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Staff

Scott Grzesiak

Executive Director

Scott served as one of the first mentors with the SLAM program in 1999. His own experience of “walking life” alongside teens reinforced the importance of “life-on-life” relationships as a foundation for true discipleship. Prior to helping found GRIP in 2004, Scott worked in the business world for more than 13 years, at companies such as Shure Incorporated and PepsiCo. He has an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago and a diverse background in international sales, marketing, project management, and financial analysis. Scott and his wife, Jen, have five children: Kaiya, Josiah, Elia, Kianna, and Zechariah.

Aaron Lopez

Assistant Manager of Streetlights

With years of urban ministry experience in Logan Square and Englewood and nearly a decade of involvement with Chicago's music scene, Aaron joined GRIP's staff to help launch Streetlights—the world's first urban audio Bible. In addition to managing all the producers, vocal talent, and engineers involved with Streetlights, he is also the drummer and producer for the Chicago hip-hop band ALERT. Aaron and his wife, Susana, are members at New Life Community Church in Tri-Taylor. In his spare time, he is an avid collector of vinyl records and a "rookie" cook.

Brian Dye

Mentorship Director

Brian’s passion is "to train leaders in ministry to urban America." He has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Cedarville University, and served as the high school ministries coordinator at Inner City Impact for four years. In September 2003 he founded the ministry of Vision Nehemiah to empower churches to reach their communities with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Brian joined GRIP's staff in September 2011, to encourage and train GRIP's mentors to be effective urban ministers. He has been married to his best friend and ministry partner, Heidi, since July 2000.

Christina Trina

Administrative & Programming Coordinator

A longtime volunteer and donor with GRIP, Christina joined staff to spearhead GRIP's upcoming fundraising gala. Growing up an army brat, she started forging her Chicago(land) roots at Northern Illinois University, and with a B.A. in accounting, she worked for years in public accounting and the alternative investment industry. After a two-year stint in sunny California, Christina’s affinity for the people and city of Chicago beckoned her to return in April 2012. Christina loves food, riding her bike to work, the color green (closely rivaled by ocean blue), ice cream, and the company of her close friends.

Dave Brecheisen

Program Director

Dave manages GRIP's outreach programs and program staff. He first felt called to urban ministry as a student at Bethel College in Minnesota. After moving to Chicago, he blended his love for camping and urban youth outreach when he became the camping ministries director with Inner City Impact in 1996. Dave also served on the youth ministry team at Armitage Baptist Church, and in 2002, he joined a team to plant a church, Lighthouse Christian Fellowship, in East Garfield Park. Dave and his wife, Joscey, have three children—Mariah, Leah, and Luke—and have lived in Garfield Park for 10 years.

Dusty Peterson

Administration & Finance Manager

Dusty was born and raised in the “Field of Dreams” (Iowa), and received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting from Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri. He spent four years working for the Caterpillar Corporation before he was given the opportunity to serve with a ministry in Kenya, as the finance manager for Africa Hope. Dusty moved to Chicago in February 2011 and joined the staff at GRIP that March. He loves sports (both playing and watching), dancing, outdoor scenery puzzles, and going to bed by 10:30.

Esteban Shedd

Streetlights Project Director

Esteban is a Chicago native who is called to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ through creative outlets and preaching. He is a musician and MC for the band, ALERT (on the Humble Beast record label), as well a servant called to oversee the production of God's Word through the Streetlights urban audio Bible. In addition to his role as the Streetlights project director, Esteban serves in his local church, Armitage Baptist. He is also blessed to have a godly wife and a beautiful little boy, and prays his family will be a genuine light of the redeeming hope of Christ on the block where they live.

Jackie Hill

Female Mentorship Coordinator

Jackie has been in ministry since 2008, performing spoken-word poetry across the country. Her popular poems, “My Life As A Stud,” and “A Poem About Weed,” have garnered more than half a million views on YouTube alone. Before she was a poet, the Lord rescued Jackie from a life of sin at the age of 19, and she has been using her gifts to point others to this same Savior ever since. Jackie's role is to support, empower, and encourage GRIP's female coaches.

Jessica Bernthal

Communications Manager

Jessica enjoys writing and using her gifts to tell GRIP's story through the Web, print, and video. She earned her undergraduate degree in journalism with the desire to serve others by being a voice for the voiceless (Prov. 31:8), and currently she is earning her master's in nonprofit administration. Prior to joining the GRIP staff, Jessica spent nearly eight years working in higher education as a copywriter and editor for college and university marketing communications. She is happily married to her best friend, Peter, who shares her heart for discipleship and urban ministry and teaches in the Chicago Public Schools.

