Chair
Volunteer
ABOUT JUD
Jud has lived his entire life in Nebraska, where he was both raised and educated. He is a board-certified ophthalmologist and graduated from the Nebraska College of Medicine. After completing his residency in ophthalmology at the University of Nebraska, he furthered his education in retinal disease and surgery at Ohio State University. Jud generously volunteers his services for several international missions, including ORBIS, a non-profit flying eye hospital that provides state-of-the-art care to remote areas around the world. He is married to Susan Litz, and together they have two children and five grandchildren who live in Nebraska and Texas. Jud has been retired from practicing medicine for over 40 years, while Sue is a retired registered nurse. Both enjoy serving their community, engaging in outdoor activities, traveling, and golfing.
President/CEO
SportsLife Leadership
dan@sportslifeleadership.com
816-365-3963
ABOUT DAN
Dan Britton is a speaker, writer, coach, and trainer whose life mission is to help people pursue their passion. After 34 years serving with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and spearheading the ministry’s global expansion from one country to over 100, he founded SportsLife Leadership which combines his three passions: Jesus, Sports, and Leadership. Dan played professional lacrosse with the Baltimore Thunder, earning a spot on the All-Star team, and he was nominated by his teammates for both the Service and Unsung Hero awards. He has written nine books, and he is a sought-after speaker for companies, nonprofits, sports teams, schools, and churches. He is passionate about lacrosse, fishing, pickleball, disc golf, and running—he’s finished numerous marathons including the Boston Marathon twice. Dan and his wife Dawn reside in Overland Park, Kansas, and they have three married children and two grandchildren.
Financial Consultant
ABOUT RON
Ron is a seasoned financial expert with significant board experience, known for driving highly profitable liquidity events and successfully raising both debt and equity capital. With 32 years of experience as a CFO in both public and private sectors, Ron has a proven track record of strategic transformation and value creation. As a second-generation American from Italian immigrants, he holds an MBA in Finance from the University of Illinois and a BS in Management Science. Throughout his career, Ron has received several accolades, including CFO of the Year awards from the Atlanta Journal Constitution, the CFO Roundtable, and the University of Illinois. Additionally, he has been honored with induction into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame for his lifelong contributions as a coach, referee, and advocate. Ron has been happily married to Melody for 45 years, and together they have four children and nine grandchildren with #10 on the way!.
Secretary
Department Manager
FCA Ministry Advancement Department
ABOUT DAWN
Born and raised in the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan area, she began her career with the Federal Government after high school, working for the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Agriculture for 11 years. After nine years of dating, she married her high school sweetheart, Dan, and supported him as he developed the FCA ministry in Northern Virginia. While raising their three children, they relocated to Kansas City in 2002 when Dan was called to FCA Support Center. Now living in Overland Park, Kansas, she has become actively involved in the community, contributing to the FCA ministry and promoting the local growth of lacrosse. For 15 years, Dawn managed a local high school lacrosse team, building relationships and connecting with high school girls and their families. In her free time, she enjoys reading, spending time with family and friends, and caring for her grandchildren.
Vice President
Owl Cyber Defense
ABOUT DAVE
Dave was born in San Antonio, Texas, and has spent the last 40 years living in Northern Virginia. He earned a master’s degree in computer engineering from George Mason University. Celebrating 38 years of marriage, he is a proud father of three and a grandfather to two granddaughters, with a grandson on the way. As the third employee at Trident Systems, Dave successfully led his Cyber Product business unit during its acquisition by Owl Cyber Defense four years ago. In his free time, he loves to spend time with his granddaughters, tackle home improvement projects, and fix things around the house.
Partner
Foulston Siefkin LLP
ABOUT JACK
Jack has spent his entire life in Kansas City and is a partner at Foulston Law Firm in Kansas City. He earned his Bachelors and Master of Business Administration at Kansas State University while playing football for the Wildcats and after three years bouncing around the NFL with the Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Jack went back to school and earned his Juris Doctor at the University of Kansas. Now, Jack has over 32 years of experience in helping clients in Kansas City, across the U.S and Internationally, achieve success in their real estate and business deals (including buying, selling, financing, leasing, etc.), and serves on several boards. Jack and his wife, Haley, one of Kansas City’s top residential and commercial real estate agents/brokers, have two daughters: Giana, an Actress in London, and Talia, a Marketing Professional with Burns & McDonnell. Jack and Haley enjoy watching the Kansas City and K-State sports, and they love activities at or near the water in St. Pete Beach, Florida and Lake Winnebago, Missouri!
