James Muffett
SSI Founder & President - Speaker & Instructor

James Muffett has a passion for the Lord and an enthusiasm for life. He offers a clear message of hope and inspiration for people of all ages. His dynamic teaching style, humor, and depth of historical knowledge leave a lasting impression. He speaks from the heart to reach the heart.

He established and is President of Foundation for Traditional Values, a Michigan-based education and research organization, which conducts the Greatest Story Never Told (GSNT) American heritage seminars and trains leaders to uphold traditional values in their local schools and communities. SSI & GSNT are ministries of Foundation for Traditional Values.

Additionally, James is also President of Citizens for Traditional Values and a Sponsor of Christian Heritage Week in Michigan. His work at Citizens for Traditional Values has been featured in The Christian Right in Michigan: Mixed Success by Dr. Jim Penning at the American Political Science Association and the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin.

He was also featured in With God On Their Side, a national PBS television special documenting Christian involvement in politics. Other citations include The Detroit News, Detroit Free Press, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, CNN, National Public Radio and the Christian Broadcasting Network.

For more than a decade, James has spoken to hundreds of audiences, including public and Christian radio and television, churches, schools and school associations, home school conferences, civic and public policy groups. In 1999 he addressed the national Reclaiming America For Christ Conference hosted by Dr. D. James Kennedy.

James received the 2002 Homeschool Hero Award, given at Michigan's I.N.C.H. Conference.

Originally from Salina, Kansas, James received his Bachelor's Degree from Western Kentucky University. He and his wife of more than 25 years, Margot, have five children: Christopher, Emily, Jason, Justin and Joel.

Richard Alberta
Senior Pastor, Cornerstone Evangelical Presbyterian Church (Brighton) - Speaker

Pastor Alberta was born and raised in New Jersey, where he received his undergraduate degree in pre-law from Rutgers-The State University. Married in 1969 to his high school and college sweetheart, Donna, he began a career in banking and finance.

A former atheist with an unsatisfied yearning for purpose and meaning in life, his soul-search for peace and significance brought him face to face with Jesus Christ and the claims of Christianity. He received Jesus as Savior and Lord of his life in 1977.

While considering law school, Richard's heart and mind were re-directed by God's Holy Spirit to the Gospel ministry. He eagerly responded by entering Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in South Hamilton, Massachusetts, where he earned his Master of Divinity degree in 1982. He later completed his Doctor of Ministry degree in marriage and family counseling in 1989 at Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Philadelphia.

Joining the Cornerstone staff in 1992 as Senior Pastor, he previously served at Ward EPC (Northville, MI) as Chairman of the Congregational Care Department. Prior to that post he ministered at Goodwill EPC in Montgomery, New York, and with Literacy & Evangelism International in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Dan Anderson
Owner and President, SSI Electronics - Business Coach

For the last 10 years, Dan Anderson has served as President and majority owner of SSI Electronics, Inc. SSI is a designer and manufacturer of custom keypads and membrane switches for a variety of human interface applications. Industries which SSI serves include: medical, laboratory, educational, industrial, construction and military.

In his role at SSI Electronics, Mr. Anderson is involved in all facets of the business including strategic planning, manufacturing management, marketing and finance. Anderson is experienced in international business, often traveling abroad in order to both support SSI’s business partners and foreign customers.

Mr. Anderson is involved in many industry related organizations including ASTM, SGIA and GPI. Dan is married and the father of 3 kids. He enjoys playing sports, fitness and home improvement projects in his spare time.

Kathy Annis
Teenworks Tutor, American Literature and Journalism - Media Coach

"I have been married to my husband, Roger, since 1981. We have three daughters, live in St. Johns, and are active members of First Baptist Church. I graduated from MSU with a degree in Political Philosophy and from Indiana University School of Law. After passing the Michigan bar exam and working for several years at a Lansing law firm, it became clear that God had a different plan for me. He used the gift of our daughters to “give me an undivided heart and put a new spirit in me” (Ezekiel 11:19-20), and Jesus and my family have been the center of my life for over 20 years. Roger and I began teaching our girls at home in 1997, and they have all enjoyed attending classes at Teenworks. When my older two daughters headed to college, God opened the door for me to teach Journalism. I believe home schooled students are perhaps the best hope for America, and I consider it a privilege to work with Teenworks students and families."

Dan Armstrong
Anchor/Reporter, WEYI NBC Channel 25 - Media Instructor, Coach, Speaker

Since Dan was young, he enjoyed being in plays and performing in front of people. The television news business is a good fit for him. It allows him to express himself creatively while fulfilling the responsibility of being the community's eyes and ears.