Keith Woodley

SLAM Coordinator

Keith is native of Chicago's South side and has been working with urban youth for the past decade. His heart for serving young people and love for sports led him to volunteer for Kids Across America (KAA), a sports camp for inner-city teens. In fact, he moved to Branson, Missouri, to work full-time at KAA for two years. In August 2010, Keith moved back to Chicago to serve as the youth Pastor of Bethel House of Prayer in the Roseland Community. Over the years has also served with various Chicago ministries such as Tha House Church and By The Hand Club for Kids. Keith enjoys playing sports and spending time with family and friends.

Loren La Luz

Streetlights Project Manager

Loren is a native of Chicago—born and raised in the Humboldt Park neighborhood. He spent his teenage years evangelizing in his neighborhood's public schools, as well as in the Robert Taylor Homes. A musician at heart, Loren directed his first band at age 16, and experienced great success as a Chicago musician. Loren joined GRIP's staff to help launch Streetlights—the world's first urban audio Bible and multimedia curriculum. He’s married with two children, and serves as the full-time drummer at his church, Chicago Tabernacle.

Mike Spataro

Multimedia Manager

A jack of many trades, Mike worked at a production company for 12 years as a sound engineer, video editor, graphic designer, and production manager. He has been the production manager for the Legacy Conference since 2009, and joined GRIP's staff in August 2011 with the desire to use his creative talent in full-time ministry. Born and raised in Chicago, Mike is an avid Chicago sports fan. He is married to his high school sweetheart, Diane, and they have two handsome sons, Michael and Noah.

Nick Rivera

Urban Youth Network Coordinator

Nick first heard the call to ministry as a teenager, and after earning his bachelor’s degree in youth ministry from North Park University, he began serving as an inner-city missionary at Inner City Impact. Today he serves as the youth ministry director at New Life Covenant Church. You can find "Pastor Nick" empowering youth to advance the Gospel throughout the city of Chicago, through street evangelism, feeding the hungry, prayer walks, and more. And as the coordinator of the Urban Youth Network, Nick regularly has the opportunity to encourage Chicago's urban ministry leaders.

Sharona Drake

Legacy Conference Coordinator

Born and raised in Fayetteville, North Carolina, Sharona came to Chicago in 2011 by way of Huntsville, Alabama. Her professional background in artist management, event planning, marketing, and education make her the perfect fit to oversee planning and logistics for the annual Legacy Conference. Sharona's passions include education, women’s ministry, the music business, and reading.

Shawn Procter

GRIP The School Director

Shawn oversees the GRIP The School program, connecting volunteers from local churches with service opportunities in the local public schools. A graduate of Moody Bible Institute and a former musical theater actor, Shawn previously worked as the program director for the Lydia Home’s WHAT’S GOOD program— exposing lies and revealing truth about sex, drugs, alcohol, and violence through character-based, abstinence education. Shawn and his wife, Pamela, have a two-year-old daughter, Annemarie Grace. He serves as an elder at CITYLIGHTS Church and enjoys talking, acting, singing and "walking life-on-life" with young people.

Sue Lee

Administrative Director

Sue oversees GRIP's administrative needs, including finance, office management, human resources, payroll, and database management. Prior to joining GRIP's staff in 2007, she worked as a consultant for 10 years, and is very pleased to be using her experience and skills toward GRIP's mission. Sue is happily married to Ken and they are the proud parents of a son, Isaiah. They also have two dogs, Barkley and Tiger, named after two of Sue’s favorite athletes, Charles Barkley and Tiger Woods. In her spare time, Sue enjoys spending time with friends and family, traveling, and playing golf.

Thad Nichols

Volunteer Coordinator

Thad grew up in the great state of Kansas where he felt the call of the Lord to mobilize the Church in the inner-cities of America. He spent time in Los Angeles, serving with a church plant in the Watts housing projects, before enrolling as a student at Moody Bible Institute to study church history and philosophy. He’s been a SLAM volunteer since 2007, mentoring a young man from Cabrini Green named Anthony. In 2010, Thad joined GRIP's staff as the volunteer and church relations coordinator. He enjoys playing soccer and reading in his free time.