Careers Colson Center - Colson Center

G. Shane Morris

Writer & Podcast Host

Shane Morris is a senior writer at the Colson Center, where he has been the resident Calvinist and millennial, home-school grad since 2010 as an intern under Chuck Colson. He writes BreakPoint commentaries and columns. Shane has also written for The Federalist, The Christian Post, and Summit Ministries, and he blogs regularly for Patheos Evangelical as Troubler of Israel. He has appeared on broadcasts like Equipped with Chris Brooks and Issues, Etc., exploring topics like popular theology, marriage and family, and movies. He also co-hosts Breakpoint This Week and the Breakpoint podcast. Shane is fascinated by the natural world, which he explores whenever possible in SCUBA gear. He lives to make the doctrines of Christianity accessible and exciting. He invites others to appreciate the relationship between God’s Word and His world. For Shane, storytelling is also key to worldview teaching, with works like C. S. Lewis’ Cosmic Trilogy and Milton’s Paradise Lost giving theology a voice with which to sing. Shane graduated from Thomas Edison State College with a degree in humanities. He lives with his wife, Gabriela, and their three children, Astrid, Elijah, and Peter in Tampa, Florida.

John Zeiser

Board Member

John Zeiser is a native of Signal Mountain, Tennessee. He is the Chairman of the Board of Southern Champion Tray, LP, a third generation, family-owned manufacturer of sustainable packaging. He has a Mechanical Engineering degree from Virginia Tech and an MBA from Southern Methodist University. John has been married to Anita since 1985. They have four adult children.
In addition to serving on the Colson Center board, John also serves on the board of the Christian Education Charitable Trust at The Maclellan Foundation.

Kelvin J. Cochran

Board Member

Kelvin J. Cochran serves as senior fellow and vice president for Alliance Defending Freedom. In this role, he reports directly to ADF President and CEO Michael Farris. Cochran is responsible for overseeing ADF’s Leadership Development Program, leading
programs that will assist, encourage, and support Christians who are victims of cancel culture attacks; overseeing ADF’s Prayer Initiative Team; and speaking at ADF events to engage and promote ADF’s mission to defend religious liberty. Cochran also supports ADF’s Church and Ministry Alliance by working to increase its partners.

Cochran dedicated over 30 years of his life to fighting fires and protecting the communities in which he’s lived and worked. After being born into extreme poverty in Shreveport, Louisiana, he worked his way up the ranks and became Shreveport’s fire chief in 1999 where he served until he was appointed fire chief for the city of Atlanta, Georgia in 2008.

His exemplary service record drew the attention of President Obama who appointed Cochran as the administrator of the U.S. Fire Administration in 2009, the highest office in the profession. He then resumed his post as Atlanta Fire Chief in 2010.

After the city of Atlanta terminated Cochran’s employment because of his Christian faith and beliefs, ADF represented him in a federal lawsuit. A federal court ruled the city of Atlanta discriminated against Cochran’s religious views and violated his First Amendment rights, and the city of Atlanta agreed to a favorable settlement.

Prior to his role at ADF, Cochran served as chief operating officer of Elizabeth Baptist Church in Atlanta. He is the author of two books, a sought-after public speaker, and is an advocate for religious liberty and unity of the body of Christ.

Douglas Napier

Board Chair

Douglas H. Napier, Esq., serves as President of The Cavan Companies, a Scottsdale, Arizona based real estate development company. Prior to joining the Cavan Companies, Napier spent 16 years as a trial attorney in private practice and then served for 11 years in various leadership positions at Alliance Defending Freedom, the world’s largest Christian legal organization. Napier earned his J.D. in 1990 from the University of Iowa College of Law, where he graduated with distinction. He received a B.A. in finance at the University of Iowa in 1985 and graduated with a M.A. in biblical studies from Dallas Theological Seminary in 1988.

He is admitted to the bar before the U. S. Supreme Court, the Arizona Supreme Court, the Iowa Supreme Court. He is also a fellow of the Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers.

Shannon Cagnina

Board Member

Shannon Cagnina serves as General Counsel for a family real estate business overseeing operating companies, innovative social ventures, and philanthropy.

