Leading with faith, experience, and a shared mission.
Adult & Teen Challenge USA provides national leadership and support for a network of centers serving communities across the country.
ATC USA National Office
Equipping local leaders. Strengthening the network.
The Adult & Teen Challenge National Office provides leadership and serves as a resource and support hub for ministries across North America. It equips local centers with shared standards, Christ-centered curriculum, training, and practical resources to help them carry the mission forward.
National accreditation
Supporting organizational standards and quality across the network.
Curriculum & training
Providing Christ-centered curriculum and training resources for staff and students.
Operations & resources
Offering management guidance, information systems, media support, and other practical resources.
Field support
Helping centers navigate program operations, best practices, and ministry development.
President & CEO
Gary Blackard
Gary Blackard serves as President and CEO of Adult & Teen Challenge. Before this role, he was Vice President of Strategy & Innovation and Chief Information Officer at Evangel University and held senior global leadership roles with Xerox Corporation, where he led large teams and managed major client operations. He also serves as an adjunct professor, executive consultant, and certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt leader.
Gary holds a B.A. in Business Administration from Vanguard University and a Master’s in Health Administration from the University of Southern California. He previously chaired the Teen Challenge USA Board of Directors and has served in a variety of church ministry roles. Gary and his wife, Debra, live in Ozark, Missouri, and have four grown children and four grandchildren.
National Office Staff
Meet our team
LB
Lisa Bornert
Executive Administrator
WB
Wendy Buttacy
Chief Operating Officer
RM
Rebecca Mitchell
Chief Development Officer
SB
Shanon Blankenship
Director of Field Operations
SW
Sarah Walters
Director of Ministry Intelligence & research
SB
Shawn Blankenship
Director of Ministry Development
EC
Erica Carter
Online Learning & Publication Manager
SN
Danyyil Zakharchuk
Accreditation Manager
JY
Jimmy & Yvonne Oakes
Ready Now Directors
BP
Boyd Patterson
Ready now Program Coordinator
LW
Lauren Williams
Donor Relations Manager
RT
Rita Thorton
Administrative Coordinator
Open Position
Engagement & Communications Manager
Open Position
Account Specialist
Board of Directors
Guided by experienced leadership.
The Adult & Teen Challenge Board of Directors provides strategic oversight, accountability, and support for the mission across our national network.
John Rossi
Chairperson
U.S. Army Officer, Retired
Dr. Sue Gengler
Vice Chairperson
Health Education, Retired
Daniel Ruiz
Secretary
Institute for Learning and Innovation
Ted Papit
Treasurer
Adjunct Professor of Business – Evangel University
Malcolm Burleigh
Assemblies of God,
Executive Director of US Missions
Juan Cruz, Jr.
Senior Technology Manager – Clinical Engineering
Dave Phillips
District Superintendent,
Montana Ministry Network
Paul Eckels
Businessman, Retired
Chris Hodges
Regional Rep
ATC, Northwest region
Jeff Richards
Regional Rep
ATC, Southwest region
Tom Truszinski
Regional Rep
ATC, North Central region
George Thomas
Regional Rep
ATC, South Central region
Jeff Bonzelaar
Regional Rep
ATC, Great Lakes region
Gary Bentley
Regional Rep
ATC, Gulf region
Mike Zello
Regional Rep
ATC, Northeast region
Brice Maddock
Regional Rep
ATC, Southeast region
Steve Paulson
Regional Rep
ATC, Canada region
Learn More
See how our leadership and accountability work together.
Explore the standards, oversight, and reporting that help strengthen Adult & Teen Challenge across the network.
