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 a nonprofit civic league working on the grassroots level to encourage an active and informed citizenry in the State of 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 annual 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, and one grandchild.

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.

Dan is married to Amber, and they have one child, Ashleigh Paige, who was born in June of last year.

Adam Barr
President, Borderlands - Speaker

Adam serves as president and founder of Borderlands. In conjunction with our board of directors, he is responsible for developing resources, building ministry partnerships and leading our worldview experiences. Adam possesses a unique set of qualifications for this ministry—a pastor’s heart, a scholar’s mind and an evangelist’s zeal.

He graduated magna cum laude from Hope College with a B.A. in Religion and Philosophy. While earning his MDiv, Adam served as a pastoral intern with Corinth Reformed Church in Grand Rapids, MI. Following seminary, Adam served as an associate pastor at Fountain of Life Church in Lombard, IL. There, he worked with youth, worship, and family ministries. While at Fountain of Life, Adam earned a second masters (ThM) at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, concentrating on philosophy of religion and systematic theology. Adam has continued his education, completing PhD courses at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia. In addition to his academic background, Adam has worked in publishing. In 2004-05, Adam revised, edited, expanded, and wrote for the Zondervan Illustrated Bible Commentary, originally edited by F. F. Bruce.

But Adam’s first calling is as a husband and father. Together with Jennifer, Benjamin, and Samuel, he seeks to embody the ideas he has been called to communicate.

John Beck
High School Teacher - Advanced Biblical Worldview 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.

Wally Blume
Owner/Operator, Denali Flavors - Speaker

Denali Flavors is the creative force behind some of the most successful ice creams sold in the United States today. Owned and operated by husband-and-wife team Wally and June Blume, Denali Flavors has grown to become one of the nation’s leading inventors and marketers of premium flavors for the ice cream industry.

Denali works with a large percentage of the nation’s ice cream producing independent dairies to manufacture an array of regional and store-branded products, including six varieties of Moose Tracks® ice cream and over 30 other flavors, including Bear Claw®, Caramel Caribou®, Mother Lode®, Bear Foot Brownie® and Peanut Butter Iditarod®. The company also has licensing agreements with Mrs. Smith’s® and Andes Candies®. Denali ice cream products are available at most major grocery store chains, ice cream shops and convenience stores nationwide.

Denali Flavors is perhaps best known for its signature flavor, Moose Tracks, which swept the nation in the mid-90s and remains so popular today that it outsells vanilla in some brands. The Moose Tracks brand family has grown through the past decade to include eight flavor varieties – Original Moose Tracks®, Chocolate Moose Tracks®, Cherry Moose Tracks®, Original No-Sugar-Added Moose Tracks®, Extreme Moose Tracks®, Mint Moose Tracks®, Mocha Moose Tracks®, and Malted Moose Tracks® – and a broad line of novelty ice cream products, including cones, ice cream bars and ice cream pies.

In addition to their roles at Denali, owners Wally and June Blume are deeply involved in charitable work worldwide.

Philip Bolzman
Writer & Director of Photograpy, Golden Vision Films - Alumni Speaker

Philip attended SSI for 4 years as a student, and came back for 2 years as an ADC. In 2005 Philip completed the Ambassador League. His time these last three years has been spent working in independent Christian film. He has worked on 4 different feature length movies in that time which ranged in location from Northern MI in the dead of winter to Southern VA in the heat of summer, and ranged in scale from multi-million dollars to just a few thousand. Philip worked along with a small group to produce a feature film “Beyond Acceptance” last summer. He’s been working on the post production of that film for nearly 8 months, and is just a week away from the world premier which will be held in Kalamazoo MI.

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 elder law firm with offices in Lansing, Jackson and Ithaca. Gary and his wife, Kim, live near Parma, Michigan, and have four children, all home-educated.

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 and the 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.

Brian Calley
Lt. Governor - Speaker

State Rep. Brian Calley was elected to a second term in the Michigan House of Representatives in November 2008. He represents the 87th District, which includes all of Barry County and a large portion of Ionia County. Calley graduated from Michigan State University with a bachelor's degree in business administration, and Grand Valley State University with a master's in business administration. He has spent the last decade in the banking industry. Calley is a former Ionia County commissioner and Board of Public Works member. He has served on the Mid-South Substance Abuse Council, Ionia County Economic Alliance Board of Directors, Local Emergency Planning Committee, and Ionia County Personnel Finance Committee.

