meet your professors
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The space between you at basecamp and you atop one of the world’s most epic mountains…are seasoned guides. The space between great knowledge and actually applying it to your life…are the same. Seasoned guides. This is the current void between the “Hope Factory” of best selling self-help and motivational books, seminars, conferences and the wealth of readily-accessible information. It’s why you’ve tried lots of stuff but haven’t produced much actual change.
And you’ll notice that ‘guides’ is plural. No one guide can take you where you want to go alone. There is too much to do, to carry and to be known. It takes a multitude of counsel.
At Free Agent Academy, where we go from the BaseCamp of awareness to the Ascent of life application to the Summit (some) of self-employment to the Peak of a sustainable business, we need lots of help. Here then, are your guides. You’ll not only be led by them, they’ll become a part of your journey and story, and you…theirs. They are all coaches, business owners and are devoted to helping others find and live out…their Purpose. And, all but one began as members, right here at Free Agent Academy.
Professors
Gary Barkalow
Calling: Your primary BaseCamp Course
Business: The Noble Heart
Website: http://www.thenobleheart.com
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Family: Husband to Leigh, Daddy to Alexie, Jesse, Nick and Lacy
Gary has been studying and speaking on the subject of calling for 25 years. He is the author of It’s Your Call. Founder of The Noble Heart ministry, Gary’s mission is to help people recover their heart, walk with God, interpret their life, offer their glory, and persevere with joy, equipping people to interpret their life as God instructs them in the way chosen for them”. (Psa. 25:12). Before starting The Noble Heart ministry, Gary was on the leadership team and a speaker with Ransomed Heart ministries for seven years. Before that, Gary was with Focus on the Family, Campus Crusade, and Athletes in Action.
Jonathan Pool
Context: Course #1
Ascent Class Possibilities: Course #1 in the Summit Class
Business: Jonathan Pool Coaching
Website: http://www.jonathanpool.net
Location: Traverse City, MI
Family: Our most eligible bachelor…though maybe not for long…
Jonathan is a true adventurous soul to the core, with a personal story of overcoming that will blow your mind when you see where he is today. He’s passionate about helping people discover, in his words, “What they are innately good at.” He exudes this passion and ability from every pore in his body. His commanding presence, intuitive discernment and infectious heart are a powerful combination.
Deb Ingino
Strengths: Course #2 Ascent Class
Business: Strength Leader
Website: http://www.strengthleader.com/
Location: Long Island, NY
Family: Wife to Greg and Mother to Melissa
Deb hails from a high profile corporate job in New York…the big salary and fancy title. The grand “American Dream” in all senses. In her role there, she became enamored with the power of strengths and helping understand a person’s core “wiring”. And with her heart for seeing people move into their sweet spot and become leaders in their own lives, she crafted a plan for a business she believed in and owned. Today, her Strength Leader business is infiltrating the lives of aspiring entrepreneurs, emerging leaders, and corporate executives, mentoring them to reach higher levels of performance by harnessing how they are wired and leveraging their strengths.
James Garner
Personal Brand: Course #3 Ascent Class
Business Brand: Course #2 in Summit Class
Business: 9 Finger Media
Website: www.9fingermedia.com
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Family: Husband to Katy, Daddy to Shelby, Zoe and Dax
James is a lifetime entrepreneur. He has owned, run, and sold both online and offline businesses over the past 20 years. He has a passion for guiding individuals to abundance in life and business. He is the founder of Nine Finger Inc. where he coaches individuals on branding, business, and life. James knows how to create a brand that is unique to the individual and his or her market. Just ask him about the name of his company. At his core, he is a man seeking abundance in every area of life. And he wants the same for you. If he is not teaching a class or coaching clients, then you can find him climbing in the mountains of Colorado.
Pierce Marrs
People Skills: Course #4 Ascent Class
Sales Strategy: Course #6 in Summit Class
Business: Pierce Marrs Coaching
Website: http://www.marrscoaching.com/
Location: Thompson Station, TN
Family: Husband to Lesa, Father to Nick & Nathan
Pierce is a lifetime sales professional and the kind of personality you immediately trust. He’s a student of sales and lives it out every day. His power as a sale coach, however, comes from realizing that entrepreneurs come in all personality styles…and that they are all capable of successful selling – just not in the same ways. “Selling Within Your Comfort Zone” is one of his teaching titles. And further, selling is selling is selling…whether face-to-face or online, it’s just a differing application. Sales is where many entrepreneurs who are otherwise set for success…fail. We have Pierce on hand to remedy this.
James Woosley
Roadmap: Course #3 Summit
Business: Woosley Coaching
Website: http://www.woosleycoaching.com
Location: Mobile, AL
Family: Husband to Heather, Father to Anna and Ian
James was once dubbed by Chuck Bowen as the “biggest underachiever in FAA”, and he may still be, considering the powder keg of potential between his ears! He has a gift for finding patterns in chaos and breaking complex tasks into manageable and achievable pieces. He can see the small things that make the difference between success and failure. According to James, “planning doesn’t have to be complicated to be effective…in fact, it’s often the simplest plans that get the greatest results.”
