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.
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 grew up in the Texas Hill Country and have worked in ministry since 2005. I completed my seminary degree and moved to Houston to work for First Presbyterian Church in 2012. I met my wife Taylor and we moved into the Greater Third Ward area to start Jericho Road Renewal in 2017. In addition to the ministry, I have worked for the last eight years in real estate and as a contractor. This dual vocation has given me a perspective that helps me connect the mission of the church and the marketplace in order to see the kingdom Jesus Christ extend over all areas of life.
Scott Key holds a B.S. in Construction Management from John Brown University and a Masters of Architecture from Rice University. He is a subject-matter-expert in the world refugee-aid system and refugee shelters globally. As one of the inventors of Every Shelter's flagship product, the Emergency Floor, Scott played a pivotal role in establishing and leading the organization from its inception to its current growth stage. Under his leadership, Every Shelter continues to launch and scale new products and program models to provide refugees in the Middle East and East Africa with stability, agency, and opportunity as it relates to their quality of life. Scott has been a fellow with Global Good Fund, SOCAP, and Praxis Labs.
My core values are TRUST and COMMUNITY. I am a "refiner", at my core, but not in (ironically) the Refining Industry which I now work. I am the kind of person who tries to improve everything that I touch or see. It's hard for me not to analyze and try to improve when given the chance. It likely annoys my wife (and maybe some coworkers), but it has proven to be a valuable asset in my career. I have spent most of my career as an operational leader and in organizations where people are at the forefront. I spent 10 years at the start of my career as a director at Camp Ozark, a large, privately owned Christian Sports and Adventure Camp. I then moved on to be the Executive Pastor at Ecclesia Houston from 2012-2018. Most recently I was the Chief Operating Officer for Big Brothers Big Sisters Lone Star. In 2022 I joined RTI as the Chief of Staff, primarily helping our CEO execute his priorities, and those of his Executive Leadership Team in a fast growing service company for the Oil and Gas Industry.
Having previously worked in the for-profit business world, Kate applied her skills as the Vice President of Operations for international non-profit, As Our Own. It was while at this non-profit that she facilitated large scale, international organizational change using Theory of Change methodology, applying a test-and-learn approach to revise market and resource strategy, elevated hiring capabilities and re-engaged donors - resulting in an increase of funding for the organization by 40%. Kate is passionate about working with founders and helping people and organizations develop to their fullest potential, integrating people, processes and technology for the best solutions. In other words, she loves to problem-solve “impossible” problems. Kate serves as Vice President of Operations at TrueWorks and as a member of the TrueWorks Board of Directors.
Curtis Bronzan began his ministry career in 2003 as a Pastoral Assistant at Christ Presbyterian Church in Lakewood, CA. In 2006 Curtis was recruited to Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church in Los Alamitos, CA where he served as Director of Youth Ministries, Associate Pastor to Emerging Generations, Preaching Pastor, and finally as Lead Pastor/Head of Staff. In November 2022, Curtis accepted a call to serve as the Senior Pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Houston. He and his family relocated to Houston the following January. Curtis holds B.A. degrees in Religious Studies & Sociology from Westmont College, an M.Div. in Worship, Theology & the Arts as well as a Th.M. in Postmodern Culture, both from Fuller Theological Seminary. He is currently completing a Doctorate in Ministry in Leadership in a Changing Church Context from Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary. He is a Church Unique and God Dream’s Field Navigator and PDPWorks certified for ProScan, JobScan, and TeamScan. Curtis is married to Cassie Bronzan, and they have two children.
Currently Rachel serves the TrueWorks team overseeing strategy, communications, events and networking, while also holding down her job as the Managing Director for PSP Events, part of Professional Sports Partners – a marketing, sponsorship and communications agency in Houston. As a graduate of Main Street Fellows and beneficiary of the concepts and foundations of the TrueWorks philosophy, she has been happy to lend her expertise to the team. Being with the TW staff in the office every week is a highlight.
Doug is currently the pastor of “faith and work” at First Presbyterian Church and the founder of TrueWorks, a non-profit focused on the integration of faith and work. Doug’s industry career took him from Scotland through Houston, Dubai, London, and The Hague. He is an engineer by training, a seminary graduate, and a graduate of Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program. At TrueWorks Doug devotes his time to the H-Town Fellows a cohort of faith and work practitioners and Redemptive Labs an opportunity for Christian founders to consider the redemptive possibilities in work. Doug is married to Karen, has three children, and loves all things Italian (especially the food).
A native of Friendswood, Texas, Nancy Mills has over 20 years of global business experience helping organizations of all sizes innovate and grow, across Europe and the United States. She has worked in international marketing, sales, advertising, strategic innovation consulting, and mergers and acquisitions. In her current role she provides business value growth and full service exit planning; guiding business owners with a plan to transition out of their companies and realize their philanthropic goals. In her career, Nancy has helped companies build their competitive advantage, through strategic marketing, product/ service/ business process innovation, and fostering an engaged workforce. Understanding the human capital component as a precious asset, she facilitates smooth integration of merged companies through a people-first management approach.
