Meet the Mentors
Our mentoring team has provided the needed input, support, encouragement, questions, ideas and strategies to give birth to this hands-on educational training initiative. It was a quiet and deliberate decision making process for our mentors in creating initiative.
Their vision is highlighted by the consistency of a mentoring strategy based on clear expectations while empowering adults to put their faith into action through working alongside teens.
Their passion, commitment and energy fills a void for countless teens and their families as students look to their future.
“We promise: There will be no single defining action, no grand programming, no one spectacular lesson, no one individual, or no one solitary scripture passage that will change your thinking or life direction - but instead the cumulative process, - your step by step, action by action, decision by decision that will lead to the next steps in the fulfillment of the life you desire.”
I am Kelia, a boundless wellspring of love and connection. By day, I'm immersed in the world of science; by night, I salsa dance under the stars. Titles fade in comparison to the ties that bind me with family and friends. My life is composed of chapters that highlight the beauty and resilience of life. My days are pages that fill each chapter, and everyday poses challenge and a chance to grow. I am a lifelong learner, who guides other by illuminating their paths. Travel, good company, and yummy food feed my soul and, nourish my bones. In Thailand I swam in a river and touched the bottom of a baby elephants foot! I aim to fill my life with more moments like this. (Student, Mentor, Scientist, Business Owner, Aunt)
I am Suzanne, a determined, contagiously happy, and loving individual. I am a mom to 3 beautifully talented and unique young ladies who keep me on my toes. I began my endeavor with leadership over 30 year ago when I attended the Air Force Academy for college and it has been a continuous process since then. I enjoy camping or glamping in my RV when the time allows and my weekends are free. I also inspire and motivate people to accomplish their goals through a health coaching program. I continue to use social media in the pursuit of coaching people from all walks of life. It has been amazing to see people accomplish their goals and dream dreams they never thought possible. I thoroughly enjoy my leadership role within my church family. (Colonel, teacher, leader, business owner, and friend)
I am Mike. Innovator, risk-taker, implementer. My superpower is to see a vision and over time figure out how to get there. I’m an entrepreneur, All-American College gymnast, 3 time Masters CrossFit Games Competitor, husband, father and grandfather. My greatest claim to fame is proving that an average person can accomplish great success when courageous enough to train with the right team and right coaches. I’ve applied this to lifetime of athletic and business pursuits. Each of my three children have become better versions of myself in their own unique ways. This is my greatest accomplishment. My greatest joy, is remaining married and madly in love with my wife Pam for the past 40 years. My most steadfast belief, is that nothing in life trumps the quality of your relationship with God and your family. (Graphic designer, marketer, advertiser, communicator, youth leader, CrossFit coach, business owner.)
I am Ami. An adventurer at heart and lover of people. Determination, courage and empathy are my most valuable tools. Up for and willing to try most anything and learn most anything - including my most recent half marathon! Experiences are my life currency-I seek them out, treasure them and love sharing them with people. I am the mother to three young adult sons and love every minute of the energy and passion they bring to life.. I am a nature-lover, mountain climber, trained musician, scuba diver,, amateur photographer, former beauty queen and food connoisseur. My mission is to live a life full of adventurous and share it with those I love in an effort to reveal to each how unique, special and absolutely brilliant they are. (Business owner, singer, mentor, running enthusiast.)
I am Rusty. an Artist but mostly a learner and adapter. I learned that if your art doesn't sell but your props do, its okay because the rent gets paid! When I discovered that teaching was a passion of mine, I made new artists and life long friends. I know a lot of artists and had the chance to introduce them to a filmmaker - and one day he hired me to be an associate producer. The best part about that is that I had a chance to be everyone's hero. When the world shut down because of the pandemic, my world got bigger by teaching on the internet and creating connections in over 100 countries. I guess most artists hope to have their work seen in a museum some day, Me too. So I volunteered to paint murals in the animal enclosures of a museum. Good times. (Artist, Teacher, Coach and Lover of cats.)
I am Candace. Charismatic, contagious, disciplined and determined. My “15 Minutes of Fame “was really only about three minutes when I sang the National Anthem to 30,000 of my closest friends in Las Vegas at the National Rodeo. While most kids growing up want a cat or dog to care for, I have Show Cows! Sometimes I slow down to sleep - but most often am running three businesses, a farm and driving many hours on the road. There are never enough hours in the day for all my dreams, hobbies and adventures. I drive a big turquoise truck that has once had a giant St. Jude piggy bank in the bed! I make friends while flying on an airplane. Yes I own a catering company but eat PBJ on a regular basis and I’m not ashamed of it. (Entrepreneur, Cattle Whisperer, Caterer, Multi business owner/manager, Singer)
I am Sherri. Loving, passionate, kind and determined - and yes, fraternity Sweetheart back in the good old college days! As a grandmother of 3 we promised the grandkids no “financial inheritance” but instead an extended season of travel, adventure and learning across America and around the world. My claim to fame might be the inspiring and motivating hundreds and hundreds of kindergarten students to be life-long learners and good citizens for almost three decades. And oh yes, I am still tap dancing and hoping our class will be noticed someday … to be ‘Dancing with the Stars”! And did I mention I am a weekly Mahjong Queen with the best friends in the world! (Teacher, Adventurer, Dancer and “Scout the Therapy Dog” trainer)
I am Jessica. I’m determined, hard-working, a life long learner adventurer and an amateur connoisseur of coffee and donuts! As a newly-wed and mother of two dogs my life is full of new and varied opportunities. I began my journey into leadership while in junior. Being highly involved with older teen mentors I became invested in our community through volunteering on a weekly basis. I eventually completed a 5 summer leadership program with the Tim Hortons Child Foundation that allowed me great travel and adventure opportunities. Earning a bachelors degree in Leadership & Management has led me to fulfill my dreams of impacting our world as a Human Resources manager. (Wife, dog whisper, Mentor, Student, World Traveler, Friend).
I am Michael. Risk-taker. Determined. Imaginative and Creative best describe my life journey. I committed to being a teacher and coach at age 15 and I am assuming the journey will continue until my grave. Family, faith and adventure are the cornerstones on which I continue to learn, dream and act. I embraced Zig Ziglar’s mission at age 26, “You can get anything you want out of life if you just help enough people get what they want” and I never looked back. “Once upon a time, I sat atop a Pyramid in Cairo, fell out of a canoe on the Amazon and crashed my bike in the French Alps.” Needless to say there is a misadventure comedy that needs to be written! Adventure filled five decades+ of marriage! (Teacher, Coach, Business Owner, Pastor, Consultant, Motivational Speaker)
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