Brian also is an active member of Portland Baptist Church, where he has served as a Sunday school teacher, member of the deacon board and pulpit committee, and song director. Brian has been married to wife Julie for 12 years. They have two children; a son and a daughter.

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.

Rachael Denhollander
Attorney - Moot Court Instructor

Rachael Moxon is a graduate of Oak Brook College of Law, and a member of the California Bar Association. She has been active in the legal and political arena through teaching, speaking and speech writing, for the last six years. Rachael has been involved with SSI since 2000, and has been instructing the Moot Court track at SSI for the last three years.

Rachael married Jacob Denhollander in August of 2009, and, with her husband, plans on pursuing full-time ministry teaching students and families comprehensive Biblical worldview as a natural outgrowth of a life devoted to Christ Jesus.

Judy Emmons
State Senator - Speaker

Senator Judy Emmons is a mid-Michigan native, fifth generation farmer, mother of three, and grandmother of three. The senator serves more than 250,000 constituents in the 33rd Senate District which includes four counties: Clinton, Ionia, Isabella, and Montcalm. The 33rd District is the fifth largest district in landmass out of 38 Senate districts in Michigan.

Senator Emmons has a broad-based record of community service, including three terms in the Michigan House of Representatives where she served two years as majority vice-chair of the powerful House Appropriations Committee, and two years as minority vice-chair of the Military Affairs, Veterans and Homeland Security Committee and also the Higher Education Committee.

A graduate of Central Montcalm Public Schools, Senator Emmons has been giving back to her community by serving 12 years on the Central Montcalm Public Schools Board of Education, including six years as president of the board; four years on the Montcalm County Intermediate School District Board of Education; four years on the Central Montcalm Foundation Board of Directors; and as a member of the Montcalm Conservation District Board of Directors. She was appointed by Gov. John Engler to serve on the Michigan Teacher Tenure Commission. Senator Emmons has a long history of service and leadership in the agricultural community as well, serving as a member of the Michigan Farm Bureau and on the Michigan Farm Bureau Board of Directors. She also is a life-long member of the Michigan Holstein Association and the Holstein Association of America.

Senator Emmons is a mentor for women, including serving as chair of the statewide Senate GOP Women Matter training and education program, just as she was mentored by her own mother, Phebe Wilson, who has served for more than four decades as township clerk in Montcalm County's Bushnell Township.

Senator Emmons and her husband Jerry have been married 40 years and they continue to take pride in and remain committed to their family history in farming, their children and grandchildren, and their community.

Jim Fink
Attorney - Trial Coach

Jim Fink is a partner in the Ann Arbor law firm Fink & Valvo, PLLC. Before entering private practice in 1998, Fink was a police officer for over 22 years, rising through the ranks before retiring from the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Department as the Police Services Commander. Fink has been active in combating domestic violence for over 20 years. He helped draft the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards model policy and training curriculum. In 1999, Governor Engler appointed Fink Chair of the Michigan Domestic Violence Prevention and Treatment Board, where he served until 2003. He was a member of the Governor's Domestic Violence Homicide Prevention Task Force and the Michigan Judicial Institute's Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Benchbook Review Committee.

Fink and Beth, his wife of 25 years, live in Ypsilanti, where they have home schooled their six children, ages 7 through 23. They have been supporters of SSI and Citizens for Traditional Values for many years. They are members of St. Luke Lutheran Church where Fink has served as a member of the church council and as coordinator of monthly men's breakfasts.

Rusty Hills
Office of MI Attorney General - 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.

Karen Fort Hood
Court of Appeals Judge - Speaker

In November 2002, Judge Karen Fort Hood made history when she was elected as the first African American woman ever to be elected to the Michigan Court of Appeals. A former Detroit Public School teacher and probation officer, Judge Hood was elected to the Recorder’s Court Bench in 1992. In January 1999, she became Presiding Judge of the Wayne County Circuit Court, Criminal Division. As Presiding Judge, she handled administrative duties relative to the court, including the adjournment of cases, disqualification of judges, discipline of attorneys, and resolution of conflicts between the thirty-one judges of the Criminal Division. In addition, Judge Hood presided over the entire domestic violence docket for the Wayne County Circuit Court. Judge Hood also carried a docket of other criminal cases.

