WE WELCOME THESE PARTICIPATING mentors FOR THIS REDEMPTIVE BUSINESS LAB EXPERIENCE.
These mentors work in technology, software development, energy, finance, coaching, and non-profit fields. As our inaugural mentors, we're grateful for the wealth of experience they bring to a brand new experience in Houston.
Community Preschools is owned and led by Amanda Castro. She is a certified professional midwife and has a Master of Science at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Amanda’s research experience spans from novel small molecule synthesis and design in treating different forms of cancer, to stem cell research, and viral synthesis and research. While studying for her master’s degree, Amanda was selected to represent the United States at the conference of Nobel Laureates in Lindau, Germany. During this trip, she was able to meet some of the most famous scientists of today as well as other young researchers from all over the world. Amanda received her Bachelor of Science at Stephen F. Austin State University and minored in biology.
As a child, Amanda grew up working on a longhorn ranch. It was from this experience that Amanda gained appreciation for the importance of exploration to discover the world. Later this exploratory spirit would lead her to spend her summers in Mexico learning to speak Spanish and gain insight into Mexican culture. Now as a scientist, mother, and early childhood educator Amanda strongly believes in the importance of early childhood education.
As the founder and executive director, Amanda leads all the day to day operation teams at the campuses and leads all programming related to teacher development. She is an expert in early education policy and administration. Amanda has been leading data-driven projects to enhance student outcomes through specialized coaching, mentoring, college-partnerships and assessments.
Marvin Pierre currently serves as the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Eight Million Stories in Houston, Texas. Prior to taking on the role, Marvin was selected as a Bridge Fellow with The New Teacher Project, where he focused his fellowship on developing an alternative education program he called “Eight Million Stories”. His program became a reality and now aspires to upend the school-to-prison pipeline by supporting previously incarcerated youth as they re-enter school and - curbing unnecessary referrals from schools to the justice system in Houston. Marvin has also served as the Assistant Principal at KIPP Polaris Academy for Boys, also in Houston, Texas. Prior to joining KIPP Polaris, he served as the Dean of Students at Excellence Boys Charter School in Brooklyn, NY. Before pursuing a career in educational leadership, Marvin worked in finance at Goldman, Sachs & Co. Marvin, a native New Yorker, holds a B.A. in Economics from Trinity College in Hartford Connecticut, and a Master’s Degree in Education Administration and Supervision, from the University of Houston. Marvin is a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., is an American Leadership Forum Fellow alumni and current board member and was selected into the inaugural class for Leadership ISD. Marvin was also recognized by the Houston Business Journal as a member of the 2022 40 Under 40 Class and was most recently named to the 2023 Black Changemakers Program, an award that highlights and trains the top 16 Black non-profit leaders. Marvin currently serves on the Board of Trustees at Tabor Academy, a Board of Fellows member at his undergraduate alma mater, Trinity College (Hartford, CT) , a founding board member of Friends of the Children (Houston Chapter) and past board member of The American Leadership Forum.
Chris Staffel is an artist, serial entrepreneur, and investor with experience in both startups and publicly traded companies spanning the energy, healthcare, and agricultural sectors. Over her career, she has built start up companies with an aggregate exit valuation of 1.38 Billion. Leveraging her entrepreneurial credentials, Chris brings a wealth of in-house experience in executing strategic decisions from start to finish in the lifecycle of a company, building the right teams, acquisition and divestitures of assets, and exit strategy execution. As an investor, Chris has a deep passion for helping other entrepreneurs fund early stage ventures that solve the world’s most pressing problems and dispel wealth inequality among underrepresented founders. Chris holds an MBA (Rice), MFA (UCF), and BM (Wheaton) and is passionate about life long learning and the intersection of faith and business. Chris has traveled to 45 of the 195 countries in the world and has every intent to travel with purpose to see the rest of the world during her lifetime. When not traveling, she enjoys spending time with her husband Josh in the peaceful countryside of East Texas.
George Andrews is a distinguished leader in business education and development, currently serving as the Associate Dean of Degree Programs at Rice Business, where he has been a transformative force since joining in 2014. He earned his MBA from the William E. Simon School of Business and his Bachelor of Science from Texas A&M. With a broad and impactful career spanning multiple prestigious institutions, he has consistently demonstrated a commitment to excellence and innovation in academic administration.
At Rice Business, he oversees the strategic direction and operational execution of all MBA programs, the Career Development Office, the Student Program Office, and Recruiting and Admissions, recruiting over 1200 students across all MBA formats. His mission is to enhance the quality and impact of business education and leadership development both locally and globally. Additionally, he is a certified leadership coach from the Doerr Institute for New Leaders at Rice University and a lifetime member of Beta Gamma Sigma, the international honor society for business schools. His leadership has been instrumental in enhancing the quality and competitiveness of Rice Business's offerings.
