Staff of SLU
Dr. Jay Strack
CEO/ President
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Dr. Strack is an effective communicator author and minister from Orlando, Florida. Jay has devoted his life to helping others become winners. Having overcome his own drug addiction as an adolescent, he believes, "If I can overcome, anyone can overcome." Acclaimed by leadership in the business world, religious affiliations, and education as a dynamic speaker. Jay has spoken to an estimated 15 million people in his 30 years of ministry in thousands of churches area-wide, inter-denominational, and inter-racial crusades. His versatile style has been presented across the country and in 22 countries, before government entities, corporate groups, numerous professional sports teams in the NFL, NBA, and MLB, to over 10,000 high school assemblies and at some 100 universities. Jay has had the honor of presenting leadership skills before both the Air Force Academy students and faculty and is the featured speaker for the 1998 NBA All-Star Chapel. Commended for his work against drugs by former Secretary of Education, William Bennett and former First Lady Nancy Reagan, Strack has been interviewed nationally and internationally on radio and television including CNN, McNeil Lehrer Report and the 700 Club.
Dr. Strack has served as the editor of two bible translations, the Transformer Student Bible and the True Love Waits Bible. In addition, he has authored more than 15 highly acclaimed books and Good Kids Who Do Bad Things: How to Help Your Kids Make Good Choices.
Chuck Allen
Chief Operating Officer
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Chuck joined our staff in 2006 as Director of Business Development. He serves our team in strategic planning, marketing and communications for healthy, long-term growth and Kingdom impact. After a successful career in commercial and residential development, Chuck began his ministry at First Baptist Church of Snellville, Georgia as the Children's Director. In 1993, he became the Senior Executive Pastor and Staff Coordinator. In 1997, he was called to the North American Mission Board where he has served as the Director of the Direct Evangelism Team; Executive Director of Next Level Leadership Network; and Chief Operating Officer. Chuck was born in Daytona Beach, Florida and has lived in the Metro Atlanta area since 1974. He married his high school sweetheart, Jeanine. Jeanine was diagnosed with breast cancer and fought courageously until May 2005, when she left Chuck's arms and went into the arms of her Lord. Chuck is living proof that God can heal a broken heart. In March 2007 Chuck and his two daughters, Amy and Amelia, married Jenny and her four daughters, Sarah, Julie, Abby and Samantha to create a busy family of Chuck and seven women! Chuck's life verse in Micah 6:8 - He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and love mercy and to walk humbly with your God".
Chuck enjoys fishing, boating and watching his girls participate in all of their various athletic events. Chuck's life ambition is to make a difference and enjoy the journey...everyday!
Brent Crowe
Executive Director
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Brent Crowe is the Dean of Students for Student Leadership University since 2003. In conjunction, he is the founder of URGENCY conferences and is an evangelist who has spoken across the nation and preached many international crusades. He is also a spokesperson for Contagious Christianity affiliated with the Willow Creek Association. He has a liberal arts degree from Bryan College, as well as a Masters of Divinity in Evangelism and a M.A. in Ethics from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He also enjoys mentoring young men interested in going into the ministry.
His interests include preaching, reading, soccer and surfing. He spends most of his time with family and friends or trying to beat his wife in Tetris. While he has yet to conquer the master moves in Tetris, he is still the coolest guy around because he is the only one here who knows secret ninja moves outlawed by the government.
Nikki Hoffpauir
Program Director
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A native Floridian, Nikki graduated with a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Social Sciences with a focus in public service from Florida State University in 2001. She then went on to serve a year with the AmeriCorps program, City Year, where she taught in Washington D.C.'s inner city before getting her Masters of Public Administration from George Washington University in 2004. She is passionate about issues affecting young people - specifically in regards to leadership, service, and health and safety topics.