Before being elected to the bench, Judge Hood was a Special Assistant Prosecutor in Wayne County Juvenile Court. She served from 1984 through 1988, and prosecuted juvenile offender and abuse and neglect cases. From 1989 through 1992 she transferred to the Appellate Division of the Prosecutor’s Office where she researched, wrote and argued hundreds of briefs and other appellate matters. She was appointed as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, in 1988, and served until 1992, when she took the bench.

Judge Hood is also very active in the community. Judge Hood is Past President of the Association of Black Judges of Michigan and is a member of the Wolverine Bar Association, State Bar of Michigan and the Michigan Judges Association. She is a lifetime member of the Detroit NAACP. She is also a member of Salvation Temple Church.

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.

Jeffrey M. Jentzen
Medical Examiner - Trial Instructor

Dr. Jentzen received his M.D. from Wayne State Medical School in 1980. He completed a transitional internship at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor, Michigan from 1980-1981 followed by residency training in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology at the Hennepin County Medical Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota during the period 1980-1985. Following this, he completed a Forensic Pathology Fellowship at Hennepin County from 1985-1986. Dr. Jentzen also received an M.S. (1997) and Ph.D. (2007) in the History of Science from the University of Wisconsin - Madison. He served as Medical Examiner for Milwaukee County and was on staff at the Medical College of Wisconsin Affiliated Hospitals from 1987-2008. He also served as Medical Examiner for Fond du Lac County from 2000-2006. He was the Co-Director of the Forensic Pathology (1989 - 2008) and Tixicology Fellowship (1998-2008) Programs at the Medical College of Wisconsin. In 1997, he was appointed Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Pathology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He was promoted to the rank of Professor in 1998. He also held the rank of Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Health and Allied Sciences at the University of Wisconsin from 2000-2007.

Dr. Jentzen is a member of numerous professional organizations including the National Association of Medical Examiners where he served as Vice-President in 2007 and is currently President-elect. He is a fellow in the College of American Pathologists and the American Academy of of Forensic Sciences and served as Chairman of the Forensic Pathology Subcommittee for the American Association of Clinical Pathology from 1988-1994. He was the recipient of the Outstanding Service Award from the National Association of Medical Examiners in 2001, the Outstanding Service Award from the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators in 2002 and the President's Award from the National Association of Medical Examiners in October 2007.

He is board certified in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology and Forensic Pathology. Dr. Jentzen joined the faculty of the Department of Pathology for the University of Michigan in March 2008 as Professor and Director of Autopsy and Forensic Pathology Services. Dr. Jentzen also serves as Deputy Medical Examiner for Washtenaw County. He is married to Dorianne and has two grown daughters.

John Kane
Professor - Moot Court Judge

Professor Kane teaches Property at Cooley Law School in Lansing. Professor Kane come to Cooley from the litigation department of Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn, in Lansing, Mich. He was a percentage partner in the firm, which he joined in 1991. Before joining the law firm, he served a judicial clerkship with the Hon. Deanell Reece Tacha, Court of Appeals for the 10th Judicial Circuit, in Lawrence, Kan.

At U of M, Professor Kane served as executive editor of the Michigan Journal of Law Reform. He graduated magna cum laude, was a member of the Order of the Coif, and won the Louis Honigman Memorial Award for his Journal work. He also attended Wayne State University Law School, 1987-88, where he earned the Silver Key Scholarship Award and the American Jurisprudence Award in Torts.

Kathleen Lavey
Reporter for the Lansing State Journal - Media Coach

Kathleen Lavey is a news reporter at the Lansing State Journal. She also has worked in the features department, on the news copy desk and as an assigning editor. She has a degree in political science and communication from the University of Michigan and a master of fine arts degree in creative writing from Western Michigan University. She has been a journalist for 25 years.

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. Prior to that, he was an associate in the law firm of Reid, Hildebrandt, King, Weed, Smith and Brown. 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 philosophy -- " 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."