At home, he is a father to four wonderful children ranging in age from 22 to 16 and celebrates a marriage of 30 years with Carolyn, his partner, in this adventure of life. His passions include reading, working out, hiking, and outdoor adventures. This May, he will co-lead a weeklong leadership trek in Zion, Utah.
Jaciel Castro holds a Master of Finance in Real Estate Development and Investments from the University of Texas at San Antonio. He is a graduate of The University of Houston-Downtown, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Structural Engineering Technology and Design (2011) and a Bachelor of Applied Arts in Organizational Development (2014) from Texas A&M. He is also an Engineer in Training through the Texas Board of Professional Engineers.
Jaciel spent six years working at the largest charter school in the country overseeing state-wide projects such as community development, enrollment, recruitment, change management and real estate. In his role, Jaciel analyzed the market for properties to plant schools, analyzed real estate opportunities, conducted market studies and managed enrollment to ensure children from educationally underserved communities had access to high quality programs.
Over the past 4 years. Jaciel has worked tirelessly to bring to life a new educational model which is creating the administrative standards for early childhood education in Texas. During his time in government, he learned about the billions of dollars in educational and social funding that goes unspent every year due to a lack of systems that connect families to funding. During the pandemic, Jaciel and Amanda grew an in-home daycare program from 12 children to over 250 which attained the highest accreditation in Texas and has been a leader in developing the administrative framework for the professionalization of the early childhood sector. Over the past 3 years, Jaciel has consulted and opened numerous childcare centers and helped programs expand to be able to connect both organizations and families to already available public school and childcare funding.
Jaciel and his wife Amanda are the founders of Community Preschools, a network of early childhood programs creating administrative capacity for other childcare centers in Texas. They currently operate 3 high quality childcare centers in the Houston area, serving over 200 children from diverse communities.
Jaciel recently celebrated his twelfth wedding anniversary with his wife Amanda and have five children: Jonathan, Gemma, Ezekiel, Heidi and Salome.
With over 15 years of experience working with nonprofits, Natasha Paradeshi is passionate about organizations getting the funding they need to fulfill their missions. She currently serves as a Donor Advisor for Hope Media Group, a multimedia company which works to engage people to love Jesus, serve others, and spread Hope through radio and other digital platforms. Natasha and her husband, Sunny, are Co-founders of Solace Media, a marketing studio that creates purposeful branding, websites, and videos for nonprofits, foundations and businesses with big hearts. As a Certified StoryBrand Guide, she has helped dozens of organizations clarify their messaging through effective and ethical storytelling. She sees the power that marketing has in connecting the right donors to hard-working organizations. Her experience as a Co-founder, former Executive Director, and Board Chair of The Landing, an anti-human trafficking ministry which grew to over a $1 million budget in its first five years, gives her a unique perspective in helping nonprofits grow in their programs, operations, and fundraising. To share what has worked well and not so well, she teaches the course “Build a Nonprofit That Outlives You” through her consulting company, Bravehearted Consulting. Currently, she is producing a feature-length documentary about obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), An Unquiet Mind, which shares the stories of two individuals who live with lesser-known types of OCD. Her heart longs for the most vulnerable to get the services they need to survive and live purposeful lives.
Natasha graduated from the University of Southern California with a Master in Public Policy (MPP) and graduated from the University of Texas with a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Marketing and Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Spanish. She enjoys hanging out with her husband, Sunny, and their two children, Zachariah and Sophie. They especially have loved travelling to visit family in England (where Natasha was born), Australia (where they celebrated her grandparents’ 70th wedding anniversary in 2024), and India (where Sunny was born).
Natasha Paradeshi was born in England and moved to the U.S. at age six. She graduated from the University of Texas with a double major in Marketing and Spanish and graduated from the University of Southern California with a Master in Public Policy degree. During undergrad, she joined Texas 4000 and rode her bike from Texas to Alaska to raise money for cancer research. This experience fueled her passion for fundraising and taught her the lesson of perseverance – that beauty lies in the seemingly impossible. In 2013, she co-founded Solace Media, alongside her husband, Sunny. They have helped dozens of nonprofits tell their stories through creating their websites or videos. As a Certified StoryBrand Guide, Natasha focuses on helping mission-driven organizations clarify their messaging through effective and ethical storytelling.
Sunny Paradeshi has 20 years of experience in the creative media industry. He was born in Secunderabad, India and moved to the U.S. at 18 years old. After graduating from Jackson State University with a Bachelor of Industrial Technology, he served with the North American Mission Board in Cleveland, Ohio for two years. He then worked for Host Gator for a year, after which he served as the Media Director at The Woodlands First Baptist Church. In 2013, he co-founded Solace Media along with his wife, Natasha. As the Creative Director, he is responsible for the development and execution of all creative content for the company. Sunny and his team design and develop customized website designs for businesses of all sizes. He has worked in a variety of roles across marketing, videography, branding and web development. Sunny’s creative work focuses on creating compelling marketing and branding solutions that help clients connect with their audience. He is a strategic thinker and has a keen eye for detail. He enjoys working with nonprofits and organizations that are making a difference in the world.
