BOARD
Jamie McVaney - Board President
Jamie McVaney – President, 2019
A Texan by birth and Nevadan by choice, Jamie’s environments have reinforced his entrepreneurial spirit and he’s proud to have been self-employed since the age of 21. Jamie’s missional drive to put “People Before Profits” is manifest in every process of his company, Paul Davis Restoration. Jamie’s exceptional leadership and communications skills, along with his deep moral character, have enabled him to build a firm foundation to grow a company which exceeds industry expectations and has become the standard for restoration companies in northern Nevada. Jamie is the proud father of three beautiful children and leads his business with his wife and partner, Andrea McVaney.
Jamie adopts the saying of Gandhi; “Your beliefs become your thoughts. Your thoughts become your words. Your words become your actions. Your actions become your habits. Your habits become your values. Your values become your destiny.”
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Aaron Clark - Board Secretary
Aaron Clark – Secretary, 2017 to present
Aaron Clark is native born to the Reno-Sparks area. His local knowledge and experience served him as he worked in the real estate industry since 1999. He joined the team at Edge Realty in 2010. Aaron offers expert advice to the public as a regular speaker on the Jon Sanchez show, representing Edge Realty. He is passionate to help businesses expand and succeed in our community, which is seen when he consults and helps develop business leaders. He is known for his ability to create structures, and strategies for business owners and organizations. Aaron has served on the board of several non-profit organizations in the community. He is excited and passionate about the mission of Awaken, participating and supporting for several years before serving on their board beginning in 2017. Aaron enjoys spending time with his amazing wife and three awesome children, visiting Lake Tahoe and playing the guitar.
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Denise Lilley
Denise Lilley, 2016 to present
Denise relocated to Reno from Portland, Oregon in 2013. She has over 30 + years of non-profit involvement and currently serves on the boards of the Stimson Miller Foundation (Portland, OR) and National Charity League, Inc. (Costa Mesa, CA). In addition, Denise is an active CASA with Washoe County and serves as a group leader for BSF (Bible Study Fellowship). Denise possesses strong organizational skills, a business development mindset and commitment to the Awaken mission. Denise joined the Awaken board in 2016. Denise is married with four grown daughters. During down time, she enjoys all sports, especially walking and hiking, meeting new people, reading and traveling to see her daughters and experiencing new cultures.
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Andy Durling
Andy Durling, 2019
Andy Durling is a Vice President with Wood Rodgers providing urban planning consultation to local agencies and land development companies across Nevada and California. Andy has served in various leadership capacities with the American Planning Association, including Nevada Chapter President from 2013 to 2017, where he provided leadership of chapter operations and represented the State of Nevada at national planning leadership forums. In 2015, he was named a Next City Vanguard and recognized as a top urban influencer in North America under the age of 40. Andy and his wife Ciera have five children and when the rare occasion presents itself, he may be found enjoying a glass of wine with his lovely wife, coaching and sharing his love of baseball, golfing, fly fishing, or firing up the barbeque smoker.
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Daniel Fred
Daniel Fred, 2011 to present
Daniel graduated from Texas Tech University in 2005. He is the Project Coordinator for the Center for the Application of Substance Abuse Technologies (CASAT) at the University of Nevada, Reno. He is currently finishing his Master’s degree in Drug and Alcohol Counseling at the University of Nevada, Reno and is the Associate Director for the Nevada House of Prayer. Daniel felt compelled to partner with Melissa in combating domestic commercial sexual exploitation of women in NV after reading an article in the RGJ about Awaken INC’s outreach efforts to girls caught up in the local sex industry. Daniel has served on Awaken’s board since 2011.
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Jacob Klaus
Jacob Klaus, 2017 to present
Bio coming soon.
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Jason Guinasso
Jason Guinasso, Advisory Board Member, 2017 to present
Jason Guinasso is an attorney and co-founder of the Reese Kintz Guinasso Law together with his wife Kim Marsh Guinasso. The firm employs 18 people with law offices in in Reno, Incline Village and Las Vegas. Jason is a solutions-driven attorney committed to adding value to the clients and communities he serves. Jason’s law practice includes Employment and Labor Law, Human Resources Support, Public interest and nonprofit organizations and Government Affairs and Legislative Advocacy among many other specialties. Additionally, Jason has maintained a significant appellate practice, which has included preparation of petitions for judicial review of administrative decisions, extraordinary writs and appeals to the Nevada Supreme Court. Jason is dedicated to serving our community by providing pro bono legal services to faith-based organizations, non-profits, and civic organizations. In this regard, Jason serves on the Nevada State Public Charter School Board as Board Member appointed by the Honorable Governor Brian Sandoval. Jason is an advisory Board Member of Awaken and provides pro bono legal services to Awaken and its clients. Jason and his wife of 22 years, Kim, have two children, Robbie (20) and Adeline (13).