Dan joined NBC 25 MID-MICHIGAN in July, 2003, as a reporter. He's originally from Ortonville, MI, in northern Oakland County. He's a high school graduate of Faith Baptist School in Davison, MI. He later majored in Radio and Television Broadcasting at Bob Jones University in Greenville, SC. After getting his college degree, Dan began his reporting career at WLUC, the NBC affiliate in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

Dan's passion is to tell the news in an interesting and creative way. He makes viewers feel the emotion of the story. He's one of the most trusted reporters in Mid-Michigan.

Dan admits that he's an extremely competitive person. He always wants to have all the facts and from all the sides. Dan says, "Many times the quietest person has the most compelling story, you just have to find that person."

Dan believes the best part of his job is the awesome responsibility of informing people. He looks at his reports as the "first draft" of history.

John Beck
High School Teacher - Instructor

John Beck is a High School Government/History Teacher at Heritage Christian Academy in Kalamazoo and part-time instructor at Kalamazoo Valley Community College. He has a BA in History, MA in Political Science and is working on his masters in History. John is married with 3 children.

DeeDee Briski
Author - Instructor, Media Coach

DeeDee Briski holds a Liberal Arts degree from Macomb Community College with a specialization in journalism and certification in Behavioral Sciences. A former newspaper journalist, she is also certified with the Macomb Literacy Partners as an English as a Second Language and reading tutor.

She authored the book "Impressive Deception / Creation or Evolution-You Decide" in 2004.

DeeDee is a member of Concerned Women for America, Creation Research Institute, Access Research Network, Answers in Genesis, Creation Worldview, American Family Association, and Media Research Center.

She can be contacted through her company's website at www.gistings.net, or via email at evidence@gistings.net.

Gary Britten
Assistant Professor of Business, Spring Arbor University - Business Instructor & Coach

Gary W. Britten is a 1973 graduate of the University of Michigan School of Business and a 1976 graduate of the University of Detroit School of Law. Gary has been on the faculty of the Gainey School of Business at Spring Arbor University for seventeen years, teaching law and strategy courses. He is also "of counsel" to Chalgian & Tripp Law Offices, PLLC, an elderlaw firm with offices in Lansing, Jackson and Ithaca. Gary and his wife, Kim, live near Parma, Michigan, and have four children, all home-educated.

Dr. Lonnie Brown
Pastor, Kingdom of Heaven Ministries - Speaker

Lonnie W. Brown is the Pastor of Kingdom of Heaven Ministries and host of Thy Kingdom Come. He is also a regular host of the TCT Networks’ Ask The Pastor. He is a recording artist, seminar trainer, and international conference keynote speaker. He has been all over the globe sharing the gospel of the Kingdom in places such as Africa, France, and most recently the Pacific Rim. He is recognized as a community leader, having been selected to do a special invocation for President George W. Bush. His 25 years of experience in the ministry has produced over 25 books and manuals, including Sailing Through the Storms of Life, Words In A Different Light and numerous biblical training materials such as The Anatomy of Marriage and Life Management Skills.

Dr. Lonnie Brown has a Bachelors Degree from the University of Michigan Flint in Psychology and a Masters Degree from Golden State University with emphasis in Psychology and Counseling. Pastor has been honored with numerous community awards and certificates including the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Michigan. Recently he received an honorary Doctorate of Divinity from St. Thomas Christian College.

Chuck Bultman
Founder, Creation First! - Instructor

Chuck attended Christian schools all the way through high school and came out believing the Bible was completely correct. Then at a Christian college he accepted the belief that God had used evolution to get everything we see. After graduating from Stanford University with a teaching degree, creation remained an issue for his science-friendly mind and he kept trying to reconcile evolution andthe Bible. After attending summer school at U of Colorado, U of Washington, U of Wisconsin, Michigan Tech, and Grand Valley State U, (all of which assumed evolution in their teaching,) he heard a presentation by ICR’s John Morris and AIG's Ken Ham which brought his theistic evolution to extinction. When they pointed out the implications of “no death before Adam” and a truly globe covering flood, there was no room left for his theistic evolution compromise.

His next journey then became how to explain all of the geology and biology that he had been taught- but now within a creation model. Many great family trips out west and to museums have resulted from this on-going quest. Now, after 40 years, he has retired from teaching in the public high school and looks forward to helping others resist the claims of evolutionary science, by demonstrating that these claims are scientifically answerable from a biblical world view.