Sunny and Natasha have been married for 10 years and have two little ones. In his spare time, Sunny enjoys cooking/feeding people, listening to music and spending time with his wife and two young children!
I'm a mom of 4, including 2 adopted through foster care. I have a BSN from Baylor and an MSN from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. Prior to founding The Riverside Project, I worked as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner in pediatric community health and school-based healthcare. I'm also a Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI®) Practitioner, and my husband, Drew, is a pastor in the Houston area.
Drew is Founder & Managing Partner of Millennial Energy Partners. Under his leadership, the firm has invested more than $500 million to build a portfolio of operated, non-operated and financial assets in the energy sector. Prior to founding Millennial in 2012, Drew led BG Group plc’s commercial and operations teams on upstream, midstream and LNG investments in the United States, Canada, Chile, Equatorial Guinea and Trinidad and Tobago from 2008 to 2012. Prior to joining BG, Drew was Strategic Planning Manager and Community and Public Relations Manager with Marathon Oil from 2005 - 2008. Drew began his energy with Bechtel Corporation as Project Controls Engineer residing in Equatorial Guinea, West Africa. In each of these capacities in West Africa Drew led local capacity building teams and initiatives and managed social investment projects. Drew and his wife Kelly are Co-Owners of Bitty & Beau's Coffee Houston, which opened in January 2023 and employs over 25 amazing individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities. Bitty & Beau's Coffee Houston is located at 2367 Rice Boulevard in Rice Village. Drew currently serves as a member of the York Tactical Energy Fund (“YTEF”) Investment Committee and the Board of Directors of NextDecade Corporation (NASDAQ: NEXT). Drew previously served as Director on the Board of Amplify Energy Corp., where he was Chairman of the Audit Committee, until its merger with Midstates Petroleum Company, Inc. in August 2019, and on the Board of Directors of Ultra Petroleum. Drew is a member of Vanderbilt University’s College of Arts & Sciences Campaign Cabinet and is chairman of the finance committee of the Georgetown University Master of Science in Foreign Service (MSFS) Advisory Board. Drew received his B.S. in economics and history from Vanderbilt, where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa and magna cum laude. He earned his MSFS degree from Georgetown with a focus on international relations, business and economics. Drew is currently pursuing his master of divinity degree (MDiv) at SMU's Perkins School of Theology, and he aspires to serve as a deacon in the United Methodist Church.
Rob Peabody is a redemptive social entrepreneur and champion of holistic generosity. After founding multiple nonprofits in both the US & UK, he founded VOMO, a for-profit web-based platform and app that powers a global volunteer movement determined to move the needle on global generosity that was acquired by Virtuous Software in 2022. He now serves as an Entrepreneur in Residence at Eagle Venture Fund and is the co-founder & CEO of UpFrom, who are on mission to transform millions of lives through the power of the UpFrom generosity platform in targeted at-risk communities nationally. He has devoted his career to serving others and is a frequent keynote speaker, podcaster, author, and former US megachurch pastor.
Matt Morris is an advisor and investor with industry expertise in the real estate, financial services and technology sectors. Matt was the President and CEO of Stewart Information Services Corporation (NYSE: STC) where he served in various executive roles starting in 2004 as Vice President of Planning and Development and ultimately assuming the role of CEO in 2011. Matt currently serves on the board at Stewart (NYSE:STC) as well as the Cornerstone Funds (NYSE: CLM) and (NYSE: CRF). Matt has recently formed Lutroco, LLC targeting purpose driven strategic investment opportunities.Prior to his time at Stewart, Matt served as the COO and Managing Director of a strategic litigation consulting firm after serving as Director for Choice Ministries/Passion Conferences and Metro Ministries.Matt was recognized as the gold winner in Executive of the Year,large company category, in the Best in Biz Awards, a Gulf Coast EY Entrepreneur of the Year Finalist and has been recognized in the Swanepoel Power 200 ranking of real estate industry leaders.Matt is a member of the Young Presidents Organization, The C Club of Houston and the CEO Forum. He has served in board
positions for various non-profits including the Greater Houston Partnership.
I am a native Houstonian and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in Washington and Texas, specializing in couples and adult therapy. Before entering mental healthcare, I worked in the for-profit sector and in ministry, gaining valuable insight into human connection and personal growth.After a mid-career shift into therapy, I combined my passion for emotional healing and self-discovery with evidence-based practices. I take a holistic approach, recognizing that true wellness involves mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being.I worked in the private and nonprofit sector before making a mid-career pivot into mental health. I started my private practice four years ago and I am looking to expand my services.
