Our Headquarters team is made up of four birth professionals with a combined 30+ years experience. They are a passionate group that loves to work hard and play hard.
Learn More About
Birth Boot Camp
We believe birth can be a defining moment for families. We provide the knowledge and tools needed to make informed decisions and have amazing births through quality education and support from a growing community of certified childbirth educators, birth doulas, and postpartum doulas.
-The Birth Boot Camp Headquarters Team
We Believe...
You can have an amazing birth and breastfeeding experience.
Couples can work together and grow closer through childbirth education.
Learning to relax – physically, mentally, and emotionally – is an important skill needed for birth.
Nutrition, exercise, preparation, knowledge, and support are an integral part of having a wonderful birth experience.
Your support team matters! Your childbirth educator and doula are an imperative part of this team.
Breastfeeding is the best start for you and your baby. Education is key to getting off on the right foot.
Meet Our Headquarters Team
Hollie Hauptly, Owner & CEO
Hollie began her journey as a doula and childbirth educator in 2010 after the birth of her first child. That experience lit a light in her that nothing else had and completely changed the course of her life. She left her previous career behind and signed up for doula training just months later.
Over the past 14 years, she’s had the privilege of supporting hundreds of couples through the exciting — and sometimes overwhelming — transition into parenthood. Her own birth experiences, having delivered four amazing kids both in and out-of-hospital with midwives, have profoundly shaped her desire to support others.
In 2013, she joined Birth Boot Camp and is now the proud owner and CEO. With a background in education and curriculum development (holding both a B.S. and M.Ed. in Education), she brings a unique perspective to childbirth education. Her passion lies in creating tools and classes that help families feel confident, prepared, and proud of their birth stories.
Hollie is married to an amazing prenatal and pediatric chiropractor, and their lives and careers revolve around pregnancy, birth, and raising healthy families.
When she’s not working on projects for Birth Boot Camp or supporting her own birth clients, you’ll likely find her with a stack of books, a sewing machine, or a board game in hand. She loves reading (especially historical fiction and personal development), quilting, playing Dungeons & Dragons and board games with her family and friends, and spending time with her husband.
Cheryl Amelang,
Certification Coordinator
Cheryl Amelang is the Certification Coordinator at Birth Boot Camp. She helps upcoming childbirth educators, birth doulas, and postpartum doulas navigate the training and certification process — from the moment they enroll through every step of their Birth Boot Camp career. Her goal is to make sure every student feels supported, encouraged, and confident as they grow into this meaningful work.
Cheryl has been a childbirth educator with Birth Boot Camp since February 2014 and joined the Headquarters team in January 2020. Her journey into birth work began with her own birth experiences, which sparked a deep desire to support and uplift other families. In 2012, she began working as a birth assistant, which continues to shape her perspective as an educator and mentor. Over the years, she has had the privilege of walking alongside countless couples as they prepare for safe, supported, and fulfilling birth experiences.
One of her favorite parts of teaching is witnessing couples grow closer together as they prepare — gaining confidence not only in the birth process but also in themselves and in each other. She loves watching that transformation happen as parents realize they can do hard things and that they’re not alone.
At Headquarters, Cheryl also works behind the scenes on many of the details that make Birth Boot Camp unique — from updating course materials to refining processes that ensure students have the best possible experience. She’s proud to be part of a company that keeps its classes current, evidence-based, and impactful.
When she’s not filling out a spreadsheet, you can find Cheryl homeschooling her children, teaching childbirth classes, sipping on a Sonic Dr Pepper, and avoiding making dinner at all costs.
Liana Wolfe, Administator
Liana Wolfe is the administrator for Birth Boot Camp, as well as a Denver-based certified childbirth educator and birth doula. Her husband, a middle school teacher, encouraged her to go into birth work when she was pregnant with their second child because she needed to do something with the weird obsession she had with watching birth videos! Thanks to him, she discovered a passion for pregnancy and birth that went beyond her personal experiences. She has three kids and two “bonus nieces” after being a two-time gestational surrogate.
Liana has been with Birth Boot Camp as an instructor since 2017 and a birth doula since 2018. Her favorite thing about teaching is that moment, about halfway through a series, when all of a sudden, everyone understands why they need the class, especially the partners. As an instructor and doula, she absolutely loves preparing families for their upcoming journey and supporting them through labor. There’s nothing like seeing parents welcome new life into their arms, no matter if it’s their first or fifth baby!
When she’s not geeking out over the latest research on maternal health or birth outcomes, she can be found curled up with a book, discovering new food with friends, or paddleboarding on the lake. Raising her kids in beautiful Denver, Colorado, means plenty of summer camping and general outdoor shenanigans.
