Board of Directors

Tom and Kristen Perso

Tom and Kristen are the Founders of Cherry Blossom Vacations and continue to serve as the Treasurer and Board Chairperson. They have a passion for travel, adoption, foster care and disability awareness, and want to share that with other families like theirs.

Tom is the Vice President of IT at a nationwide staffing company and Kristen’s primary job is stay-at-home mom and homeschool teacher. They are parents to four kids, two of whom joined their family by adoption and live with a disability.

Their favorite travel spot is Scottsdale, Arizona!

Reid Nichols

Dr. L. Reid Boyce Nichols is a board-certified pediatric orthopedic surgeon at Nemours Children’s Health, Delaware, where she co-directs the Clubfoot Clinic and Arthrogryposis Program. She is also an assistant professor at Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University.

A founding board member of Cherry Blossom Vacations, Dr. Nichols is recognized for her expertise in pediatric orthopedics, limb lengthening, and reconstructive surgery. She serves on the board of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Her commitment to helping children and families extends beyond medicine through her work with Cherry Blossom Vacations.

Dawn Henricks

Dawn and her husband Jason have six children. Four biological and two adopted internationally, who all have a range of special needs. Dawn is an interior designer and loves to hike, ski, and read. Her family lives in Colorado. Their favorite vacation spots are Avila Beach, CA and Breckenridge, CO.

Alex Duzan

Alex Duzan is honored to serve as a Board Member for Cherry Blossom Vacations, supporting its mission to provide no-cost vacations for adoptive, foster, and special-needs families. Professionally, he serves as a Vice President in cybersecurity at a financial institution.

He is also a husband of 33 years, father of eight, and grandfather of six. Having grown up in foster care and been adopted, he now raises a deaf child with a mitochondrial disorder who uses a cochlear implant—making the mission of Cherry Blossom Vacations deeply personal and especially meaningful to him. One of his favorite vacation spots is Sedona Arizona.

Alicia Lawrence

Alicia and her family live in Michigan. Alicia has an adopted son and has a passion for helping families within the adoption and foster community. She works for a cargo airline during the day and helps around a small farm in the evenings. Her family enjoys camping, playing with their dogs, and rooting for their favorite football teams! Her favorite travel spot is anywhere in the mountains!

Rayline Manni

Board Member