For ten years Ms. Cagnina served as the Chief Operating Officer of Mary Crowley Cancer Research, an independent 501(c)3 conducting clinical trial testing of novel molecular therapies for cancer patients. Her work advanced the mission to expand treatment options for cancer patients, harnessing leading genomic science to benefit patients in need. She has also volunteered with multiple values-aligned nonprofits in board leadership roles, including Council for Life, Human Coalition, and Amazing Grace Life.

Ms. Cagnina’s past experience includes Deputy General Counsel to the Secretary of Finance and Administrative Law Judge for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. In addition, she served an appointment to a municipal finance committee managing capital and operating budgets. She earned a B.A. in Economics at Wellesley College, a J.D. from Boston University, and began her career at an economic consulting firm in Cambridge, Massachusetts, which provided business strategy to an array of Fortune 100 business clients.

Eric Pillmore

Treasurer and Chair of the Finance and Audit Committee

Eric currently serves as Managing General Partner of the Amore Limited Partnership. Prior to Amore, he served as the Senior Advisor to the Deloitte Center for Corporate Governance from 2008 to 2015. Eric served as SVP – Corporate Governance for Tyco International from 2002 to 2007. He joined Tyco to help transform the company’s public image and governance processes, following what Business Week called “one of the most spectacular governance failures in history.”
In addition, Eric served for 17 years in a variety of senior finance roles for General Electric from 1979 to 1996, including roles as CFO for GE Plastics (Americas) and GE Medical Systems (Asia). He was SVP/CFO for General Instrument (GI) from 1997 to 2000, leading up to the sale of GI to Motorola. He served as a U.S. Navy officer from 1975 to 1979, aboard the USS Robison in the Western Pacific and with the Naval Audit Service in Washington, DC.
Eric and Pam live in Yukon OK. They have five children and eight grandchildren. Eric has an MBA from the Villanova School of Business and a BBA from the University of New Mexico. He currently serves as a Director for Vectrus Corporation and the Colson Center for Christian Worldview.

Edwin Simcox

Board Member

Ed is President Emeritus of the Indiana Energy Association. He holds an A.B. degree in Government and Economics from Indiana University and obtained a J.D. degree from Indiana University Law School.

In December 1986, Ed Simcox was named President of the Indiana Electric Association, a trade association representing Indiana’s investor-owned electric utilities. On March 1, 2004, the Electric Association merged with the Indiana Gas Association to form the Indiana Energy Association. Ed was elected President of the new association.

Ed’s experience in government service includes employment in the Corporations Division of the Indiana Secretary of State’s office, Secretary of the State Highway Commission, Secretary of the Indiana Public Service Commission, legal deputy of the office of the Reporter of the Indiana Supreme Court and eight years as Indiana’s Secretary of State.

Ed is also a member of the Indianapolis and Indiana State Bar Associations Member, Indiana Law Survey Study Commission; member and past President, Indiana Legal Foundation; former Executive Committee; Member and Ethics Committee Chair, Government Affairs Society of Indiana; member, Governor Pence’s Faith-based Corrections Advisory Committee; past Chairman, Indiana State Chamber of Commerce Legislative Affairs Committee; member, Board of Directors of State Auto Mutual Insurance; member, Board of Directors of Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site.

John Brockman Crane

Executive Committee Chair

John is a respected educator and cultural thought leader who speaks and teaches on university campuses, TV/radio and podcasts, in churches, and other venues across the country and around the world. He regularly navigates the intersection between timeless truths and cultural trends. Through extensive speaking and writing, John is on mission to help people understand our times and know what to do.

In 2009, John founded the Sagamore Leadership Initiative, Inc., a leadership development non-profit organization based in Indianapolis, Indiana, whose mission is “to equip next generation leaders to influence our culture for Good.” And more recently, he created JBC Leadership Strategies, LLC, through which he and his team provide leadership equipping and consulting.

John graduated from Taylor University with a B.A. in History and Psychology, and he went on to receive his M.A. in Communications and Culture from Trinity International University. In 2008, John completed a two-month apologetics intensive training program through the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics, in partnership with Wycliffe Hall, Oxford University.

