About Us
Catalyst Team
Twitter: @bradlomenick
Blog: http://www.bradlomenick.com
Brad Lomenick leads the Catalyst team, and although his official title is executive director of Catalyst, he’s really more like the Hannibal of the Catalyst A-Team. He was once struck by lightning while installing a barbed wire fence in Colorado, and fortunately for us, he survived with supernatural powers that make him supremely attuned to the needs and desires of next generation leaders. Before leading the charge on Catalyst, he helped lead a cool magazine called Life@Work and did consulting with lots of companies. He really enjoys convening and networking with leaders, and for several years after college, he rode horses for a living in Colorado. His favorite road trip snack is diet coke, wheat thins, and original corn-nuts. Brad considers it his personal mission to ensure that everyone everywhere understands the greatness of a Joey burrito from Moe’s. And he hopes maybe someday he can be a professional golfer.
Melissa Kruse joined the Catalyst team as an intern shortly after graduating from Stetson University. Just to show how far your dreams can take you in life, she now serves on the team as the Quarterback of All Things Catalyst. She makes a wicked good cake and will absolutely be on some kind of Food Network Cake Challenge one day. Everyone who knows her loves her, and not just because of the cake thing. She also has a slight addiction to coffee. And by “slight,” we mean severe.
Twitter: @chadsj10
Chad Johnson is a Catalyst veteran, having served on the team for over eight years, most recently as the head Concierge. He has an infectious personality and has a passion to see others grow. Chad holds the record for wearing a different Catalyst t-shirt every day for consecutive days (21 days, if you’re interested in challenging him). He loves everything sports and is known as the company athletic director. Chad can be found on Skype at chadsj10.
Twitter: @saheffner
Sally serves in creative marketing for Catalyst and is part of the team that helped launch the first West Coast event in April 2009. After graduating from the University of Alabama and spending a summer with FCA in Texas, she came back to her hometown of Atlanta to work with a sports marketing agency. Little did she know volunteering at Catalyst 2005 would lead to partnering in the vision a few years later. Joining the team in May of 2008, she’s excited to partner in creating environments that awaken hearts, leaving lives inspired and changed.
Brian Cole got his first grown-up job with Catalyst in 1999, and is still with us today as the Production Manager. One might call him a gadget guru, as he has always gravitated towards technology. His first “production” job was rewiring all the TVs and speakers at the local Radio Shack, and shortly after that, he changed his major from Math and Science to Audio/Visual Production. Brian is passionate about serving people and being part of a dynamic team, and it’s the dynamic team that he works with each year that he loves most about Catalyst. Brian did not step foot on an airplane until the ripe age of 22, when he went on a 40-day backpacking trip to Europe. Now besides traveling, Brian enjoys reading C.S. Lewis, anything outdoors, and spending time with his friends and his wife, Akemi and their two boys, Kalen and Kai.
Robby Smith recenthly joined the Catalyst team as the first production intern. He grew up in Gainesville, GA and is a graduate of the Art Institute of Atlanta where he majored in Audio Production with some studies in Video Production. For 4 years now, he’s been throwin’ down on a sound board and editing video clips at his local church, Flat Creek Baptist Church. Robby is a sports enthusiast and enjoys outdoor activities. This team player brings dependability, organizational skills, and energy to both the intern and production team!
Jason Haynes only recently joined the Catalyst team officially, although he has been hanging around these parts for quite some time. His systematic thinking and penchant for making lists then checking things off said list have led him to be a manger of projects. He currently spends his time on the new Catalyst One Day and West Coast initiatives. Jason is passionate about being an ambassador of Gods reconciliation in the world, so feels blessed to be part of a movement which has multiplying influence in reclaiming communities and cultures for the common good. In his free time Jason enjoys spending time in the Creation (Romans 1:20), reading, and pondering the Gospel storys effect on worldview and culture. When he grows up he either wants to live off the land or be a theologian - he hasnt decided yet. He currently lives in the Morningside neighborhood of Atlanta with his turtle, Turbo.
