Staff Members

Bethany Hardwig
Interim Executive Director
Bethany Hardwig serves as Interim Executive Director of Christian Adoption Services, providing leadership and organizational continuity during a season of transition for the agency. In this role, she works closely with the CAS Board of Directors and staff to support day-to-day operations, maintain strong regulatory and organizational practices, and ensure the agency remains focused on serving children, birth parents, adoptive families, and adoptees with care and integrity. 

Bethany brings more than fifteen years of experience in organizational leadership, program management communications, fundraising, and community engagement. Throughout her career, she has led teams, managed complex programs and budgets, strengthened organizational systems, and helped organizations navigate periods of growth and change.

Her connection with adoption is also deeply personal. As an adoptee herself, Bethany has a longstanding appreciation for the complexity of adoption and for the importance of approaching every person within the adoption circle with dignity, compassion, and respect.

As Interim Executive Director, Bethany's priority is to provide steady, thoughtful leadership while strengthening the foundation for CAS's next chapter. She is committed to supporting the agency's experienced, professional staff, honoring CAS's more than 40-year history, and ensuring that its Christ-centered mission remains at the heart of its work.

Kaylin Gudajtes, BSW

MN Adoption Caseworker & ND Case Assistant

Kaylin graduated in 2022 with a Bachelors degree in social work and serves as the a MN Adoption Caseworker and ND Case Assistant. Her previous experience working at a maternity home has led her path to CAS, where she is based out of our Bismarck office. Kaylin is compassionate, dependable, and always strives to do what is right.  In addition to her caseworker responsibilities, Kaylin has become our resident carpenter and interior designer. She loves spending time with her family and friends. In her free time, you can usually find Kaylin curled up with a good cup of coffee and a book. 

Nikki Matzke

Expectant & Birth Parent Casework

Serving in many areas, Nikki Matzke joined our team in June of 2022 as the Office Coordinator. Within a year of starting with CAS, it was evident that Nikki had a deep love for serving expectant and birth parents which led her to her current role. Nikki's previous experience as a nanny has led her to desire to help grow forever families that are made up of both biological and adoptive family members. Nikki is joyful, caring, and (we think) hilarious. Outside of work, she serves as a youth leader and loves spending time with her 6 nieces and nephews. Nikki enjoys being surrounded by friends. Making others laugh brings her lots of joy! 

Paetyn Nowacki, LSW, LBSW

Fargo Adoptive Parent Caseworker
Paetyn joined CAS in January 2025 as a social work intern and loved the work and mission so much, decided to stay on. She is originally from Fertile, MN and loves smalltown living. Paetyn is driven, passionate, and extraordinarily kind. In her spare time, you can find Paetyn enjoying life with her family, cheering on her brother in golf tournaments, and memorizing all the stats of her favorite sports teams. 

Board Members

Sue Sikkink- President
Luke Beckermann​ - ​Secretary
​Dan DeKrey - Treasurer                                                         Deb Martinek - Member

Board Interest Application

We are always looking for passionate, faithful, and talented people to serve on our board of directors. If you live in ND or MN and are interested in serving on our board, please click the button below and complete our short Board Interest Form. Once completed, a member of our board will contact you regarding further steps for consideration.