Staff
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES:
Interested in working for Teen Advisors?
Are you passionate about mentoring students and equipping them in their faith? Do you thrive in leadership roles that make a real impact? We are not currently hiring, but we would still love to connect with you.
Administrative Team
My hope is that every student who joins Teen Advisors and Velocity experiences genuine belonging, builds lasting friendships, grows as a leader, and leaves knowing their life truly matters. Seeing that transformation happen year after year continues to inspire me and makes me excited for the work that I do. I am passionate about helping others understand that they are uniquely and wonderfully made by God.
I have a background in ministry and education, which fuels my interest in leadership development and compassionate care. I am a parent, a husband, and in my spare time I love creative outlets like writing, photography, soccer, and several other 'nerdy' pursuits I enjoy with my family and close circle of friends.
I am thrilled you are here! My name is Marie and I am originally from California, but the Army brought our family to Columbus in 2017. As a teenager I didn’t have a community like Teen Advisors and Velocity. I surrounded myself with negative peer influences, which caused me to learn hard lessons. I didn’t know Jesus personally until I was an adult. I believe one of the biggest pieces missing in my life as a teenager was Jesus, and that I didn’t have people in my life pointing me to His saving grace, holding me accountable, or speaking truth into my life. I wanted to be a person who could give students what I lacked when I was their age, and that’s what drew me to Teen Advisors. What I love most about my job is watching students transform into who God is calling them to be, and witnessing that lived out in their everyday life at school and in community. I look forward to connecting with you, and learning about your story. If you don’t see me at TA’s, you would likely find me on the pickleball court, or playing mahjong!
Teen Advisors has been such a blessing in my life. I have been involved with this ministry for 30+ years! I strongly believe in positive peer pressure for teens! It simply works for teens because they listen to other teens more than anyone else.
A little about me is, I am a Jesus follower, and I believe strongly in prayer. Our prayers do matter. My husband Ronnie and I have seen the Lord move in tremendous ways over our 50 years of marriage. God has blessed us with two children who were Teen Advisors, and now they are grown and married. We have four grandchildren whom we adore and are so happy to be included in their busy lives. Finally all of our immediate family live in Columbus! Hopefully, there will be four more of our family joining Teen Advisors in the years to come.
If I can ever help you in any way, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Hello! My name is Shelby Thomsen. I grew up in Peachtree City, Georgia with my four siblings, two cats, a dog and a turtle. We spent a lot of time riding golf carts around town and competing in swimming races in our backyard pool (I won most of them!).
I gave my life to Christ just a few years ago and since then I’ve been striving to follow wherever He leads. A couple years ago, I moved to Columbus because I felt God calling me to be a part of this community. After living here for a little bit, I then felt God leading me to look for a new job. While it wasn’t what I originally expected, I trusted He had a plan. After months of praying and searching, the Lord provided the opportunity to join Teen Advisors. Praise God!
When I’m not working, I love spending time with friends, relaxing in a hammock at a park, and watching movies. I’m always up for checking out local events too, whether it's a rodeo, concert, or farmers market. I enjoy trying new things and finding fun ways to get out and enjoy the community.
Although I’m new to Teen Advisors, I am so excited to get to know all of the students. My goal this school year is to help every student feel seen, included and like they are a part of something bigger than themselves. I can’t wait to see what this year has in store!
Jesus loves you!
Student Ministry Team (Teen Advisors & Velocity)
I have had the privilege of being connected to Teen Advisors for the past 23 years. First as a student at Columbus High School, then as a college volunteer, and now I am entering my 19th year on staff!
Over the years I have been able to meet hundreds, maybe thousands of teenagers and see them support each other, grow in their faith and face outward to serve their schools and communities.
Being able to be a part of the spiritual formation process of so many students' lives has definitely strengthened my faith and helped me see that it is always worth it to follow God.
Outside of work I enjoy spending time with my wife and 4 daughters.
To me, Teen Advisors is a family. When I was a student in TAs myself, I loved having a sense of ownership over the community. I felt at home in TAs, so I sought to welcome others.
I hope our students today gain that same sense of ownership and spirit of inclusion. I love to build relationships with students, teach them about Jesus, and help them realize how much positive influence they can have on those around them.
Outside of TAs, I love to play pickleball. I’m so excited to deepen relationships with schools and students this upcoming school year, to study more of the Bible with the girls, and to engage in more leadership development!
Hey! My name is Brooke Scruggs, and I'm from Columbus, Georgia. In my free time, I enjoy hanging out with friends and playing sports. I first got connected to Teen Advisors through a friend's mom, who recommended the program to me when I was a freshman in high school.
After experiencing Teen Advisors throughout all four years of high school, I saw firsthand how the Lord uses this ministry for his glory. It played such a significant role in my own walk with Him that when the opportunity came to work for Teen Advisors, I knew I wanted to give back to a program that has given so much to me.
One of my favorite parts of my job is watching students grow, not only as leaders but also in their relationship with Christ. My faith is the most important part of who I am, and it influences every decision I make. Seeing students choose to prioritize their faith at such a pivotal age brings me so much joy and reminds me why this ministry matters.
What excites me most about this school year is the opportunity to continue to share the love of Christ with students. I want every student we meet to know that they matter, not only to their family and friends but to the Creator of the universe. My hope is that through Teen Advisors, they would discover their God-given purpose, grow in confidence, and experience the life-changing love of Christ.
Hello! My name is Joseph Brinkley and I love my job!
My heart is to glorify God by serving Him and enjoying Him forever. I find that the best way to do this is in community through playing kickball, Bible studies, and community serve days. My hope is to point students to their identity in Christ through genuine relationships, fun activities, and meaningful conversations. The reason why I joined Teen Advisors is because of their mission to mobilize teens to influence their peers through Christ-centered love.
I grew up in Mississippi and I more recently moved to Georgia (Go Dawgs!). I am married to my beautiful wife who grew up in Poland for most of her life.
Something you should know about me is that if an event involves soccer, board games, or sushi, I will be there!
Patricia Riley
Field Staff
Our staff possess a wealth of experience and knowledge in youth education and leadership development. Additionally, our staff are trained and certified periodically via:
- Darkness to Light (preventing and recognizing child abuse/neglect)
- Youth Mental Health First Aid (responding to and recognizing youth mental health crises)
- CPR, AED, and First Aid (responding to and recognizing physical distress or health crises)
- Trauma-Informed & Trauma-Responsive Care (recognizing and caring for teens/families with trauma histories)
- Teen Mental Health First Aid (certifying teens to respond to teen mental health crises)
Teen Advisors Board of Directors
2025-2026 Board of Directors
Nathan Carr - Board Chair
Andrew Cowart - Vice Board Chair
Tamara Lee - Treasurer
Sam Webb - Secretary
Derik Roberts – CEO
Melissa Acton
Louise Davidson
Cathy DiQuattro
Jessica Hosmer
Jacque Leerssen
Playol Shippey
Tim Smith
Marie Arballo (non-voting)
Susan Barnes (non-voting)