Knoxville Fellows | fellows bios

fellows

FELLOWS BIOS

Adam Gillem
Adam, born in Illinois, has been a Knoxvillian since age four. His parents Larry and Debbie, both middle Tennessee natives, have a total of three children. Adam graduated from Farragut High School in 2003, serving as captain of the Admiral’s football team. In the fall of 2003, Adam entered the University of Tennessee making the football team as a walk-on. He was a four-time recipient of the Southeastern Conference Academic Honor Roll. Adam graduated December of 2007 with a degree in Exercise Science. Throughout college Adam has been true to the University’s nickname, Volunteers. Adam has served with the Cross Greek Christian Ministry in hurricane relief in the Gulf Coast. He has traveled with Cedar Springs Presbyterian Church to Guadalajara, Mexico every summer since 2003 by administering basketball camps. He has also worked seasonally with CSPC in the Sports Ministry umpiring baseball and coaching basketball camps. Adam’s favorite charity is Camp Koinonia, a week long camp of approximately 150 children with multi-disabilities from ages 7 to 21. In 2007 Adam received the Marcus McLaughlin Counselor of the Year Award for his efforts. Since graduating, Adam has worked as a personal trainer for Fitness Together.

Emmy Jones
Emmy was born in Waco, Texas, as the third child in a family of seven. She graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 2007 with a B.A. in Public Relations and a minor in Sociology. Emmy spent her summers as a Staff Counselor and Director at Camp Longhorn as well as a volunteer for Young Life. She loves being as involved with kids as she can. She is a member of Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority and the Young Republicans Club. She completed various internships during her college career such as serving as the College Liaison for the 2007 Norman mayoral election and the Public Relations Administrator for the 2007 Recycling Alliance of Texas National Summit. Emmy has also served as a leader on several international mission trips which has been one of her many passions in life. She enjoys riding horses, running, hiking, fishing, talking and laughing. She is so thankful the Lord led her to the Fellows program. Emmy is eager to see God’s plan for her and the 11 other Fellows unfold. She knows this next year will be filled with new friends, fellowship and fun. She is the daughter of Philip and Claudia Jones of Little Rock, Arkansas.

Mark McComas
Mark McComas, son of Don and Laura McComas, grew up in Nashville, TN as the youngest of three children. He graduated from Christ Presbyterian Academy in 2004. Mark then attended The University of Tennessee and now has his Bachelor’s of Science degree in Advertising. He was a member of Belmont Church in downtown Nashville until he was 18 where his love for Jesus and true community was cultivated. Active in athletics, drama, music and studies, Mark developed a passion for many hobbies and pursuits. Above all hobbies and interests, Mark enjoys God and people. They are the most consistent fascinations and joys throughout his life. Today, Mark enjoys participating in his community with his hobbies and professions as a graphic designer, photographer, musician and breakdancer.

Kate Heubach
Kate grew up in Harrisonburg, Virginia where she graduated magna cum laude from James Madison University with a degree in Media Arts & Design and Writing & Rhetoric. As the only child of John and Ina, Kate’s close-to-home college career warmed the hearts of her parents while keeping her full of home-cooked food. While at JMU, she gained leadership experience as philanthropy chair and president of the Gamma Tau chapter of Delta Delta Delta. Kate is interested in magazine production and was blessed with the opportunity to serve as collegiate regional editor of Tri Delta’s national magazine The Trident and managing editor of the 2008 Curio. In her final semester, Kate traveled to the Redwood National Park as a part of Alternative Spring Break and helped launch Greek InterVarsity at JMU. After unexpectedly crying while purchasing her cap and gown, Kate realized that she is sad to leave the community she has grown to love but is eager for the one that awaits her in Knoxville.

Kyle Cruze
Kyle grew up in Knoxville, TN. He attended Bearden High School before spending a year at Fork Union Military Academy outside of Charlottesville, VA. In 2004, he was offered a Division I basketball scholarship by the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA. While at Holy Cross, Kyle was a four year letterman on the basketball team where he served as captain. He also served as Co-Chair of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes for his sophomore, junior, and senior year. He graduated with a liberal arts degree in Economics. During his time in the Northeast, Kyle was also fortunate enough to travel with Athletes in Action to the Philippines where he was able to spread the gospel while playing against top level collegiate competition. Kyle’s family resides in Knoxville. His parents Buddy and Helen live in West Knoxville. His younger brother Winston is a senior at the University of Tennessee, and his younger sister Charlotte works for the Hope Resource Center. Kyle has thoroughly enjoyed his time away but is excited to be coming back home!

Taylor Ratliff
Taylor grew up in Knoxville where he attended Farragut High School. He recieved his degree from the University of Tennessee with a major in Logistics and a collateral in International Business. His parents Cary and Patricia, and siblings Spencer and Abby are all very excited about the opportunities he will be given next year. He graduated Cum Laude and was inducted into the Phi Eta Sigma honor society and the Alpha Kappa Psi Business Fraternity. Taylor attends Cedar Springs Presbyterian Church and Fellowship Church and is active in numerous service events. Taylor was heavily involved in Scouts growing up where he recieved the Eagle Scout Award and was inducted in the Order of the Arrow. He believes this drives much of his passion for enjoying the outdoors and exploring God's creation by being avid in cycling, motorcycling, backpacking, running, snowboarding and wakeboarding. Taylor also did an internship with Chrysler in Detroit where he truly felt God's calling and desire for Him to go deeper into a relationship with Him. Currently, he is working for Cary at Sequoyah Limited General Contracting where he will be working on a multitude of projects. Taylor is honored to be in the Fellows program and is very excited about being in an intentional community and the growth and opportunities that will be presented to Him.

