Our Experience
Different By Design
In the spirit of meaningful exchange, we invite you to an unrivalled experience at an elegant wine-country retreat, delivered with personalized workshops and unforgettable moments of care.
Our Story
The Heart of Origins
Years in the making, Origins was born from a desire to bring the legendary leaders in the ART community together. To step away, soften the noise, and experience a new standard of connection—where wellness, discretion, and visionary thinking converge.
Our guiding framework is where every interaction is considered, and every voice is valued—to connect in an environment designed for both renewal and rarefied exchange.
Our Mission
Social Impact
We proudly donate ten percent of profits to nonprofit organizations that advocate for ethical, inclusive, and accessible family building.
Because access, ethics, and compassion matter.
Our Values
Extraordinary, Unscripted Moments
Origins intentionally selects the most trusted, ethically grounded experts—fertility clinics, agencies, attorneys, insurance and escrow partners, and mental health leaders—within a setting that is designed for meaningful dialogue and uncompromising transparency.
Here, insight is elevated, connections are intentional, and every voice is chosen with care. Step inside and begin the story only you were meant to write.
Origins Founder
Melissa H. Woodle
I’m the founder and principal of Compass Creative Consultants, where I bring over two decades of experience in marketing, brand strategy, and business development—alongside nearly a decade of specialized leadership in the family-building space. Through Compass, I’ve had the privilege of partnering with surrogacy agencies, fertility clinics, attorneys, insurance providers, and reproductive health organizations to build brands that are not only strategic and effective but also deeply human, ethical, and enduring.
Producing events has been a constant thread throughout my career. I have designed and led both large- and small-scale experiences across the globe—including within the assisted reproductive technology (ART) community—each one thoughtfully crafted to foster connection, trust, and meaningful dialogue. Whether intimate, invite-only gatherings or larger industry forums, I approach every event with the same intention: to create a space where people feel seen, heard, and inspired.
My work is also shaped by my personal journey. I built my family through assisted reproductive technology, including surrogacy, egg donation, sperm donation, and embryo donation. That lived experience informs everything I do, grounding my work in empathy, authenticity, and a deep respect for the complexity and beauty of every path to parenthood.
I currently serve as Co-Chair of the Marketing Committee for The Society for Ethics in Egg Donation and Surrogacy (SEEDS), where I help guide national conversations around ethical marketing and storytelling in the ART space. I’m passionate about elevating the standard of how we show up as an industry—through transparency, education, and integrity.
At the heart of it all, I believe in the power of bringing people together. I believe that when we create space for honest conversation and vulnerability, we unlock something deeper—opportunities to learn, to grow, and to lead with greater intention. That belief is what inspires my work with Origins: to create an experience where connection is not incidental, but the purpose—and where a community can come together in a way that is intentional, memorable, and lasting.