President/CEO
BroadStreet Publishing
ABOUT CARLTON
Carlton Garborg was born in Puerto Rico as a missionary kid and lived there for six years before permanently moving to Minnesota in 1975. Growing up in the publishing business, he is part of the third generation of Garborgs dedicated to selling Christian books. With 31 years of experience in faith-based publishing and the Christian gift industry, Carlton founded BroadStreet Publishing Group in the Twin Cities in 2014. The company publishes over 100 titles each year, including high-end gift products, Bibles, leadership books, and Christian living titles, as well as separate imprints for children’s and Spanish books. Among its notable projects are The Passion Translation of the Bible and The Chosen devotionals and novels. BroadStreet sells more than five million books annually, primarily in the general market, fulfilling its mission to share God’s truth with the world in irresistibly creative ways. In his spare time, Carlton enjoys playing golf and cherishes moments with family and friends. Most importantly, he takes his dog for a walk every day, even when the temperature drops to 20 degrees below zero.
CEO & Founder
Jon Gordon Companies
ABOUT JON
Jon was raised in a Jewish-Italian family on Long Island, New York. He played lacrosse at Cornell University and earned a master’s degree in teaching from Emory University. Married for 28 years, he has two adult children. After a quest for truth in his twenties, he found faith in Christ. Today, he is a highly influential author and speaker on leadership, having written 31 books, including 17 bestsellers and 5 for children. His training and consulting company is dedicated to fostering positive leadership, organizations, and teams. In his free time, he enjoys daily prayer walks and playing pickleball and tennis.
Treasurer
EVP Sales
Columbia OCS and TCA adidas
ABOUT JEFF
Jeff hails from Denver, Colorado, but has called Overland Park, Kansas home for the past 27 years. He has been happily married to Debbie Hickok Knapp for 37 years, and together they have three daughters who are thriving in their careers in Kansas City. Their youngest, Annie Knapp Bible, tied the knot last year. Jeff began his professional journey at Hallmark Cards, where he spent 11 years before transitioning into the apparel and sports licensing sector. He currently serves as the EVP of Sales for Columbia Sportswear OCS and TCA adidas, both of which hold licensing agreements with major brands Columbia and Adidas. In his free time, Jeff enjoys visiting family and traveling, and he is also quite competitive on the pickleball court.
Program Director – Osaic Wealth
ABOUT ZACH
Zach was born in 1984 and grew up in Bloomington, Illinois. After transferring colleges, he graduated from the University of Kentucky in 2008. He has been married to his wife, Kelly, for five years, and together they have two children. Zach moved to Arizona from Kentucky in 2014, where he met Kelly at the gym in 2015, and they have been a couple ever since. He has built a career in the financial services industry since graduating, holding various roles at firms like Northwestern, JPM Chase, Wells Fargo, and currently Osaic Wealth. An adventure enthusiast, Zach enjoys hiking, dirt biking, snowboarding, and traveling with family and friends.
Regional Director,
Delmar Mortgage Company
ABOUT CRAIG
Craig was born in Detroit but grew up in Kansas City and San Antonio, ultimately deciding to make Kansas City his home after returning from his service in the US Navy. He and his wife, Shelly, reside in Olathe, Kansas, where they have eight children, ranging from 23 years old to 11-year-old twins. Their eldest welcomed their first grandchild, a baby girl, in September 2024. With a career spanning over 25 years in financial services, Craig has established himself as one of the nation’s top Mortgage Bankers. Together, Craig, Shelly, and their children have enjoyed participating in a diverse array of sports, including boxing, martial arts, baseball, football, basketball, and competitive dance.
