, combined with years of experience in the surrogacy world, has allowed her to support individuals and families with empathy, guidance, and care. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business and takes pride in providing a seamless and compassionate experience for both intended parents and surrogates.
Outside of work, Bianca is a wife and proud mom to five children. She lives in Southern California, where she enjoys spending time with her family and embracing the joy that comes with helping others grow theirs. Her hobbies include reading, camping and fishing, listening to podcasts, and going to the gym.
Candace Huehls
Case Manager
(she/her)
Candace is passionate about helping families navigate the surrogacy journey with confidence and care. As a two-time surrogate, she understands firsthand the emotional, physical, and logistical aspects of the process. Her personal experiences have deepened her commitment to supporting intended parents and surrogates alike.
Before transitioning into the surrogacy field, Candace served in public education. She began her career as a classroom teacher; later moving into school administration, and ultimately serving for 10 years as a District Program Coordinator. Her background in education has honed her skills in communication, organization, and advocacy—qualities she now applies to guiding families through the surrogacy process.
Candace holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Education and resides in Indianapolis with her son. She is excited to combine her personal experience and professional expertise to help families achieve their dreams of parenthood.
Her hobbies include tabletop gaming, sewing, reading, and chauffeuring her teenager to his many hours of dance class.
Koby Omansky
Marketing Manager
(she/her)
Koby is a passionate and experienced marketer and digital strategist with a background in writing, nonprofit advocacy, and reproductive rights. Koby is passionate about alternative family building and sharing the stories of Brownstone clients and surrogates as they embark on the journey of ultimate collaboration–making a person!
Before Brownstone, Koby’s work has ranged from organizing for domestic policy like the Raise the Age NY campaign in 2018 to managing the social media of organizations like #VOTEPROCHOICE, World Central Kitchen, Brooklyn Defender Services, and more. She believes that the key to growth–for audiences, organizations, and communities–is authentic communication and personal storytelling. Koby holds a Bachelor’s in Philosophy from Sarah Lawrence College. She is deeply connected to her queer community in Brooklyn, where she lives with her partner and dachshund. Her hobbies include gardening, fiber arts, poetry, comedy, and singing made-up songs to her pets.
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Claudia Pascale, PhD
Mental Health Consultant
(she/her)
Dr. Pascale is a psychologist holding a New Jersey and Psypact license specializing in infertility, perinatal issues, and reproductive mental health. As Director, she pioneered and developed the Psychological and Support Services program at the Institute of Reproductive Medicine and Science (IRMS) at Saint Barnabas for 22 years. As a private practitioner, Dr. Pascale assists individuals and couples in navigating family-building through assisted reproductive technology and third-party reproduction, as well as conducting psychological assessments for egg, sperm and embryo donation and gestational surrogacy. She actively supports and helps facilitate the LGBTQ+ community in their family-building efforts. Her research interests are in psychometric assessments for third party reproductive participants and the effects of embryo sex selection on the reproductive patient. As a recognized authority on the psychological and social aspects of infertility and reproductive mental health, Claudia has been a past member of Resolve’s Mental Health Advisory Group; past chair of the Mental Health Professional Group of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine and a SART representative (Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology). Dr. Pascale holds a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Fordham University, a Master’s degree from Antioch College, and Bachelor’s degree from Assumption College.
Hobbies: fly-fishing; sea glass hunting; hiking; and reading spy novels
Evan Milton, MD, MPH
Medical Consultant
(he/him)
Dr. Milton is an obstetrician and family medicine specialist. He completed his residency and obstetric fellowship at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx, New York. Dr. Milton received his Medical degree at Michigan State University and holds a Master’s degree in Epidemiology from the University of Michigan. He is a Fulbright Fellow and is professionally interested in social medicine, reproductive justice, and health system strengthening. He was born and raised near the sunny shores of Lake Superior in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and lives now in Washington D.C. with his family.
Hobbies: running; skiing; skateboarding; and comparative mystical literature
Walter
Official Dog
Walter is Jarret and Elliot’s first “child,” a dog that may be a Jack Russell-Beagle mix and may be around 13 years old. What we do know is that he’s anxious and you may hear him bark during a consultation (sorry in advance!), but that he’s fundamentally a good boy. He’s also the inspiration for our provision for pet care for our surrogates!
Hobbies: waiting for food to drop; barking at noises; marking his territory
Brownstone Surrogacy is licensed as a surrogacy matching program by the New York State Department of Health. Our license number is GS221023. We are proud to be among the few agencies licensed by a governmental regulator.
“Gestation is a marvel, no matter how it is accomplished. But gestation isn’t the real magic. Love is the magic. Love is the only magic.” – Early: An Intimate History of Premature Birth and What It Teaches Us About Being Human by Sarah DiGregorio