Joey Sanchez is a connector. As Founder of Cup of Joey, his mission is to create connections to a more fulfilling future. Cup of Joey is a weekly coffee happy hour for innovative ideas. He delivers program activations that help you explore your purpose in life and how to connect that to the greater community. Joey’s previous roles include senior Director of Ecosystems at the Ion Houston; Director of Corporate Engagement at Houston Exponential; Director of Sales at Greater Houston Partnership; and AR Manager with NOV. Joey holds a BBA and MBA in Business Administration and Management from Jacksonville University.
Bassey Ubokudom is a mission-driven entrepreneur with a deep background in healthcare operations and technology. As the founderand CEO of Shana, an on-demand homecare platform, he is dedicated to making caregiving more accessible, flexible, and safe for aging populations. With seven years of experience in health tech, two master’s degrees, and a personal connection to the challenges of caregiving, Bassey is passionate about bridging the gap between seniors and licensed caregivers. His vision for Shana is rooted in innovation, compassion, and empowering communities across the world to age with dignity and maintain their independence.
As a born and raised, native Houstonian, I relocated to Kansas City, MO when she was sixteen years old. Graduating from Bishop Hogan College Preparatory Academy in 1998 as one of the top in my class; I went on to receive a full academic scholarship to Rockhurst University, where I took up a double major in nursing and psychology. However, just two short years into my college career, tragedy struck, jolting me towards a new and unexpected career path. Shortly after my tenure at the university, I began working as a customer service agent at Pegasus Satellite Communications, where I quickly climbed my way up the corporate ladder becoming the youngest member of management in company history at the ripe age of 21. This kick started my 13 years of professional experience in customer service and call center management for companies like Long Motor Corporation, and RxSolutions/United Health Care, whereI developed additional skills in policy writing, training and implementation.
After the birth of my second child (who was diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis, mild Cerebral Palsy, and a movement disorder), I decided to shift my focus and attention towards raising my daughters as a stay-at-home wife and mother. During that time, I stood with my husband as he battled cancer for the first time (he us currently fighting cancer for the second time), and worked and went to school to better my chances at providing for my family. Once my girls were of school age, I chose to homeschool my children, and even went back to school myself to help develop my husband’s family business in the shoe, and salon services industries. From there, I was able to establish yet another new set of skills as Human Resources Manager at ECE Enterprises.
Now, with 12+ years of background in the nail and foot care service industries; I have acquired countless hours of experience. From local, state, and national awards in nail care, to several professional certifications, i.e. Certified Pediatric Medical Assistant (CPMA), Medical Nail Tech Instructor (MNTI), Medical Nail Technician (MNT), Advanced Nail Technician (ANT), all of which makes me uniquely qualified for the role I now play. I am committed to using my experience and expertise to help foster a healthier community, and improved quality of life for those I (we) serve. After developing apassion for meeting the needs of others through humble service, I founded “Do As I Have Done” Humanitarian Outreach, which is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, as a way to give back, by providing professional and compassionate foot-care to underserved and under-resourced communities. I am determined to never sacrifice the quality of service we provide to those who are otherwise without the means and the resources to care for themselves.
Reflecting on my testimony, I now recognize several key moments when God knocked at the door of my heart.Early Years: As a child around seven or eight, I remember telling my dad that by the age of thirty, I wanted to be a vicar. Watching these godly men on the British TV show Songs of Praise, I believed that they had it all together and must surely be going to heaven. At that young age, I was troubled by the thought of what happens after death, and though I didn’t have answers, I trusted that by the time I was my parents’ age, I’d have figured it out. Meanwhile, I focused on “being good” — excelling at school, sports, and friendships — convinced that success in these areas would secure my future.A Turning Point: At sixteen, I faced a profound loss that would challenge my understanding of life and death. A close friend, a talented cricketer, passed away suddenly from a heart attack at just 16. As I attended his funeral, I was haunted by the thought, “So Gregg now knows what it feels like to be dead.” It felt as though I instinctively understood that death wasn’t the end, but I was left wondering, Where had he gone? Was there a heaven for him?College and Rob's Transformation: During college, I lived with a friend, Rob Burns, who later experienced a dramatic spiritual transformation. Rob began attending church, reading his Bible, and sharing about Jesus — someone I had always thought of as only relevant for kids. His newfound faith intrigued me, but I dismissed it as a phase, though I couldn’t ignore the changes in him, particularly his newfound peace. Over time, we went our separate ways, but Rob’s testimony left an impression that would resurface later.
Living in Sin: In Wakefield, I worked as a Community Sports Leader, promoting sports among disadvantaged groups. Despite living in a relationship with my girlfriend and being distant from the Lord, I found myself doing uncomfortable tasks that pushed me beyond my comfort zone. I believe God was preparing me for something more significant, though I couldn’t see it at the time.The Wake-Up Call: The relationship with my girlfriend soon began to unravel. We had been hoping that a vacation to Houston in 1991 would solve our problems, but instead, we brought our struggles with us. During that trip, Rob’s example of a transformed life in Christ started to speak to me in ways I hadn’t anticipated. Rob’s peace and his deep connection with Jesus led me to reconsider everything I had believed. On October 13th, 1991, I visited North Oaks Baptist Church, where I felt the Holy Spirit tugging at my heart. The invitation to accept Jesus felt like the right decision, but I hesitated, worried about what others would think and unsure if I was ready for such a commitment.