Josephine Nicholas
Press Agent - Alumni Speaker

Josephine attended SSI in 1996, when it was just beginning. She is now a successful PR agent with an Ann Arbor based company called “Insert Catchy Headlines” with clients all across the country. She conducts Public Relations seminars across MI and was recently featured in Crain's Detroit Business.

Bill Nowling
Communications Specialist - Campaign Instructor

Currently Bill is the Director of Public Affairs & Issue Management at Duffey Petrosky, a full-service marketing communications agency. Bill is a Lansing veteran with nearly two decades of issue management, campaign and public relations experience. He recently headed up communications for Governor Rick Snyder's record-breaking campaign and served as spokesman for the Snyder Transition Team. Prior to that, Bill was director of communications for the Michigan House Republicans, spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Ken Sikkema and speechwriter to Governor John Engler. Bill understands how to communicate effectively in the legislative arena and engage grassroots influences important in the era of term limits.

Paul Opsommer
State Representative, - Speaker

State Rep. Paul Opsommer was elected to a second term in the Michigan House of Representatives in November 2008 representing residents of Clinton and Gratiot counties. Opsommer graduated from Michigan State University with a bachelor's degree in secondary education. He is the former vice-president for Action Management Corporation, a governmental and corporate training firm. Opsommer is a former DeWitt mayor and city councilman. He also has extensive experience on many local government agencies and boards, including DeWitt Schools Strategic Planning, Clinton County Conservation District, DeWitt Downtown Development Association, the DeWitt Area Community Alliance, and the Tri-County Ground Water Management Board. Paul also is active in economic development and has helped secure grants for the Looking Glass and Stoney Creek watersheds. Paul and his wife of 35 years, Barbara, have lived in Clinton County for the last 32 years. They have two sons and two grandchildren.

Brian Pauley
Vice President, Enterprise Global Solutions and Services - Business Speaker

Brian Pauley is vice president, Global Solutions & Services, for Kelly Services, Inc.

Mr. Pauley is responsible for consulting and developing innovative workforce solutions that assist clients around the globe achieve their strategic business objectives. Mr. Pauley joined Kelly in 1989 and has led multiple sales and operations teams throughout the enterprise. He currently heads a business development team specializing in the creation of client-focused talent management programs for global organizations across multiple industry verticals.

He is a native of the state of Florida and holds a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Communications from the University of Central Florida. He lives in Rochester Hills, MI with his wife and 4 children. His hobbies include his kids, golf, photography, and gadgets.

Scott Robe
Attorney - Trial Instructor & Coach

Scott M. Robe, Esq., earned an A.B. degree summa cum laude in History at Ohio University in 1984. He received a Master of Public Policy and a Juris Doctor degree from Regent University in 1986, and 1989 respectively. He passed the Virginia Bar Exam in 1989, the District of Columbia exam in 1990, and the Ohio exam in 1991, and is admitted to practice in each of those jurisdictions.

From 1989-90 he was a judicial law clerk at the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, in the office of Special Master for vaccine injury litigation. Since 1990 he has engaged in the general practice of law, emphasizing probate and trust law, estate planning, business organization, real property, municipal law, personal injury, and civil litigation involving those subject matters. He has scholarly interests in the areas of the history and philosophy of law, and in the history, foundation, and relationship of ideas, particularly in regard to legal and constitutional systems.

Ken Roesler
Retired - Business Speaker

For 38 years, Ken Roesler worked for General Motors Corporation. He served in a variety of assignments including Computer Programming, Systems Analysis, Materials Management, Marketing, Strategic Planning, IT and Business Process Re-engineering. As Information Officer for North American Vehicle Brand Marketing and with the implementation of several internet and e-commerce web based applications, Ken helped launch GM into the digital age. In 2001, Ken retired from General Motors and founded and operated Corporate Off-Lease Computers, Inc. Offering an alternative solution to new hardware, this business specialized in re-purposing off-lease computers selling Certified, Pre-Owned computers to businesses.

In 2010 Ken re-retired to devote time to several faith based not for profit organizations including Project Mercy, a community development organization in Ethiopia, Cornerstone EPC World Missions, Brighton MI and Haven Hill Foundation, Ann Arbor MI.

Ken has two daughters and five grandchildren. He resides in Highland, Michigan with Nancy, his wife of 47 years.