Previously, John has served as a pastor, as well as an adjunct professor at Marian University and Grace College: Indianapolis. In 2004, he was part of the first Colson Fellows class with the Chuck Colson Center for Christian Worldview and since 2020, he has served on the Board of Directors of the Colson Center. And he was a Cook Fellow with the Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty. Additionally, for many years he was the Director of the Hoosier Leadership Series, a leadership training program for conservative leaders in Indiana whose mission is “educating Indiana leaders on policy and culture.” In 2020, John was part of the inaugural class of Fellows in the Club for Growth Foundation Fellowship.

Following a strong Crane family tradition of service in public life, John was elected to the Indiana Senate in 2016. He is currently the Assistant Majority Caucus Chairman. He also serves on the following Senate Committees: Education and Career Development (as the Ranking Member), Elections, Family and Children Services, Homeland Security and Transportation, Pensions and Labor, and Veterans Affairs and the Military. Additionally, John represents the Senate as a Commissioner on the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission. He also was instrumental in bringing the Global Leadership Summit simulcast to the Indiana Statehouse in 2021, the first time the GLS conference has ever been hosted in a state capitol.

John and his wife, Jean, live on Crane Acres just outside of Indianapolis, Indiana with their four children and their dog, Cricket. To find out more about the leadership John is undertaking, please visit craneleadership.org.

Jennifer Patterson

THEOLOGY COMMITTEE CHAIR

Jennifer Patterson is a visiting lecturer and director of the Institute of Theology and Public Life at Reformed Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. She has worked in public policy for 25 years on issues related to family, poverty, and religious liberty. Jennifer holds degrees from Wheaton College, the Institute of World Politics, and Reformed Theological Seminary. She is currently a doctoral candidate in moral theology and ethics at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.

Emily Colson

Board Member

Emily is the only daughter of Chuck Colson, founder of Prison Fellowship. She is an author and speaker, traveling to churches and organizations nationwide. She has appeared on numerous media outlets including Focus on the Family and the Huckabee Show.

In her book Dancing with Max, Emily and her father, Chuck Colson, shared the struggle and beauty of life with Max, Emily’s son with autism. The book was awarded “Book of the Year” by the Autism Society. Through her message, Emily has inspired many to persevere through their own challenges, and see the gifts.

Emily has been a single mother for most of Max’s life, with hard fought lessons in life, love, and a whole lot of laughter. Emily and Max live on the coast of New England where they can often be found dancing.

David Dockery

Board Member

David S. Dockery serves as president of the International Alliance for Christian Education. He also serves as Distinguished Professor of Theology and editor of the Southwestern Journal of Theology at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. The author or editor of more than forty books, Dockery has previously served as president of Union University and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, as well as the chief academic officer at Southern Seminary. A former president of the Evangelical Theological Society, Dockery has served on the boards of Christiantiy Today International, the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (chair), the Manhattan Declaration (chair), the Consortium for Global Education (chair), Prison Fellowship (where he held the Carl Henry Chair), Touchstone Magazine, The King’s College, and the International Association for Baptist Colleges and Schools, among others.

Timothy D. Padgett

Resident Theologian

Timothy D. Padgett (PhD) is a Resident Theologian at The Colson Center for Christian Worldview. His focus is on cultural engagement, living out the Christian worldview, and the way Christians argue for diverse viewpoints while sharing a common biblical foundation―particularly regarding the relationship between church and state, Christ and culture, and war and peace.

S. Michael Craven

Vice President, Equipping & Mobilization

Michael is an accomplished executive, worldview expert, cultural apologist, and author. Ever since leaving his career as a corporate CEO in 2001, Michael has been working to equip the Church in America with a robust Christian life and worldview.

In 2007, Michael founded the Center for Christ & Culture where his popular weekly commentaries grew to reach more than two million readers through Crosswalk.com, Christianity.com, The Christian Post and numerous other web-based outlets. In 2009, Michael authored his critically-acclaimed book, Uncompromised Faith: Overcoming Our Culturalized Christianity (NavPress). He also contributed to the 2014 book, Same-Sex Marriage: A Thoughtful Approach to God’s Design for Marriage by John Stonestreet and Sean McDowell.

Michael has been a featured speaker at many venues including, the University of California at Berkeley, the National Conference on Christian Apologetics, and numerous churches across the country. He served as an adjunct professor at Western Seminary where he was invited to teach on Cultural Apologetics. He has appeared on Fox News, CNN, ABC, NBC, and many other national television and radio programs.

