Christian Saade ~ Founder, Director, Senior Coach/Senior Trainer             Chris is the Institute's Director.  He is also the senior coach/trainer for the ILC's self development & heart-centered life-leadership programs.  In addition, he is a psychological Life Coach for individuals and couples.  Previously, he was a psychotherapist in private practice for 11 years and, before that, he was a business owner and manager for 12 years.  He was born in Lebanon where he was active in non-profit organizations working for non-violence, peacemaking and humanitarian action.  His seven years of graduate studies extend from theology, history and economics to counseling.  He trained for many years in Jungian psychology and existential psychology (including the logotherapy of Viktor Frankl).  His life-work has been a continuous and dedicated research of powerful tools that allow breakthrough in peacemaking, intentional communication, heart-to-heart relationship building and passionate inclusive life vision.            As a survivor of the long war in Lebanon, Chris's experiences with brokenness and the will to survive led him to ponder the importance of intentional communication and of communities that thrive because of their respect for diversity.  "The builders of peace, in families, communities & our world," Chris says, "are co-creative individuals who dare to live passionate inclusive visions, individuals who make the choice to live intentionally from the authenticity of the human heart."  His research represents a 21 year assiduous endeavor in philosophy, the history of peacemaking (especially the life and work of Gandhi), eastern and western religions and psychology (focusing on the history of cultural and personal transformation).  This intensive study has resulted in the development of the copyrighted Model of Integra & Heart-centered Life-leadership.           Chris has written and co-written several manuscripts on "Intentional Living" published in-house through the ILC.  He is the sole author of Reflections on Living Intentionally from the Heart: Selections from the Writings of Chris Saade.  And, he has co-authored two manuscripts with Barry Sherman, the ILC's Assistant Director: Co-Creation: Intentional Creative Living for the 21st Century & The Intentional Living Reader: An Inspiring Blend of Quotes, Ideas & Creative Writings.              Chris has led more than 150 three-four day workshops/retreats.  He is currently writing a book (co-authored with Barry Sherman) on Heart-centered Living and the Psychology of Authenticity.

Barry Sherman ~ Assistant Director/ Trainer/Senior Coach Barry has been with the ILC from its very beginning.  He is a writer, guitarist, singer/songwriter, saxophonist and performance artist.  He flavors ILC programs and trainings with different forms and combinations of his artistry.  He is currently at work with Chris Saade on a co-authored book that will focus on celebrating and championing our authentic nature.  Barry is from Michigan and completed his  undergraduate degree in Music Education at Western Michigan University.  His Master's degree is in social work from the University of South Carolina.  In addition to his ILC work, he works as a school social worker within the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school system.

Casey Robertson ~ Advanced Facilitator/Consultant   Casey has been involved with the institute from its inception. She is very passionate about the idea of self-development as an ethical responsibility. Her mission is to support and inspire others to free their unique one-of-a-kind way of being in the world and to develop and bring their idiosyncratic nature as an impacting gift to their loved ones, community, and world. She is a free-spirited artist of sorts living with her drumming-musician sweetie in Graham, NC.

Tammy Starling ~ Facilitator/Coach Tammy is a licensed psycho-therapist whose areas of expertise include loss recovery and relationship breakthrough. During her years as a therapist, Tammy has helped individuals pursue their desires and befriend their struggles around issues such as loss, abuse, depression, anxiety, relationships, and life/career direction. Her great passion lies in helping people seek personal empowerment and creative potential through the grieving process and through relationship negotiation and dialogue. The sacredness of how each individual's journey unfolds is inspiring to Tammy both in her life and in her work.   Since 1996, along with her private therapy practice, Tammy has also been involved in corporate coaching and consulting and teaching undergraduate psychology courses at Wingate University. She has led and co-facilitated many classes, workshops, and groups around themes such as self-esteem, grief and loss, personal empowerment, sexual abuse, communication and intimacy, and workshops around career and life vision. She provides counseling and therapy from a Christian perspective with tremendous respect for all spiritual diversity and beliefs.   The single mother of two teenagers, Tammy enjoys giving energy to parenting, rose-gardening, painting and nurturing her close relationships.

 

Mandy Eppley ~ Facilitator/Coach Mandy, a licensed psychotherapist, has been in private practice since 1993. For her, being a professional counselor and helping people grow is sacred work. She is committed to helping people pursue their own potential and views her work as a therapist as a life-calling. Mandy has a diverse background and range of experiences from working with birth mothers and adoptive families to corporate consulting and executive coaching.   As a therapist, Mandy has helped hundreds of people struggling with depression, anxiety, grief, sexual abuse and trauma as well as many other issues. Couples and family therapy have also been an important focus of her practice. Mandy's emphasis on teaching communication tools and dialogue techniques has helped countless couples. She has led and co-led numerous groups, workshops and classes around themes such as self-esteem, grief and loss, personal empowerment, sexual abuse, communication and intimacy, and workshops around career and life vision.   Mandy is especially passionate about empowering women in claiming the fullness of their dreams. She loves spending time with the special people in her life and celebrating being alive.

Steph Brico~ Support Facilitator

Ben Dulken ~ Support Facilitator   My name is Benjamin Willcox Dulken. I entered the world on January 26th 1981, into the quiet town of Spartanburg, SC. After living there for a year, I decided it was time for a change and moved with my family to Charlotte. We relocated to a quaint, yellow farm house in the South Charlotte area where I spent my glory years training my parents in effective child rearing tactics, paired with disciplinary boundary setting studies. I was assisted in these efforts by my wonderful brother, Joshua, and our gorgeous sister, Theresa. After high school I was called to study Psychology and Advertising/Communication in the beautiful mountains of North Carolina at Appalachian State University. Since graduating from college, I've moved back to Charlotte, (separate from my parents, they've had enough...) and now work for an alternative weekly newspaper known as Creative Loafing. I am passionate about traveling, animals, the outdoors, my own personal life journey, and anything new, exciting and out of the ordinary.   I came across the ILC not long after my second year in college. The words, "leadership training" and "advanced self development" were intriguing to me and I was hungry for a spiritual outlet that was open and diverse. I've now been a member for five years, (my brother and sister have since also joined) and it's been an incredibly amazing, growth enhancing, heart wide open experience for me!

Dr. Steve English (Chiropractic Physician)                                        ILC Support Facilitator in Training Steve is now in his 20th year of chiropractic practice.  Over this span of time, he has developed a loyal and broad following of patients: from newborns (who he helps with problems such as colic and recurrent ear infections) to geriatric patients in their 70's, 80's and 90's (who he helps with such problems as fatigue, arthritis, neck and low back pain).  Steve is dedicated to providing his patients with pain relief, along with educating them toward how to live a healthy lifestyle (which includes nutrution and exercise, as well as emotional and spiritual well-being).