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.

Matthew Schneider
Chief Counsel, Michigan Supreme Court - Trial Instructor & Coach

Matthew Scheider was recently appointed as Chief Counsel to the Michigan Supreme Court. Previously, Mr. Scheider was a federal prosecutor with the United States Department of Justice, appointed by Attorney General John Ashcroft.

Matthew Schneider is the Michigan Supreme Court’s Chief of Staff and General Counsel. As Chief of Staff, Schneider provides overall direction for administration of the Supreme Court, formulates policy, and serves as an advisor to the Chief Justice and the Justices. Schneider represents the Court in interactions with the Governor, the State Senate and House, the federal government, and local governments. As General Counsel, Schneider is the legal advisor to the Justices of the Supreme Court and to all of Michigan’s trial courts.

Schneider is a former federal prosecutor with the United States Department of Justice appointed by Attorney General John Ashcroft. Schneider was assigned to the Public Corruption Unit of the United States Attorney’s Office in Detroit, Michigan. His focus was on prosecuting corrupt public officials and members of organized crime, as well as street gangs and outlaw motorcycle gangs. As a lawyer for the United States, he obtained hundreds of convictions against large-scale drug traffickers, child pornographers, bank robbers, armed felons, and other violent criminals. He handled an anti-terrorism caseload and held the U.S. Government’s highest security clearance, known as Top Secret S.C.I. From 2007 to 2011, Schneider was deputized as a Special Deputy United States Marshal and was qualified under the federal government’s use of deadly force procedures. During his eight years as a federal prosecutor, he received numerous awards from federal law enforcement agencies such as the FBI, the DEA, and the ATF.

Prior to becoming a federal prosecutor, Schneider served on the legal staff of President George W. Bush. President Bush appointed Schneider as Senior Advisor and Assistant General Counsel in the White House Budget Office during the President’s first term. Schneider helped to develop the President’s major policy, budget, and legal initiatives at the White House. Among other things, he drafted the President’s Executive Orders and Signing Statements, advised the President’s Cabinet members on their testimony before Congress, and advised senior policy makers on the creation of the Department of Homeland Security.

Schneider previously practiced international law with the Washington, D.C. firm of Wiley, Rein & Fielding LLP, where he represented American companies in suits against foreign governments for unfair business and trade actions. Schneider is a Visiting Professor of Constitutional Law at Cooley Law School, and he has spoken and written on numerous aspects of Constitutional Law.

Schneider is a life-long Michigan resident and grew up in Frankenmuth. He graduated from the University of Michigan Law School in 2000. He holds a degree in International Relations from Michigan State University’s James Madison College, where he graduated as a member of the Honors College and served as Senior Class President of the Michigan State University Class of 1996. After graduation, Schneider served on the staff of Michigan Governor John Engler as the Governor’s Public Events Coordinator.

Matthew and Rebecca Schneider have one daughter, Ava.

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.

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.

Richard Thompson
President and Chief Counsel, Thomas More Law Center - Speaker

Richard Thompson spent 24 years of his professional career at the executive level of law enforcement. As elected Oakland County, Michigan Prosecuting Attorney for eight years (from 1989 to 1996), Thompson directed a staff of 180 including 102 lawyers, and administered an annual budget of $12 million dollars. His accomplishments included: successfully defending the constitutionality of Michigan’s Mandatory Life Law for major drug dealers in the United States Supreme Court, creating the state’s first Child Sexual Assault Crimes Unit, and developing one of the nation’s toughest no plea bargaining policies--which achieved a 98 percent conviction rate.

Thompson gained national prominence as prosecuting attorney for his uncompromising stand against Jack Kevorkian, despite public opinion in Michigan which overwhelmingly supported “Dr. Death” and Physician Assisted Suicide. Thompson has appeared on numerous nationally televised talk shows, including: FOX News Channel’s O’Reilly Factor and Hannity & Colmes, CNN’s Crossfire and Larry King Live, The Phil Donahue Show, The Joan Rivers Show, and Rivera Live on CNBC.

At the Thomas More Law Center, Richard Thompson directs a highly professional and aggressive team of lawyers dedicated to the defense and promotion of the religious liberty of Christians, time-honored family values, the sanctity of human life, a strong national defense, and an independent and sovereign United States of America.