Founder & President
Gifts of Grace Ministry
ABOUT DIANA
In 1979, Diana established AdVentures Group, Inc., a comprehensive advertising and marketing consulting firm dedicated to transforming small businesses into successful, large enterprises. With a master’s degree in communications focused on advertising and marketing, Diana has a proven history of elevating small organizations to significant industry players. For the next decade, she was the principal at The Emmaus Group, where she provided consulting services to both national and international companies. In 1996, Diana felt a divine calling to shift her career towards a mission of helping Christians uncover and embrace their unique purposes and gifts from God. This led to the creation of the Gifts of Grace Ministry, aimed at assisting churches and Christian organizations in aligning individuals with service roles that reflect their God-given design. She developed the “Spiritual Fingerprint” assessment tool to help people gain insights into their spiritual DNA. Diana and her husband Hardy reside in Chandler, Arizona, where they raise their five children and enjoy three grandchildren. They share a passion for sports, hiking, traveling, and serving God.
CEO
The Nellis Group
ABOUT JAMES
James Nellis II is a third-generation Realtor who grew up in Northern Virginia. He attended Immanuel Christian School in Springfield, VA, and Paul VI High School in Fairfax, VA. James graduated from Carson-Newman College in Jefferson City, Tennessee, where he double majored in Psychology and Religion. Throughout his career, James has received numerous national and regional awards for his client service, including recognition as one of the Top 100 Realtors for both Re/Max USA and Keller Williams USA. An avid sports enthusiast, James grew up playing tennis and continues to enjoy singles and doubles matches. He is also a dedicated volleyball player, participating in two leagues. Beyond sports, James has a passion for travel, always seeking new adventures across the country and around the world. James is married to Jessica, and they are excitedly expecting their first child.
CEO and Founder
Love To Smile Dentistry and Hideaway Wellness & Aesthetics
ABOUT ESTHER
Esther is the owner of multiple practices dedicated to delivering exceptional dental care, wellness, and aesthetics. Born in Bangalore, India, and raised in Nebraska, she is a proud Cornhusker who earned her dental degree from the University of Nebraska Medical Center. In 2011, she moved to Kansas City to establish her practices. In addition to her office locations, Esther operates a mobile dental studio, the first of its kind in the Midwest! A passionate entrepreneur, lifelong learner, and woman of faith, she is driven by a desire to help people achieve their best health so they can fully embrace the purposes God has for them. As a proud mom of three grown children, one of whom is married, Esther enjoys spending her free time on the golf course, outdoors soaking up the sun, or cooking something special—for her dog.
Senior Managing Director/Partner
Senior Living Investment Brokerage, Inc.
ABOUT JASON
Jason Punzel has served as a Senior Managing Director and Partner at Senior Living Investment Brokerage, Inc. since 2013, based in Chicago. Before this role, he was a Partner and Co-Founder at White Cap Real Estate from 2001 to 2013. He holds a B.S. degree, cum laude, in Managerial Economics and Finance from Cornell University, where he also participated in the Wrestling Team and the Cornell Tradition Honors Program. Residing in St. Charles, IL, Jason has been married to his wife, Becky, for 28 years, and they have three adult children. His daughters, Annabel and Chloe, are attending Elmhurst College and Clemson University, respectively. Their son, Jackson, was an All-American wrestler at Wheaton College and currently serves as the Head Wrestling Coach at Benet Academy.
CEO & Founder
United Sports
ABOUT TED
Born and raised in Pennsylvania, Ted graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill. He has been married for 46 years and a brother in Christ since 1981. After meeting his wife in college, they raised three children together and he started two companies in cellular technology and mergers & acquisitions. Ted then embarked on building a unique indoor-outdoor sports complex in the Philadelphia market. Twenty-five years later, United Sports has welcomed over 20 million visitors, focusing on tournaments, leagues, and camps in six primary sports. He enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, and embracing adventure. As a hiker, hunter, fisherman, and skier, he finds God’s beauty in every experience.
President
Wealthstone Holding, Inc.
ABOUT JIM
Jim Wyland is the founder of WealthStone Family Office, Inc., where he has dedicated over 50 years to his passion for guiding remarkable entrepreneurs as their business and wealth consultant. A graduate with honors in accounting and finance from The Ohio State University, Jim is also a Charter Financial Consultant. He resides in Florida but splits his time among a beach condominium in Naples, an Amish-style post and beam house on ten wooded acres in Powell, Ohio, and a mountain home in Keystone Ranch, Colorado. Jim is the proud father of four sons, who live across the country, and he has four grandsons, making for a lineage of nine Wyland boys! In his free time, he enjoys golfing and taking walks along the beach to meet his daily step goals.
