Souad Dreyfus, 41, has been helping couples have babies for over a decade. Dreyfus, originally from Morocco, came to the United States to attend Keiser College in 1998 where she got a degree in computer networking and business management. She began working as an assistant administrator at a  fertility center where she she found her niche managing both the business aspects and the egg donation and surrogacy cycle for a local fertility specialist.

In 2003 she went out on her own and became the founder and CEO of Open Arms Consultants, an egg donation and surrogacy agency in Bradenton. Souad’s mission with Open Arms Consultants is to offer intended parents, egg donors, and surrogates the complex services they need in a nurturing and warm environment.

unravel: How did you come to find yourself living in Bradenton?

Dreyfus: I moved to Bradenton when I got married in 2004. My husband at the time was a golfer and we wanted a big enough house for our growing family, on a golf course and the one that was affordable and what fit the bill happened to be in Bradenton!

What got you interested in egg donation and surrogacy?

One of my most rewarding jobs was working with a local fertility specialist. I saw how IVF was changing lives and I loved being a part of that. I saw how complicated it can be and when there are so many emotions involved, I knew how important it was to have someone who could be that guide, a shoulder to cry on, and a voice of reason for intended parents.

Tell us a little about Open Arms?

Open Arms is an egg donation and surrogacy agency that I started in 2003 by myself. Our main role is to act as third party coordinator for Intended Parents who need to work with an egg donor, a surrogate mother, or both. Over the last 12 years, we’ve established ourselves as the leading agency in Florida and among the top agencies in the United States. We have grown to a staff of 9 that includes coordinators that speak French and Spanish to best assist our international clients. We have the best surrogate mothers and egg donors that we could have to help our intended parents achieve their dream of having a baby.

Why run Open Arms in Bradenton and not a larger city?

Since I live in Bradenton and have children of my own, I wanted to keep our office local. Our office location in Bradenton allows easy access from Tampa, Orlando, and Miami. It also allows our international clients to experience all that Bradenton and Sarasota has to offer with shopping, beaches, and events. We really find it to be a great balance for work and play.

What is one of the most difficult parts about your job?

The most difficult parts definitely have to do with the struggles people often go through before they even contact us for our help. Our intended parents may have been trying for years to conceive, experiencing multiple miscarriages, illnesses that leave them unable to carry a baby. The next biggest challenges is how long it can take to even get to a pregnancy. With IVF and using an egg donor or surrogate mother, there are so many medical and legal variables involved that getting them all into place can take more time than people expect. Eventually, when we are successful and there’s a sweet baby delivered, it makes the challenges all worth it.

On the flip side, what is the best part about your job?

The list is long but of course the best part is having a happy, healthy baby or babies delivered! We celebrate when we have a positive pregnancy, and when we achieve the milestones along the way. Getting to an embryo transfer can be a daunting task for everyone, but when we get to it and it leads to a positive pregnancy and then a successful delivery, it’s the best part. If you ask any surrogate mother, they will tell you that’s the moment they want the most — the look on the intended parent’s faces when they hold their baby for the first time. Receiving pictures from my clients months and years later is always something to celebrate as well.

What is something you wish more people understood about what you do?

That infertility is not an inconvenience, it is a disease that affects 6.7 million women in the U.S.

That the process takes a lot of patience and trust. There are so many moving pieces to have a successful egg donation and/or surrogacy and it takes a lot of people involved. It’s not just a business, it’s a passion, it’s a purpose that we have to help people realize their purpose — as a parent, as a surrogate mother, as an egg donor.

What do you enjoy doing when you are not working?

I enjoy being with my children Maya and Rian and my dogs Blue and Bijou, doing every day life…cooking, biking, traveling, discovering new and fun spots.

Why is Bradenton a good place for young professionals?

Bradenton is affordable which is very important for young professionals, the city also has an amazing waterfront, and is close to some amazing beaches like Anna Maria! Bradenton definitely has the potential to become the next great City.