Melinda Sue Eggert
Sue is a senior paralegal supervisor who has lived in the Tampa Bay area since 1980 and has worked in the legal field since 1980. Sue previously worked as a legal assistant and paralegal at Holland & Knight and Hill Ward Henderson, two large Tampa-based law firms. She has focused on adoption since 1993 and has been Jeanne’s “right hand” since the inception of the firm with an unsurpassable dedication to her career and the clients we serve.
Sue is primarily responsible for termination of parental rights proceedings, contested matters, and training law firm and agency personnel. Sue has been heavily involved in some of the most significant adoption cases in Florida and has participated in over a thousand adoptions. She is married, has an adult son and daughter, and is enjoying her five grandchildren.
Daneille Stewart
Daneille joined the firm in 2002 and is a paralegal who works in the Naples office, handling the needs of our clients in Southwest Florida. Daneille has been working in the legal system since 1983 and received her paralegal certificate of completion from Florida International University in 1986. She received her Certified Legal Assistant (CLA) status in 1987 from the National Association of Legal Assistants and in 1988 from the Florida Association of Legal Assistants. Daneille is also a Florida Registered Paralegal.
Daneille received an Associate in Arts Degree in Criminology from Edison Community College in 1996 and received a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Criminology from Florida Gulf Coast University in 2006. Daneille is an associate member of the Collier County Bar Association. Daneille was a founding member of the Adoption Task Force of Southwest Florida, Inc. (ATFSF) and held numerous officer positions of the organization over the years. She has been featured in Florida Legal Assistant Today and the Naples Daily News. Daneille is married with three children, all of whom are adopted, and is a licensed foster parent.
Briana Leonard
Briana joined the firm in January 2025 and serves as a paralegal in the Tampa office. A proud graduate of Florida State University, where she studied business and cheered on the Noles as a member of the FSU cheerleading team, Briana brings both dedication and energy to her work. She plays a key role in handling contested stepparent adoptions, foster care finalizations, search and reunion matters, and assisted reproductive technology (ART) and surrogacy cases, providing compassionate and detail-oriented support to clients throughout their family-building journeys.
Erin Shea
Erin Shea joined our Tampa office as a Paralegal after earning her Juris Doctor from Syracuse University College of Law, where she also completed a certificate in Estate Planning. Erin brings a strong research background and a steady, compassionate presence to her role supporting adoptive families through every step of their journey. Originally from Massachusetts and the youngest of four siblings, Erin was raised in a close-knit family with three older brothers.
She moved to Florida in 2017 to attend the University of Tampa, where she earned her degree in Applied Sociology. After completing law school in New York, she returned to serve the community she now calls home. Her public service work included advocating for Floridians seeking government aid during an internship with the Office of Senator Marco Rubio. Throughout her undergraduate and law school years, Erin volunteered to support students with disabilities, including working as a peer note taker to ensure equitable access to education. During law school, she also served as a research assistant to two nationally respected professors, focusing on disability rights, land use, and zoning law.
Before joining the firm, Erin gained valuable litigation experience working in insurance defense. She now applies that same attention to detail and client-first approach to her work in adoption law. She has a special interest in the intersection of estate planning with family-building and is honored to support clients through some of life’s most meaningful moments. At home, Erin is an animal lover and proud cat mom to two black cats, Lumos and Tarot. Warm, thoughtful, and deeply committed to helping others, she is a valued member of the Tate Healey Webster team.
Shana Dees
Shana Dees is a dedicated Litigation Paralegal at Tate Healey Webster, bringing a strong foundation in both commercial litigation and family law litigation to her support of our legal teams. With a history of excellence in managing complex casework, Shana plays a crucial role in helping attorneys prepare for hearings, trials, and critical procedural milestones.
Shana’s expertise encompasses detailed litigation support across commercial disputes and high‑stakes family law matters, where her analytical skills, organizational precision, and commitment to client‑focused service make a meaningful difference. In her role supporting the contested termination of parental rights and adoption teams, Shana assists with case strategy preparation, document management, legal research, and coordination with clients and experts to ensure comprehensive support at every stage of the litigation process.
.Known for her meticulous attention to detail, proactive problem‑solving, and calm efficiency under pressure, Shana is a valued member of the firm’s litigation infrastructure. Her contributions help streamline complex workflows, strengthen case readiness, and uphold the firm’s commitment to excellence in legal advocacy.
Jessica Watkins
Jessica is a dedicated professional and Army Veteran with a diverse background in the legal field. She has been with the Tampa Office of Tate Healey Webster since 2024. She holds a Bachler’s Degree in Political Science from Columbus State University. Jessica’s main areas of responsibility is assisting with newborn adoptions, a liaison between Birth Mothers and the Law Firm and assisting with Paralegal duties.
Simona Dauphin
Simona Dauphin joined Tate Healey Webster in 2025 as an Executive Assistant, supporting partners and firm leadership with a trusted, proactive, and detail-oriented approach. With extensive experience in fast-paced professional and academic environments, she plays an integral role in supporting firm priorities through employee coordination, marketing initiatives, firm events, and managing the firm’s social media presence. She is deeply committed to the firm’s ethical, compassionate, and client-centered adoption and surrogacy work, approaching her role with care and respect for the families and professionals served by the firm.
Simona studied Cybersecurity at the University at Albany, SUNY, bringing a systems-oriented mindset to her work while maintaining discretion and a strong focus on firm priorities. Fluent in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole, she values clear communication and mission-driven service. Outside of work, Simona is a proud dog mom to her miniature poodle, Beau, and is known for her warm, dependable presence as a valued member of the Tate Healey Webster team.
Kristin Petersen
Kristin joined Jeanne T. Tate P.A. in February 2020 as the Accounting and Executive Assistant. Kristin graduated from the University of South Florida with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. She brings over ten years of administrative experience to our team. As an adoptive parent of two wonderful sons, Kristin is passionate about adoption and loves her role with the Firm.
Rachelle Arnold
With over 30 years of experience in office administration, Rachelle Arnold brings a deep well of knowledge in accounting, payroll, HR support, and office management to the Tate Healey Webster team. Before joining the firm, Rachelle served as an executive assistant for a project management company at MacDill Air Force Base for 13 years, building a reputation for reliability, discretion, and operational excellence.
In addition to her professional background, Rachelle is the founder of Daisy Bug Delivery, a concierge service dedicated to supporting University of Tampa students and families. Her work has been featured on FOX News, NewsNation, and The Kelly Clarkson Show, reflecting her heart-forward approach to service and community care.
Whether managing accounts payable or lending a hand wherever needed, Rachelle brings warmth, precision, and a genuine passion for helping others.
James Taylor
James Taylor joined the firm in June 2017 as the in-house IT support technician. James now acts as the Director of IT & Security. James’ primary duties include handling all aspects of being the Administrator for Office 365, our server, website, and systems.
In addition, he is the liaison between our adoption agency and our legal team for all this technology related. He is responsible for hardware and software-related issues.