As a graduate of the SLU 101, 201, and 301 programs, Nikki first started on staff with SLU in 1998 as a summer intern. Ten years later, she is still around and believes she has the best job on the planet. She currently serves as SLU's Program Director. Nikki keeps herself entertained with her favorite outdoor hobbies- such as backpacking, scuba diving, camping, and gardening. She also has a growing machete collection and enjoys her role as office prankster. Nikki is married to her best friend, Brady Hoffpauir, and they are members of FBC Orlando.
Tara Smith
Logistics Coordinator
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Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, Tara has been involved in youth ministry since her high school years, either volunteering as a chaperone, counselor or helping coordinate events at her home church. From there, she went onto become a youth intern for Second Baptist Church in Houston, Texas where she served for two summers while in college. She studied Speech Communication at the University of Georgia where she fell in love with her Bulldogs!
Tara is passionate about student ministry and she enjoys music, traveling, keeping up with the latest technology and of course, her Georgia Bulldogs. She is always up for a good debate and loves planning and organizing. She is excited about her move to Orlando and about what the Lord has in store for her at SLU, despite it being in the land of the Gators.
Katie Bell
Administrative Assistant to Dr. Jay Strack
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Katie was born and raised in Indiana until she decided to flee the state and go to school in Kentucky. Katie is a recent graduate from Georgetown College where she received her B.A. in Communication. She was involved in several organizations and groups on Georgetown's campus. She was an active member of the campus ministry team and lead Bible studies for the freshmen during her senior year. Katie is very thankful for her Student Leadership experience and has gone through all four programs. In 2005, she was an intern for the 101 trip in San Antonio. Katie loves to work with youth and is excited to see them living for Christ and finding God's plan for their life.
Katie can be very competitive and two of her favorite games are Ultimate Frisbee and Rook. She has spent countless hours with family and friends sitting around playing Rook until the wee hours of the morning. Katie also loves to travel, from a car ride to Chicago with friends, or a mission trip to Brazil, she always enjoys a good adventure.
Kenika Smith
Leadership Rocks Administrative Assistant
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She is a graduate of Southeastern University in Lakeland, FL with a B.A. in Business & Professional Leadership. Having been a believer for majority of her life, Kenika has learned that Leadership is imperative in the Christian walk. She also believes that it is important to teach young people its value. She says the greatest example is Christ who led us in an impeccable example of order, love, compassion, and integrity and while we will never be Him, we should always be striving to be just like Him.
Born in Chicago, IL and moved to Orlando in May of 2002 from Holland, MI. She serves as the Event Coordinator for Leadership Rocks here at SLU. Kenika accepted Christ at the tender age of 5 years old and has been serving him ever since. She moved to Orlando for several reasons: because of God's leading, the diverse people, and because she is not a cold weather girl!! She believes that Orlando is most likely where she always should have been! Growing up in church, she has served in Children's Ministry since she was a child, and most recently served as a Youth Leader for 2 1/2 years at New Destiny Christian Center. Kenika currently attends Truth International Church in Orlando, FL.
Missy Strack
SLU Receptionist
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Missy has been a part of SLU since it's inception 13 years ago. She loves meeting new students each year and keeping up with them. She has a heart to work with them and encourage them. She is considered the major prayer warier here at the office. She loves singing for fun and writing songs, and of course shopping.
Her goal at Student Leadership University is to encourage the students and pray for them, and also to reach as many people as possible for Christ. She has been a member of FBC Orlando for 11 years where she has been involved in many different ministries such as: drama, choir, student dept., Preschool dept., and special events. She is from Orlando and the sunshine state, and grew up being home-schooled.
Kim Davidson
Accounting and Registration
1-866-444-4SLU (toll-free)
Born and raised in Texas, Kim works in our Texas office. She graduated from the University of North Texas and received her CPA license in 1991. She began working for SLU in 1994 handling the finances of the ministry. She now also directs the registrations of all the programs.
Kim married her high school sweetheart, Don, and has two wonderful children, Kayla and Connor. Kim serves on the School Board at Bethesda Christian School where Kayla and Connor attend school. Her favorite scripture is Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NKJV): "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart."