Biography:

Johnny was born in Tacoma, Washington and grew up in the Seattle area. Shortly after graduating from Western Washington University in Bellingham, he began working with children and families. He first worked with kindergarteners and in after school programs. These experiences gave him insight into the many challenges faced by modern families.

Over the course of the next eight years, Johnny worked with homeless and ‘street’ youth, youth in residential treatment programs, and young adults in transition programs. During this time he was also traveling, learning to write songs, running a business, and working in beverage distribution.

Although Johnny had lived in Albuquerque before, he came back in 1997, from northern New Mexico, and has not left. In 1998 he became a father and began learning about the challenges families face in a whole new way. That learning continues.

For the past 12 years he has worked in the field of sexual health education. During this time he became a department head – working on policy and managing a variety of programs ranging from support services for young fathers to health promotion education. His department management responsibilities included strategic planning, budgeting, staffing, and participation on the agency’s management team.

In 2010 he accepted his current position as Executive Director for Parents Reaching Out.

Biography:

The Director of Operations is Leon Emplit who has worked in the nonprofit world continuously for many years, eleven plus years as Business Manager for the South Shore YMCA and most recently in this position since July of 2007. Leon believes his skills at operating businesses provide him, in this role, his best opportunity to help families. He believes all families have dreams for their children and desire the best outcomes possible for them.

Leon understands the power of informed decision making and knows parents make the best choices for their children when they have the education and information necessary. He strongly believes that providing families knowledge and tools to enhance their power makes stronger communities.

Biography:

Jan’s passion is children. She has been working in the field of family support and education all her adult life.

Jan was born in Kansas City, Missouri, and moved to Monterrey, Mexico at age 10, when her parents decided their two daughters needed a more diverse world view. She returned to the states after high school and received her Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Missouri, Kansas City. Jan has worked as a preschool teacher and a substitute teacher, directed educational programs, facilitated workshops throughout the state, written and developed publications for families and professionals, implemented an educational support program for at-risk new moms, and volunteered with youth with disabilities and at-risk youth. In addition to her position at PRO, Jan currently teaches Early Childhood Multicultural Education courses in Spanish at CNM.

Jan enjoys hiking, biking, reading, baking, and crafting. She has a stepdaughter, a daughter, and two sons. Although the kids are getting older, and there are complicated school and work schedules to juggle, family dinners are important, and usually end with raucous card and board games.