Armed with “real people” communication skills, “real world” experience as a military officer and project management consultant, and a “real deal” Computer Science degree (to give him nerd credentials), James is applying this strategic ability to help small businesses, start-ups and solopreneurs build plans for greater growth and profitability. That’s why he’s the perfect fit for FAA, as a member and a professor!
Justin Lukasavige
Marketing: Course #4 Summit Class
Business: Lukas Coaching and CoachRadio.TV
Website: http://www.coachradio.tv/
Location: Woodland Park, CO
Family: Husband to Christine, Father of Ava, Amanda and Brie
Justin is the founder and host of CoachRadio.tv, author of Become A Coach, and one of the most successful free agents I know when it comes to turning online social media and promotional efforts into SALES. He’s put more time and testing into these areas than the rest of us combined, and the benefit we get is knowing what works, why and how. He begin free agency as a financial and career coach and cut his self-employment teeth by having to sell what matters most…himself. You must know how to do this, online.
Kevin Gainey
Online: Course #5 Summit Class
Business: Vekkin Solutions and Free Agent Toolbox
Website: http://www.vekkin.com/ and http://www.freeagenttoolbox.com/
Location: Fuquay-Varina, NC (sounds exotic, it’s not)
Family: Husband to Nikki, proud stay-at-home dad to Isaac and Molly
Kevin has programmed and worked with computers since 1981 when he was in second grade. What started out as programming simple games and finding ways to make homework easier turned into a lifelong fascination with technology of all types. Today Kevin runs Vekkin Solutions, an IT consulting company he founded with his wife in 2001. His work in non-profits, internet startups, government agencies and Fortune 500 companies built a great foundation for using technology to solve problems, but it didn’t excite him. So in 2006 he left the corporate world to become a stay-at-home dad and to work on the business in his “free time.” Since then he has helped other entrepreneurs and free agents tackle technological problems. His drive is to help people understand that technology doesn’t have to be as complicated as it’s often built up to be. He resides near Raleigh, NC and is also a student at FAA. He enjoys continually learning new ways to live out his calling.
Support Staff
Kevin Miller: Chief Evangelist & Recruiter and Benevolent Dictator
Chief Evangelist & Recruiter and Benevolent Dictator
Business: You’re at it
Website: You’re in it
Location: Woodland Park, CO
Family: Husband to Teri, Daddy to Caleb, Autumn, Eliza, Ian, Canyon, Serene & Nekoda
*Complete bio here
Just as I state that you can’t succeed in free agency alone…I can’t lead you alone. I’ve compiled not only incredible experts in every area of self-employment…I’ve compiled people who have a passion to help others make positive change. You’ll notice we’ve listed their personal businesses, where they live,and their family. Why? Because they are all successful free agents. Nine of the eleven started out as students at Free Agent Academy, and now they are leaders. It’s a good testimonial, don’t you think?! We show where they live and who their family is, because that’s at the core of their free agency – to live where and how and why they believe fits them, and their family is why they want their freedom and purpose.
Brenda Dunagan
Chief Chaos Tamer
Business: 7 Chapters
Website: http://www.7chapters.com
(Go here for all your Virtual Assistant needs!)
Location: Smithville, MO
Family: Wife to Tim
Brenda corrals and brings to fruition the ideas and intent of Kevin’s vision for FAA. Kevin may lead, but Brenda truly runs things around here. She left her job as personal assistant to high powered CEOs to do what she does best, on her own terms – with people and organizations she truly cares about. She not only administrates as a personal assistant, but she manages her radical entrepreneurial clients so that they do more than create…they finish what they start. “Personal Manager” is really the appropriate term for Brenda. She and her husband live in Missouri, but love to travel and explore whenever possible.
Alan Jackson
Chief Host & BaseCamp Facilitator
Business: SNAP Coaching
Website: http://www.snapcoaching.com
Location: Paducah, KY
Family: Husband to Addy, Daddy to Jordan, Jarron and Jenna
Alan truly is…the host with the most. He’s a professional marketer and lifetime successful free agent, with wise counsel for us all. He runs SNAP Coaching in Kentucky. He also has the gift of being a gracious host. Welcoming students in, helping them learn their way around, getting them plugged in to the appropriate groups, and answering questions for our entire student body.
Justin Lukasavige
Chief Implementer & Executor
Business: Lukas Coaching and CoachRadio.TV
Website: http://www.coachradio.tv/
Location: Woodland Park, CO
Family: Husband to Christine, Father of Ava, Amanda and Brie
Justin is the founder and host of CoachRadio.tv, author of Become A Coach, and one of the most successful free agents I know when it comes to turning online social media and promotional efforts into SALES. He’s put more time and testing into these areas than the rest of us combined, and the benefit we get is knowing what works, why and how. He begin free agency as a financial and career coach and cut his self-employment teeth by having to sell what matters most…himself. You must know how to do this, online.
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Will