Over the next week, through much reflection, I realized that I couldn’t keep resisting God’s call. On October 20th, 1991, I walked tothe front of that church, tears in my eyes, and invited Jesus into my heart. That night, I was baptized, and though I didn’t fully understand its significance at the time, it marked the beginning of a new life.
Post-Salvation: Upon returning to England, I shared my new faith with my parents, but their indifferent response left me feeling disappointed. Soon after, my relationship ended, and I moved back home to live with my parents.
God’s Call to Soccer Ministry: Six months later, I returned to the U.S., convinced that God had called me to share my faith through soccer. I was stepping into a completely different lifestyle than I had imagined. Instead of a desk job, I would be on the soccer field every day, sharing the Gospel with kids and families. This calling led to the founding of Sports Quest in 1996, as my wife and I decided to stay in the U.S. despite the practical option to return to England. We knew God had a greater plan for us.
Matthew 13:16 became a defining scripture for me, reminding me that I didn’t need to send people away, but could feed their spiritual hunger by sharing my hope in Christ. Though I was unqualified and insecure, I knew that Jesus would enable me, and He did. Over time, Isaw how God multiplied the impact of our ministry, drawing people toHimself through the game of soccer.
Celebrating God's Faithfulness: In 2026, Sports Quest will celebrate 30 years of ministry. The journey has had its challenges, but it’s beena testimony to how God transforms ordinary lives and gives them purpose. Today, I’m filled with gratitude for God’s grace, power, and provision. He alone is worthy of all the praise, and I’ll continue to share that praise tomorrow and every day that follows.
The first two years out of college I worked at Starbucks, the next several years I spent managing a Christian Brothers Automotive. I felt a tug to get into a field where I was helping marginalized communities. That led me to help an individual start a sober living house. I ran the house for just over 12 years before deciding to start Good Works Collective. We started about a year ago. Along the way I obtained a Master of Arts in Biblical Studies from RTS and started a Counseling Masters.
I'm a native of Orlando, FL, and began my pre-nursing journey at Valencia Community College in 2002, later obtaining a BSN degree in 2010 at Bethune Cookman University. Soon after, I joined the United States Army as a RN and worked on a med-surg unit for four years. Since that time, I've worked in RN case management, IV infusion therapy, and earned my MS degree in Health Education &Promotion. CompassRN was birthed from a long-time passion for mentoring, a love for the nursing profession, and my own personal struggle throughout college.
My life journey is a great example of God's Perfect Timing. Throughout my life, I have experienced challenges that resulted in the most amazing results, in God's time. Raised in a pastoral family, we lived in several communities which provided diverse experiences as well as various mentors that helped me become the person I am today. From a young age, I knew there was a calling on my life to serve God by serving others. Each chapter of my life has involved service and a level of entertainment. There have been opportunities that tempted me to veer off path, but God has been gracious to guide me back to the journey He has planned for me.
In God's Perfect Time, I met my wife 3 years ago and my most common prayer was answered in a manner that only God can orchestrate.
My professional career journey began at the Oklahoma State University Alumni Association as the Director of Chapter and External Relations. I spent 5 years directing the Chapter, Alumni Scholarship, and Game Day Activity Programs in addition to assisting with Fundraising.
I entered the full-time Camp and Retreat Ministry at Egan Camp &Retreat Center near Tahlequah, OK. As the Director/Manager, I oversaw all facility operations, marketing, fundraising, and personnel management.I was blessed to witness God use us to take a facility near closing and make it a profitable retreat center that continues to impact lives for Christ.
I joined the Lakeview staff as President/CEO in 2019 and have provided leadership through a very challenging five years. Lakeview was recovering from a traumatic period and needed consistent and grace-filled leadership. God has provided direction and grace to help us weather the recent storms while shifting the direction of our organization.
Diverse experiences within engineering, construction, commissioning and start up, project management, operations, asset management, business planning & analysis, commercial, corporate mergers, joint venture management, recruitment, staffing &development, research & technology, and a bit of change management across 5 continents.
Community Preschools is owned and led by Amanda Castro. She is a certified professional midwife and has a Master of Science at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Amanda’s research experience spans from novel small molecule synthesis and design in treating different forms of cancer, to stem cell research, and viral synthesis and research. While studying for her master’s degree, Amanda was selected to represent the United States at the conference of Nobel Laureates in Lindau, Germany. During this trip, she was able to meet some of the most famous scientists of today as well as other young researchers from all over the world. Amanda received her Bachelor of Science at Stephen F. Austin State University and minored in biology.
