CHALLENGE DAY BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Janet Tillman — President

Janet has a deep commitment to L.I.F.E. (love, integrity, freedom and ease) and has been expressing this commitment through the field of education for over 18 years. Her career as an educator began at a non-profit organization in Ann Arbor, Michigan that educated at-risk teens placed in a court-ordered day treatment program and those expelled from public schools. The population was primarily black students who were more focused on surviving their current circumstances than they were appreciating the value of education. Janet embraced this challenge and strove to equip her students with tools that would benefit them. It became clear that her role was larger than teaching academic skills, but more as a Life coach creating learning opportunities where the students won academically and personally. Creating resilient adults who were survivors of their circumstances and not victims of them was the primary goal. This work inspired her to create her own coaching business that expresses her diverse background in education and her commitment to supporting others in obtaining their life goals. Whether she is an academic coach to youth or supporting adults in pursuing their personal goals, it is her desire for everyone to experience freedom from the self imposed constraints in their lives so that they can live from their fullest potential. Connecting with Challenge Day in 2004 was beautifully synchronistic. Challenge Day's mission, "Creating a world where every child feels safe, loved and celebrated" has been a perfect fit.

This is Janet’s 2nd year as President of the Board. Under her leadership, she has instituted CEO and board evaluations; clarified board roles and commitments; expanded our reach through prominent media channels and supported the organization to operate consistently and thoroughly with integrity in accordance with our principles.

If you really knew Janet, you would know that she feels blessed to be of service and to be able to honor the spirit of her mother through her partnership with Challenge Day.

Larry Boxer — Treasurer

Larry is an attorney who spent his first 10 years as a criminal lawyer and then spent 20+ years in civil litigation specializing in catastrophic injury, medical negligence, crime-related torts, and elder law. He resides in Oakland, California, is married to Susan Marie Davis, and has three grown children and a dog named Obi. Larry's varied background includes working as a longshoreman, warehouseman, toymaker, aerial cropsprayer (England), teacher, and other jobs prior to law school. He is also a Professor of Trial Advocacy, University of California, Hastings College of the Law (S.F.), and a Hospice Volunteer for the Zen Hospice Project at Laguna Honda Hospital, S.F.

Katie Greenman — Secretary

Katie Greenman has been involved with Challenge Day since she was ten years old. She is a firm believer in the movement and is determined to help Challenge Day impact other lives the way it has her own.

Born and raised in the Florida Keys, Katie began her activism with her two sisters by founding a non-profit organization called Hands On Hands that supported underprivileged Kenyan children through education and needed resources for seven years. Throughout high school, Katie also dedicated her time on the National State Farm Youth Advisory Board and working with other groups to promote personal empowerment and social activism.

Now a junior at Tufts University, Katie studies with the Peace & Justice Studies and Child Development departments. She combines her studies with activism there by training and coordinating PeaceGames volunteers, who teach elementary students skills of conflict resolution and civic engagement. The focuses of her academics include the importance of social and emotional learning and the use of our educational systems as a means of cultivating a world where every child feels empowered and celebrated.

Rich Dutra St. John — Challenge Day Founder and Leader

A former high school teacher and championship wrestling coach, Rich has worked with teens and families since 1978. As a licensed family therapist and drug intervention specialist, he was recruited to open and direct two different adolescent treatment facilities in Northern California, most notably the Thunder Road Adolescent Recovery Center in Oakland, where he served as the founding clinical director.

A gifted facilitator and counselor, Rich is viewed as an expert in working with youth and families. With a shared vision that every child could someday live in a world where they feel safe, loved, and celebrated, Rich and his wife Yvonne combined their collective passion and experience to co-found the Challenge Day program in 1987. Their work with has now positively affected the lives of hundreds of thousands of youth and adults in 39 different states and six Canadian Provinces. Rich now serves as a Challenge Day trainer/facilitator and Chairman of the Board.

Yvonne St. John Dutra — Challenge Day Founder and LEADER

Working for over 24 years with teens and adults in a variety of settings, Yvonne has been instrumental in designing and implementing over 17 different nationally recognized prevention and intervention programs for teenagers.

Yvonne's earliest experiences varied from facilitating classroom presentations and school assemblies, to conducting media programs on gender roles and eating disorders. She later focused her attention on working with at risk youth, addiction, and social oppression issues.

A gifted speaker, program designer, trainer, and educator, Yvonne has received many honors and won numerous awards for her work with teens and families. In 2003, Yvonne was selected to receive the Contra Costa County Woman of The Year Award.