Jeff Timmer
Political Strategist - Campaign Instructor

Jeff Timmer is a Partner in the Sterling Corporation, a premier communications company specializing in public affairs, political campaigns, ballot initiatives, and fundraising for corporations, trade associations, issue advocacy groups and political candidates. He is a veteran political and public affairs strategist who is also Creative Director, overseeing development and production of printed materials and broadcast advertising for our clients.

Jeff was Executive Director of the Michigan Republican Party from 2005-2009 and won wide recognition for innovative communications and use of technology. He has directed numerous legislative, congressional, and statewide political and ballot issue campaigns, and provided strategic advice to corporate, public affairs, and political campaign clients. Additionally, Jeff has created, directed, and produced award- winning mail and advertising campaigns for a variety of clients.

He has been an advisor to Speakers of the Michigan House, Michigan Senate Majority Leaders, the Michigan House and Senate Republican campaign committees. He was appointed by the Governor to serve on Michigan’s Board of State Canvassers.

Jerome Vierling
Founder, Soundsgood Ministries - Speaker

Jerome has been serving the Lord since 2002. After living a life of drugs, anger, partying, and much more God transformed his life and since Jerome’s life has never been the same. After making music for the world for 7+ years, the Holy Spirit began to show Jerome in 2003 how he could use music to reach people for Christ and build the church. Jerome thought this was backwards because he had never heard of Hip Hop music being used by God. Since that time Jerome moved faithfully with the call and being shaped by leadership in the church. Jerome was happy to find that God had been using many others to do the same worldwide and this provided encouragement and confirmation along the way.

“The day I became alive was the day Jesus drew me to Him”-Jerome

Jerome started Soundsgood in 2003 and has vision to develop artists and mulimedia projects that Share the Gospel, Make Timothy’s, and that always build bridges to extend the reach of the local community of believers (church). Jerome serves in his local church as the Youth Discipleship Director where he launched and developed the discipleship method called Get Rooted.

The current project Jerome has released is the “Second Coming”. The theme for the album is “Live today like the last, but prepare for forever”. God showed Jerome to lift Him up and He will draw all men close to Himself. Now currently Soundsgood Ministries is performing the Second Coming Concert Experience which consists of live music, acting, full video, the Gospel, and with each in attendance receiving a CD.

Jeff & Jennie Visscher
C.O.O. and Summer Program Director of SSI - Speakers

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

Previously, for more than ten years, Jeff 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. Jennie was homeschooled and received her teaching instruction in violin at the Suzuki Institute in Stevens Point, Wisconsin.

Jennie is a home-schooling mom and an accomplished violinist, who up until recently taught violin out of her home. She also serves as the String Director and Senior Orchestra Conductor for the Home School Music Association. In addition, Jennie works along with Jeff at SSI’s Summer Program, serving as Head Chaperone and Camp Nurse.

Jeff & Jennie are members of Faith Bible Church in Lansing, where Jeff serves as a lay leader. Both have ministered extensively in short-term missions around the world, serving in China, Russia, Australia, Dominican Republic, Mexico, and Peru.

Jeff has spoken on a variety of topics including politics and grassroots activism. Jeff and Jennie have also spoken to a variety of audiences on courtship.

Jeff and Jennie, with their two children Andelisia and Nicholas, reside in Eaton Rapids, Michigan.

Harold Voorhees
Kent County Commissioner & Former State Representative - Speaker & Campaign Instructor

Harold J. Voorhees, former president of Serve-U-Sweets, a Grand Rapids-based cookie and snack food distributor, began elected service in 1987 when elected to the Wyoming City Council. In 1989 Harold was elected Mayor of Wyoming, a Grand Rapids suburb, and reelected mayor in 1991. The fall elections for 1992 saw Harold elected to represent the City of Wyoming and a portion of the City of Grand Rapids in the Michigan House of Representatives.