Larry Carter
President, Great Lakes Christian College - Speaker

Mr. Carter received a B.S. in Biblical Studies from Cincinnati Bible College. While a student, he served as Youth Minister of the New Burlington Church of Christ and the Felicity Church of Christ, as well as Youth Coordinator of an inner city Salvation Army. He then received a Masters of Christian Ministries degree from Huntington College, graduating Summa Cum Laude.

Mr. Carter served as the Senior Minister at Coburn Corners Church of Christ, Indiana, for four years (1973-1977), Senior Minister of the Delta Church of Christ, Ohio, for seven years (1977-1984), and then served as the Senior Minister at the Kentwood Christian Church, Michigan, from 1984 until 1999, when he accepted the position as President of Great Lakes Christian College. Mr. Carter also teaches classes in Personal Spiritual Formation, and other Christian Ministries classes as the need arises. He and his wife, Judy, have three grown children.

B.S., Biblical Studies, Cincinnati Bible College
M.C.M., Huntington College

Don Crosby
Business Owner - Business Instructor

Donald Crosby is Founder and CEO of Global Behavior, Inc. where he oversees the Global Behavior Companies, including Workforce Behavior professional services and Sound Behavior, LLC. Don has established himself as an accomplished speaker and a popular choice for organizations holding workshops, seminars, retreats, consulting and training on the concepts of human behavior and improvement. Don offers more than sixteen years of consulting and training experience.

Utilizing the behavioral assessment technology of Professional DynaMetric Program’s online PDPWorks integrated behavioral management system, he has assessed more than 20,000 people and works with small, medium and Fortune 100 companies. Motivated with a strong dedication to improving the caliber of ones understanding of their natural dynamics and impacting relationships, Don has the ability to help organizations get the best out of their most important asset… their people.

Don’s passion for people can be heard first-hand on his new radio talk show. The birth of Sound Behavior Talk Radio began its career broadcasted on Salem Communications (Detroit AM 1500 WLQV), “Sound Behavior with Don Crosby – It’s All About You” airs Saturday mornings.

Don utilizes his years of personal, business and corporate experience to help people with issues related to personal growth, relationships between couples and within the family. Past experiences include a broad range of entrepreneurial skills creating, buying and turning around businesses. His travels have created a wealth of people-related accomplishments throughout the Mid-West, West Coast, East Coast, Alaska and Hawaii. Future ambitions include authoring two books, training and mentoring consultants, providing consultation with a selected client base and marketing his radio show to achieve national syndication. His life is shared with his bride Kathleen of 22 years and their cocker spaniel “Jerry”.

Kurt Cullison
Director, Michigan Youth Alive - Speaker

Kurt Cullison currently serves as the director of Youth Alive ministries for the state of Michigan. Youth Alive is a national Assembly of God student-led organization that presents Jesus Christ to students on every secondary school campus and provides a positive moral tone where students lead by example. The ministry of Youth Alive provides a strategy and the resources to equip and empower students, leaders as well as pastors to more effectively reach their campuses with the gospel of Jesus Christ. There are over 1,000 secondary schools within the state of Michigan with over 810,000 students walking their hallways.

Kurt has served in youth ministry for the past 16 years. He has traveled to several countries around the world distributing hundreds of thousands of copies of the Book of Hope to students. "Our goal in Michigan is simple," states Cullison. "We must give our students 'Hope' for their future. Our desire is to reach every student, on every campus, in every community with the saving message of Jesus Christ. There is a sub-culture in America called 'the public schools' and we are called to help penetrate the dark godless grip that has held them for way to long."

Kurt's message will inspire and challenge people of all ages to reach the world that is around them. He will also encourage and enable to take a closer look at the decisions that shape our lives.

Larry Elliott
ABC 12 News Anchor - Media Instructor, Coach

Larry is co-anchor (with Taryn Asher) of ABC 12 News at 5 and co-anchor (with Karen Gatlin) of ABC 12 News at noon.

He joined the ABC 12 News team in 1979 and has held positions as the Saginaw bureau chief, general assignment reporter, and auto editor.

Born in Flint, Larry graduated from Alpena High School and Alpena Community College. He now lives in Frankenmuth with his wife, Susan. They have two sons, Todd and Andrew, and four grandsons, Mason, Conrad, Joshua and Alexander.

He began his career in radio as a program director and disc jockey at WATZ radio in Alpena.

From there, he made the move across town to WBKB-TV where he held the positions of staff announcer, photographer, reporter, weatherman and news anchor.

Larry is a very active member of Frankenmuth Bible Church, where he serves as chairman of the Missions Committee and is a sound technician and organizes CD duplication for Sunday services.

