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About the Leadership Team

Joel Werdell
Joel became the Executive Director of CAYM in 2023. He was previously the Principal Product Manager in Artificial Intelligence for T-Mobile where he lead sa team of data scientists and engineers to build products that accelerate the adoption of AI. Joel has been connected to CAYM since he attended a training in 2009. He previously served on CAYM's board of directors.

Donovan Karber
Donnovan began working with youth through Youth Horizons in Wichita, Kansas in 1995, first in a group home and then as the manager of their mentoring program. Donnovan attended one of CAYM's first training events. He started helping train other ministries through CAYM in 2007 and joined CAYM's team in 2008.

Ken Merrifield
Ken Merrifield is the founder of the Appalachia Mentoring Project (AMP). Prior to establishing AMP, the Merrifields lived for ten years in Romania working with HIV positive children and planting churches. Currently, Ken serves as the International Director for CAYM. The Merrifields have six children – two of whom are adopted through international adoption and foster care.

April Karber
April has been with CAYM since 2016. Although her passion is acting in Shakespearian dramas, she was also a school teacher and Librarian. Because of this background, April brings considerable skills in managing and organizing to our ministry. She spends much of her time now mentoring Noel and Heidi, her daughters.

Dianne Vanacore
Dianne has extensive background in graphic design and managing marketing productions. She previously served as a marketing manager at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, and has worked as a freelance graphic artist as well as an artist for book authors. She has three children and two grand children.

Andrew Mahame
Andrew coordinates mentoring for CAYM in Rwanda. He began his mentoring program with the help of CAYM materials in 2015. Since then, he is working with CAYM's team to advance mentoring in Churches in Rwanda. He is now training and coaching leaders in Rwanda to develop mentoring in  their churches and communities. 

Peter Vanacore
Peter has been in the mentoring field since 1981 working with juvenile offenders and children in the Child Protective Service system in New York. He moved to Massachusetts in 1997 where he helped Straight Ahead Ministries develop a national training program. He has been with CAYM since its founding in 2005.
 

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