Prior to joining The Colson Center, Michael served for five years as the president of BridgeBuilders, an inner-city ministry in South Dallas, where he pioneered a missional strategy for transforming the “culture of poverty” into a culture of flourishing, breaking the cycle of poverty that dominates America’s inner-city communities. Michael lives in the Dallas area with his wife and three children.

Brian Brown

Vice President of Programs

Brian is in charge of developing and leveraging the Colson Center’s products to help millions of people find their place in God’s story, and live like His people. He supervises the Colson Center’s podcasts, courses, and other products, as well as creative direction and brand strategy.

Since receiving his B.A. in political theory from Princeton, Brian has worked at the Heritage Foundation, at El Pomar Foundation, in local government in Colorado, and as a strategy consultant with over a hundred organizations in the theology, worldview, and culture space. He is a speaker and the author of numerous articles and essays.

Since 2013 Brian Brown has served as the founder and executive director of the Anselm Society, whose mission is a renaissance of the Christian imagination. Brian lives with his wife Christina and their two young children in Colorado, where they mix cocktails, hunt for historic architecture, and see how many people they can squeeze into their house for lively conversation.

Dr. William Brown

Senior Fellow for Culture & Worldview and Dean, Colson Fellows Program

Dr. William E. (Bill) Brown is Senior Fellow of Worldview and Culture and directs the Colson Fellows Program (formerly, the Centurions Program). Prior to joining the Colson Center, Bill was President of Cedarville University and Bryan College.

He also serves as the Senior Executive of WorldAPP, an international technology firm with offices in Kiev, London and Boston. As President of Radical Leadership (and his popular web log, Radical Life www.williamebrown.org) he carries a heavy schedule speaking for conferences, universities, churches, and schools. He mentors and consults with leaders in ministry and business and assists colleges, schools and organizations in being more effective and employee-centered.

As a nationally recognized speaker and expert in culture and worldview, Dr. Brown has authored several books and more than a hundred articles for journals, magazines, encyclopedias, and newspapers. He is the author of Making Sense of Your Faith, Where Have All the Dreamers Gone? Observations from a Biblical Worldview, and Making Sense of Your World (with Gary Phillips and John Stonestreet), a book used by many colleges and universities as an introductory text to worldview/philosophical thinking. His writings have been quoted in various national newspapers and magazines, including Reader’s Digest and Christianity Today. He is the Executive Producer and teacher of the multiple award-winning DVD series, re:View.

Dr. Brown has a passion for discussing worldviews, and an incredible heart for students. These two passions have aligned to create the re:View worldview study, focused on teaching students how to discern and engage culture by first knowing truth.

Dr. Brown and his wife, Lynne, have been married since 1976. They have two children – April and Alex, and four grandchildren.

Lynn Damewood, CPA, CGMA

Controller

As Controller, Lynn Damewood oversees all aspects of finance operations and human resources for the ministry. She spent 10 years performing audits and preparing taxes at a public accounting firm and 13 years as the Controller for the Pikes Peak Association of Realtors. Lynn has been married to Walt since 1979. They have three children and six granddaughters. She graduated from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs with a degree in Accounting. She is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and a Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA).

Steve Verleye

Chief Operating Officer

As Chief Operating Officer, Steve handles strategy implementation, business and operations for the ministry. Prior to the Colson Center, Steve spent 34 years in the technology industry working for Intel Corporation (INTC), Sequent Computer Systems (SQNT), RadiSys Corporation (RSYS) and then as President and CEO of Applied Microsystems (APMC) and Chief Administrative Officer of Coinstar/redbox (CSTR). He studied under Chuck Colson as a member of the Colson Fellows program.

Steve and Marianne have been married since 1977 and have two children and three grandchildren. They live in Austin and are members of Austin Christian Fellowship. He graduated from Notre Dame with a degree in Electrical Engineering.

John Stonestreet

President, The Colson Center and breakpoint radio co-host

John Stonestreet serves as president of the Colson Center for Christian Worldview. He’s a sought-after author and speaker on areas of faith and culture, theology, worldview, education and apologetics. John is the daily voice of BreakPoint, the nationally syndicated commentary on the culture founded by the late Chuck Colson. He is also the voice of the Point, a daily one-minute feature on worldview, apologetics and cultural issues.

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