He is treasurer of the Frankenmuth International Aid Foundation, which supports the work of a local missionary doctor and his wife serving in Central America. Larry is past president of the Frankenmuth Optimist club, and is a member and past president of the Board of Directors of the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society.

He has won numerous professional awards including three Michigan EMMY awards, as well as awards from the Michigan Association of Broadcasters, the Detroit Press Club, the Associated Press, and United Press International.

Larry is an avid diver and was involved in organizing and executing 3 expeditions to the Edmund Fitzgerald shipwreck, and in producing three award winning shipwreck documentaries.

Lydia Gutierrez
President, Hacienda Mexican Foods - Speaker

Lydia Gutierrez along with her late husband Richard Gutierrez established Hacienda Mexican Foods in August 1994, with only 5 employees. Working out of a 12,000 sq. ft. facility the company has grown and added to its operation more than 51,000 sq. ft to accommodate its growth. Between all operations Hacienda employs over 100 people most residents of SW Detroit.

Growing her business Lydia has worn many hats. She has managed all aspects of the business, including sales, distribution, marketing, warehousing and purchasing. As a business owner she has worked to developed business strategies to increase sales, profitability and job retention. She believes in social responsibility and accountability. She has imbedded in her company the importance of education and is constantly developing her workforce by continual training. She has partnered with the University of Detroit Mercy to give English speaking classes to her employees and encourages them by offering to pay for the class and pay the employee to take the class. She knows employee satisfaction will help her grow the business and retain a good and healthy workforce.

Lydia is active in community affairs serving as the current Board Chair of the Southwest Detroit Business Association (SDBA) with over 300 business members. She also serves as an Executive Board member of Crime Stoppers of Southeast Michigan. A member of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Tortilla Industry Association, the Associated Food Dealers Association and a recent member of inForum of Southeast Michigan a Professional Women’s Alliance Organization. She has received many awards from the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers including the “Junipero Serra” Award for her Pioneering Spirit of Innovation and Dedication to the Community. In June 2000, Lydia and Richard received the Bagley Avenue Award for Latino Heritage Investment; in 2001 they received from (LA SED) Latin American Social and Economic Development the “Executive Directors” Award for leadership and commitment to Southwest Detroit. In May 2007, Lydia received the “Small Business of the Year” Award given by Univision and in September 2007, she was named “Entrepreneur of the Year” by the Michigan Commission on Spanish-Speaking Affairs. In March 2008, she received the Lifetime Achievement award given by the MI Women Business Association (MWBA). She was recently appointed by Governor Granholm to serve on the Food Council Committee.

Lydia lost her best friend, husband and business partner Richard to Hepatitis C in October 2005. She has 2 children Gabriel 16 and Michael 14. She attended WCCC and later transferred to Lee University Cleveland, TN.

Rusty Hills
Communications Director, Michigan Attorney General's Office - Instructor

Rusty has had more than twenty years of experience in management, communications and public policy positions. After degrees from both Michigan State University and Notre Dame, he went on to work for the Michigan Republican Party in the late 1980s. From there he moved to the Office of the Governor, working as both Director of Communications and Director of Public Affairs for ten years.

Going back to the GOP, he served as Chairman of the Michigan Republican State Committee, as well as instructing classes at both MSU and University of Michigan. He currently works in the communications department of the Michigan Attorney General.

Jennifer Hoff
Michigan Township Association Public Affairs Liaison - Instructor

As MTA’s new public affairs liaison, Jennifer Hoff will develop and deliver a comprehensive public information program designed to maximize the public image of township government, and develop public and membership support for the Association’s goals.

Hoff comes from the Michigan House of Representatives, where she served as regional communications manager, House Republican Communications Services. Prior to that, she was communications coordinator for the “DeVos for Governor” campaign, legislative assistant for former state Sen. Dale Shugars, and communications specialist for the Kalamazoo Christian School Association.

Mark Jansen
Michigan State Senator - Speaker

Jansen was elected to the Michigan House of Representatives in November 1996 and was re-elected twice, serving through 2002. Jansen served all six years on the House Appropriations Committee, having been one of only two freshmen appointed to this post by leadership. He chaired the Family Independence Agency subcommittee, was vice-chair of the Department of Environmental Quality, Department of Natural Resources and Agriculture subcommittees and served on the Higher Education, Community Health and Transportation subcommittees.

During his first term, he was elected by his peers to be an assistant minority whip and was a member of the House Bipartisan Urban Caucus. During his second term, the Speaker appointed Jansen to lead the House Republican Policy Committee and to serve on the House Republican Campaign Committee. In 1998-1999, Jansen was named vice-chair of the Legislative Effectiveness Committee for the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) and was appointed to serve on the Fiscal, Oversight and Intergovernmental Committee of the Assembly of States Issues for NCSL. Jansen was also a board member for Michigan Youth in Government and served on the Steering Committee for the Bowhay Institute for Legislative Leadership Development (BILLD).

