Our Team

Dr. Ben Peays leads Convene in its mission to equip Christian CEOs and business owners to lead with faith, purpose, and excellence.

Ben has built and led businesses across multiple sectors for over two decades. His experience includes senior leadership in healthcare mergers and acquisitions with GlorTex, global private equity with Trivium Global, and the development of franchise brands including Summer Moon Coffee and Waterloo Turf. He also founded BlackBox, a full-stack technology firm, and Carpenter Hill, a commercial real estate design and development firm.

Alongside his business career, Ben has served in senior Christian ministry leadership, including as Executive Director of The Gospel Coalition, Chief Operating Officer at 100Fold, and Managing Director of BLESS, a foundation funding gospel work among unreached people groups. He has served on numerous boards, published with Baker Academic and Crossway, and done ministry and business in more than 100 countries.

Ben holds a Ph.D. in Systematic Theology from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, a Doctor of Ministry in Organizational Leadership from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, a Master of Theology from Princeton Theological Seminary, a Master of Divinity from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and an undergraduate degree in Business/Economics from Wheaton College.

Ben and his wife, Lynae, live in Austin, Texas, with their four children.

Sheryl Clutter is passionate about developing leaders and working with teams to create higher levels of engagement, continuous innovation, and successful execution. She currently serves as Convene’s CFO / COO where she works to identify and develop new resource tools and product offerings. She has the privilege of working with Convene Chairs to implement the resources within member organizations.

As part owner of a SoCal based software company, she serves on the board and acts as an advisor to their leadership team. MIE Solutions has been included on the Inc 5000 Fastest Growing Companies list for 5 years. Sheryl’s career in finance and technology began when she was 19. Since then, she’s held multiple c-suite roles, been instrumental in growing the companies and for some negotiated a successful sale after adding significant value to their bottom lines.

As a fractional CFO / COO, Sheryl enjoyed working with startup and smaller companies, specializing in family-owned businesses. She guided them to implement more efficient processes, turnaround significant cash flow issues, coach leadership teams, develop programs to foster continuous innovation and then coach teams through execution. It was during this time Sheryl was introduced to Convene and after serving them in a fractional role, came aboard full time and has been leading the operations team for the last 12-years.

Sheryl has served on the boards of several for-profit and non-profit organizations, and presently is serving on the board of CDF Capital, a 70-year-old organization providing transformational capital to churches.

Sheryl is a maximizer. She maximizes organizational productivity and fosters employee engagement for healthy collaboration and working relationships. She and her husband Don live in Southern California and have one daughter who is a middle school science teacher in LA County.

Before coming to Convene, Nolan graduated from Corban University in Salem, OR where he received a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with a Minor in Biblical Studies. While attending Corban, he served as the captain of the Men’s Soccer Team and worked at a local bank in town. Working at multiple financial institutions, in a variety of different roles, Nolan brings to Convene a passion to serve others.

Nolan and his wife, Hilary, have two sons Mason and Crew, and attend Ranch Church in San Juan Capistrano, CA. In their free time, they enjoy traveling, attending sporting events, and spending time with friends and family.

Melody takes joy in her 30+ years experience with corporations, small businesses, and non-profits - helping define marketing strategies, develop messaging, create impactful experiences, engage customers, and raise funds. Melody has spent the last 12 years developing partnerships and connecting people in the workplace-faith movement. She is known for her hospitality (and smokin’ good BBQ), and building strong, lasting relationships around shared values and causes.

Melody holds a BA in Communications from Seattle Pacific University, and lives in Washougal, WA (just 20 minutes from Portland International Airport) with her husband Mike Burkesmith, and their ever-present Portuguese Water Dog, Rio. Mike and Melody have five great ‘kids’ and three grandchildren.

Prior to joining Convene, Johnny created a social media marketing business. It grew quickly, and he discovered there were many companies who wanted to grow authentic brands without having to sacrifice integrity. While juggling his budding business, he was a youth pastor with a local church in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Johnny has also worked in the pharmaceutical returns industry in Tennessee and Southern California. When he’s not working, he enjoys cheering on the University of Central Florida Knights and the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Johnny met his wife, Christin, while traveling on a mission trip called the World Race. They spent 11 months in 11 countries serving alongside various ministry partners. Today they live in Knoxville, TN with their two beautiful daughters, Ellie and Emma. Their family loves spending time on the beach, traveling, and grilling out together.

Joining Convene is a natural extension of Kyle’s entrepreneurial journey, which began at the age of 15 when he launched his first business. Drawing from a background spanning business development, sales leadership, and entrepreneurship, he brings a relationship-first approach to helping leaders identify solutions that support collaboration, engagement, and business growth. Passionate about understanding each organization’s unique goals, Kyle connects clients with solutions, opportunities, and communities that create meaningful outcomes and lasting value.

Throughout his career, Kyle has built a reputation for cultivating trusted relationships across multiple industries and markets, both B2B and B2C. The mountains were calling, and he spent a decade living and working in Colorado, where he developed a deep appreciation for peer advisory groups, relationship-building, and community engagement. This diverse experience has given him a broad perspective on the challenges organizations face and the strategies that help them succeed. He thrives on connecting good people, solving complex problems, and making a meaningful Kingdom impact.

After returning to Pennsylvania to be closer to both sets of parents, Kyle enjoys spending time with his wife, Kristine, and their children, Rhys and Audrey. You can often find him in the gym, exploring the outdoors with his family, pursuing automotive adventures, or serving in his local community. He is actively involved at The Meeting House Church in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

Kyle’s purpose is to inspire leaders to live out a better story, both professionally and personally.