As parents of four daughters, Yvonne and her husband Rich co-founded the awarding winning Challenge Day program in 1987.

Spalding Ashley

Spalding was born in Atlanta, GA and graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill with a B.A. in Speech Communication. It was there that she met her husband and love of her life.

She has led Bible studies and women's retreats, and she currently sings with the praise band at her church.

She has two boys - one in college and one in high school. She is involved in Campus Beautification and is a coordinator for Challenge Day at her son's high school. She and her co-coordinator have created a successful Be the Change Club with 20-30 kids that meet each week to continue the work begun at Challenge Day.

She has created a bonded neighborhood community, bringing together neighbors who have lived together for years but never knew each other. The neighbors now get together to socialize and to band together regarding projects affecting the neighborhood.

Because of her husband's job as a news anchor, they attend many fundraisers, auctions, etc., but Challenge Day is the first organization that tugged at her heartstrings enough to motivate her to get involved with raising funds.

Through attending the Next Step to Being the Change and Living the Change workshops, she was reminded that she has been very, very blessed in her life. Because of this, she wants to share and give back to others and to make a difference. She can think of no better way to do that than to support the efforts of Challenge Day.

TRACEY BRUMMETT

Tracey first discovered the power of Challenge Day to reach and inspire youth in 1999 in the aftermath of the Columbine shootings. From that tragic day forward Tracey was determined to get to the root of the pain young people were experiencing that would lead to such a tragedy; her path lead her to Challenge Day. For over 11 years through coordinating and attending Challenge Days and experiencing Next Steps and Leader Trainings the work and messages of Challenge Day have become an integral part of Tracey’s personal and professional life. Her efforts and passion for the program brought Challenge Day to Colorado for the first time in 2002. Due to her initial efforts over 10,000 kids, parent, teachers and community members have benefited from Challenge Day in Colorado. Creating an organization that will support Challenge Day and follow-up programs has been a dream and goal of Tracey’s since 1999.

Tracey ‘s career for the past 20 years has been a combination non-profit management, event planning and youth leadership and facilitation skills. Tracey received Master’s in Educational Counseling in 2004 and has worked with several school districts and nonprofit agencies in the Denver area creating youth empowerment, advocacy and leadership teams. For the past 3 years as Program Director of Challenge Denver, Tracey has designed, developed and implemented Be the Change toolkits and programs that support and keep the messages and energy of Challenge Day alive. As a co-founder of Challenge Denver she has helped to support over 60 Challenge Days and has supported the ongoing efforts of over 12 ongoing Be the Change Teams.

Tracey lives with her husband and twin daughters in Denver, Colorado.

KEVA DEAN

Keva L. Dean is currently a Social Worker who conducts assessment of families' and individuals' needs around healthcare, employment, child care, transportation and job retention counseling and development. She provides services to assist the family in becoming self-reliant. She collaborates with community, public and private agencies to meet the needs of the entire family. Keva has conducted workshop and orientations, as well as individual coaching. Keva is also a professional musician which includes vocal coaching, teaching piano, and has been teaching and directing choirs for approximately 25 years. She is the mother of three beautiful, talented, and intelligent daughters as well.

If you really knew me, Keva, you would know:

• I love the fact that all my daughters have such audacity.
• I'm a lot like my Chihuahua named "Kitty". She is smart, loving, and fiercely protective of the ones she loves.
• I cannot live without singing and playing the piano. They are just like breathing to me.
• I'm a certified Family Development Worker.
• I enjoy public speaking, acting, and musical performance immensely.

Debbie Dimery

Debbie Dimery hails from Northern California where she lives with her husband, teenage son and practically teenage daughter. She was first introduced to Challenge day through their work at her son's high school. Debbie is particularly excited to be part of the Challenge Day Board of Directors because they weave together her interests in education, youth and social justice in a unique and dynamic way.

In her professional life, Debbie is a certified public accountant and a partner at the firm of Lindquist LLP. All of Debbie's clients are not-for-profit entities and she has over twenty years of providing service and advice to the not-for-profit industry. Professional memberships include the California Society of Certified Public Accountants, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans. Debbie is excited to bring her unique professional acumen to Challenge Day.

In her private life, Debbie loves to read, cook, route for Cal football, attend her children's sporting events, and play bocce. Her favorite activity is traveling with her family.

Steven Echtman

Steven Echtman joins Challenge Day's Board with over 20 years experience in marketing and media production. He is the founder and president of Passinglane, an interactive communications company that leverages technology and media to provide clients with elegant, yet pragmatic, solutions to business objectives. Steven is passionate about the potential media holds to reach people, evoke emotion and inspire them to come together for deeper relating and fulfillment in their lives.