Before his tenure in the Michigan House, Jansen was elected as the Gaines Township Clerk from 1992-1996.

In 2003, Jansen began as director of special initiatives for Habitat for Humanity of Michigan. He leads a unique program called Vision 2020 where he brings together local community leaders, non-profits, for-profits and other parties interested in eliminating sub-standard housing and encouraging change in specific geographic areas of Michigan. He also is a Kent County road commissioner, a board member of Wedgwood Christian Services for youth, and vice-president of Cutlerville Christian School Board. He has been an elder at Covenant Christian Reformed Church, Director of Youth Ministries from 1989-1996 and a missionary in the Appalachian Mountains of eastern Kentucky from 1984 to 1987. He also spent over 5 years in the Computer Industry.

Steven M. Jentzen
Attorney - Trial Instructor & Coach

Attorney Steven M. Jentzen has been in private practice for over 27 years, participating in landmark cases in the areas of family law, land development and constitutional law.

A Fellow of the Michigan State Bar, Jentzen is a member of Who’s Who in American Law, and is affiliated with several national attorney associations.

Jentzen has been an active member of Citizens for Traditional Values since its inception. He has also been involved with numerous organizations to promote conservative values, including Alliance Defense Fund and American Center for Law and Justice.

Jentzen and his wife Mary have been married for 27 years and have homeschooled all of their seven children, now ages 7 to 26.

Terry Lynn Land
Michigan Secretary of State - Speaker

Terri Lynn Land has served as Michigan's 41st Secretary of State since January 1, 2003. She earned re-election in November 2006 and began her second four-year term January 1, 2007. Prior to her election, Secretary Land served as Kent County clerk from 1992-2000, at a time of tremendous change and growth in Michigan's 4th largest county. In that position, her focus was on making county government more open and convenient for the public.

Secretary Land's political involvement stretches back to her high school years, when she served as a "scatter blitzer" for the Gerald R. Ford for President campaign. As a budding politician, she was one of the youngest attendees at the Republican State Convention in 1978. A graduate of Grandville High School, she received a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Hope College in Holland, Michigan. In 2007, she was presented with an Honorary Doctor of Public Service by Central Michigan University in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan.

Of all her accomplishments, Secretary Land is most proud of her family. She married Dan Hibma in 1983 and the couple have two children together, Jessica and Nicholas. They attend Corinth Reformed Church, where Secretary Land was nursery supervisor for many years. She is also active with CyberMichigan.org, the Women's Resource Center, and other community organizations.

Lennie Mailand
Business Owner - Instructor

For over twenty-five years, Mr. Mailand has worked in the field of education at the college and secondary level as an administrator, teacher, and coach. He has taught classes in Bible, apologetics, logic, history, government, economics, introductory Greek, and comparative worldviews utilizing an adaptation of the “Understanding the Times” curriculum. His other contributions have included curriculum development and teacher training.

Mr. Mailand is also a guest lecturer at the Student Statesmanship Institute in Lansing, Michigan, where he speaks on comparative worldviews and biblical leadership. His passion is teaching people to think and live out of a Biblical world and life view, standing confident and ready to give a defense for biblical faith. Throughout the years, it has been his privilege to teach students, parents, educators, and administrators the truths found in the Bible and the importance of teaching from a Biblical perspective.

Mr. Mailand earned his M.Ed. at Seattle Pacific University. In 2001 he founded a young men’s academic/leadership academy with the financial backing of a local church. Several years ago he started Dominion Services, Inc., a hardwood and laminate installation contracting business. He and his wife Brenda (28 years) have 2 adult sons. Britton, 24, who having finished a tour in Iraq as a US Marine reservist, is now a college student. Braden, 22, is currently serving in Intelligence Services with the Marines. Their younger children Sarah 15 and Midas 13 are educated at home. They reside in Grand Ledge, Michigan with their dogs, cats, goats, chickens, and other critters as they become available.

Jonathan Maire
Attorney - Trial Instructor & Coach

As an assistant prosecuting attorney for Ingham County, Mr. Maire tried hundreds of cases – misdemeanor and felony – many of which were jury trials. As an associate in the law firm of Reid, Hildebrandt, King, Weed, Smith and Brown he tried numerous civil cases and conducted a busy office practice (drafting wills and trusts, examining real estate documents and conducting closings, collections, etc.). As a municipal judge, he presided over trials – jury and non-jury – of misdemeanor cases and preliminary examinations in felony cases, as well as various civil matters. As a private practitioner, he practiced in most areas of the law, excepting domestic matters. As a partner with Street, Grua, Maire and Young, P.L.C. he was engaged primarily in civil litigation, trying personal injury, product liability, employment, real estate, and commercial cases.