Kimberly graduated from Biola University with a degree in Sociology and a minor in Biblical Studies. She began her career with Convene as a Content Coordinator and has since transitioned to the role of Member Recruiting Manager. Passionate about service and process efficiency, Kimberly, with her positive and can-do attitude, plays a key role in launching Convene teams.

Kimberly met her husband, Marcus, while attending Biola University. They reside in Bakersfield, CA, with their two sons, Elias and Theo. Kimberly and her family attend Crossroads Christian Fellowship and enjoy spending time together as a family.

Josué brings extensive expertise garnered over a decade in the ever-evolving marketing landscape. His dynamic experience spans diverse industries, crafting strategic initiatives and cultivating thriving client relationships.

With a successful seven-year tenure at a digital marketing agency, Josué has navigated the nuances of marketing in sectors ranging from Banking and Retail to Consulting and E-Commerce. This extensive journey has cultivated a deep understanding of market dynamics and a keen insight into consumer behavior across varied landscapes.

As the Marketing Manager at Convene, Josué channels his passion for marketing and technology to elevate Convene’s presence. He pledges his unwavering dedication to serving the Convene team, chairs, and members by providing robust marketing support to fuel growth and engagement.

Settled in Chattanooga, TN, Josué draws inspiration from the boundless wonders of the great outdoors, finding tranquility in adventurous cycling escapades and embracing the natural world for renewed creativity and energy.

Mark has previously started multiple companies and worked with small business owners and entrepreneurs through the University of Georgia and Kennesaw State University. He owns an executive coaching company called Intaba Coaching that is powered by Convene.

Previously, he completed an M.A. in Christian Ministry from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and an M.S. in Christian Psychological Studies from Richmont Graduate University. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Counseling and Psychological Studies from Regent University, with a concentration in Industrial-Organizational Psychology, so that he can continue to apply modern psychological theories and spiritual practices to the leadership training of entrepreneurs and business leaders.

As the Director of the C-Suite and Key Leader Program and Chair of multiple Convene teams, he is passionate about helping shape an entrepreneurial mindset in members through experiential learning and spiritual formation, both for entrepreneurs within companies and those who lead their own. Mark and his wife, Sarah, attend Prince Avenue in Bogart, GA, and enjoy spending time with their children and extended family.

Joe LaRussa has a unique calling in the intersection of Faith and Business, working with Christian business owners and CEOs as a Convene executive coach and peer advisory group Chair, helping them to build excellent, God-honoring businesses based on Biblical values. Degrees from the University of San Diego in Business Administration and Practical Theology, along with six decades of business and life wisdom, have prepared him for the role of mentoring men and women through their journey as Convene Chairs. Joe is a native San Diegan with experience as a husband for 43 years, a father of three adult daughters, and proud grandfather of four boys. He is involved with Saint Brigid parish in San Diego, facilitating a Connection to Christ group and other Men’s small groups, and recently served as Rector for a Men’s Cursillos in Christianity weekend. Joe’s personal trials and lessons in life and business, with the understanding that his identity as a Catholic Christian must permeate all his roles, motivate him to be a servant leader. It is a continual life journey for him.

Jim Woodward spent 30 years building and running businesses as large as $100M, primarily in management and technology consulting to Fortune 500 companies, with full responsibility for marketing, sales, operations, service, and profitability. He also helped to found a highly successful full-service ice machine leasing business that has become the nation’s largest. Today, Jim is a peer-advisor board chair and a business growth coach for Convene with a PCC coaching certification from the International Coaching Federation. In this work, Jim helps Christian business owners and CEO’s grow high performing businesses on a Biblical foundation so that people thrive and the Kingdom grows. In addition, Jim leads the Chair Coaching team for Convene that helps new chairs recruit, launch, and grow their peer-advisory boards.

His life purpose is to help people get unstuck, achieve their potential, and grow closer to Jesus. As part of this purpose Jim designs adult learning experiences like The Work Exchange (www.theworkexchange.org) which Convene and Biola’s Talbot Center for Faith, Work & Economics published. In addition, Jim has designed a variety of other adult learning experiences including Answering the Big Questions of Faith, Bible Reading and Reflection, Restoring Freedom to Overloaded Lives, Spiritual Conversations: Tilling Soil for the Gospel, Teaching to Transform Lives, and Transformational Bible Study.

Jim and his wife Julie have 3 children and 2 grandchildren, golf regularly together, and live just outside of Dallas, TX.

Sharon interacts with the Convene Chair Community regarding monthly content and speaker needs and serves our guests in the Convene Service Center. Sharon has a 25 year background in office operations in various industries and managed her own day care business while raising her family. She loves serving and helping people and her caring spirit and warm heart are her trademark. Sharon loves to go above and beyond! She recently relocated back to Southern California from Oregon with her husband Scott. Their son Colten attends the USC School of Dentistry. In their free time they enjoy church, family and the great Southern California weather for their outdoor activities.

Brian Thatcher has 31 years of experience working with Christian CEOs. He founded Convene in 1996 (originally as BBL Forum). Brian motivates and mentors CEOs, presidents, and business owners to increase their leadership impact and grow their profitability through peer-to-peer collaboration and one-to-one coaching.

He is actively leading Convene’s expansion efforts throughout China and Southeast Asia, operating from his base in Chiang Rai, Thailand. He is also the Founder of Convene International Ministries.

Founder, Convene International Ministries
Resides in: Chiang Rai, Thailand
USA: +1 949-636-1124
Thailand: +66 6126 52392