Equipped with a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology/social work from the University of Southern Indiana, and a background in social work, public administration, and missions, Lori DeVillez began her career path of serving pregnancy centers in 1992. From her first position which provided on-the-job medical training, to leadership of both a pregnancy center and a maternity home, Lori advanced to becoming President of a national group, an Austin, Texas based organization that assists women’s pregnancy resource centers.
From 1997-2005 Lori travelled the nation helping centers develop strategic ministry and providing training in all aspects of pregnancy resource center management. Lori’s teachings included superior management and administrative practices, strategic planning for boards of directors, personnel training and certification, fund-raising, development of new centers, how to have great conferences and offer continuing education as well as developing successful media campaigns to reach women in crisis and more.
Lori discovered she had a heart for the 100,000 plus students of the University dense city of Austin, Texas shortly after she moved there in 1997. Her vision for a pregnancy center adjacent to the UT campus was realized in January of 2005 when the Austin Pregnancy Resource Center became a reality. In March of that year Lori DeVillez became the executive director of that facility and has planted 12 more pregnancy resource centers in the Austin area, to date, and mobile pregnancy services.
Focus on the Family featured Lori in its April 1998 and September 2002 editions of Heartlink, a web-based outreach to women’s resource/pregnancy centers. In 2009, Lori received her Certificate of Ordination from Victory Christian Center of Austin and later became a graduate of Victory Christian Bible Institute. In 2011, Lori was awarded the Texas Business Woman of the Year Award given by the Women’s Chamber of Commerce of Texas. Lori is a sought after speaker, trainer and coach and is officially certified with the John Maxwell Team.
Lori still serves as founder and executive director Trotter House, formerly known as the Austin Pregnancy Resource Center, in addition to these roles:
Member, National Leadership Alliance of Pregnancy Care Services.
Founder and Coordinator, Austin Area Life Affirming Coalition, (AALAC) in Central Texas.
Field representative, Living Alternatives adoption agency, Tyler, Texas.
Member, University of Texas Campus Ministers, Campus Renewal UT Austin.
Board member and advisory board member for numerous Pregnancy Resource Centers.
Board member, Central Texas Coalition for Life.
Member, Austin Area Youth Coalition, Austin Youth for LIFE.
Member, National Day of Prayer Task Force Committee.
Non-profit Council Member, (ABBA)
Partner, Stephanie and Darryl Fast, Destiny Ministries and Loving Shepherd Ministries, (international orphan advocacy).
Featured speaker for Ambassador Speakers Bureau
Chapter Leader: Save One
Facilitator: Authentic Life, EvanTel, Save the Mother Save the Child
Advisory Board Member for Embrace Initiative, an organization developed to educate the Americans of African descent of the abortion issue
Regional Consultant, Zurvita Corporation, Zeal for Life Nutrition Company
Regional Consultant, Juice Plus Corporation, Immeasurably More Team
Author: God Given: An Accounting of God’s Unmistakable Blessings
John Maxwell Certified Speaker, Coach and Trainer
Lori resides in Hutto, Texas. Home of the Hutto Hippos! She enjoys spending time with Hannah, her beloved niece from Indiana, and her dog Abigail “Abi”.
“Lori DeVillez has been a workshop presenter at Heartbeat International Conferences many times. Lori consistently gets high evaluation scores with positive comments from the attendees which include words like ‘encouraging and helpful.’ Lori is a delight to work with in planning and developing leadership ideas and topics for our conference and Heartbeat always welcomes the opportunity to have Lori present at our events. I am happy to recommend her as a leader for training.”
“Lori Devillez was instrumental in establishing the South Austin Pregnancy Resource Center and initially training me as the Executive Director. Not only was Lori extremely knowledgeable regarding the pro-life movement but I found her relational and comforting. I am constantly reminded of how she taught me to recognize fear. We are in a war over our souls and fear has no place in the Kingdom of God. Acting out of fear can be a devastating blow to the ministry. I’m sure you will find Lori a highly motivational and encouraging speaker.”