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.

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.

Jase Bolger
State Representative, - Speaker

Jase Bolger was elected as a State Representative in November of 2008. He serves the people of the 63rd District, which includes the eastern Kalamazoo County city of Galesburg and the townships of Brady, Charleston, Climax, Comstock, Pavilion, Richland, Ross, Schoolcraft and Wakeshma; as well as the central/north-western Calhoun County city of Marshall and townships of Bedford, Emmett, Marshall, Newton and Pennfield. Jase is serving in his first term, and is Vice Chair of the House Committee on Oversight and Investigations, and is a member of the New Economy and Quality of Life; Tourism, Outdoor Recreation and Natural Resources; and Transportation Committees. He has also been named an Assistant Whip for the Caucus.

As a small businessman, Jase founded and operates a company that offers telephone and computer based support to Fortune 100 companies throughout the country. He competes nationally and internationally every day to bring work back to Michigan. After a decade of civic and community involvement, Jase was first elected to public office in 2004 as a Calhoun County Commissioner. Jase graduated from Western Michigan University with a bachelor of Business Administration with a dual major in Finance and Political Science. An Eagle Scout, Jase holds community service high on his list of priories. His involvement with AYSO Soccer, the Rotary, United Way, the KAAAP mentor program, Oaklawn Hospital, the Knights of Columbus, and several Chambers of Commerce are a testament to his commitment to helping our youth and moving our economy forward.

Jase is married to his high school sweetheart Molly, and they have two children, Nicholas and Megan. Jase and his family are Roman Catholic and members of St. Mary's parish in Marshall.

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.

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.

Brian Calley
State Representative, - 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.

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

Maura Corrigan
Justice, Michigan Supreme Court - Speaker

Justice Maura Corrigan has served on the Michigan Supreme Court since 1999, including four years from 2001 – 2005, as Chief Justice.

She graduated from Marygrove College and the University of Detroit-Mercy School of Law. She then became a law clerk to Michigan Court of Appeals Judge John Gillis, a Wayne County Assistant Prosecutor, and an Assistant United States Attorney in Detroit. She was first appointed the Chief of Appeals and later, Chief Assistant United States Attorney, the first woman to hold that position. Justice Corrigan became a partner at the Detroit law firm of Plunkett & Cooney in 1989. From 1992 to 1998, she served on the Michigan Court of Appeals, the last two years as Chief Judge.

Justice Corrigan participates in numerous community and professional activities. She was chosen as commissioner of the Pew Commission on Children in Foster Care and a vice-president of the Conference of Chief Justices. She was appointed to the Michigan Law Revision Commission, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit Attorney Advisory Committee, and the Rules Committee of the U.S. District Court in Detroit. She served on the Executive Board of the Michigan Judges Association and the Advisory Board of the Center for Law and Organizational Economics at the University of Kansas. She also volunteered on the board of Boysville of Michigan (now Holy Cross). She currently is a director of Vista Maria in Dearborn Heights, Michigan. She also is a member of the Federalist Society. She has been president of the Incorporated Society of Irish American Lawyers, the Federal Bar Association in Detroit, and MSU Inns of Court.

Justice Corrigan is the widow of Wayne State University Distinguished Professor of Law Joseph D. Grano and is the mother of Daniel, an attorney with Flood, Lanctot in Royal Oak and member of Grosse Pointe Park City Council, and his wife, Marianne, a Presbyterian minister; Megan, an alumna of Chicago's Second City, who is an actress, comedian, and writer in Los Angeles, and her husband, Michael Canale, who works in the business end of the entertainment 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.

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.

Terry Kuhns
Mentoring Director, Operation Transformation - Speaker

Terry Kuhns is the Mentoring Director for Operation Transformation. Operation Transformation contracts with MPRI to provide mentoring for parolees in nine counties. Terry teaches inside of two correctional facilities and oversees a team of 300+ volunteer mentors. He has presented the program to well over 800 parolees and has established hundreds of mentoring relationships in the last three years. Terry was a pastor for ten years in downtown Port Huron and has a M.A. from Michigan Theological Seminary. Most recently, he is developing a satellite campus for Michigan Theological Seminary in Port Huron Michigan.

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.

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."