In 1999 Harold was elected Chair of Michigan's 3rd Congressional District. Serving Congressman Vern Ehlers and the members of the 3rd congressional district, as well as serving on the State Committee of the GOP gave Harold a perspective of the national political venue. It was at this time that Harold entered Cornerstone University and fulfilled his desire for a college degree.

n 2002 residents of Kent County District 9 elected Harold to the Kent County Board of Commissioners where he currently serves. Beside keeping up with the cookie business, which is operated by Harold Jr., and working with his wife Joanne on their public service opportunities, Harold is a frequent SSI speaker, affectionately known as "Grandpa Voorhees."

Sylvia Warner
Media Specialist - Instructor

Sylvia Warner recently retired after 10 years in Washington D.C. where she served as the press secretary and spokeswoman for U.S. Representative Mike Rogers of Michigan. As a Washington D.C. press secretary, Sylvia coordinated media coverage for the Congressman, dealing with reporters from Michigan and across the U.S. as well as from other nations. She also coordinated media contacts, working with press secretaries from the offices of Congressional leaders as well as the White House on a few occasions. Before her Washington assignment, Sylvia had a 25-year career as a Michigan newspaper journalist. Then she spent seven years working in the Michigan House of Representatives and the Michigan Senate as a media specialist before working for Rogers in his Michigan Senate office and on his successful 2000 campaign for Congress.

A native of Roanoke, Virginia, Sylvia has been a proud Michigander since 1960. She is blessed with three grown sons, three great daughters-in-law, five grandchildren and a great-granddaughter. Today, she works part-time for Sen. Judy Emmons in the Michigan Senate.

Michael Warren
Circuit Court Judge - Mock Trial & Moot Court Judge

Hon. Michael Warren was appointed to the Oakland County Circuit Court in December 2002, retained the position in an unopposed election in 2004, and won re-election in 2006.

Judge Warren has published How to Kit: Obtain a Finding of Contempt of Court for Failure to Obey an Order or Judgment of the Court with the Institute of Continuing Legal Education (ICLE), and Contempt of Court & Broken Windows, Why Ignoring Contempt of Court Undermines Justice, the Rule of Law, and Republican Self-Government in Engage, The Federalist Society’s Practice Group Publication. ICLE has committed to publishing his book on contempt of court as well. He has also published a large number of guest commentaries regarding the law, education, and civics in The Detroit News, Detroit Free Press, Oakland Press, and other newspapers. He has participated as a member of the faculty for various ICLE conferences.

Judge Warren is a former member of the Michigan State Board of Education. After leaving the State Board of Education, he served on the State Board of Education’s Task Force on Social Studies. He also served on the Advisory Boards of the Michigan Civics Institute and Michigan School Board Leaders Association.

A former partner of the Detroit based law firm Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLC, he concentrated on business transactions, corporations, and securities work. He also served as the Executive Director (and in other capacities) for The New Common School Foundation (a Detroit based foundation working to build models of excellence in urban education).

Judge Warren is a 1992 graduate of the University of Michigan Law School (Juris Doctor Degree, Cum Laude) and a 1989 graduate of Wayne State University (Bachelor of Arts Honors History, Magna Cum Laude). Following graduation from law school, Judge Warren was a clerk to Michigan Supreme Court Justice Dorothy Comstock Riley.

Anthony Weber
High School Teacher, Assoc. Pastor - Advanced Biblical Worldview 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 Philosophy last year, and my brain is officially full."

William Wagner
Law Professor, Cooley Law School - Moot Court Judge

William Wagner 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 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. During his career in public service, he has provided international assistance to the justice sector institutions of numerous countries. 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.

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.

Lori Wortz
Political Strategist, WWP Strategies - Campaign Instructor, Coach

Lori Wortz specializes in strategic planning for public policy issue management campaigns, ballot proposal campaigns and grassroots/grasstops mobilization. Previously Lori served seven years as Chief of Staff to the Michigan State Senate Majority Leader, providing oversight of Senate operations, managing a multi-million dollar budget, helping plan and implement the legislative agenda, and interacting with members of the media, interest groups and the public. She directly participated in key policy debates, including property tax reform, school funding reform, energy and telecommunication deregulation, welfare reform, and changes in the unemployment compensation system.

Lori began her career working on presidential politics. She worked for Pat Robertson in 1986, ran his 1988 campaign in Michigan and worked on the regional level, and later at the RNC, covering Alaska, Washington, Nevada, Oregon, Missouri, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Nebraska.