Exterminator

Career Coach

• Aug 2017 - Apr 2019

I worked with a crew of six individuals with various disabilities. We were in a thrift store situation and I was their coach. It was a great time in my life and I was sad to see it end. Our program lost to government funding. Several coaches like myself and all of our teammates had to find new positions. Some were able to stay within Goodwill as I could have and others were helped to get in with other agencies. I didn’t think I would enjoy the position I was offered so I chose to move on. I worked with a crew of six individuals with various disabilities. We were in a thrift store situation and I was their coach. It was a great time in my life and I was sad to see it end. Our program lost to government funding. Several coaches like myself and all of our teammates had to find new positions. Some were able to stay within Goodwill as I could have and others were helped to get in with other agencies. I didn’t think I would enjoy the position I was offered so I chose to move on.

Youth Worker

• Jul 2004 - Jan 2018

After a few years of working at a neighborhood nonprofit and my local church and not really feeling like I was doing the things that I was better at or had a passion for, I was able to start this nonprofit. We did a lot of different things with kids to young adults. Weekly Bible club with children, helping young men try to get their GED, taking young men and women to work out of state on construction projects, having a small business delivering refreshments to offices around Kansas City and delivering newspapers on a weekly basis. We took kids and teenagers to a camp for urban youth on table rock lake, on float trips and spent a lot of time just playing ball and hanging out. The ministry was based out of my home which meant lots of young people were in our home continual basis. This was a job that I had to do my own fundraising for. We still have this Inc. as a nonprofit although it has become basically in active.

Gym floor refinisher/installer

• Apr 2008 - Aug 2017

As a part of my youth ministry, I started taking youth to work refinishing and building gym floors. We tore out old floors and installed new, sanded and refinished. I did this several years, primarily in the summer. Eventually it dawned on me that I was away from my own family too much. It had also become more difficult to take young people as we did more and more new construction where unions and all the trades were on site. As a part of my youth ministry, I started taking youth to work refinishing and building gym floors. We tore out old floors and installed new, sanded and refinished. I did this several years, primarily in the summer. Eventually it dawned on me that I was away from my own family too much. It had also become more difficult to take young people as we did more and more new construction where unions and all the trades were on site.

Youth Pastor

• Jun 2000 - Jun 2004

I taught Sunday school, lead Wednesday evening activities and services, took kids on work trips, mission trips, summer camps, retreats, etc. I led volunteers in these activities, started a mentoring program and acted as a volunteer tutor with kids from around the world. I taught Sunday school, lead Wednesday evening activities and services, took kids on work trips, mission trips, summer camps, retreats, etc. I led volunteers in these activities, started a mentoring program and acted as a volunteer tutor with kids from around the world.

Elementary School Teacher

• Aug 1991 - May 2001

I taught first through fourth grade for eight years and then two years of ESL on a part-time basis. In 1991, I graduated with my teaching certificate. We were living in Olathe Kansas, and I was hired to work in Kansas City Missouri. I made the commute for two years and then we sold our home and moved into the city. After teaching two years in a French magnet school, the school district transferred me to a new school. The school was less than a mile from my home. For the next six years I taught at the school and also immersed myself in youth ministry with my church and a local para church ministry. I loved the interaction with children and their families, but I struggled with some aspects of teaching. I loved being part of the diverse community in which we lived and where my school was located. I took kids to church with me, to summer camps, drove a church bus and found myself interacting with youth in the community on a consistent basis.