Originally from New York, Steven moved to San Francisco (by way of Los Angeles) in 2002. The day he arrived in San Francisco (moving truck still unpacked) he was invited to a Challenge Day introductory event. Needless to say, that day he was moved in more ways than one. Steven found an instant affinity for Challenge Day and made it a priority to help the organization fulfill its mission and goals.

Adopting and practicing Challenge Day's principals of compassionate communication, non-judgment and speaking one's truth, Steven felt the loss of so many years without these fundamental tools. He realized that if he could use his talents to help reach more people, especially at an early age, many could avoid years of feeling disconnected from themselves and those around them.

After assisting with Challenge Day's annual fundraisers Steven approached Challenge Day's founders with initiatives that held the promise of furthering the organization's reach while increasing resources. Steven was invited to serve on the Challenge Day's Resource Development Committee and a year later, in 2006, he was elected to the Board of Directors.

CHERYL HALEY

Cheryl has always been motivated by the relationship between our individual potential and the larger social dynamics we see exemplified in our world. In the service of that interest, she has had a series of diverse yet related life paths.

She had a private practice as a certified psychoanalyst in New York City for 12 years. Esalen Institute drew her to Big Sur in California where she worked with Stanislav and Christina Grof setting up the Spiritual Emergence Network (an alternative to mental institutions and drugs for people undergoing spontaneous altered states of consciousness labeled "psychotic").

She then embarked on a 2-year odyssey around the world with a healer from New Zealand. They visited healers, shamans, and medicine men from many different countries and cultures, observing and comparing their different philosophies, world views, and intervention techniques with diseased and distressed people. Upon returning to California, she worked with the Monterey Hospice leading groups with people undergoing terminal illnesses and bereavement.

The mission of Challenge Day was immediately recognized as a powerful organization to address the source of our collective conditioning. She is now honored to serve on its Board and live in Tiburon with her beloved George.

J. MANUEL HERRERA

J. Manuel Herrera, an elected official in San Jose/Silicon Valley, envisions the transformation of the public square in our communities and an emerging 21st Century politics that is whole, generative, and personally transformative (www.JManuelHerrera.net).

Manuel is a Trustee for the East Side Union High School District in San Jose, California, first elected to the Board in 1990. For 14 years he was an Adjunct Professor with San Jose State University, teaching for the Professional Certification Program, Nonprofit Management. He is a member of the Board of Trustees for the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology, based in Palo Alto, California.

Manuel’s career is in public policy and administration, working with city managers, elected officials, and nonprofit agencies. He is a public sector consultant most recently affiliated with the National Conference for Community & Justice, a national human relations organization.

Over the years, Manuel has served as Director of Planning for United Way of the Bay Area, Ombudsman for the City of San Jose, and legislative aide on Capitol Hill and in the California State Legislature. He has been a Democratic Party official in Silicon Valley, and has served on the Executive Board of the California State Democratic Party.

Manuel is writing a book about integrating principles of the spiritual quest with public leadership, politics, and the public process, titled “The Reconciliation of Love & Power.” Manuel’s book unveils conflict, power, and compromise as alchemical pathways for spiritual evolution and social change. He integrates these political elements into an emerging 21st Century consciousness based on a new and higher rationality that expresses as love and power in our personal and public lives.

John Robbins, author of “Diet for a New America”, and Ocean Robbins, founder of YES!, have said that “Manuel is a visionary who brings spirit and politics together in a unique and utterly profound way.”

Barbara Marx Hubbard, author and futurist, stated (December 7, 2005): "Every now and then someone appears who embodies the next step of potential in a critical field. That field now is politics. And that man is J. Manuel Herrera. He holds the pattern of how to transcend the current polarities, how to bring people together to cooperate, and even more important, he expresses by his very being a sense of what is emergent, what is creative and innovative. His capacity for evolutionary vision is the seed of a new Evolutionary Politics.”

Manuel says "If you really knew me, you would know that I have been taking breathtaking risks and going through one initiation after another.  This is a time of breaking and healing and breaking-through for which I am deeply grateful."

Manuel has a BA Degree in Social Sciences and an MA Degree in Urban Studies, from the University of the Pacific and Occidental College. He was awarded a National Urban Fellowship that included study at Yale University and assignment as Special Assistant to the Mayor of Seattle. On scholarships, Manuel studied in India and Mexico and traveled worldwide, visiting Tokyo, Hong Kong, Bangkok, New Delhi, Bombay, Athens, Rome, Geneve, Paris, Madrid, Lisbon, New York, Mexico City, and more.

