Michele Boguslofski launched her career working with children and families in 1987 when she and her husband moved to the inner city of Manchester, New Hampshire to live with eight at-risk youth who had been abused and neglected. Over the next six years, Michele and Jeff ran four homes across the country, living with up to 11 adolescents along with their older son, in both campus and community settings. This work ignited a passion for mission in making an authentic and positive impact on kids and their families. Michele was promoted into an administrative capacity in 1993 and has spent the past 26 years working as a trainer, consultant, evaluator, program developer, and director. She has been the Executive Director for Burton’s foundation and charity, Chill, working with teens and organizations globally, and been a lead trainer and culture changer for various agencies across North America. Michele served as the Executive Director for Alpine Academy, a residential treatment program for 70 students, for many years and was then selected to run the Teaching-Family Association as Executive Director. With over thirty years of experience and expertise implementing the Teaching-Family Model with fidelity and the highest assurance of quality, consumer satisfaction and outcomes, Michele now oversees the work of the Association on behalf of its members and organizations representing staff and clients in the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Australia and Albania.

Michele credits God with her many blessings and opportunities to serve others, impact individuals and families, and support businesses and leadership to be the best they can be. Her go to verses are from Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and He shall direct thy paths.”

A native of Wabash, IN, Lisa Ford holds a Bachelor’s degree in Secondary English Education from Taylor University and a Master’s degree in Curriculum & Instruction from Ball State University. Having grown up between Wabash, IN and Ramallah, Palestine where Lisa attended the Friends Girls School, and where her parents served as educators, Lisa’s desire to teach cross culturally took her to the American School of Kuwait and Damascus Community School, both with US Embassy affiliations.

Lisa founded the KFSAC (Kuwait Foreign Schools Activities Conference) Speech & Debate Association and the EMAC (Eastern Mediterranean Activities Conference) Speech & Debate Association, and also coached students through like tournaments in Athens & Thessaloniki for the Pan-Hellenic Forensics League. Additionally, she directed the schools’ theatre programs and led student groups throughout the Middle East for Fine Arts Festivals and youth sporting events.

In the United States, Lisa taught at the East End Alternative School in Woodbridge, Virginia, White’s High School & Southwood High School in Wabash, IN and Peru Jr. High School in Peru, IN. She also served as PTO President for Wabash City Elementary Schools. She served on the board of the Wabash Area Community Theatre, and as a member of Tri-Kappa Sorority, Wabash Musicale, and the Wabash Chapter of the ISO (Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra).

Currently, Lisa serves in children’s ministry at Wabash Friends Church, on the advisory committee of Heartland Career Center, as a trustee of Manchester University in North Manchester, IN, and as Cultural Attache for the City of Wabash.

Tom has been in Pastoral ministry for 20 years. His ministry experience has been centered around church planting, youth ministry, coaching and assessing church planters, mission- aries, and leaders in preaching, planting, and leadership development. Along with his wife Sarah, they have been foster parents and advocates for children. Together, they started New Journey Community Church in Wabash, IN and began to minister to not only White’s staff but also students (Compass Rose Academy students began attending NJCC soon after the program was started).

Tom says, “I believe in and love the mission of Compass Rose Academy. I am grateful to be a small part of what God is doing through this ministry as we invest in young lives to see them reach their full potential.”

David has 30 years of experience working with teens and young adults in therapeutic schools and wilderness-based settings. He has “grown up” in the field, holding positions as a teacher, direct care staff, wilderness guide, as well as Program Director and Executive Director. In the late 1980’s David helped start a wilderness program sponsored by his alma mater, Houghton College, which still serves at-risk teens in western NY. He also developed and facilitated a leadership camp program through Perm State University in Perm, Russia. Prior to joining Cherokee Creek Boys School as Executive Director in 2007, he led Middle and High School therapeutic programs in California and Utah.

David is an active member of National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs (NATSAP) and currently serves as the Vice President on the Board of Directors. He’s been a presenter at national conferences for NATSAP, IECA (Independent Educational Consultant Association), and the YMCA.

A Wabash resident since 2010, Lisa Gilman established Redemption Development which has invested in the downtown by historically restoring seven severely deteriorated buildings. This investment has provided luxury apartments and retail and office spaces which after having become occupied have helped the downtown area to thrive. Lisa brings 25+ years of development experience to the Boards on which she serves. These include Honeywell Foundation, Grow Wabash County, Historic Preservation Commission, and previously with Wabash Marketplace, and Kosciusko County Shelter for Abuse.

When not managing and developing real estate, Lisa is operating Wabash Woollen Works, and Fiber Arts Center in downtown Wabash. This facility is multi-faceted by providing event space for private groups, fiber arts classes, and the manufacturing of fiber textiles. For the last six years, Lisa has also participated in Kids Hope USA where she mentors at-risk students at Metro North and Sharp Creek Elementary.