Meet Our Founder

Tiffany's career experience has included leadership across both the private and public sectors and experience with collective impact. Tiffany has also been directly involved in youth mental health crisis response system activities, as well as modalities across prevention and postvention including strategy, assessments, communications, community engagement, and data advocacy. Throughout her career, Tiffany has developed and led common agendas, strategic planning, business planning, proforma development, funding strategies, design and construction, hiring staff and providers, and assessing performance to plan. She has been a senior leader in Washoe County for 14 years and has cultivated working relationships with community leaders across various industries. She has served on the board of directors for REMSA Health and the Nevada Hospital Association, as well as being a Hospital Advisory Member of the Nevada Physician Wellness Coalition.

Shane Marks, a dedicated family man married to Sasha and a proud father to two daughters, Willow and Harper, hails from Susanville, CA. His strong commitment to making a positive impact led him to the role of co-lead pastor at Grace Church Reno, where he guides a vibrant congregation of approximately 2000 individuals every weekend. With a history of service, Shane previously worked at Bayside Church in Sacramento, showcasing his ability to inspire and uplift others. Beyond his spiritual leadership, Shane's athletic and coaching background adds to his dynamic skill set. As a college football player, he learned the value of teamwork, perseverance, and discipline. His passion extended to coaching high school football, where he imparted these life skills to the younger generation. Shane's profound desire to combat human trafficking aligns seamlessly with our nonprofit's mission. His unwavering dedication, combined with his multifaceted experiences, makes him a valuable asset to our board, propelling us forward in our fight against this grave issue.

Jacob Williams is an accomplished and dedicated individual who has made a significant impact through his extensive career in Law Enforcement and his current role as the Elected President of the Somersett Owners Association. During his law enforcement career, Jacob played a pivotal role in a multi-jurisdictional task force that managed public safety for various issues. Through Jacob’s efforts in Law Enforcement he was selected to represent the US State department overseas to develop and implement law enforcement standards in foreign countries. As the Current Elected President of the Somersett Owners Association, Jacob serves as a vital link between the community and the City of Reno and cultivates strong working relationships, effectively addressing a wide range of concerns, resulting in positive resolutions.

Lindsay Hardie, PhD, is a Legacy Coach and Consultant who helps individuals, couples, and families to thrive in the context of financial wealth. Her approach draws on professional training and personal experiences as a “married-in” to a family with a 100-year family business. As a featured thought leader with the Purposeful Planning Institute and podcasts such as Aspiriant’s Money Tale$, she shares principles for approaching relationships with creativity rather than reactivity, especially as they apply to the experience of a “married-in”. Lindsay earned a doctorate degree in clinical psychology from the University of Nevada, Reno. She trained with Steven Hayes, PhD, who developed a mindfulness-based approach called Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Lindsay lives with her husband and two young children in Nevada on the north shore of Lake Tahoe.

Karen currently holds the position of Chair for the Somersett Events Committee, an organization dedicated to planning and hosting fantastic events for all residents of Somersett. Her commitment to the Reno community extends beyond this role, as she actively volunteers with civic and not-for-profit organizations. Karen's profound dedication centers on addressing the needs of women and children. Her commitment to community service is evident through her enduring involvement with the Junior League, where she has dedicated over 25 years of her time and expertise. In her professional career, Karen is a realtor with over 20 years of experience. Karen prioritizes her clients' well-being by ensuring the delivery of top-notch customer service. She approaches each interaction with a combination of warmth, trust, friendliness, and unwavering moral values. Her exceptional ability to genuinely listen to and comprehend her clients' requirements consistently surpasses their expectations. Karen recognizes ensuring a secure space for children to heal is of utmost importance. She firmly believes she can contribute to establishing such an environment by facilitating the necessary connections to support the success of Courage Worldwide.

Keith Schillo is a senior commercial banker at Wells Fargo Bank with over 25 years of working in the financial banking industry. Keith is the past chair for the Builders Association Charity Board. He enjoys being involved in the community supporting local business. In his spare time, Keith thoroughly takes in the Reno-Tahoe area and all it has to offer. Whether mountain biking, golfing, snowboarding, and/or hiking, he enjoys all the aspects of living in Northern Nevada. Photo to come!

Chad Felix is a native Reno resident. He has been with Western Title since 1995. He has worked in many positions within the company and then transitioned into management in 2010. Chad enjoys wakeboarding, waterskiing, golfing, and other outdoor activities. He also serves on the board of Moms on the Run. He has also participated on multiple other boards including Builders Associated Charity and Child Advocacy.

Richard Jay works for a major brokerage firm in Reno, NV, serving more than 36 years in community leadership roles in the Reno-Tahoe region. Richard serves on the City of Reno Financial Advisory Board and is an active member of the Reno+Sparks Chamber of Commerce, Sparks Rotary, and the Great Basin Youth Soccer League. Appointed by the City of Reno, Richard currently serves as Vice Chairman of the Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority. He is the former Director of the Northern Nevada Task Force on Human Trafficking and is also a Board Member of the Reno-Sparks Convention & Visitors Authority (RSCVA).

