micah melnick
Micah Melnick is the founder and Executive Director of BigHouse. After starting BigHouse in 2009 while pursuing her undergraduate dual degree in Art and Human Development from the University of Alabama, she and her husband returned to their hometown of Opelika to serve the East Alabama foster care community. Micah enjoys her work at BigHouse connecting community foster and adoptive families to vital community resources.
Micah and her husband Blake have four children, Anderson, Maggie, Myers, and Lucy Grace. Their family enjoys traveling, home renovation projects and spending time with their family and friends.
Heather Lee, MSW
Heather joined our staff full-time as our Director of Operations in August of 2024. Heather has a Masters in Social Work from Troy University and a Bachelors in Education from Brenau University. Heather and her husband Derek have been a part of the BigHouse family for many years as a licensed foster home for Lee County DHR and Alabama Baptist Children’s Home. They have 2 children, Lauren (20) and Jackson (18).
Heather and her family have called Opelika home for over 18 years and are so thankful for the opportunity to serve this amazing community.
Maggy byrd, ms, ccls
Maggy joined our staff full-time as our Director of Programming in September 2025. Maggy has her Masters in Child Life and has previously worked as a Certified Child Life Specialist. Maggy and her husband Simmons are newly married and recent Auburn graduates.
We thoroughly enjoy having Maggy as a part of our team and love all she has done at BigHouse.
Jara Walden
Jara joined the staff as our Services Coordinator in September 2025. Jara and her husband Jeremy became a BigHouse family in 2015 and were licensed foster parents for 10 years, adopting their three youngest children out of foster care.
Jara has been a great addition to our staff and has done such a wonderful job maintaining our boutique and allowing us to provide services for our families.
Emma Miller
Emma started at BigHouse as an intern in the Fall of 2025 and joined part-time in January 2026 as our Social Media Manager. Emma is a student at Auburn University getting her Bachelor’s Degree in public relations and communications with a minor in marketing.
Emma has loved getting to be creative with our social media and interacting with families in our community.