Twitter: @stanpjohnson
Stan made the long track from Chattanooga, TN to Atlanta (all 2 hours of it) to chase a passion by pursuing a call and dream of being part of a Christ-centered, life changing movement with Catalyst. Now as a full time member of the Concierge team, Stan loves helping leaders across the nation come to Catalyst events to get their leadership “fix”. Stan is usually laced up in retro Nike’s or Chuck Taylor’s around the office and focuses his energy into his family, work with Catalyst, music, and the local church. If Stan is not saving the world with Catalyst he’s probably listening to or playing music, something sports/fitness related (ie. dominating Chad Johnson in a game of corn hole), or trying on a new pair of kicks!
Twitter: @ashleynwilliams
Hailing from the “show-me-state” of Missouri, Ashley is passionate about college-age students. She was on staff with the Mizzou BSU at the University of Missouri in Columbia where she loved to disciple young women and develop leaders. She recently started managing web content & social media for Catalyst. Ashley brings organizational and administrative gifts to our team and is bound for success keeping it all together and in check for us! She hopes to continue to have an impact on collegiates through Catalyst and is passionate about adoption!
Michelle joins the Catalyst team straight from the hood of York, Nebraska. She worked for Word Made Flesh for 2 years before coming to Atlanta to serve on the team as Brad’s assistant. Her last name is pronounced Haaaaft not Hoooooft! She is passionate about seeing an end to human trafficking. Her favorite place in Atlanta is San Francisco Coffee. Her favorite drink there is the Fog Lifter which she drinks thru a straw. She’s been described by friends as a firework on the 4th of July all bottled up in a body. She loves hanging out with kids. And Usher and Justin Bieber. She has swag!
Twitter: @ansleylawhead
A recent college grad hailing from Augusta, Georgia, Ansley is a cheerful girl with a big smile and big dreams to match. She strongly believes in her generation and the capacity each person has to live a full life. During college, Ansley spent a glorious summer studying in London, where she traveled around trying to replace her southern drawl with a British accent. Being a resourceful young lady, she sweet-talked her way into two Catalyst internships throughout her college career. Recognizing a good thing when she saw it, Ansley is thrilled to be back on the team!
A home grown Georgia peach from south GA “and do we mean south” her daddy is a crop-duster) Ansley’s journey around the world has led her right back to her home state. After graduating from Hillsong International Leadership College in Sydney Australia with an Advanced Diploma in Ministry, she served on staff at a church in Jacksonville, FL for 3 years before moving back to Georgia. Ansley brings a “get it done” attitude to the team. She also has some mad tricks involving toothpicks, we can’t even make up stuff this good!
Twitter: @joho930
Jon comes to the Catalyst movement originally from the great Buckeye state of O-H….I-O, but has been a Georgia transplant for over a decade. He resides in Sugar Hill with his wife Abbey and two daughters, Ashton & Kennedy. When he is not playing tag, listening to Old MacDonald, or coaching 3 & 4 year old soccer, he is most likely here, helping you get plugged into one of Catalyst’s great events. Jon considers you an immediate and life-long friend if you know why he split the spelling of Ohio, and would also give you a 10% discount if he in any way condoned special treatment based solely on college athletic affiliation ;-)
Catalyst Extended Family
Kevin Sterner is passionate about storytelling and it’s ability to persuade, impact and “open the eyes” of the human heart. His company Brandpoet™ helps ministry organizations, non-profits, best-selling authors and Fortune 500 clients craft and tell remarkable stories that differentiate them in their marketplace. Kevin has lead the creative marketing and graphic design efforts behind Catalyst for the past 7 years. When he is not oozing some sort of creative brilliance, you’ll likely find him traveling with his wife and four kids, enjoying “kayak therapy”, continuing his self-sponsored tour of the world’s great steakhouses, or laboring to write a bio in the third person.
Lanny Donoho
Twitter: @lannydonoho
President & Creative Director of BigStuf Productions & BigStuf Camps, Lanny has been working with kids, producing events, and creating environments for ministry since 1975. Most recently, he founded the 410 Bridge, a non-profit organization focused on partnering churches in America with churches in Kenya to help meet the specific needs of Kenyans. Since visiting Kenya in 2005, Lanny has had a passion to see this vision come to life. He and his wife, Peggy, live in Alpharetta, GA, and are presently enjoying the challenge of raising their three sons.
