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Daniel Kidd
Educator
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I have had the privilege to know Shad Ireland for over 23 years. We both attended the University of Minnesota and lived in the same dormitory his freshman year together. I was with him during his kidney transplant and have seen first-hand the struggles and accomplishments of his life. I was honored when he asked me to join the team of the Shad Ireland Foundation. He asked me to write a little about myself to get a better understanding of how I fit into the organization.
I am of African-American decent and was the first in my family to earn a college degree. I have worked with young people for 25 years as a park and recreation worker, life guard, camp counselor, child crisis counselor, coach, mentor, tutor and teacher. Even though I majored in economics and sociology from the University of Minnesota I went back to school to attain a 5th-12th grade-teaching license in social studies with an economics emphasis. I felt that it was a way to give back to the community for those who helped me when I was a young person heading in the wrong direction. I have never once doubted my change in careers.
As an educator I have worked with “at risk” students at Plymouth Christian Youth Center, Inter District Downtown School in Minneapolis, Union School in Port au Prince Haiti and the American Foundation in Mexico City, Mexico. These experiences have given me a unique experience to become a “global educator” that has shaped both my growth as a teacher and a person. I feel very blessed to have had these experiences.
I have a history of diabetes in my family. My father has been a diabetic for over 25 years. I lost an uncle to diabetes in 1999 and my grandmother was a diabetic for over 20 years before passing away to kidney failure earlier this year. When Shad asked me to be part of his organization I felt that this was an opportunity to also give back to the community as a community health educator because of the serious impact kidney disease has on low income families and people of color.
I look forward to working with Shad and his organization to deliver this educational health initiative to underserved communities and communities of color via community based education, and engaging multi-media content with the Baseline platform.
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 Holly Zaun
Nonprofit Administration
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I knew of Shad Ireland though a mutual friend whose son had a kidney transplant. Shad contacted my friend to give advice and support and became a hero to her son. This same friend introduced Shad to another mutual friend who is now Shad’s wife, Melissa Ireland. When Shad came to cheer Melissa on when we were competing on the same team for a State tennis championship, I met Shad. We exchanged pleasantries but it wasn’t until another day as I came off the tennis court to watch the rest of the team finish their matches that Shad and I had a meaningful conversation about the Shad Ireland Foundation.
As we talked I told Shad about my history in nonprofit work which began over twenty years ago. My first nonprofit experience was working for a Community Action Agency in Pennsylvania. Having only done for profit work before then, I remember thinking how wonderful it was to be able to make a difference in people’s lives in such a profound way. I then went on to work at a United Way in Georgia as the Vice-President of Resource Development and Marketing, and ultimately accepted a position as the Executive Director for an Adult Day Health Care Center. I have been on numerous board of directors and councils and have been to countless seminars and conferences focusing on a mirage of nonprofit issues.
Shad and I talked at length that day about the Shad Ireland Foundation and the important work it is doing. I was fascinated by his vision for the organization, his focus and his drive. When he asked if I would be willing to meet with him and Melissa for lunch to talk more about the Foundation I readily agreed. That is where my involvement began and over the next few months we met several more times. When Shad asked if I would work with the Foundation I was honored and thrilled to have the opportunity to work with and for such an innovative and worthwhile organization.
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 Bryan Watkins
Political Operative
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Bryan Watkins is a political operative who has a background in building grassroots organizations.
He currently serves as the Executive Director of the Republican Party of New Mexico where he oversees all of the day-to-day operations of the organization. Prior to this role, Bryan served as the National 72 Hour Director for the Republican National Committee in 2010. In this capacity Bryan was responsible for the overall Get out the Vote Plans for over 70-targeted House Districts within 25 states.
Prior to serving at the RNC in 2010, Bryan managed Damon Dunn’s successful bid for the Republican nomination for Secretary of State in California. In this role Bryan was responsible for overseeing one the most widely covered races in California in 2010. Bryan helped develop a strategy that secured the nomination for Dunn by over 40 points.
Past experiences also include managing the RNC’s Victory Program in Minnesota during the 2008 Presidential cycle and subsequently serving in the recount and contest phases of the 2008 Minnesota U.S. Senate race.
He is originally from La Habra Heights, California and graduated Cum Lade from California State University San Marcos with a B.A. in Political Science.
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 Adam Hartung
Certified Financial Planner
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Adam B. Hartung is the founder and president of Midwest Money Management Inc. He is a Certified Financial Planner™ with more than 10 years of experience helping families and small businesses with their financial planning and investment management needs. Adam works with his clients to understand all aspects of their financial situation so that he can help them build a customized plan designed to achieve their goals. He believes in taking a very active approach to managing his client’s financial assets. In volatile markets, he believes that it is not enough to simply buy and hold an investment and hope for the best. By using multiple fundamental and quantitative analysis tools he attempts to determine times when the risks of owning an asset are too high. By evaluating and potentially adjusting clients’ allocations on a daily basis he attempts to reduce those risks.
“Hope is not a strategy”
Securities offered through Sammons Securities Co., LLC. Member FINRA and SIPC
Investment advisory services offered through Sigma Planning Corporation. A registered investment advisor. |