Mr. Maire retired in 2000, and has since been a volunteer in providing legal services to the poor, in Savannah, Georgia (Georgia Legal Services) and in Lansing, Michigan, as founder of Christian Legal Aid for Greater Lansing.

Kerry Morgan
Attorney - Trial Instructor & Coach

Kerry Lee Morgan is "Of Counsel" to Pentiuk, Couvreur, & Kobiljak, P.C. His chief areas of practice involve municipal law, employment discrimination, litigation, environmental law and educational policy. Prior to his current legal affiliation, he served as an Attorney-Advisor with the United States Commission on Civil Rights in Washington D.C.

In addition to practicing law, since 1980, Mr. Morgan received his Masters of Arts, magna cum laude, in Public Policy from Regent University. He has also written a number of thought-provoking articles in the areas of natural law and unalienable rights. He recently completed an extensive legal review of religious liberty principles and Supreme Court cases titled, Unalienable Rights, Equality and The Free Exercise of Religion. In 1997, University Press of America published his book, Real Choice, Real Freedom in American Education, a scholarly work that articulates the legal and Constitutional case for parental rights and against governmental control of American Education.

Mr. Morgan's 2006 bid for the Michigan Supreme Court was recently featured in Michigan Lawyers Weekly. The interview focused on his commitment to natural rights and belief that they must be protected more stringently than they have been in the recent past. Also discussed was his legal philospphy -- " The Constitution [and] the statutes, they are the organic documents that make up our laws," Morgan said. "The job of the court is to go back and determine what the constitution says, not what the court says the constitution says."

Dennis Neubacher
WXYZ-TV Channel 7 Reporter - Speaker

"Captain" Dennis Neubacher pilots the WXYZ-TV's News Chopper 7 with Superview, providing breaking news and traffic reports.

Neubacher has been a pilot for 40 years and has worked with Channel 7 since 1996. He earned a local Emmy award nomination in 1998 for his aerial coverage of a school bus rollover.

Neubacher has an Associate of arts degree from Henry Ford Community College and a Bachelor of Science from Western Michigan University.

Daniel Ryan
Circuit Court Judge - Trial Judge

Judge Daniel P. Ryan is a general jurisdiction judge for the 3rd Judicial Circuit Court in Detroit, Michigan and has been assigned to that court's Criminal Trial Division since 1998. In July 2002, he was assigned to serve as visiting judge on the Michigan Court of Appeals.

Prior to his appointment to the Circuit Court, Judge Ryan served on the 17th District Court in Redford, Michigan from 1994-1998. Judge Ryan was appointed by the Michigan Supreme Court to serve as Chief Judge of the 17th District Court from 1996 through 1997.

Prior to joining the bench in 1994, Judge Ryan was employed by the law firm of Plunkett & Cooney in Detroit, Michigan from 1988 through 1994, where he specialized in the defense of construction liability and architect and engineer professional liability claims. He was an associate at Burt, Blee, Hawk, and Sutton in South Bend, Indiana from 1987 through 1988.

Judge Ryan earned his B.A. in History from the University of Detroit and his J.D. from the University of Notre Dame Law School. Judge Ryan has taught Advanced Evidence Problems as an adjunct professor of law at the Thomas M. Cooley Law School and has also served as an adjunct professor at the University of Detroit Mercy Law School and Ave Maria School of Law. He has also been a member of the evidence faculty of the National Judicial College since 1996.

Blaine Schultz
CFO of Advance Employment - Business Instructor & Coach

Blaine Schultz is the Chief Financial Officer of the Advance Employment family of companies.

He is responsible for the day-to-day management of the financial, accounting and computer operations. His organization is divided into three administrative departments; accounting, payroll / billing center and a Human Resource Outsourcing division.

Blaine was directly involved in the planning and startup of Advance Staff Leasing, a Professional Employer Organization founded in 1996. As Vice President / General Manager, Blaine is responsible for the daily operations of this division including oversight of ongoing systems development.

Blaine directed the implementation of Advance Accounting Services, Inc., a successful division serving the accounting systems needs of several local non-profit agencies. It has since expanded to include back-office support to affiliated temporary employment services.

Prior to joining Advance in 1991, Blaine was Controller of the Michigan Republican State Committee from 1990 - 1991, and an accountant at Lindell Drop Forge from 1988 - 1989.