As a child, Amanda grew up working on a longhorn ranch. It was from this experience that Amanda gained appreciation for the importance of exploration to discover the world. Later this exploratory spirit would lead her to spend her summers in Mexico learning to speak Spanish and gain insight into Mexican culture. Now as a scientist, mother, and early childhood educator Amanda strongly believes in the importance of early childhood education.
As the founder and executive director, Amanda leads all the day to day operation teams at the campuses and leads all programming related to teacher development. She is an expert in early education policy and administration. Amanda has been leading data-driven projects to enhance student outcomes through specialized coaching, mentoring, college-partnerships and assessments.
Marvin Pierre currently serves as the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Eight Million Stories in Houston, Texas. Prior to taking on the role, Marvin was selected as a Bridge Fellow with The New Teacher Project, where he focused his fellowship on developing an alternative education program he called “Eight Million Stories”. His program became a reality and now aspires to upend the school-to-prison pipeline by supporting previously incarcerated youth as they re-enter school and - curbing unnecessary referrals from schools to the justice system in Houston. Marvin has also served as the Assistant Principal at KIPP Polaris Academy for Boys, also in Houston, Texas. Prior to joining KIPP Polaris, he served as the Dean of Students at Excellence Boys Charter School in Brooklyn, NY. Before pursuing a career in educational leadership, Marvin worked in finance at Goldman, Sachs & Co. Marvin, a native New Yorker, holds a B.A. in Economics from Trinity College in Hartford Connecticut, and a Master’s Degree in Education Administration and Supervision, from the University of Houston. Marvin is a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., is an American Leadership Forum Fellow alumni and current board member and was selected into the inaugural class for Leadership ISD. Marvin was also recognized by the Houston Business Journal as a member of the 2022 40 Under 40 Class and was most recently named to the 2023 Black Changemakers Program, an award that highlights and trains the top 16 Black non-profit leaders. Marvin currently serves on the Board of Trustees at Tabor Academy, a Board of Fellows member at his undergraduate alma mater, Trinity College (Hartford, CT) , a founding board member of Friends of the Children (Houston Chapter) and past board member of The American Leadership Forum.
Jaciel Castro holds a Master of Finance in Real Estate Development and Investments from the University of Texas at San Antonio. He is a graduate of The University of Houston-Downtown, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Structural Engineering Technology and Design (2011) and a Bachelor of Applied Arts in Organizational Development (2014) from Texas A&M. He is also an Engineer in Training through the Texas Board of Professional Engineers.
Jaciel spent six years working at the largest charter school in the country overseeing state-wide projects such as community development, enrollment, recruitment, change management and real estate. In his role, Jaciel analyzed the market for properties to plant schools, analyzed real estate opportunities, conducted market studies and managed enrollment to ensure children from educationally underserved communities had access to high quality programs.
Over the past 4 years. Jaciel has worked tirelessly to bring to life a new educational model which is creating the administrative standards for early childhood education in Texas. During his time in government, he learned about the billions of dollars in educational and social funding that goes unspent every year due to a lack of systems that connect families to funding. During the pandemic, Jaciel and Amanda grew an in-home daycare program from 12 children to over 250 which attained the highest accreditation in Texas and has been a leader in developing the administrative framework for the professionalization of the early childhood sector. Over the past 3 years, Jaciel has consulted and opened numerous childcare centers and helped programs expand to be able to connect both organizations and families to already available public school and childcare funding.
Jaciel and his wife Amanda are the founders of Community Preschools, a network of early childhood programs creating administrative capacity for other childcare centers in Texas. They currently operate 3 high quality childcare centers in the Houston area, serving over 200 children from diverse communities.
Jaciel recently celebrated his twelfth wedding anniversary with his wife Amanda and have five children: Jonathan, Gemma, Ezekiel, Heidi and Salome.
With over 15 years of experience working with nonprofits, Natasha Paradeshi is passionate about organizations getting the funding they need to fulfill their missions. She currently serves as a Donor Advisor for Hope Media Group, a multimedia company which works to engage people to love Jesus, serve others, and spread Hope through radio and other digital platforms. Natasha and her husband, Sunny, are Co-founders of Solace Media, a marketing studio that creates purposeful branding, websites, and videos for nonprofits, foundations and businesses with big hearts. As a Certified StoryBrand Guide, she has helped dozens of organizations clarify their messaging through effective and ethical storytelling. She sees the power that marketing has in connecting the right donors to hard-working organizations. Her experience as a Co-founder, former Executive Director, and Board Chair of The Landing, an anti-human trafficking ministry which grew to over a $1 million budget in its first five years, gives her a unique perspective in helping nonprofits grow in their programs, operations, and fundraising. To share what has worked well and not so well, she teaches the course “Build a Nonprofit That Outlives You” through her consulting company, Bravehearted Consulting. Currently, she is producing a feature-length documentary about obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), An Unquiet Mind, which shares the stories of two individuals who live with lesser-known types of OCD. Her heart longs for the most vulnerable to get the services they need to survive and live purposeful lives.