Betsy Leighton

Betsy Leighton has been involved with social service work ever since she can remember. She was a teen counselor in high school and an intern/caseworker at St. Luke's Hospital in New York for three years while attending Barnard. After college, she tried acting (and lasted approximately three weeks!) before becoming a page at NBC. Since then, it's been back and forth between film and television and mental health/social service work.

She received a Masters in Social Work in 1991 at Hunter College and was at AHRC for 4 years where she started the country's first alcohol and drug program for mentally challenged adults. In 1992 she produced and directed a feature documentary on the homeless entitled A Six Voice Home for PBS. After moving to Denver 12 years ago, Betsy became a freelance television producer, with clients including Ovation, Starz, and Animal Planet, for whom she produced long-running series Emergency Vets. She also wrote a young adult novelization of Emergency Vets which was published in 2001 by Penguin Putnam. Betsy was awarded a grant for fiction writing from Colorado Council on the Arts and is now finishing up her first adult novel, My Life on the Stage: Memoirs of a Non-actress . Betsy also serves on the board of the Denver Film Society.

Betsy was inspired to action when her oldest daughter began high school at Denver School of the Arts in 2006 and she saw first-hand some of the profound barriers and pain faced by many of the kids in the community. Betsy brought Challenge Day to her daughter's school in May 2007 and since then has raised money for over 25 Challenge Days throughout the school district. She has formed a chapter non-profit called Challenge Denver which is working toward making it possible for every child in Denver Public Schools to experience Challenge Day and has designed and is providing follow-up programs to measure, encourage and strengthen its benefits.

Betsy lives in Denver with her husband Bob, a long-time cable tv industry executive, and their three children.

Jeff Malone

The father of two teenage children, Jeff knows all too well what the world of teenagers is like today and what it can do to even the strongest of individuals. Jeff joined the Board because he attended one Challenge Day and saw the potential for lasting change that is not always possible with older adults. He sees that the future is in schools right now, where the leaders who can change the world are being trained. He believes that if we want a new and better world, then we should train new leaders who operate with new paradigms--those who look from love and trust; those who want connection, not separation.

Jeff made a commitment to himself in 1990 to make a difference with his life and his choices, and has been making a difference in the world ever since. He is currently working with Debbie Ford on delivering Debbie's world famous Shadow workshops, lectures, and Integrative Coaching to the world. Additionally, Jeff is a professor at JFK University, teaching Integrative Coaching and relationship transformation. Finally, Jeff is a Master Integrative Coach and spiritual mentor. He is known as the coach's coach. He specializes in people and leaders whose vision is very big and important. With an MBA from Stanford and a successful career in business, Jeff has been at the forefront of real world entrepreneurial effort aimed at bringing new leadership style and mentality to businesses of all kinds today.

Mike Matt

Mike Matt lives his mission of creating a world that is safe, peaceful and interactive by asking, helping and appreciating (AHA!). He is an active member of a twelve-step group and supports numerous causes including Challenge Day, Family & Children’s Association, ManKind Project, Partnership at Drugfree.org and Smile Train.

Mike attained a BS in Management Systems from Kettering University while working as a cooperative intern with UPS of Indiana. After 15 years in the supply chain industry, he changed careers to work with youth. He is currently the National Motivational Programs Manager for Herff Jones, Inc. His responsibilities include development, management and implementation of the Herff Jones IMPACT program which provides schools with hands-on, ready-to-use resources focused on improving graduation rates, building character, developing leadership and creating climates of achievement.

Mike currently resides in Indianapolis, IN.

If you really knew me, you would know…

• My "spirit guide" is a Great Dane which, like me, is goofy and fiercely loyal
• I’ve lost both of my parents and try to carry on their legacy of integrity and generosity daily
• In high school, my favorite teacher was Mr. Pelley and the best lesson he taught me is: "Things are never as good as they seem and things are never as bad as they appear"
• My fear is usually expressed through sarcasm and the people I respect the most are those who will call me out on it
• I love, love, love Gayle King because I laugh out loud every time I listen to her and she has communication skills that authentic and effective

Melanie Pealor

Melanie Pealor has been in education since 1974. She has taught all levels of secondary math, along with middle school English. The past 13 years she has been an administrator at Putnam City West High School. Thanks to the Oklahoma Education Association's Closing the Achievement Gaps grant made possible by the National Education Association's Public Engagement Projects grants, "Compadres in Education – A Community Conversation Program" was created at Putnam City West under Melanie's leadership. Melanie, along with other key members from Putnam City West, OEA, PCACT, NEA and the community have continued to sustain and add to this program. In 2008, she was named "Oklahoma Assistant Principal of the Year". For her part in making the "Compadres in Education program a success, the OEA presented her with the "Glen Snider Human Relations Award". Melanie has presented at National Conferences in Washington, DC, New York City, Boston, and many other cities concerning "Family/School/Community Partnerships", "Closing Achievement Gaps", and "New Teacher Induction and Mentoring Programs".