Reggie Joiner
Reggie is the founder of Orange, a nonprofit organization providing resources and training to help churches maximize their influence on the spiritual growth of the next generation. He is also one of the founding pastors of North Point Community Church in Alpharetta, GA. In his role there as the executive director of Family Ministry, Reggie developed the concepts of ministry for preschoolers, children, students, and married adults over the course of his 11 years with the church. He is the co-author of “Seven Practices of Effective Ministries” and the author of “Think Orange, Parenting Beyond Your Capacity”, as well as the “Orange Leader Handbook”. Reggie and Debbie Joiner live in Cumming, GA, and have four grown children.
Twitter: @shinabarger
Blog: www.jeffshinabarger.com
Jeff Shinabarger is a social entrepreneur, experience designer, coffee shop owner and is always creating new cause-marketing ideas. He is the co-founder of Fermi Project and served as experience designer with Fermi for three years. While at Fermi, Jeff played an important role in launching the national unChristian campaign. Jeff is gifted at creatively communicating the needs of the poor to the greater culture. He and his wife, Andre, live in East Atlanta Village with their newly-adopted daughter.
Twitter: @KenColeman
Ken Coleman has been called a “young Charlie Rose” by Hall of Fame Duke Basketball Coach Mike Kryzewski. As a reporter for Comcast Sports and Atlanta’s ESPN radio affiliate he has interviewed some of sport’s biggest personalities, including Hall of Fame Coaches Mike Kryzewski from Duke University, The University of Tennessee’s Pat Summitt and MVP Josh Hamilton of the Texas Rangers. As host of Catalyst and the Catalyst Podcast, Ken has interviewed hundreds of celebrities including Oscar-nominated actress Diane Lane and hip-hop icon and MTV reality star Rev Run. His “One Question with Ken Coleman” audio blog has attracted more than 50,000 visits in less than a year, and iTunes has recognized it as a “Net & Noteworthy” podcast. Ken resides outside of Atlanta, GA with his wife Stacy and children, Ty, Chase, and Josie.
Jud Wilhite
Twitter: @judwilhite
Jud Wilhite serves as Senior Pastor of Central Christian Church. Thousands attend Central’s campuses along with a global community who attend online. Jud is the author of several books including “Throw It Down”, “Eyes Wide Open”, “Uncensored Grace” and “Uncensored Truth”. Under Jud’s leadership, Central is dedicated to helping people find their way to God. He is known for his conversational approach to teaching the Bible and his passion to help others know God and love Him more. Jud and his wife, Lori, reside in the Las Vegas area with their two children and a slobbery Bulldog named Roxy.
Tyler Stanton
Twitter: @tylerstanton
Tyler Stanton is just like John Stamos in virtually every way. His comedic style consists of making side-comments to everyday events, which has never been done before ever. His book, Everyday Absurdities: Insights from the World’s Most Trivial Man, has earned him dozens of dollars and has been stabilizing wobbly coffee tables since its 2010 release. Tyler and his family reside in the suburbs of Atlanta where they enjoy paintball, decorative paper mache, reenacting classic presidential debates, Parkour, and frequent trips to Quiznos. If all goes according to plan, he will never own a dog.
Tripp Crosby
Twitter: @trippcrosby
Tripp Crosby is a creator and a comedian. You might find him in front of the camera, behind it, or even on stage somewhere. Tripp founded Green Tricycle Studios in Atlanta, GA where he works as an award winning commercial, music video, and sketch comedy director. Tripp’s music videos have been aired on multiple networks including MTV, and Tyler and his comedy podcast “Dontbethatguyfilms” was chosen by Apple as a “2006 top 100” podcast. Tripp spends much of his time traveling as a comic emcee and programing consultant for events and conferences around the country. Although you might have seen him in a television commercial or in one of his own sketches, Tripp considers himself as merely a student of on-camera acting. His most recent focus is at Whole World Theater, in midtown Atlanta where he studies improv weekly. In his spare time, Tripp blogs, writes chapters for a book he has yet to announce, and occasionally works on a feature length screenplay that he’s been talking about for years.
Chris Seay
Chris Seay is a leader in the emerging church discussion, church planter, author, and third generation baptist pastor. Currently, Chris is the President of Ecclesia Bible Society where he is orchestrating a Scripture project that seeks to retell the biblical narrative with the literary beauty of great poetry and story as well as historical truth. As Pastor of Ecclesia Houston, Chris leads a unique congregation that is living out the gospel faithfully in an urban environment. He is also the author of seven books, including “The Gospel According to Tony Soprano”, “The Gospel Reloaded”, and “The Last Eyewitness”.