Blaine received a B.S. in Accounting from Michigan State University in 1986.

Filip Schwartz
Business Owner - Business Coach

Filip Schwartz grew up working in the family business manufacturing and distributing parts to the Recreational Vehicle industry. After college he worked as the controller of a truck manufacturing company and as a systems consultant to numerous organizations and companies in the mid Michigan area. In 1996, he returned to the family business and in 2001 became the president of the company.

He has a Bachelors degree in Business Administration from Michigan State University and a Master degree in Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary.

Filip and his wife of 17 years, Rebecca, enjoy their 3 children, Emily (15), Nathan (14) and Cari (11).

Clifford W. Taylor
Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice - Speaker

Chief Justice Clifford W. Taylor, a native of Flint, was appointed to the Michigan Supreme Court in August 1997 by Governor John Engler to fill the seat vacated by retiring Justice Dorothy Comstock Riley. In 1998, Justice Taylor ran and was elected to fill the balance of Justice Riley’s term. Justice Taylor was re-elected to a full eight-year term in 2000. In January 2005, he was elected by his colleagues to serve as Chief Justice of the Court.

Chief Justice Taylor received his undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan and his law degree from George Washington University. After three years in the U.S. Navy as a line officer, he returned to Michigan and served as an assistant prosecuting attorney in Ingham County. In 1972, he joined the Lansing law firm of Denfield, Timmer and Seelye, which later became Denfield, Timmer & Taylor when he became a partner in the firm. He remained in private practice for 20 years, receiving the highest ratings for competence and character by lawyer rating organizations. In 1992, Governor Engler appointed him to the Michigan Court of Appeals where he served until his appointment to the Michigan Supreme Court.

Chief Justice Taylor’s professional activities include service on the Board of Directors of the National Conference of Chief Justices, and on the Board of the George Mason University Law and Economics Center which provides judicial education across the country. He served in the past on the Michigan Legislature’s Commission on the Courts in the 21st Century, and on the Michigan State Board of Law Examiners. He is the co-author of a three-volume work entitled Torts which covers personal injury law in Michigan. His community activities include having served on the Board of Directors of Chief Okemos Council of the Boy Scouts of America, and the Board of Directors for the Michigan Dyslexia Institute.

Mark Teachout
Business Owner, Financial Investment Planner - Business Instructor

Mark began working in the financial services arena in 1980. He became securities licensed in 1991, obtaining a Certified Financial Planner designation in 1994. He also has the Certified Insurance Counselor, Financial Services Specialist, and Life Underwriter Training Council Fellow designations. His business can best be described as a family practice with over 675 households and businesses, managing 75 million dollars in investment assets.

Mark and his wife Sue have been married for over 31 years and have three adult children.

Jeff Visscher
C.O.O. and Summer Program Director of SSI

In January of 2001, Jeff Visscher became the Chief Operations Officer and Summer Program Director at SSI, a ministry of Foundation for Traditional Values.

For more than ten years, Jeff also served as the Executive Director of Citizens for Traditional Values, a non-profit civic league which mobilizes citizens for grassroots political action and lobbies for traditional family values in the public arena.

Jeff is a 1991 graduate of Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, finishing with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science.

Jeff is a member and serves as a lay leader at Faith Bible Church in Lansing. He also spent seven weeks in China teaching conversational English.

Jeff has spoken on a variety of topics including politics and grassroots activism. Jeff and his wife, Jennie, also speak on the topic of courtship.

They and their two children, Andelisia and Nicholas, reside in Eaton Rapids.

William Wagner
Cooley Law School Professor - Moot Court Instructor & Coach

William Wagner is a Christian. He married his bride, Marilyn, over twenty years ago and together they home schooled their two children, Luke and Katherine.

William is President of the new Salt and Light World Center and holds a tenured law school professorship in Ethics and Constitutional law. He is a frequent speaker at world conferences and has published a number of articles, books, and other publications. Professor Wagner has a special interest in the protection of free expression and the free exercise of religious conscience. He served as lead amicus counsel in various matters before the United States Supreme Court, authored a brief filed in the Supreme Court of Sweden, authored written testimony before the United States Congress, and submitted written evidence before the Parliament of the United Kingdom. He has also testified before various state legislative bodies and presented an address at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Professor Wagner previously served on the Federal Bench as the United States Magistrate Judge for the Northern District of Florida. Prior to his appointment in the United States Courts, he served as the chief American diplomat for the Department of Justice at the American Embassy in Liberia. There he led a diplomatic mission charged with strengthening democracy and the rule of law.