Natasha graduated from the University of Southern California with a Master in Public Policy (MPP) and graduated from the University of Texas with a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Marketing and Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Spanish. She enjoys hanging out with her husband, Sunny, and their two children, Zachariah and Sophie. They especially have loved travelling to visit family in England (where Natasha was born), Australia (where they celebrated her grandparents’ 70th wedding anniversary in 2024), and India (where Sunny was born).
Natasha Paradeshi was born in England and moved to the U.S. at age six. She graduated from the University of Texas with a double major in Marketing and Spanish and graduated from the University of Southern California with a Master in Public Policy degree. During undergrad, she joined Texas 4000 and rode her bike from Texas to Alaska to raise money for cancer research. This experience fueled her passion for fundraising and taught her the lesson of perseverance – that beauty lies in the seemingly impossible. In 2013, she co-founded Solace Media, alongside her husband, Sunny. They have helped dozens of nonprofits tell their stories through creating their websites or videos. As a Certified StoryBrand Guide, Natasha focuses on helping mission-driven organizations clarify their messaging through effective and ethical storytelling.
I'm a mom of 4, including 2 adopted through foster care. I have a BSN from Baylor and an MSN from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. Prior to founding The Riverside Project, I worked as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner in pediatric community health and school-based healthcare. I'm also a Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI®) Practitioner, and my husband, Drew, is a pastor in the Houston area.
Chris Staffel is an artist, serial entrepreneur, and investor with experience in both startups and publicly traded companies spanning the energy, healthcare, and agricultural sectors. Over her career, she has built start up companies with an aggregate exit valuation of 1.38 Billion. Leveraging her entrepreneurial credentials, Chris brings a wealth of in-house experience in executing strategic decisions from start to finish in the lifecycle of a company, building the right teams, acquisition and divestitures of assets, and exit strategy execution. As an investor, Chris has a deep passion for helping other entrepreneurs fund early stage ventures that solve the world’s most pressing problems and dispel wealth inequality among underrepresented founders. Chris holds an MBA (Rice), MFA (UCF), and BM (Wheaton) and is passionate about life long learning and the intersection of faith and business. Chris has traveled to 45 of the 195 countries in the world and has every intent to travel with purpose to see the rest of the world during her lifetime. When not traveling, she enjoys spending time with her husband Josh in the peaceful countryside of East Texas.
George Andrews is a distinguished leader in business education and development, currently serving as the Associate Dean of Degree Programs at Rice Business, where he has been a transformative force since joining in 2014. He earned his MBA from the William E. Simon School of Business and his Bachelor of Science from Texas A&M. With a broad and impactful career spanning multiple prestigious institutions, he has consistently demonstrated a commitment to excellence and innovation in academic administration.
At Rice Business, he oversees the strategic direction and operational execution of all MBA programs, the Career Development Office, the Student Program Office, and Recruiting and Admissions, recruiting over 1200 students across all MBA formats. His mission is to enhance the quality and impact of business education and leadership development both locally and globally. Additionally, he is a certified leadership coach from the Doerr Institute for New Leaders at Rice University and a lifetime member of Beta Gamma Sigma, the international honor society for business schools. His leadership has been instrumental in enhancing the quality and competitiveness of Rice Business's offerings.
At home, he is a father to four wonderful children ranging in age from 22 to 16 and celebrates a marriage of 30 years with Carolyn, his partner, in this adventure of life. His passions include reading, working out, hiking, and outdoor adventures. This May, he will co-lead a weeklong leadership trek in Zion, Utah.
Sunny Paradeshi has 20 years of experience in the creative media industry. He was born in Secunderabad, India and moved to the U.S. at 18 years old. After graduating from Jackson State University with a Bachelor of Industrial Technology, he served with the North American Mission Board in Cleveland, Ohio for two years. He then worked for Host Gator for a year, after which he served as the Media Director at The Woodlands First Baptist Church. In 2013, he co-founded Solace Media along with his wife, Natasha. As the Creative Director, he is responsible for the development and execution of all creative content for the company. Sunny and his team design and develop customized website designs for businesses of all sizes. He has worked in a variety of roles across marketing, videography, branding and web development. Sunny’s creative work focuses on creating compelling marketing and branding solutions that help clients connect with their audience. He is a strategic thinker and has a keen eye for detail. He enjoys working with nonprofits and organizations that are making a difference in the world.
Sunny and Natasha have been married for 10 years and have two little ones. In his spare time, Sunny enjoys cooking/feeding people, listening to music and spending time with his wife and two young children!