A native of Friendswood, Texas, Nancy Mills has over 20 years of global business experience helping organizations of all sizes innovate and grow, across Europe and the United States. She has worked in international marketing, sales, advertising, strategic innovation consulting, and mergers and acquisitions. In her current role she provides business value growth and full service exit planning; guiding business owners with a plan to transition out of their companies and realize their philanthropic goals. In her career, Nancy has helped companies build their competitive advantage, through strategic marketing, product/ service/ business process innovation, and fostering an engaged workforce. Understanding the human capital component as a precious asset, she facilitates smooth integration of merged companies through a people-first management approach.
Currently Rachel serves the TrueWorks team overseeing strategy, communications, events and networking, while also holding down her job as the Managing Director for PSP Events, part of Professional Sports Partners – a marketing, sponsorship and communications agency in Houston. As a graduate of Main Street Fellows and beneficiary of the concepts and foundations of the TrueWorks philosophy, she has been happy to lend her expertise to the team. Being with the TW staff in the office every week is a highlight.
Having previously worked in the for-profit business world, Kate applied her skills as the Vice President of Operations for international non-profit, As Our Own. It was while at this non-profit that she facilitated large scale, international organizational change using Theory of Change methodology, applying a test-and-learn approach to revise market and resource strategy, elevated hiring capabilities and re-engaged donors - resulting in an increase of funding for the organization by 40%. Kate is passionate about working with founders and helping people and organizations develop to their fullest potential, integrating people, processes and technology for the best solutions. In other words, she loves to problem-solve “impossible” problems. Kate serves as Vice President of Operations at TrueWorks and as a member of the TrueWorks Board of Directors.
Curtis Bronzan began his ministry career in 2003 as a Pastoral Assistant at Christ Presbyterian Church in Lakewood, CA. In 2006 Curtis was recruited to Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church in Los Alamitos, CA where he served as Director of Youth Ministries, Associate Pastor to Emerging Generations, Preaching Pastor, and finally as Lead Pastor/Head of Staff. In November 2022, Curtis accepted a call to serve as the Senior Pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Houston. He and his family relocated to Houston the following January. Curtis holds B.A. degrees in Religious Studies & Sociology from Westmont College, an M.Div. in Worship, Theology & the Arts as well as a Th.M. in Postmodern Culture, both from Fuller Theological Seminary. He is currently completing a Doctorate in Ministry in Leadership in a Changing Church Context from Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary. He is a Church Unique and God Dream’s Field Navigator and PDPWorks certified for ProScan, JobScan, and TeamScan. Curtis is married to Cassie Bronzan, and they have two children.
My core values are TRUST and COMMUNITY. I am a "refiner", at my core, but not in (ironically) the Refining Industry which I now work. I am the kind of person who tries to improve everything that I touch or see. It's hard for me not to analyze and try to improve when given the chance. It likely annoys my wife (and maybe some coworkers), but it has proven to be a valuable asset in my career. I have spent most of my career as an operational leader and in organizations where people are at the forefront. I spent 10 years at the start of my career as a director at Camp Ozark, a large, privately owned Christian Sports and Adventure Camp. I then moved on to be the Executive Pastor at Ecclesia Houston from 2012-2018. Most recently I was the Chief Operating Officer for Big Brothers Big Sisters Lone Star. In 2022 I joined RTI as the Chief of Staff, primarily helping our CEO execute his priorities, and those of his Executive Leadership Team in a fast growing service company for the Oil and Gas Industry.
Scott Key holds a B.S. in Construction Management from John Brown University and a Masters of Architecture from Rice University. He is a subject-matter-expert in the world refugee-aid system and refugee shelters globally. As one of the inventors of Every Shelter's flagship product, the Emergency Floor, Scott played a pivotal role in establishing and leading the organization from its inception to its current growth stage. Under his leadership, Every Shelter continues to launch and scale new products and program models to provide refugees in the Middle East and East Africa with stability, agency, and opportunity as it relates to their quality of life. Scott has been a fellow with Global Good Fund, SOCAP, and Praxis Labs.
I grew up in the Texas Hill Country and have worked in ministry since 2005. I completed my seminary degree and moved to Houston to work for First Presbyterian Church in 2012. I met my wife Taylor and we moved into the Greater Third Ward area to start Jericho Road Renewal in 2017. In addition to the ministry, I have worked for the last eight years in real estate and as a contractor. This dual vocation has given me a perspective that helps me connect the mission of the church and the marketplace in order to see the kingdom Jesus Christ extend over all areas of life.
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.
Doug is currently the pastor of “faith and work” at First Presbyterian Church and the founder of TrueWorks, a non-profit focused on the integration of faith and work. Doug’s industry career took him from Scotland through Houston, Dubai, London, and The Hague. He is an engineer by training, a seminary graduate, and a graduate of Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program. At TrueWorks Doug devotes his time to the H-Town Fellows a cohort of faith and work practitioners and Redemptive Labs an opportunity for Christian founders to consider the redemptive possibilities in work. Doug is married to Karen, has three children, and loves all things Italian (especially the food).
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!