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The ILC Staff
Christian Saade ~ Founder, Senior Coach/Senior Trainer
Chris Saâde is the co-director of The Olive Branch Center with his wife, Jessie Thompson, where he teaches courses on engaged spirituality and the mysticism of inclusion. (www.TheOliveBranchCenter.net) Chris also spearheads the Institute for Life-Leadership and Coaching, and is the senior trainer for the ILC’s heart-centered psychological and spiritual-leadership programs. In addition, he is a practicing Coach for individuals and couples, and has lead & taught more than 170 psychological and spiritual retreats. Chris was born into a Christian family in Lebanon where he held leadership positions in non-profit organizations working for non-violence, peace and humanitarian relief. He experienced the devastation of the Lebanese war for 7 years and continued his peacemaking work during those very difficult years.
Chris lived in France before coming to the US, his country of adoption, where he has resided since 1978. He worked 12 years as a business director and later 11 years as a private practice psychotherapist specializing in depression and life transitions. He has a master’s in Human Development and Counseling and completed five additional years of graduate school in economics, theology and history. He has trained in Jungian and existential psychology (including the logotherapy of Viktor Frankl).
His experiences with the suffering born out of war led him to develop a passionate respect for diversity. His professional journey into psychology and spirituality, his research of peacemakers like Gandhi and Martin Luther King, and his study of mystics from different religions have resulted in his development of the copyrighted Model of Integra (6 Essential Keys for heart-centered living and spiritual life-leadership).
Chris has written training manuals on Intentional and Heart-Centered Living which have
been published in-house for the ILC. He is currently writing a series of books on
the spirituality of the heart. Chris is also putting together a book of quotes
on engaged spirituality and mysticism. |
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 Barry Sherman ~ Trainer/Senior Coach
Barry has been with the ILC from its very beginning. He is a writer, guitarist, singer/songwriter, saxophonist and performance artist. He flavors ILC programs and trainings with different forms and combinations of his artistry. He is currently at work with Chris Saade on a co-authored book that will focus on celebrating and championing our authentic nature.
Barry is from Michigan and completed his undergraduate degree in Music Education at Western Michigan University. His Master's degree is in social work from the University of South Carolina. In addition to his ILC work, he works as a school social worker within the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school system.
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Casey Robertson ~ Trainer/Advanced Facilitator/Consultant
Casey has been involved with the institute from its inception. She is very passionate about the idea of self-development as an ethical responsibility. Her mission is to support and inspire others to free their unique one-of-a-kind way of being in the world and to develop and bring their idiosyncratic nature as an impacting gift to their loved ones, community, and world. She is a free-spirited artist of sorts living in Graham, NC.
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Tammy Starling ~ consultant
Tammy is a licensed psycho-therapist whose areas of expertise include loss recovery and relationship breakthrough. During her years as a therapist, Tammy has helped individuals pursue their desires and befriend their struggles around issues such as loss, abuse, depression, anxiety, relationships, and life/career direction. Her great passion lies in helping people seek personal empowerment and creative potential through the grieving process and through relationship negotiation and dialogue. The sacredness of how each individual's journey unfolds is inspiring to Tammy both in her life and in her work.
Since 1996, along with her private therapy practice, Tammy has also been involved in corporate coaching and consulting and teaching undergraduate psychology courses at Wingate University. She has led and co-facilitated many classes, workshops, and groups around themes such as self-esteem, grief and loss, personal empowerment, sexual abuse, communication and intimacy, and workshops around career and life vision. She provides counseling and therapy from a Christian perspective with tremendous respect for all spiritual diversity and beliefs.
The single mother of two teenagers, Tammy enjoys giving energy to parenting, rose-gardening, painting and nurturing her close relationships.
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Mandy Eppley ~ Facilitator/Coach
Mandy, a licensed psychotherapist, has been in private practice since 1993. For her, being a professional counselor and helping people grow is sacred work. She is committed to helping people pursue their own potential and views her work as a therapist as a life-calling. Mandy has a diverse background and range of experiences from working with birth mothers and adoptive families to corporate consulting and executive coaching.
As a therapist, Mandy has helped hundreds of people struggling with depression, anxiety, grief, sexual abuse and trauma as well as many other issues. Couples and family therapy have also been an important focus of her practice. Mandy's emphasis on teaching communication tools and dialogue techniques has helped countless couples. She has led and co-led numerous groups, workshops and classes around themes such as self-esteem, grief and loss, personal empowerment, sexual abuse, communication and intimacy, and workshops around career and life vision.
Mandy is especially passionate about empowering women in claiming the fullness of their dreams. She loves spending time with the special people in her life and celebrating being alive.
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Tom Anthony~ Director/Advanced Facilitator
Tom has been involved with the institute since the late 1990’s before it was even called the ILC. He is a college instructor of mathematics at Central Piedmont Community College. Tom is a writer and performance artist who has published twelve books of poetry. His latest work Through the Garden was published by CPCC Press. He is very passionate about mentoring young people and he loves to inspire others to plug into their own passion and live a full life. He is a big community builder and a lover of the outdoors. His passions include basketball, river kayaking and hiking. He is the founder of the newly created Uwharrie Memorial Retreat Center in Uwharrie NC. Tom is very proud of his young adult son Chris who is doing graduate work in Equality studies at University College Dublin, Ireland.
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Maritza Ortiz ~ Humanitarian Team co-Leader
Maritza is a volunteer to the institute's staff and was born in Puerto Rico. She is a High School Spanish teacher who is passionate about mentoring youth and believing that they can manifest their dreams through perseverance and commitment to their goals/dreams. She is a writer, an avid walker and a lover of reading and the outdoors. She is also passionate about her two children, both in college and one studying abroad in Spain. She is also an advocate of humanitarian events and is currently leading the institute in that direction volunteering with Women in Transition/Families Together at the YWCA in Charlotte NC. She is passionate about ending the injustice of educational inequality especially in the African American and Hispanic communities and believes that the entire community must help in this endeavor. She is currently very excited about Project L.I.F.T that will provide 55 million dollars to West Charlotte High School and the feeder schools in order to help the students reach their potential and graduate from high school.
Maritza holds a degree from CCNY-BS Computer Science and a UNCC Graduate Certificate/Spanish K-12.
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