Derek Muller
Attorney, SSI Alum - Speaker

Derek T. Muller is an attorney with the law firm Kirkland & Ellis, located in Chicago. He is an associate in the litigation practice group, and practices in the areas of litigation and Appellate Litigation. Derek graduate summa cum laude from Hillsdale College with his B.A., and received his law degree from Notre Dame Law School in 2007, graduating summa cum laude.

Derek is married to Emily and they have two children, Tommy and Elizabeth.

Derek attended SSI in 1998 & 1999.

Christopher M. Murray
Michigan Court of Appeals Judge - Moot Court Judge

Chris Murray is a Judge on the Michigan Court of Appeals. Previously he was a Wayne Circuit Court judge, serving in the Family Division. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Hillsdale College in 1985. In 1990, he received a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Detroit School of Law.

Judge Murray practiced law with Keller, Thoma, P.C., in Detroit from 1990 until 1995, while from 1995 to 1997, Judge Murray served as deputy legal counsel to Governor John Engler. In 1997, Judge Murray returned to Keller, Thoma, and remained there until his appointment to the Wayne Circuit Court on January 10, 2000. Judge Murray was elected to a six-year term on the Wayne Circuit Court in November 2000. He was appointed to the Court of Appeals on January 16, 2002, and was elected to a full term on November 5, 2002.

While in private practice, Judge Murray also served as chairman of the State Board of Ethics, and as a member of the Local Government Claims Review Board. He has had several articles published in Michigan legal periodicals, including "State-Tribal Issues: A Legal Perspective," in The Michigan Bar Journal (October 1996). Judge Murray is a member of the Michigan Bar Association, the Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association, is Treasurer for the Irish-American Lawyers Association, a Fellow of the Michigan State Bar Foundation, and is on the Board of Directors for the Catholic Lawyer’s Society. He is also a member of the Model Civil Jury Instructions Committee.

Judge Murray is married with three children.

Randy O'Brien
Christian Comedian - Speaker

Up until January 2000, Randy O'Brien had spent his entire adult life glorifying himself. By that time he had spent 10 years as a television sportscaster and another 9 years as a stand-up comic, working with the likes of Tim Allen and Drew Carey. In January 2000, however, that all changed when Randy accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior. These days the Lord uses Randy and his stand-up comedy to glorify God by leading others to Christ and encouraging those who have already done so.

Currently, Randy lives in Sellersburg, IN, and serves as a youth leader for Calvary Road Baptist.

Margaret O'Brien
Realtor - Speaker

Margaret OBrien was born and raised in Kalamazoo County where she grew up on Dairy farms in rural townships before moving to Portage in 1990. After graduation from Mattawan High School, she went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations from Michigan State University’s James Madison College in 1996. OBrien started her professional career at Catholic Family Services as a social worker. She worked with troubled youth and their families in their ARK program, a runaway and homeless shelter for youth. She was promoted to the Caring Network program, a life affirming pregnancy support program. OBrien went on to become a grant and contract writer and helped secure funding for services. After 8 years at Catholic Family Services, OBrien started a real estate career in 2003 with RE/MAX Advantage. She has actively fought for the rights of property owners as a member in both the Greater Kalamazoo Association of Realtors and the Homebuilders Association of Greater Kalamazoo.

OBrien is no stranger to politics. She ran her first campaign in 2000 in a race for County Commission. She lost a close battle and ran again in 2002. After a 1 vote win and then a loss in a recount, she regrouped and won the City Council race in 2003 as the highest vote getter. In 2008, O'Brien ran for State Representative in the 61st District. She lost a close primary by 340 votes out of nearly 11,000 votes cast. O'Brien is now the Vice Chair of the Kalamazoo County Republican Party while also serving in leadership roles in other Republican groups. O'Brien believes being a conservative provides a strong foundation in her life.

Margaret is married to Nick OBrien, a CPA who works at Perrigo in Allegan. Together, they have two children- Samantha and Tyjon, both in the 7thgrade. They live in Portage along with their dog Daisy. They attend Valley Family Church, where the family serves together in the 4-5 year old room.

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.

Sharleen Reif Richard
Radiologic Technologist & Registered Diagnostic Sonographer, Sound Wave Images - Speaker

Shari is an Obstetrical Ultrasound Expert and Educator whose medical experience spans 32 years. She is the founder of Sound Wave Images through which she produced the videos, "Window to the Womb", "Eyewitness To The Earliest Days Of Life." "Eyewitness 2… The Next Generation" and the CD "9 Months...from Conception to Birth and Beyond."

