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Our Volunteer Staff

Camp Director - Ed Messer

Ed Messer was one of the founders of the Good Spirit Foundation in 1984 and has been actively involved in the operation of the Foundation since then. Ed has served as GSF's Camp Director and corporate CEO since the beginning. He has spent thousands of hours teaching, planning, and cavorting at camp. Throughout the year, Ed serves GSF as a counselor to any clients who call. He also helps lead a group counseling session at a local rescue mission. Ed serves on a staff of encouragers and presenters at weekend workshops 6-8 times per year. Ed also serves as an elder and occasional preacher at Riverside Christian Fellowship, his home church for the past 30 years. Mr. Messer is semi-retired from a 40-year career in real estate. He is still active as a State Certified General Real Estate Appraiser #57, and he occasionally works as an auctioneer. Ed has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Florida and a Master of Arts in Counseling from Liberty University.

 

Director of Counseling and Music - Sue Messer

Sue holds a Master of Arts in Counseling from Liberty University and a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from Florida State University. She has been an active member and participant in ministry at Riverside Christian Fellowship for 30 years as a teacher and counselor, as well as in music ministry. Sue has served as Music Director at the Good Spirit Foundation since she co-founded the organization with Ed 30 years ago. She has also worked as a band teacher and director for 16 years in public and private schools, and has served as Band Director of the “Amazzing” Steel Drum Ensemble since its inception in 1993.

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Camp Administrator - Tammi Merriman

Tammi has worked with GSF since 1995. She worked her way up through the leadership program and became the Camp Administrator after graduating from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Public Relations with a Certificate in International Relations. In addition to her administrative duties at GSF, she also plays in "Amazzing" Steel and fills in with encouragement, teaching, and counseling at the foundation, and assists in our entrepreneurship program. Her heart is in mission work, currently sitting on the board of directors for the Guyana Outreach, and she has participated in missions and been on support teams around the world. In the professional world, Tammi holds a Brokers Associate Real Estate license and has multiple years of experience in business management. 

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Assistant Director -  DaMar Jackson

Damar has always desired to use his creative talent purposefully. When doing God’s will became his
purpose, vision was given to that desire and the result is PeculiarFolk studios. Wether Illustration, music, fashion, organizing, writing or building, if creation is in the air he breaths it and works fervently to help the others do the same. Oh yeah, he also takes out the trash.

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Activities Coordinators - Natalie Jackson

Natalie is a natural talent in art with an affinity for color and design. Her uncanny resourcefulness and follow-through make her an invaluable workhorse. She has a love of sports, children, and food; all well put to use at GSF. 

Design, Research & Development - Josh Dingler

Josh holds a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of Central Florida, with a focus on education and health, and a minor in psychology. He's been involved at GSF since 1996, starting as a camper, and later becoming a camp counselor and adult volunteer, currently teaching steel drums and canline during summer camp while helping train and mentor new leaders. He's also been a key member of "Amazzing" Steel since 1998, now serving as the Assistant Band Director, helping to arrange and record music and coordinate small ensemble performances. Josh helps with design, research, proofing, marketing, and IT throughout the year, and he also reaches the community through his position as an ESE Math Teacher at Lecanto Middle School.

Innovation & Encouragement - Rick Mathew

Rick Mathew, Chairman and Co-Founder of ON TRACK KIDS, is an experienced businessman, administrator, and teacher. He graduated from Kent State University in Kent, Ohio with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, but has functioned in his career more as a scientist. He worked in the polymer industry in research, but his leadership and administrative gifts quickly brought promotions, leading to his final position as Chief Operations Officer of Americhem, Inc. in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. In that role, he had extensive responsibility for company finances and managed budgets for this company with more than $250 million in revenues.

A natural leader, teacher and mentor, Rick has used all these talents extensively. In addition to the training he conducted within Americhem, he also has been on faculty at the University of Akron in Akron, Ohio, has taught Junior Achievement at Cuyahoga Falls High School in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, and after moving to Florida taught Algebra at Westport High School. He has been a popular tutor here in Citrus County and is a certified Master SCUBA Diver Trainer as well. Teaching is his passion.

Thank you to all the other volunteers!

Above are the bios on the individuals that do the daily carrying of the load but GSF would not be successful without the countless volunteers we have and have had. Our invaluable volunteers include our prayer partners, the camp volunteers, the ones that mow the law, the donors, the cheerleaders, the ones that spread the word about us and share resources. To all that participate and have participated over the years we are so thankful for each of you and the part you play in making this place a success. 

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