Amelia Johnson
Amelia was born in Lubbock, Texas but moved to Knoxville when she was three years old. She graduated from Bearden High School in 2004. For the past four years, she has attended Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. During her time at SMU, Amelia discovered a love for directing and devoted most of her time to directing new plays. She spent a summer living in New York City interning at Signature Theatre Company. In January of 2008, a play she directed about the recent genocide in Darfur was invited to be performed at a human rights conference at California Institute of the Arts in LA . Since the conference, Amelia has been invited to take the show to London, Uganda and Rwanda. In May of 2008, she graduated from the SMU Honors Program Suma Cum Laude with a BFA in Theatre Studies and an emphasis in Directing. The promise of an intentional Christian community in the Knoxville Fellows Program has drawn Amelia back to Knoxville where she plans to pour her work as an artist into the revitalization of the city. She is the daughter of David and Travetta Johnson of Knoxville.

Greg Briscoe
Greg spent his high school years in Brentwood, TN. He was born in Minneapolis, MN and lived in St. Louis, MO for nine years. During his time at Brentwood High School, Greg was very active in athletics. He played football and baseball year round. He lettered in both sports three years and was the starting middle linebacker on the Bruins' 2002 State Championship football team. After graduating from Brentwood, Greg attended The University of Tennessee where he received a Degree in Finance with a Collateral in Accounting. He was blessed to graduate Magna Cum Laude. While attending UT, Greg was a member of the Phi Sigma Kappa social fraternity and was the fraternity's Treasurer from the spring of ‘07 to the fall of '08. Throughout his college years, Greg remained heavily involved in athletics, participating in intramurals constantly with his fraternity brothers. He also involved himself on campus by being a member of UT's Intra Fraternity Council. Greg has an extremely loving family made up of his Parents Karen and George and his sister Cassi, who lives at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, with her husband Nate. Greg is extremely excited about the opportunity to learn and grow in the fellowship of his peers next year during the Knoxville Fellows program.

Genevieve Turner
Genevieve grew up in Knoxville where she graduated from Bearden High School in 2004. Her parents Dean and Pam Turner instilled a love to travel in her at a young age, and when the opportunity to go to college in Colorado presented itself, Genevieve jumped on board. She graduated from Colorado State University in Fort Collins in 2008 with a degree in Technical Journalism, concentrating in Specialized Media and also received a minor in Religious Studies. The Religious Studies department allowed Genevieve the opportunity to study eastern cultures, and she was picked to study eastern religions in India. While in Colorado, Genevieve volunteered as a Young Life leader at Fossil Ridge High School for four years and was the team leader for three years. She also received her Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) licensure, and loves doing medical work in the field. Genevieve is passionate about reading, writing, traveling, being outside and learning about people.

Angela Gonda
Angela grew up in Spartanburg, SC with her parents, Frank and Betty, and her older sister, Elizabeth. She graduated from Furman University in Greenville, SC with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology. She spent her time volunteering with Shepherd's Gate Women's Ministry, playing intramurals, and with her sorority, Delta Delta Delta. She also had the privilege of leading girls in a discipleship group through the ministry of Campus Outreach. Throughout her college experience, Angela participated in missions to Boston, MA, Cochabamba, Bolivia and Pretoria, South Africa. She enjoys coffeeshops, all things outdoors, photography and learning how to merge ministry and social justice. Angela is excited to see how God will grow and use the community of the Knoxville Fellows while continuing to discover where He is leading her.

Nikki Ditmars
Nikki is originally from Newport News, Virginia. She moved to Knoxville to attend Johnson Bible College. She graduated from there in May 2008 with a B.A. in Bible and an emphasis in Missions. She has felt a calling to missions for more than five years and has had a passion for reaching the Arab world for almost as long. She was part of the Harvester's organization on campus, which had an emphasis on world missions. In the summer of 2007, she went on a mission trip to London, England where she built relationships with Muslims visiting and living in the multi-cultural city. Eventually, she will go to an Arab country to be a full-time missionary. In the meantime, she has an interest in the city, sparked from an Urban Ministry course offered at Johnson Bible College. She began attending All Souls because of their mission to "seek the peace of the city." She is the missions administrator at Cedar Springs Presbyterian Church, where she is exposed to work in world missions and urban ministry. She is excited to learn and grow through the different aspects of the Fellows Program. She is the daughter of Jan and Kathy Koman of Newport News, Virginia.

Joseph Lacher
Joseph was born in Memphis, TN and is the son of Robert and Lynda Lacher. As a graduate of the University of Tennessee, Joseph received a Bachelors of Science degree in Biological Sciences with a concentration in Microbiology. While at Tennessee, Joseph was highly involved in the Greek community as a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity serving as Philanthropy Chair for two years as well as Treasurer for his chapter. He was also involved with The Cross Ministry on campus as a member of the Student Leadership Team for two years and led a team of 75 people to Bay St. Louis, MS to aid in community reconstruction after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. While working to pay his way through school, Joseph has sought employment at Cherokee Country Club, Calhoun’s on the River, and Furrow Auction Company. He also spent his summers working for the PGA Tour as a Golf Productions Supervisor for the Stanford Financial/St. Jude golf tournament held in Memphis every year, all the while maintaining a 3.3 GPA. He is looking forward to the opportunity that the Fellows Program will provide in hopes of becoming an integral part of the Knoxville community.