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STAFF
Melissa Holland
Melissa Holland serves as the Founder and Director of Awaken. She holds a Masters degree in Marriage Family Therapy from the University of Nevada, Reno. Melissa started as a counselor offering pro bono services to women affected by commercial sexual exploitation. In 2011 she and Jen Robinson co-founded Awaken, a nonprofit who’s mission is to increase awareness and education surrounding the issue of commercial sexual exploitation and to provide housing and restoration for its victims. Melissa believes strongly in responding to God’s call to seek justice for the oppressed, and is passionate about uniting local churches and the NV community in the fight to end the sexual exploitation of women and children.
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Jen Robinson
Jen holds a B.A in Business Administration from the University of Nevada, Reno. She is currently working toward an MBA at the University of Nevada, Reno. She and Melissa Holland co-founded Awaken in 2011. Jen is currently co-chairperson of the Prevention committee on the State of Nevada’s Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children Coalition. Jen enjoys building strong, trust-filled relationships with the women and children Awaken serves. She is dedicated and passionate, and truly believes she will see commercial sexual exploitation and sex trafficking eradicated in northern Nevada and around the world.
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Kasia Klaus
Kasia Klaus joined Awaken in 2017, where she currently serves as the Program Director. Prior to moving to Reno, Kasia held positions as a state and tribal prosecutor in Wisconsin. Kasia graduated from Palm Beach Atlantic, cum laude and a collegiate athlete, with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. She also obtained a J.D. from Liberty University School of Law, and has been admitted to practice law in the states of Washington and Wisconsin. Kasia developed a passion for combating sex trafficking in 2010 while interning with a nonprofit organization in Washington, D.C. that focused on human trafficking legislation. She believes her trial experience as a former prosecutor enables her to fearlessly advocate for the mission of Awaken, and is honored to be working for such a noble organization.
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Katy Hartley
Katy holds a Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Western Seminary. She specializes in trauma and attachment therapy. Katy is trained in the application of EMDR therapy to complex trauma and attachment difficulties. She specializes in both adolescents and adults. Katy works directly with women and children who are victims of sexual exploitation, provides crisis intervention, and clinical consultation; she facilitates group and individual therapy and also delivers professional trainings. In addition to her work with Awaken, Katy is the Program Director for the Koinonia After School Day Treatment Program, an intensive outpatient treatment program for at-risk teens and foster youth, and is also an adjunct professor at Multnomah University. Katy has a heart and passion for the broken, and it is her desire to see all the wounds from sex trafficking healed in each woman and child.
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Stephanie Sherman
Since 2013, Stephanie has been serving as a Mentor to the women seeking restoration through the services of Awaken. With a BBA in Marketing from Texas Christian University, she has worked in non-profit management, serving in local ministries and community organizations since moving to Reno after graduation. She and her husband, Bill Sherman, started Hope Community Church in 2006, where Stephanie most recently worked as Life Groups Director. They are also the proud parents of Rachel and Will, both currently finishing degrees at Nevada.
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Shontell Brewer
Shontell Brewer is a writer and advocate for women and children in her community through prevention education. Her education background includes a bachelor of science in education, a master’s in teaching English as a second language, and a master’s in Christian studies with an emphasis in urban ministry. She has served as a classroom educator for over twenty years. Shontell speaks around the country to youth, mothers, and churches to bring awareness and strategies to parents and others who work with children. Her book, Missionary Mom, was released fall of 2018.
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Molly Mahannah
Molly graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno with a bachelors of science in Health Ecology with a minor in Biology. Molly has always had a passion for helping people. Molly spent 11 years working with children and adults with mental illness. During this time Molly worked with many youth who had been sexually exploited. This continued to grow her heart for helping in this arena. God opened the door and called Molly into this position with Awaken. Molly’s heart drives her goal to help our clients regain their lives and become independent.
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Deanna Logoteta
Deanna graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelors of Science in Accounting and obtained her Arizona CPA in 2004. Deanna first became aware of Awaken and the issue of sex trafficking in 2014 while working at Reno Christian Fellowship Church. After attending the Awaken Annual Banquet and hearing the courageous stories of the survivors, Deanna’s heart broke for these victims and she wanted to help in someway. In 2015, the Lord opened doors to allow Deanna to assist Awaken with their accounting needs. She has faith that God has Awaken strategically placed in the community to help change this city.
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Lindsay Morgan
Lindsay graduated with a degree in graphic design in 2006 and since then, has worked on design and communication teams in many non profits and churches both in the states and internationally. She grew up in Moscow, Russia as a missionary kid where her passion to empower and help those who the world considers outcasts began. She has a heart for women and children who are victims of sex trafficking, and a strong desire to help bring awareness to the issue. She is beyond thrilled to be part of the Awaken team and is thankful to work with so many wonderful people who are making a positive difference in the world.
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