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OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM

Lead Like Jesus is a global organization that promises the transformational leadership Model

Meet the team

Ken Blanchard & Phil Hodges

Co-Founders

Ken had successfully studied and taught leadership for years. His writings on the topic of leadership (including The One Minute Manager) led him to become one of Amazon’s Top 25 Bestsellers of All Time.

Phil Hodges served as a leader in corporate America with US Steel and Xerox, serving as a labor union negotiator.  Initially through Phil’s influence, Ken gradually came to understand the overwhelming need for Jesus to take the lead in his own life.

As a new believer, Ken began to study the Bible and became fascinated with how Jesus led perfectly in every way. Jesus transformed twelve ordinary, unlikely individuals into the first generation of Christian leaders, launching a movement that continues to affect the course of world history some two thousand years later.

Inspired by a new vision of influential leadership, Ken and Phil co-founded Lead Like Jesus to inspire and equip people to lead like Jesus.

Phyllis Hendry Halverson

President Emeritus

Phyllis Hendry Halverson has served in leadership positions in business, nonprofits, and ministry. She is the co-author of Lead Like Jesus Revisited and its curriculum study guides along with Ken Blanchard and Phil Hodges. Phyllis served for almost nineteen years as the inaugural President and CEO of Lead Like Jesus. Under her visionary leadership, the organization grew exponentially, equipping and empowering tens of thousands of adults and students throughout the world to lead as Jesus led. The Lead Like Jesus Board of Directors has esteemed Phyllis with the title of President Emeritus as a lifetime honorary position. Phyllis will continue as an ambassador for Lead Like Jesus everywhere she goes around the globe. Prior to joining Lead Like Jesus, Phyllis served for eleven years as President of the National Science Center, Inc., in Augusta GA, a partnership with the United States Army.

Phyllis is a sought-after speaker, regularly travelling across the globe to deliver the hope-filled, love- inspired, story-laden, and deeply personal messages that pour straight from her heart. She has been featured as a keynote speaker for crowds of 5,000-plus – often simulcast to thousands more – sharing the stage with well-known orators as Ken Blanchard, John Ortberg, Rosey Grier, Erwin McManus, Henry Cloud, Patrick Lencioni, Henry Blackaby and more.

Phyllis is now working with her husband, Chris Halverson, in Washington, DC with national and international leaders to equip and encourage them to be leaders who are led by God through the life, teachings, and practices of Jesus.

Rick Pickering

President

Lead Like Jesus has named Rick Pickering as its President.  Ken Blanchard, one of the co-founders of Lead Like Jesus, shared: “Rick has been an outstanding marketplace leader for decades, as well as serving on many ministry and not-for-profit boards.  He is just the person we need to take Lead Like Jesus into the next stage of its ministry and reach more and more people in the United States and around the world.”

Rick has been the CEO of the California Exposition and State Fair, for the past 10 years. He’s been named “One of the Most Creative CEOs in America” by a national trade magazine.  He has also served on many boards for ministries, nonprofits, and professional associations. He currently is on the Board of Trustees of William Jessup University.  Rick earned a master’s degree from the University of Southern California and a bachelor’s degree from Biola University.  He is well known as a servant leader, turnaround expert and results-driven visionary.

Susan Raridon Lambreth, chair of the Lead Like Jesus Board of Directors, stated, “Anyone who knows Rick, knows his heart for serving.  He is respected by leaders around the globe, which will help Lead Like Jesus continue to offer its leadership programs and outreach around the world as we fulfill our vision that someday everyone will be impacted by someone leading like Jesus.”  Phil Hodges, co-founder, shared, “God’s timing in bringing Rick Pickering and his wife Dawn into this season of leadership service at Lead Like Jesus is exciting and precise.  Their humble and prayerful approach to accepting this responsibility has been a wonderful witness.”