Vinita Busse is a Silicon Valley executive who has founded and led several companies, most recently as a Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Artisanal, an executive placement and venture capital firm. She previously served as the CEO of SFDCJobs and has held senior leadership roles at Riviera Partners, IBM, Newgistics, and Trilogy. She holds a Software Engineering degree from the University of Texas at Austin. While an engineer and startup entrepreneur at her core, her true passion lies in social, entrepreneurial, and political causes that better the lives of women. She is a founding board member of Electing Women Nevada and felt an instant kinship with Courage Worldwide as she felt compelled to protect and serve the needs of the most vulnerable women, in this case mere children, victims of a horrific crime, and give them a path back to the life, love, freedom, and opportunities that are every human’s birthright.

Hailing from Memphis, Tennessee, Steve Shell, MBA, moved to Reno, Nevada in 2010. He has 30 years of experience in healthcare from both the medical and behavioral sides and has dedicated his career to advocating for mental health and addiction awareness and treatment. Steve has held various facility and corporate roles around the country throughout the years, including serving as chief executive officer of several behavioral health hospitals. Since 2013, he has opened Nevada's two newest full-service behavioral health hospitals, a behavioral health hospital in California, and an addiction treatment facility in Texas. Steve joined Renown Health in 2020 to oversee the operations and continued growth of the Stacie Mathewson Behavioral Health and Addiction Institute. In addition to being recognized as Nevada Business Magazine's Healthcare Administrator of the year in 2019 and National Association of Social Work-Nevada's Public Citizen of the Year in 2023, Steve has been active throughout Nevada to promote wellness and reduce the stigma surrounding mental health and addiction. He is the Immediate Past President of NAMI Nevada, Chair of the Washoe Regional Behavioral Health Policy Board, a member of the Nevada Attorney General's Statewide Substance Use Response Group, and the Founder/President of the Behavioral Health Association of Nevada.

Dr. Caroline Barangan completed her medical school training at Mount Sinai School of Medicine (NY); Pediatric Residency training and Chief Residency at the Orlando Regional Health System (FL); and Adolescent Medicine fellowship training at the Montefiore Hospital for Children/AECOM (NY). She is board-certified in Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine. She was the Division Chief of Adolescent Medicine and Assistant Program Director for the Pediatric Residency training at the University of Nevada School of Medicine in Las Vegas early in her career. She created and developed the Adolescent Medicine program at UNSOM and school-based health services in the Las Vegas community. She returned to her residency training program in Orlando to become the Pediatric Residency training Program Director prior to becoming Program Director for the Adolescent Medicine Fellowship at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. In addition, she was the Director of the Adolescent Medicine Education Experience offered at the Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center (MSAHC) to medical trainees and the Deputy Medical Director of the MSAHC. Her passion is educating learners of all backgrounds and levels on the healthcare needs of adolescents and empowering adolescents on how to be advocates for their own physical and mental health. Since joining Renown Health, she has created Adolescent Medicine services, including an Eating Behaviors Program, for the community. She is a member of the Society of Adolescent Health Education Committee/Curriculum sub-committee in creating a standardized curriculum for adolescent health educators to utilize with their learners. She is the Adolescent Medicine Rotation Director for UNR Med School. She became the UNR Med Pediatric Residency Program Director in 2022 and welcomed the first class of Pediatric Residents in July of 2023. In her personal time, she loves spending time with her puppies, playing tennis, traveling, attending comic conventions, and finding unique food experiences.

Jenny Williamson is a social entrepreneur, life coach, published author, business leader, and inspirational speaker. She sits as the President of the Board of Directors. Through personal passion and professional leadership, Jenny has influenced national policy with regard to the issue of child sex trafficking due to her ground-breaking work with the population. Jenny led her team in creating a blueprint for success by developing—from scratch—a proven model of restoration in a long-term residential setting. ​ Jenny has spearheaded community campaigns to involve individuals, faith-based organizations, and business and government leaders in a collaborative effort to meet the needs of child victims impacted by the crime of trafficking. For her leadership, impact, and efforts in the community, Jenny has been recognized nationally, receiving awards including the prestigious FBI Director's Community Leadership Award, the Sacramento District Attorney Community Spirit Award, and the Community Impact Award from William Jessup University. She was additionally awarded the prestigious L'Oréal of Paris Women of Worth Award and was named one of the George H. W. Bush Presidential Points of Light Honorees. Jenny grew up in Jackson, Mississippi where she still has strong family and community ties, but relocated to Northern California and, later, Northern Nevada with her husband, Michael. She and Michael co-own Williamson Energy, Inc., an energy consulting business. She is a mother to three adult biological sons, two adopted adult daughters, and many other young women who now call Courage House home.