Officers, Boards & Key Players
Officers
Echo Garrett, President
Co-Founder/Owner of See Level Studios, LLC
Partner, Operation Orange Media
Diana Black,Vice President
Diana Designs
Elizabeth M. Morrell, ARM, Secretary/Treasurer
Senior Business Analyst
Riskonnect, Inc.
Board of Directors
Mike Daly: ODBF Chairperson
CSI Creative Solutions
Richard Becker
Educational Partner, Director/Founder, Chrysalis Experiential Academy
Joe Bushéy
President & CEO POS World /INTOUCH Interactive
Brent Jorgensen
President & CEO Icentris Solutions
Jane Karangu
Youth Advocate
Dr. Angela Lee
Atlanta Optometrist
Cathy Perry, PPC
Founder, Inward Bound
Rodney Sampson, MBA
Owner & Partner EFactor
Michele L. Stumpe, Esq.
Taylor|English
Maria Sullivan
Vintage & Vogue, A Second Chance Boutique
Orange Duffel Bag Coach Teen Leaders
Sabastian Mensah
Youth Advisor
Shalisa Walker
Youth Advisor
Advisory Board
Ray Kuik
President & Owner, The FaQtory – Partner, Operation Orange Media
Fred Carillo
Consultant, FranklinCovey
Sarah Noble
Education Practice Director, Franklin Covey Education
Michael Simpson
Executive Coach/Senior Consultant, Franklin Covey
Spokepeople
Spokesperson – Sam Bracken
Vice President General Manager of FranklinCovey MediaPartner, Operation Orange Media
Sam Bracken shares his story of growing up in Las Vegas with mobsters and motorcycle gang members as his role models. Abused by his wannabe mobster stepfather Leroy and a sadistic older stepbrother, Sam started drinking and doing drugs by age 9. As a 13-year-old his love of sports led him to quit drugs and drinking. He languished in special education classes until an eighth grade teacher discovered he just needed glasses. His mom suffered a mental breakdown and abandoned Sam, then 15. Despite being essentially homeless throughout high school, Sam graduated with a 3.9 GPA as #11 out of a class of 720 and won a full ride football scholarship to the Georgia Institute of Technology. When Sam left Las Vega, everything he owned in the world fit into an orange duffel bag.
After a standout year as a freshman Georgia Tech football player, Sam suffered seemingly career-ending shoulder injuries. Once again, Sam beat the odds, eventually re-earning his starting position on the team and graduating with honors. Today the abused, homeless teen has grown into a man who lives the American dream with his wife Kim, three boys and a daughter. As an executive with FranklinCovey, Sam travels all over the world speaking on change, leadership and excellence.
Website: www.SamBracken.com
Links: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube
Celebrity Spokesperson – Kevin Montgomery
Singer/songwriter Kevin Montgomery, a native of Nashville, dedicated his 2010 50 States in 50 Days Tour to the Orange Duffel Bag Foundation. Montgomery, accompanied by Sean Snook, played a show in a different state every night with the mission of bringing light to the epidemic of teens aging out of foster care and becoming the “invisible homeless.” He is currently making plans for the 2012 50 States in 50 Days Tour to commence in March and be completed in May, which is National Foster Care Month. During the 2011 tour, Montgomery blogged and videotaped the stories of those who have aged out of foster care, been homeless as teens, overcame that background or work with teens in crisis. “The biggest surprise is how eager the kids are to tell their stories,” says Montgomery, who is passionate about this cause. “They want people to know what they’ve been through.” The videos can be viewed at www.The50Statesin50DaysTour.com under the tab “Orange Duffel Bag Stories.” He is working on a documentary series on what happens to kids when they age out of foster care.
The popular indie artist’s father Bob Montgomery sang and wrote songs with Buddy Holly and has had a long and successful career in music publishing and production. His mom Carol sang on Elvis’ “Suspicious Minds” and Bob Dylan’s “Nashville Skyline.” At 23, Montgomery landed a recording contract in Los Angeles with A&M Records and toured with Sheryl Crow, David Crosby and Peter Himmelman. He eventually moved back to Nashville. He sang on Lee Ann Womack’s “I Hope You Dance” CD. He also wrote “I Won’t Close My Eyes” featured on Martina McBride’s triple platinum “Evolution” CD. Reviewers describe his music as Americana in the Jackson Browne tradition. His album “True” featured a remake of his father Bob Montgomery’s Patsy Cline classic “Back in Baby’s Arms.” His new album “Some Comfort” will soon be released.
Website: www.KevinMontgomery.com
Website: www.The50Statesin50DaysTour.com
Links: Facebook, Twitter