OUR TEAM
To accomplish our mission of providing easily-accessible resources, FINDINGbalance has a lean staff and a highly engaged joint Board/Leadership Team.
Chrissy Kirkman
Executive Director
With experience as a software analyst, marketing director, worship leader, and Christian life coach, Chrissy brings 23 years of diverse ministry and professional skills to FINDINGbalance. A former participant in Fb’s Lasting Freedom program, Chrissy has firsthand experience of the struggle faced by those battling food issues, and the courage it takes to seek help. No longer a captive of "diet culture", Chrissy is passionate about sharing the truth she’s found, and helping others find HOPE and tools to break free from eating and body image issues. Chrissy lives in Kansas City, MO and is married with one son.
Amy Schaller
Outreach Coordinator
Amy has been involved with FINDINGbalance since 2006, volunteering in various capacities including piloting the "Finding Balance with Food" curriculum, blogging, moderating social media pages, and mentoring Lasting Freedom members. She has also assisted at five of the seven Fb Hungry for Hope summit events. Amy retired from her 25-year career as a Personal Trainer and now uses her gifts to reach out to Fb constituents, research and collect data, and bridge connections for future collaborations and events. Amy lives in California with her husband Mark. They have one son.
Dr. Alisa Shanks, PhD
Chair
Alisa is a clinical psychologist licensed in the state of Colorado since 2004. She is passionate about university mental health having worked at Biola University, the University of Colorado at Boulder, and now Colorado Christian University in Lakewood where she is the Director of the Larry Crabb Center for University Counseling. Dr. Shanks has focused her career around three passions: her faith, eating disorders, and university mental health services, and believes in full eating disorder recovery. Alisa has been married since 2000 and has two sons.
Bruce Donaldson, Esq.
Vice Chair
Bruce is a partner at Barnes & Thornburg LLP’s Indianapolis office, where he concentrates his practice in the area of municipal finance. He is also co-founder and former owner of Selah House, a Christian treatment program for eating disorders. Mr. Donaldson received his J.D. summa cum laude from the Indiana University School of Law – Bloomington, where he graduated first in his class and served as articles editor of the Indiana Law Journal. He earned a B.A. in economics from DePauw University where he was a Malpus Scholar. Bruce and his wife Robon reside in Carmel, Indiana.
Liesl Dunlap
Treasurer & Bookkeeper
Liesl is the office manager for a private practice therapist in Tennessee and holds a Bachelor's of Science in Biblical Studies from Emmaus Bible College. A former participant in Fb's ChristFed and Lasting Freedom programs, and co-leader of a Lasting Freedom alumni group, Liesl understands the challenges people face with food and body issues. Her heart's desire is to share how being in the Word and having a relationship with Jesus allows us to walk in true freedom. Her freedom story and financial background make her a valuable asset to our board. Liesl is married with three children.
Diana Ugoretz
Secretary
Diana studied Human Resources Management at the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse and has worked in the areas of payroll and finance for more than eighteen years. She currently handles the finances for her church and a nonprofit in her community. A former participant in the Lasting Freedom program, Diana experienced healing through Christ-centered community. She desires to see others experience this same freedom by being secure in who God designed them to be. Diana lives in Wisconsin with her husband, Tom. They have three children and two grandchildren.
Travis Stewart, MA, LPC, NCC
Board Member
Travis is a Licensed Professional Counselor and professional life coach with a Master's of Arts in Counseling and a Master's of Arts in Theological Studies from Covenant Theological Seminary. The original visionary for FINDINGbalance’s Hungry for Hope conference, he has been a frequent featured expert in our Lasting Freedom course. An excellent communicator and teacher, Travis has spoken at schools such as Pepperdine University, Baylor, Washington University, and is a visiting instructor at Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis where he lives with his wife and kids.
Constance Rhodes, ACC
Founder, Advisory Mentor
Constance founded FINDINGbalance in 2002. She is the author of Life Inside the Thin Cage: A Personal Look into the Hidden World of the Chronic Dieter, and The Art of Being: Reflections on the Beauty and the Risk of Embracing Who We Are. A former marketing director for what is now Capitol Christian Music Group, Constance's experience in the entertainment business helped shape FINDINGbalance as a media-based resource for those seeking freedom from eating and body image issues. To learn more about Constance's new coaching and artist development practice, visit www.truevoice.co.
Mark Schaller
Leadership Team Member
Mark has been serving FINDINGbalance alongside his wife Amy since attending our 2012 Hungry For Hope conference. He is a retired Police Lieutenant with experience in a broad variety of enforcement and management assignments over his 30-year career. Mark is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys sharing his passion for fly fishing with others by hosting events for his church’s adventure sports ministry. Mark and Amy currently reside in California where they are active members of their local church. They have been married since 1984 and have one son and daughter-in-law.
Tammy Boyd
Prayer Group Coordinator
Tammy holds a Bachelor's of Science in Biology from William and Mary and a Master's degree in Nursing from Vanderbilt University. When a friend introduced her to FINDINGbalance, Tammy began to recognize the impact of her lifelong struggle with food. She participated in the Lasting Freedom program with a group and on her own as part of her healing journey. Tammy desires to share with others the hope she's found and encourage those on the road to recovery. Tammy is married with two boys and resides in Leesburg, Virginia. She enjoys blogging, writing, baking, and, most of all, making her kids laugh.
Beth Ask
Prayer Group Leader
Beth is a Registered Dietitian, women's ministry volunteer, and founder of the "Eating Disorders Day of Prayer". Her struggle with food issues, both personally and professionally, led her to find peace, comfort, and hope through God's Word. Beth is passionate about supporting others in prayer as they walk through the difficult journey of an eating disorder. God called Beth to start the "Eating Disorders Day of Prayer" during NEDA week for believers to come together and pray over those who struggle, for their loved ones, and for those on the front lines leading them to freedom. She is a wife and mother residing in Pennsylvania.
Taylor Coote
Grant Manager & Writer
Taylor holds a Master's of Social Work from Spring Arbor University. She previously worked with United Way and other nonprofit organizations through grant writing, grant management, and strategic planning, with a focus on eating disorder fundraising. After being introduced to FINDINGbalance in 2014 through her own healing journey, Taylor desired to one day help and encourage others in their own journey to freedom. Now a stay-at-home mom, Taylor is devoting her free time to using her gifts and talents as a FINDINGbalance volunteer. Taylor lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and their daughter.