VP Development & Donor Relations

Brian Carr

Brian Carr brings more than 20 years of successful fundraising leadership experience to Lead Like Jesus. Brian grew in experience and skill while working and learning at Northwest Assistance Ministries in Houston, Texas, the American Cancer Society, James Robison’s LIFE Outreach International, the National Kidney Foundation and the YMCA.
Brian has worked with direct mail, donor cultivation, major gifts, and planned gifts. Brian has led several annual campaigns and been a part of leading three separate successful capital campaigns. Brian’s experience is valued among his peers as he is a sought-after speaker for fundraising and non-profit leadership training. Brian was chosen to Chair the Rotary Lombardi Award, recognizing college football’s outstanding lineman for two consecutive years, producing record level net revenues.
Brian came to Lead Like Jesus to use his talents for a ministry that changes lives. Brian is a graduate of the University of Texas, He enjoys most sports, playing golf, movies and is quite the history buff. He attends Cy-Life Church in Houston, Texas.
Donor Relations Specialist

Meg Hancock

Meg is a Donor Relations Specialist at Lead Like Jesus. Before coming to Lead Like Jesus, she was the unit marketing director for Chick-fil-A in Evans, Georgia, for eight years. She grew up attending Curtis Baptist Church and School, graduating in 2002. She has served in Romania six times, one of them as an intern during the summer of 2005. She and her husband, Ben, have two dogs and she enjoys running marathons, wakeboarding, hunting and crossfit.
Director of Leadership Development Services

Barbara Meiss

Barbara serves as the Director of Leadership Development at Lead like Jesus where she manages and oversees the training function and facilitator certification for workshops and assessments. Barbara’s dedication to helping others succeed both personally and professionally has led her into numerous careers & positions in the training and education field. With a servant heart, striving always to lead like Jesus, she seeks to help others find their purpose and passion in life.

An educator by profession, Barbara has been involved in teaching and training for over 30 years and brings vast experience in leading workshops and developing facilitators and trainers. She has been active in her church in a variety of leadership roles including coordinating and leading mission trips, serving as a lay pastor for small groups and mentoring newly married couples. Her volunteer work includes serving with Habitat for Humanity, Feed My Starving Children and Hospice.

Barbara enjoys gardening, biking, cooking and spending time with her 5 grandchildren. She lives in Minnesota and Arizona with her husband, Rich.

Marketing Advisor

Megan Pacheco

Megan Pacheco is Marketing Advisor at Lead Like Jesus. Born and raised in Poland, Megan moved to the U.S., at age 17 and after finishing her studies, she started work in the faith-based sector, where she has served for over 13 years. She comes with years of experience in product development, marketing and alliances and is passionate about using her God-given talents to advance the cause of Christ. Megan is a writer, and her content on issues like personal finances, money and marriage and raising children have been published by More Living, Yahoo Finance, AllParenting, FoxBusiness, DailyFinance, and Crosswalk. Megan is married to David, who is from Guatemala, and together they are committed to cultivating their traditions and cultures. They love meeting new people, hosting friends and neighbors for cookouts, and good conversation—always desiring to impact more lives for Christ. Megan and David reside in Flowery Branch, Georgia, with their two sons, Joshua and Daniel.
Lead Like Jesus Ambassador

Dawn Pickering

Dawn loves God’s Word and sharing its life-changing teachings with others. Since 2015 she has served as an adjunct professor of theology at Jessup University, teaching courses in Gospel Worldview, Contemporary Discipleship, Bible Survey, and The Life and Teachings of Jesus. She also served for over two decades as a Christian High School administrator and teacher. She is known as a gifted women’s event speaker for her teaching style and for developing relevant and authentic messages.

Dawn holds a Master’s Degree in Christian Ministry from Liberty Theological Seminary, and an undergraduate degree in Christian Education from Biola University.

She has been married to her favorite person on the planet, Rick, since 1982. They enjoy investing in the lives of their three sons, three daughters-in-law, and five grandchildren.

VP Finance and Administration

Kim Rider

Kim comes to the Lead Like Jesus team with nearly two decades of management and IT experience, including network support, project management, and department director roles. She also enjoys communications, and writes as a hobby. She received her dual Bachelor’s of Arts degrees in Computer Information Systems and Business Administration from Piedmont College in Demorest, GA.

Kim and her husband live in Northeast Georgia with their two children and grandson. She enjoys playing golf, running, and hiking in the North Georgia mountains.
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See the LLJ Vision

That someday, everyone, everywhere will be influenced by someone who leads like Jesus.

