Board of Directors
Mike Lyon
Executive Director
Mike ran away from home on his Big Wheel at 5-yrs old (true story). This first adventure led to his adult wanderlust and future discussions of faith with friends and strangers. Now that he’s an adult, his writing balances work as an entrepreneur, visual artist, and how to navigate life as a Jesus follower. Mike is a best-selling author of Christian non-fiction with his book I’m Not Hitler, and second book GodPorn. His weekly blog is sprinkled with doses of amazing startups, people busting their butt for others, and curation of art, film and music.
As a serial entrepreneur, he spent 20+ years with various startups in technology and content. He’s been a Director-Producer, and recently began accepting commissions again from his previous career as a visual artist. He also served as Biblical Director of faith-based recovery program Men of Nehemiah. He’s taught boxing at multiple gyms around Dallas including Texas Club, 24-Hour Fitness, Lifetime and SMU. He’s led or been a part of multiple humanitarian aid trips to Haiti, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Cuba, El Salvador, Africa and India. Mike has started or led 10+ Bible studies, small groups and community groups of couples, men and junior high students.
A proud 6th generation Texan, his favorite proteins are Chimay and Maredsous Belgian Ales, and Rocky Patel cigars. He never turns the channel when Goodfellas, GlenGarry GlenRoss, The Outlaw Josey Wales, Sicario or The Mind of a Chef are on the telly.
Parimal Patel
Treasurer
Parimal, the guy: Learn. Teach. Pay it Forward. At his core, Parimal’s take on life is to “pay it forward”, noting that his goals are tied to ensuring others can achieve their goals. Outside of his daily commitments to business, Parimal enjoys spending quality time with his supportive wife and his energetic son.
Parimal, the business guy: A serial entrepreneur and operating executive. His multi-industry experience spans the areas of strategy, operations and technology. He has a demonstrated track record of driving scalable growth, leading mid-market transactions, optimizing cost structures, raising capital and creating innovative solutions for complex business challenges. He is also a Principal at Kinequity Group, an investment firm focused on early-stage and mid-market organizations.
Kendall Bergman
Secretary
Armed with two masters’ degrees in theology and counseling, plus a highly regarded career in the non-profit sector, Kendall is uniquely qualified. Through her personal motto, “Accept yourself and accept others,” Kendall chooses to live a life of gratitude and curiosity over judgement. She’s built a career serving others through positions at two of the most prominent non-profit cancer organizations, Susan G. Komen and The Livestrong Foundation.
At Susan G. Komen, she developed patient advocacy programming, ensuring the best interests of breast cancer patients was heard and represented. As a member of Livestrong’s senior leadership team, she oversaw the mission programs, ensuring the integrity of the organization’s mission was executed across all touchpoints. She also was integral in building both organization’s base of skilled volunteers.
Those close to Kendall know her for her fiercely loyal friendships, devotion to her close-knit, fun-natured family, her generous spirit and her infectious laugh. She lives in a renovated home in the Dallas neighborhood she grew up in with her two precious poodles, Sunny and Otis, who boss her around all day.
Aelicia “Chocolate” Watson
Aelicia Watson, affectionately known as “Chocolate,” is an Urban Missionary to the women of Dallas’ Bonton neighborhood and across the Metroplex with her ministry Redeemed Women. Redeemed Women focuses on the unique needs and challenges of women facing generational poverty, homelessness, hunger, exploitation, sexual and domestic abuse, teen pregnancy, educational deficiencies, spiritual, emotional, and medical needs, unemployment, transportation needs and the lack of a viable support system.
As the survivor of teen pregnancy, sexual abuse, bone cancer twice, breast cancer, homelessness, abuse, and a variety of dire circumstances, Chocolate knows first-hand what a woman must overcome as she discovers her essential worthiness as a child. Redeemed Women helps women rebuild their brokenness and find new hope for the future with joy and community for the journey ahead.
