Growing Leaders Team
Meet Our Team
Cody
Braun
Director of Marketing
Cody graduated from Georgia College & State University in 2015 with a Business degree focusing on Marketing. As a college student, Cody served as a Young Life Leader at a local high school in Milledgeville, Georgia. Cody joined the Growing Leaders team as a Marketing Apprentice in 2015, worked his way into a full-time position in the summer of 2016, and now he oversees all of our marketing efforts as the Director of Marketing.
FUN FACTS
Guilty Pleasure:
Fantasy Football
What’s on my bucket list:
Go to every MLB stadium
Random Fact:
Was an extra in a few movies and tv shows, including The Blind Side
Josey
Butcher
Associate Director of Partner Success
Josey's passion for leadership development began in college at the University of Georgia. Josey graduated in 2012 with a degree in business management and went on to serve in a variety of ministry roles in Athens and Clarkesville. In each position, Josey deepened her passion for leadership development and mentoring young men and women. Josey is excited to serve as the Program Coordinator on the Growing Leaders team.
April
Carson
Impact
Specialist
April grew up in the Atlanta area and married her high school sweetheart, Ryan, in 2001. April holds a Bachelor's and Master's degree in Early Childhood Education. After almost a decade of teaching in the public schools, she transitioned into the job of growing her own little leaders, Kate and Emma. Her family has also expanded at times to serve children who are in foster care. April’s role at Growing Leaders is a perfect fit with her personal mission, which is to come alongside students in their development and support others who are doing the same.
Shingirai
Chigwere
Operations Assistant
Nathan
Culver
Accountant
Tim
Elmore
Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Tim began working with students in 1979 and his passion is still investing in the next generation. After working alongside best-selling leadership author John C. Maxwell for more than twenty-five years, he founded Growing Leaders in 2003 to focus solely on creating leadership training events and resources for emerging leaders. Tim is the author & creative visionary behind Habitudes: Images That Form Leadership Habits and Attitudes.
Fun Facts
Who have been your influences in life?
Parents, John Maxwell, C. S. Lewis, Malcolm Gladwell
Favorite Snack:
Popcorn
Guilty Pleasure:
Watching and discussing movies
Trent
Hope
Director of Operations
Trent Hope is a native of Georgia and graduate of the University of North Georgia with a degree in History and Sociology. In the formative years of his adolescence, Trent was impacted by a few pivotal leaders that forever directed him on a path of desiring to lead and serve others. His heart is helping those around him discover what they are passionate about and challenging them to pursue it. He has worked with organizations such as BigStuf Camps, Orange, and Adventures in Missions. When he's not hiking a trail you can find him deep in a book with a cup of coffee.
Fun Facts
Favorite Movie: Last of the Mohicans
Favorite Quote: "Why do we fall, sir? So that we can learn to pick ourselves up." - Alfred Pennyworth, Batman Begins
Fun Fact: He's traveled to and lived in over 30 countries.
Adrian
Hutchins
Impact
Specialist
Aaron
James
Chief Philanthropy Officer
Andrew
McPeak
Vice President
of Content
Andrew married his wife Anna and graduated from Bryan College in 2011. Working with non-profits for more than 5 years, Andrew’s experiences have led him to become well versed in communicating to and about the next generations. He has developed multiple conference presentations, curricula, and articles to serve a variety of organizations. Andrew serves as Program Excellence Manager as well as a writer and content developer for Growing Leaders.
Fun Facts
Favorite Food:
Thai
Favorite Book:
Gilead by Marilynne Robinson
What’s on my bucket list:
Watch every movie on the AFI top 100 list
Kim
McDonald
Impact
Specialist
Steve
Moore
President
Tami
Payton
Speaking Events
Coordinator
JT
Thoms
Vice President of
Business Development
Fueled by an appetite of learning from others, J.T.’s mission in life is to make a positive impact by encouraging people to become who they dream to be. J.T.’s professional immersion began at Booster Enterprises, where he spent over five years dedicating his time toward investing in people and developing new markets for the leadership and character building organization. Blessed by a large window of opportunity early in his career, J.T. has developed dexterities in multiple fields including event hosting, keynote speaking, leadership-development, and relationship building. It’s his passion to know and encourage others that he believes will help him fall forward as he pursues his mission in life.
Fun Facts
What’s on your Bucket List?:
I want to dunk myself in every ocean… still working on the Arctic!
What are you grateful for?
My wife Bethany, my parents Terry and Sandy, and my 12 siblings
Random Fact:
I once made a putt-putt shot that went viral on Youtube.
Matt
Ward
Digital Experience
Leader
Matt graduated from Cedarville University in 2009 with a degree in Theology. He spent the next 5 years managing various Chick-fil-A restaurants where he was most energized by developing and mentoring his team members. Matt joined the Growing Leaders team in 2014, excited to combine his passions for leadership development and service.
Fun Facts
Favorite Movie:
A Few Good Men
Favorite Quote:
"No vision is worth the paper it's printed on unless it is communicated constantly and reinforced with rewards." - Jack Welch
Best Advice:
Always be the most prepared person in the room.
Chelsea
Wood
Account
Specialist
Tyler
Yaken
Vice President
of Partner Success
Over the past decade Tyler has worked with three separate leadership development organizations all geared towards equipping the next generation. These opportunities have shaped his perspective on what it takes to have an experiential event and a leadership process that truly makes a difference. Tyler now serves as the Director of Education Partnerships and Speaking Events where he leads the Growing Leaders speaker team and secondary school partnerships. His passion is to help organizations create a leadership plan that is best for them. In his free time Tyler enjoys traveling the world, training for triathlons, cheering on the Clemson tigers and coffee dates with his wife Anna.
Meet Our Intern & Apprentice Team
Mason
Antwine
Operations
Apprentice
Katie
Kelly
Philanthropy
Apprentice