Board of Directors

Ken Blanchard

Co-Founder, Lead Like Jesus
Chief Spiritual Officer
The Ken Blanchard ® Companies
Escondido, CA

Phil Hodges

Co-Founder
Lead Like Jesus
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA

Susan Raridon Lambreth

Interim Chair of the Board of Directors, Lead Like Jesus
Principal
LawVision Group
Brentwood, TN

Tamara Kay Tibby, DMD, MPH

Director
Tampa Family Health Centers
Temple Terrace, FL

Mohan Patnaik

VP & Head of Global Capability Center
Glaxo Smith Kline
Bangalore, India

Jason Lippert

CEO
Lippert Industries (NYSE: LCII)
Mishawaka, IN

Doug Erickson

Owner
Hastings Automotive
Hastings, MN

Greg Stevens

President
San Antonio Insurance Services
San Antonio, TX

Lauren Miller Fulford

Author, Speaker
Highlands Ranch, CO

Jayson Naidoo

Owner/CEO
Leader Serve Consulting, Inc
Midrand, South Africa

Doug Mazza

Corona, CA

Trustees' Council

Rick W. Allen

U.S. Congress, 12th District of GA
Augusta, GA

James H. Amos, Jr.

Chairman and CEO
Tasti D Lite
Southlake, TX

Don Ankenbrandt

Birmingham, AL

Harold Babb

Professor of Marketing
University of Richmond
Manakin-Sabot, VA

James H Blanchard

Chairman, Board of Advisors
Jordan-Blanchard Capital, LLC
Columbus, GA

Margie Blanchard

Co-founder and
Head of Office of the Future
The Ken Blanchard Companies
Escondido, CA

Dr Estella Chavous

Best-Selling Author

Jim Mudd Sr

Chief Spiritual Officer
Mudd & Associates
Cedar Falls, IA

Tom Muccio

Consultant and Speaker
Muccio Consulting, LLC
Retired President
Procter & Gamble Global Customer Teams
Fayetteville, AR

Verne Murray

Managing Director
Walker & Dunlop
Walnut Creek, CA

Chris Conlee

Pastor
One City Church
Memphis, TN

Kemmons Wilson, Jr.

Principal/Executive Vice President
Kemmons Wilson, Inc.
Memphis, TN

Tom Dowd

President/CEO
Dowd and Guild
San Ramon, CA

Judy Kinebrew

Cincinnati, OH

Dr. John Jackson

President
William Jessup University

Jean Regan

President/CEO
Tranzact Technologies, Inc.
Elmhurst, IL

Dina Dwyer-Owens

Co-Chair, The Dwyer Group
Waco, TX

Mike Regan

Chief of Relationship Development
Tranzact Technologies, Inc.
Elmhurst, IL

Barbara Glanz

President
Barbara Glanz Communications
Sarasota, FL

Roger Roberson

Chairman
Roberson Management
Scottsdale, AZ

BG Jeffrey A. Foley, USA, Ret.

Founder
Loral Mountain Solutions
Martinez, GA

Mary Anne Shula

President
Shula Enterprises
Surfside, FL

Heather Hyde Jennings

Founder
Third River Partners
Pittsburgh, PA

Michael Sollazzo

Partner
Capital Planning Advisors
Granite Bay, CA

Jon Gordon

President
The Jon Gordon Companies
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL

Jim Eaton

Founder & CEO
Kingdom Partner Solutions
Long Beach, CA

Clifton Lambreth

CEO, Daniel Bradley Matthews
Western Carolina University
Brentwood, TN

Rick Stephens

Former Chairman of the Board
Horizon Hobby
Champaign, IL

Susan Raridon Lambreth

Principal
LawVision Group
Brentwood, TN

Don Russell

Tampa, FL

Estean H. Lenyoun, III

Director, Urban Redevelopment
Sudberry Properties, Inc.
San Diego, CA

Bobby Ukrop

President/CEO
Ukrop’s Homestyle Foods, LLC
Richmond, VA

Timothy McKibben

President
Ancor Capital Partners
Fort Worth, TX

Mick Ukleja

President
Leadership TraQ
Seal Beach, CA

Tracey Jones

President
Tremendous Leadership
Boiling Springs, PA

Founders Board

Steve Douglass

President
Campus Crusade for Christ
Orlando, FL

Laurie Beth Jones

Author/National Speaker
San Diego, CA

Rosey Grier

Chairman
Impact Urban America
San Diego, CA

George McKinney

Pastor
St. Stephens Church of God in Christ Ministries
San Diego, CA

Bill Hybels

South Barrington, IL

Rick Warren

Senior Pastor
Saddleback Community Church
1 Saddleback Parkway Lake Forest, CA