Her ultrasound footage has educated millions on fetal development and child birth issues, as over 100,000 copies have been distributed and translated worldwide. Her footage as been viewed on commercial ads and in numerous local and national television documentaries. Different versions of the video are now available in Korean, Spanish, French, German, Russian, Romanian, Portuguese, Italian, Hebrew and others.

In 1992 Shari incorporated The Imaging Network Diagnostic Ultrasound Program where she pioneered the first ultrasound clinical for Michigan S.E. Pregnancy Centers to provide information and reduce abortions. She has now implemented her success nationwide by providing ultrasound training for the medical staff of Pregnancy Centers.

Shari has appeared on national radio, television, testified in U.S. Congress and has lectured in schools and conducted workshops for Pregnancy Centers and other groups. She lives in West Bloomfield, Michigan and has been blessed with the miracle of three sons. Shari is also available to speak for your group. Specialized in Presenting Life Issues for Schools, Churches, Youth Groups, Pro-Life, Medical Groups, Fundraisers and Pregnancy Centers.

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.

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
Federal Prosecutor - Trial Instructor & Coach

Matthew Schneider is a federal prosecutor with the United States Department of Justice. He was appointed by Attorney General John Ashcroft. Schneider was sworn in as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan on May 1, 2003.

Schneider prosecutes drug traffickers, bank robbers, child pornographers, weapons offenders, and other violent criminals in the Detroit office’s Criminal Division. He has a particular focus in prosecuting organized crime, including street gangs and outlaw motorcycle gangs. Schneider also prosecutes antiterrorism cases, and he holds the United States government’s highest security clearance, known as Top Secret S.C.I. He has also taught and written as an adjunct professor of constitutional law.

Prior to becoming a federal prosecutor, Schneider served on the legal staff of President George W. Bush. President Bush appointed Schneider to the position of 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, and advised senior policy makers on the creation of the Department of Homeland Security.

Before his appointment, Schneider 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 graduated from the University of Michigan Law School in May 2000. He received a degree in International Relations from Michigan State University’s James Madison College in 1996, graduating as a member of the Honors College. After graduation, Schneider served on the staff of Michigan Governor John Engler. In 2000, he was the campaign manager for Michigan Supreme Court Justices Stephen Markman, Clifford Taylor, and Robert Young, who were all elected.

Matthew and Rebecca Schneider have one daughter, Ava.

Nancy Sisson
Director, Home School Help! - Instructor

Nancy is the Director of HomeSchool Help, a home school curriculum development and resource center. Nancy has been involved in various homeschooling groups such as Homeschool Music Association (as choir director), Lansing's 2002 production of Home of the Brave (as director), homeschool speech classes (as teacher), and Homeschooling the High Schooler conferences (as coordinator and speaker).

Nancy received her undergraduate degree in Secondary Education (Public speaking, Drama and Music were her proficiencies) and a Master's degree in Education after starting to homeschool her children. She is the mother of three, two have graduated and one is still in high school and learning about small businesses first hand. Nancy has been homeschooling for over 10 years.

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 haved ministered extensively in short-term missions around the world, serving in China, Russia, Austrailia, 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.

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.

Tim Walberg
Former Congressman - Speaker

Congressman Walberg served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2007 to 2009. Tim's previous work includes service as a pastor for nearly 10 years. He was elected to the Michigan House of Representatives in 1983 and served until 1999. During his time in the State Legislature, Tim gained a reputation as a principled voice for less government spending, lower taxes, and fewer regulations, as well as a compassionate voice for the culture of life and traditional values. Following his 16 years in the Michigan House, he worked to create local community betterment programs throughout south-east Michigan as President of the Warren Reuther Center for Education and Community Impact. Tim has also served as a division manager for the Moody Bible Institute, before retiring in January of 2006.

Tim is an avid sportsman and enjoys hunting, fishing, and camping. He is a member of Pheasants Forever and the NRA. Tim also enjoys riding his Harley or anything with two wheels.

Of all of Tim's accomplishments, he is most proud of his family. Tim and his wife Sue have been married for 35 years. They live in Tipton where they raised their three now-adult children Matthew, Heidi, and Caleb. Matthew and his wife Erin blessed Tim and Sue with their pride and joy, grandchildren Micah and Claire.

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 Philosoply last year, and my brain is officially full."

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.