Chocolate graduated from high school in December 1999, received an Associate Degree in Child Development from Eastfield College in 2005, and was awarded an Administrative Certification in 2009. In 2016 she was awarded the “Awaken” award presented by Priscilla Shirer on behalf of “Going Beyond” ministries. This award recognizes an exceptional woman, who in spite of her own difficulties, ministers to and serves her community. Chocolate is the mother of Archesicia, affectionately known as “Tweety,” who’s working on her bachelor’s degree at the University of Texas, and volunteers with Redeemed Women. Chocolate has always had a servant’s heart and a strong desire to serve the lost, the least, and the lonely.
Mike Congrove
Mike serves as CEO and Founder of Empower One, leading the American side of Empower One. Mike gets to set and care for the vision God has given Empower One, which is to be part of a movement that brings the good news of Jesus Christ to the nearly 20 million in Sudan and South Sudan who’ve never heard Jesus’ name. Mike also works with Empower One partners in America, so that they know how valuable and critical their partnership is with Empower One is.
After meeting David Kaya in Rwanda in 2005, the two became partners and officially launched Empower One in 2006. Together, their mission is to train leaders and start churches and schools in Sudan (and South Sudan). Today Mike is more excited than ever about what God is choosing to do through a few broken vessels in a very unreached, unengaged part of the world,
Mike came to know Jesus through his church and family growing up in Raleigh, North Carolina. He surrendered to Jesus and was baptized when he was 10; however, it wasn’t until his late 20s that it really “clicked”.
Jason Meyer
Jason, along with his wife, Lauren, and two (soon to be three) kids live in East Dallas. Jason is a healthcare attorney, and is a Lieutenant Commander in the Navy Reserves where he provides legal advice on international and operational law to the Pacific Fleet in Hawaii and Japan. He is an active member at Church of the Incarnation where he teaches small group bible studies and is involved in the adult formation ministry. Jason has recently served on several boards, including his child's preschool, The Children's Center, and the Strategy Committee of Vogel Alcove, a local Dallas nonprofit that provides early childhood support to kids experiencing homelessness.
Jason received his Bachelor of Arts Degree from Texas A&M University, where he was also a four-year letterman as a pitcher on the baseball team.. He then received his juris doctorate from Washington University School of Law in St. Louis before joining the U.S. Navy and serving for four years on active duty as a Navy JAG before moving to Dallas.
Adam Fish
Adam has been in the business of photography since 1998. He received his BFA in photography from UNT in 1999, assisted various photographers in NYC for two years before starting his business in Dallas in 2002. You can see his client page for a general list of the companies for whom he’s shot projects. He’s worked on three different continents and shot everything from bugs for Orkin to a diet book with Alex Bogusky. I’ve shot on cars, buses, planes, boats, helicopters, trains, subways in rain, snow and sunny days. At the beach, mountain, desert, city, country and the suburbs. Sports, fashion, portraits, interiors, exteriors, food and products. Big budgets and small I’ve shot it all. Most of what I do now is for our non profit The Unseen Story.
At this juncture in my career I’ve learned a few things. I’m passionate about people starting with my family first then friends and those I’ve yet to meet. I’m passionate about doing my job with excellence.
Rita Olivares
Rita is a Dallas native, married with two young boys, and is currently attending Dallas Theological Seminary for Biblical Counseling. She and her husband currently serve on a Spanish marriage ministry leading small groups, which fueled Rita's desire to specialize in marriage counseling when she completes her counseling program.
Leaving home at 14 presented its fair share of challenges for Rita, and was bound to set her up for failure. But through determination, she got a job at 14, played multiple sports in high school, became student council president, graduated, got her associates in fashion design and merchandising, entered the corporate working world, then went back to college and received her Bachelor's degree in Nutrition Science. She had all odds against her, but was determined to break the cycle of her family dynamic and come out ahead.
Rita has always had a desire to serve others. Growing up in a gang ridden low income neighborhood, she saw a huge need for family resources. In high school she led her peers to free community clinics where they could receive regular wellness appointm