In 2008, Melanie began coordinating Challenge Day programs at Putnam City West High School. Putnam City West students from all walks of life join together to create relationships between school and community, to increase personal power and self-esteem, to shift peer pressure from dangerous to positive support, and to eliminate teasing, oppression, and violence. In 2010, PC West was selected to be filmed for the MTV special of "If You Really Knew Me", based on Challenge Day. Melanie has the vision to develop and implement a culture of learning so that all students are supported in their individual ways.

If you really knew me, Melanie, you would know...

• I am very proud of my only child, Candice, who is an administrator in Edmond, Oklahoma at an elementary school.
• I am a shoe-a-holic!!!! I have shoes from all over the world!!
• I am passionate about University of Oklahoma football. I never miss home or away games!!! BOOMER SOONER!!!!
• Putnam City West High School students are the BEST!!! I am very blessed to be a PATRIOT!!

Jaime Polson

Jaime Polson is the Chief Executive Officer of Challenge Day. Jaime has had an extensive involvement with Challenge Day, starting her journey as a member of its Board of Directors. Jaime has worked with nonprofit agencies for over 15 years in various fields including education, health care, finance and policy.  Jaime has a Bachelor’s degree in psychology from Baylor University and two Masters’ degrees from the University of Chicago in Social Service Administration and Health Care Administration and Policy. 

RICK SEIGER

Raised in New Jersey and now a long-term resident of Michigan, Dr. Seiger is celebrating his 20th year in practice as a Dermatologist and Cosmetic Surgeon. Although he is passionate about his work, Dr. Seiger is ever-so-passionate about making a positive difference in the lives of everyone he encounters.

In collaboration with the Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation, Dr. Seiger founded “Freedom Ink” to offer free laser tattoo removal to ex-gang members committed to turning around their lives. “It is an amazingly moving and gratifying experience to be with these tough men and women - to see their eyes swell with tears as we remove their gang-related tattoos, which for them is “a freeing;” a release to move forward in life” says Dr. Seiger.

Dr. Seiger found Challenge Day through friends and ever since his first Challenge Day experience he is fully committed to the “Be the Change” cause. Organizing Challenge Day events in Michigan, personally sponsoring attendees from all walks of life; he has a standing, open invitation to his sixty employees and their families to sponsor their participation in any Challenge Day event. Generously, Dr. Seiger recently created and produced a “Challenge Day Desk Calendar” as well as an Apple “App” version. These products will hopefully enhance our ongoing fundraising efforts. The electronic version brings “Challenge Day” into the exciting world of mobile technology. As Dr. Seiger sees it; “it will serve as a most powerful tool in encouraging members daily to “stay the course” and to “Be the Change!”

A world-traveler and seeker of enlightenment wherever it can be found, Dr. Seiger brings to the Challenge Day Board his tremendous enthusiasm, creativity, business experience and a wonderfully, infectious laugh.

NIKKI WOODSON

Dr. Nikki Woodson is a lifelong learner and educator. She has served public school children and their families as Teacher, Special Education Program Manager, Coach, Assistant Principal, Principal, Director, and Assistant Superintendent. Currently she is Superintendent of a large urban public school district in Indianapolis, IN. Dr. Woodson realizes the importance of educating the WHOLE child. This means addressing their social, emotional and developmental needs in addition to academics. In the Spring of 2011, after eomxtensive research about Challenge Day, Dr. Woodson brought the program to all of her Middle Schools. The impact reached far beyond the actual Challenge Day and has turned into a community movement. Not only were students lives touched through the program, but each adult participant was impacted in unique and unexpected ways as well.

Personally, Dr. Woodson is married to William who serves as a University Vice President and has two wonderful children attending the public schools she oversees. Serving on the Challenge Day board is an honor for Dr. Woodson. She knows first hand from experience in education, by being a mother and from participating in Challenge Day the need for such powerful programming. Challenge Day ignites a community and she hopes to broaden the impact!

"If you really knew me, you would know that I feel blessed beyond belief to work with and impact the lives of young ones everyday."

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