Drew is Founder & Managing Partner of Millennial Energy Partners. Under his leadership, the firm has invested more than $500 million to build a portfolio of operated, non-operated and financial assets in the energy sector. Prior to founding Millennial in 2012, Drew led BG Group plc’s commercial and operations teams on upstream, midstream and LNG investments in the United States, Canada, Chile, Equatorial Guinea and Trinidad and Tobago from 2008 to 2012. Prior to joining BG, Drew was Strategic Planning Manager and Community and Public Relations Manager with Marathon Oil from 2005 - 2008. Drew began his energy with Bechtel Corporation as Project Controls Engineer residing in Equatorial Guinea, West Africa. In each of these capacities in West Africa Drew led local capacity building teams and initiatives and managed social investment projects. Drew and his wife Kelly are Co-Owners of Bitty & Beau's Coffee Houston, which opened in January 2023 and employs over 25 amazing individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities. Bitty & Beau's Coffee Houston is located at 2367 Rice Boulevard in Rice Village. Drew currently serves as a member of the York Tactical Energy Fund (“YTEF”) Investment Committee and the Board of Directors of NextDecade Corporation (NASDAQ: NEXT). Drew previously served as Director on the Board of Amplify Energy Corp., where he was Chairman of the Audit Committee, until its merger with Midstates Petroleum Company, Inc. in August 2019, and on the Board of Directors of Ultra Petroleum. Drew is a member of Vanderbilt University’s College of Arts & Sciences Campaign Cabinet and is chairman of the finance committee of the Georgetown University Master of Science in Foreign Service (MSFS) Advisory Board. Drew received his B.S. in economics and history from Vanderbilt, where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa and magna cum laude. He earned his MSFS degree from Georgetown with a focus on international relations, business and economics. Drew is currently pursuing his master of divinity degree (MDiv) at SMU's Perkins School of Theology, and he aspires to serve as a deacon in the United Methodist Church.
Rob Peabody is a redemptive social entrepreneur and champion of holistic generosity. After founding multiple nonprofits in both the US & UK, he founded VOMO, a for-profit web-based platform and app that powers a global volunteer movement determined to move the needle on global generosity that was acquired by Virtuous Software in 2022. He now serves as an Entrepreneur in Residence at Eagle Venture Fund and is the co-founder & CEO of UpFrom, who are on mission to transform millions of lives through the power of the UpFrom generosity platform in targeted at-risk communities nationally. He has devoted his career to serving others and is a frequent keynote speaker, podcaster, author, and former US megachurch pastor.
Matt Morris is an advisor and investor with industry expertise in the real estate, financial services and technology sectors. Matt was the President and CEO of Stewart Information Services Corporation (NYSE: STC) where he served in various executive roles starting in 2004 as Vice President of Planning and Development and ultimately assuming the role of CEO in 2011. Matt currently serves on the board at Stewart (NYSE:STC) as well as the Cornerstone Funds (NYSE: CLM) and (NYSE: CRF). Matt has recently formed Lutroco, LLC targeting purpose driven strategic investment opportunities.Prior to his time at Stewart, Matt served as the COO and Managing Director of a strategic litigation consulting firm after serving as Director for Choice Ministries/Passion Conferences and Metro Ministries.Matt was recognized as the gold winner in Executive of the Year,large company category, in the Best in Biz Awards, a Gulf Coast EY Entrepreneur of the Year Finalist and has been recognized in the Swanepoel Power 200 ranking of real estate industry leaders.Matt is a member of the Young Presidents Organization, The C Club of Houston and the CEO Forum. He has served in board
positions for various non-profits including the Greater Houston Partnership.
Kevin’s been doing this ministry thing for over 25 years. And he’s passionate—not only about the church, but about strong and purposeful design. After all, God has graced us with an intrinsic ability to create. To design beauty from nothing. To write, to draw, to build, to sing and to dance for something and someone bigger than ourselves.
Leading operations, Kevin is crucial to the daily work of Yellowbox. He keeps our creative team smooth-running and productive, inspiring us on the daily.
Who’s the most memorable person you’ve ever met? Around these parts, it’s our guy Tres. An artist, designer and strategist (with a passion for the local church), he works closely with our creative team to make sure every project we tackle is simultaneously inspiring and unforgettable.
Tres reminds us to keep dreaming. And honestly, that’s more important every day for us, for you, and for the rest of the world. Here’s a tip from Tres: write your dreams down and say them out loud every morning.
Say hi to Alen!
There’s a lot going on at Yellowbox. We’ve got design and video and websites and photoshoots and social media and more. The list just goes on and on. To make things easier on our team (and to keep us sane), we have Renata leading the charge on project management.
She’s the most organized person in the world. She uses charts and programs and stuff, and actually plans out the future—it’s crazy. She gets things done, and we’re forever grateful for her talent.
Say hi to Nick!
Say hi to Alejandro!
Say hi to Ivan!
Day hi to Shawn!
Say hi to Gavin!
Say hi to the contractor dream team!