TMP Staff

Dr. John Sowers

President

Portland, Oregon

John was born in Little Rock, Arkansas. He attended college at Ouachita Baptist University, going from there to Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary.

He wrote his doctoral thesis on the crisis of Fatherlessness in America.

John is passionate about the people God has put in his life, namely his wife, his family and his friends, as well as seeing young people live out their destiny.

Melanie Bartlum

Executive Assistant

Portland, Oregon

Melanie was born in Fort Huachuca, Arizona. She attended Northern Arizona University and holds a BS in Photography.

She's worked with The Luis Palau Association and been involved in church-based mentoring for nine years.

Justin Zoradi

Marketing Director

Portland, Oregon

Justin was born in San Luis Obispo, California. He attended Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Studies.

He completed Masters degree in Peace and Conflict Resolution from Portland State University with an emphasis in international development.

Along with working at The Mentoring Project, Justin is also the Director of a non-profit organization called These Numbers Have Faces that empowers young people in South Africa to reduce poverty in their own communities.

Trevor Weber

Church Relations Associate

Portland, Oregon

Trevor was born in Portland, OR and loves his city. He received a BS in Pastoral Ministry at Corban College (formerly Western Baptist College) and is currently pursuing his Masters degree in Ministry Leadership at George Fox Evangelical Seminary.

Having come out of a sales background after college, Trevor enjoys working with people and is blessed to be able to be a part of TMP. His desire is to minister to and with people and help those in need in whatever manner possible.

Shawnte Hines

Office Administrator

Portland, Oregon

Shawnte was born and raised in Southern California. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from CSU, San Bernardino. She is a former High School English teacher who loves working with young people and seeing God develop them and their passions.

Shawnte is excited to be a part of the TMP team and what God is doing to rewrite the story of the fatherless generation.

TMP Board

Donald Miller

Founder

Portland, Oregon

Donald Miller is the author of A Million Miles and A Thousand Years, Blue Like Jazz, Searching for God Knows What, Through Painted Deserts, and To Own A Dragon. He is the founder of the The Mentoring Project and serves on President Barack Obama's task force on Fatherhood and Healthy Families. He lives and works in Portland, Oregon.

Kurt Nelson

Board Chair

Portland, Oregon

Kurt Nelson grew up in Tacoma, Washington and graduated from the University of Puget Sound in 1975 with a BA in Economics and Accounting.

He has been employed for 32 years in Lumber Industry Sales in both manufacturing and wholesaling operations.

Kurt and his wife Donna have two children.

Shaun Garman

Board Member

Portland, Oregon

Shaun grew up in Orange County, California and Portland, OR. He began coaching basketball with fatherless kids, and has mentored one of the young men in his neighborhood for the last seven years.

Shaun is the pastor at Red Sea Church in North Portland.

Shaun and his wife Daisy have seven kids: Amanda, Zachary, Noah, Chloe, Elijah, Moses and Solomon.