Megan Busk, Head of Marketing
Megan is a Birth Boot Camp (BBC) certified Doula since 2021. She first began exploring birth work after the birth of her first daughter, which proved to be an incredible natural hospital birth experience, supported by an amazing team. Megan realized the power that came from not only having knowledge about birth but also understanding what her body was capable of, and most importantly, recognizing the importance of having choices.
Megan’s own childbirth experiences have been filled with their own unique ups and downs, each offering its own individual and beautiful journey. Through these experiences, she has accumulated a wealth of knowledge and a deep desire to assist women in recognizing their own strength and making informed decisions about their birth options and the path they wish to take.
In her spare time, Megan finds joy in playing with her three daughters, indulging in the pleasures of great books, and enjoying kid-free moments with her husband.
What's In the Name
Why do we call it “Boot Camp?” The day someone gives birth should be one of the most amazing, memorable days in their lives. It is worth investing time, energy, and money in working hard to prepare for this big day. We believe in putting forth the effort to be fully prepared for birth, postpartum, breastfeeding, and parenting.
The Advisory Board
The Birth Boot Camp curriculum was designed with the help of professionals from a variety of specialties to help us create the most comprehensive classes and trainings on the market. Meet everyone that is currently on our Advisory Board.
Andrea Brannock, BBCI, BBCD, LMT, Birth Boot Camp Trainer
Andrea Brannock is a certified Birth Boot Camp Instructor and Doula, certified Birth Boot Camp Instructor and Doula Trainer, licensed massage therapist and mom. She has always had a passion for all things pregnancy. She has five children and each of their births was different. It was during her third pregnancy that she learned about midwifery and found Birth Boot Camp. Her birth was the most amazing experience, and she knew that she had found her passion and calling in life. She wanted to help other families experience the kind of joy she felt during her pregnancy and birth. She trained in 2013 as a childbirth educator and continued to grow her practice from there. As much as she loves helping expectant families, she love training new birth workers just as much, helping others to find their passion and joy. She is now the owner of Adore Birth Services where she serves expectant parents in the greater Fort Worth area and trains new birth professionals across the country. She wants all families to have an amazing birth, it doesn’t matter the location or how. She wants you to feel empowered and educated. That you’ve been heard. All families deserve a positive experience!
When she’s not teaching childbirth classes, at a birth, training new birth workers or in a massage you’ll find her walking Target or hanging out with her kids.
Katie Dudley, HHC, CPT, CES, PES, BBCD
Katie is passionate about natural health and wellness. She enjoys educating and empowering others to take control of their own health. She believes women can have an amazing pregnancy and birth. Katie earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Georgia with a focus on Child and Family Development and Educational Psychology. Following her love of fitness and nutrition, a trainer since 2005, she is a Certified Corrective Exercise and Performance Enhancement Specialist and a Board-Certified Holistic Health Coach. Katie currently has a private Holistic Health Coaching Practice, Cornerstone Integrative Fitness and Wellness, where she works with women and families all over the country. She lives in Atlanta, Georgia with her family. You can also find Katie’s influence and knowledge throughout our curriculum.
Mellanie Sheppard, ICBLC, RLC, BBCI
Mellanie Sheppard, IBCLC is a lactation consultant in private practice with more than 12 years of experience working with breastfeeding families. She is an avid proponent of educating expectant families on Mother-Friendly Childbirth and a co-founder and leader of the Tarrant County Birth Network. A leader in her field, Mellanie frequently presents at conferences and events on topics including breastfeeding the special needs infant, the effects of induction of labor on breastfeeding, and how birth and breastfeeding are inter-connected. Mellanie is the breastfeeding expert featured in the Birth Boot Camp Breastfeeding Class that are included in the Comprehensive Birth Class and Life With Your New Baby.
Dr. Kristen Hosaka, Chiropractor
Dr. Kristen Hosaka, Chiropractor, has been combining her passion for chiropractic with her passion for childbirth since she graduated Cum Laude from Parker College of Chiropractic in 2002. She is Webster Certified for pregnancy chiropractic care. She regularly adjusts women during pregnancy, labor, and postpartum, as well as infants and children. Having had positional issues with her first two babies, she is passionate about helping others attain optimum health and easier births for both themselves and their babies through chiropractic care which she experienced first-hand with her third birth.
History of Birth Boot Camp
Birth Boot Camp was founded by popular blogger and childbirth educator, Donna Ryan, in March 2012. Birth Boot Camp has been a part of thousands of birth since then. Our CEO, Hollie Hauptly, took over in January of 2021 and we have added new trainings, classes, certifications, and experience to our company. Each year has brought us exciting growth and change. Hear from the founder of Birth Boot Camp, Donna Ryan, as she shares some of the many milestones we’ve celebrated through the years.