During his career in public service, he has provided international assistance to the justice sector institutions of numerous countries on five continents. Professor Wagner also served as a senior United States prosecutor, litigating hundreds of federal cases and serving as chief of appellate litigation for the Office of the United States Attorney.

Prior to serving in the Justice Department, Professor Wagner served as legal counsel in the United States Senate and as chief counsel to the Senate Judiciary Committee of the Michigan legislature. As chief counsel, he supervised all legislative issues involving the separation of powers, due process, and other protections of individual rights and liberties, including the right to free expression and the free exercise of religious conscience.

Professor Wagner received the post-doctoral Danforth Fellowship in Law after earning his J.D. in 1986. He has served on the adjunct faculty at a number of universities including: The University of Florida, Michigan State University, Saint Leo University, and the University of Liberia. He has also held the following pro bono appointments: American Bar Association, V-Chair, Crime Victims Committee; Federal Bar Association, Board of Directors (NDFL); National District Attorneys Association Federal Working Group on Child Exploitation, member; National Victim Center's Federal Leadership Council, member; Ingham Regional Hospital Ethics Committee, member; Alachua Habitat for Humanity Inc. - Chief Executive Officer & Executive Board of Directors; Hospice of Lansing Inc. – Board of Directors and Chair of the Ethics Committee; CTV – Executive Board of Directors; Student Statesmanship Institute – Board of Advisors.

Anthony Weber
High School Teacher - Instructor

"Born and raised a Mennonite in the backwoods of Alabama, the valleys of Oregon, and the wilds of Ohio (go Buckeyes), I eventually ended up at Cedarville University. There I received a Bachelor's degree in English Education, making me officially unilingual.

"I met the lovely and gracious Sheila in Bible college in 1987 B.C. (before Cedarville) We eventually married, and we currently have three handsome boys who clearly favor their mother.

"I have been teaching at Traverse City Christian School for 10 years (English, BIble, Logic) as well as coaching (girls and boy's basketball). For the past three years, I have also been a youth pastor. I earned a Masters Degree in Christian Theology and Philosoply last year, and my brain is officially full."

Pete Wielhouwer
Assistant Professor of Political Science, Western Michigan University - Speaker

Peter W. Wielhouwer (Ph.D., Univ. of Georgia, 1994), Assistant Professor of Political Science, Western Michigan University, is a nationally-recognized scholar on campaigns and elections, faith and politics, and racial politics.

Between 1995 and 2004 he taught at Spelman College (GA) and Regent University’s School of Government (VA), where he directed the graduate program in campaign management and the nonpartisan Center for Grassroots Politics. From 2004 to 2005 he was speechwriter to the two-star general in charge of coordinating operational experiments for the U.S. military.

Widely published in professional journals, he is an occasional political consultant, and has spoken on campaign ethics, faith, race, and electoral politics for (among others) Patrick Henry College, Summit Ministries, University of Notre Dame, American University’s Campaign Management Institute, the American Association of Political Consultants, the Leadership Institute, and many churches. He has He and his wife Deborah home school their six children. (Additional Information)

Jonathan Williams
SSI Alum; Director of Tax & Fiscal Policy, American Legislative Exchange Council - Speaker

Jonathan Williams is the Director of the Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force for the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), the nation’s largest nonpartisan, individual membership organization of state legislators.

He is responsible for educating and advising state legislators and privatesector leaders on fiscal issues, in addition to working with members to develop model legislation to enact in the states. He also tracks and monitors state and federal legislation to determine trends and opportunities for ALEC involvement.

Prior to joining ALEC, Jonathan served as Staff Economist at the Tax Foundation, where he conducted tax policy research. Jonathan’s work has been featured in many publications including the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, the Los Angeles Times, and Investor’s Business Daily.

A Mid-Michigan native, Jonathan graduated magna cum laude from Northwood University in Midland, Michigan, majoring in Economics, Banking/Finance and Business Management. While at Northwood, Jonathan was named a public policy fellow at the Senator Margaret Chase Smith Library in Skowhegan, Maine. In 2001, Jonathan represented the United States as a member of the Jr. Men’s National Fastpitch Softball team and competed in the World Championships in Sydney, Australia.

Kendall Wingrove
Communications Director, Michigan Senate Republicans - Media Coach

Kendall Wingrove is the Communications Director for the Senate Republican Office, where he started in October 2005 after many years as a press secretary in the Michigan House.He received a master's degree from Michigan State University and a bachelor's degree from Central Michigan University. Kendall also is a free-lance historical writer and columnist who is regularly featured on the editorial page of several Michigan newspapers.