Director of Program Expansion: Rick Brown has a BA in Sociology from High Point University and 25 years of professional experience working with adolescents. He held the Executive Director’s position of High Point, North Carolina’s Big Brothers/Big Sisters agency for twelve years.  Rick has been recognized by the North Carolina Jaycees as one of five outstanding young North Carolinians, and also received the WFMY TV2/Gannett Foundation’s Dare to Care award. Rick is married and the father of an elementary age boy.
Click here to contact: Rick Brown

Wise Guys Educator: Spencer Long is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro with a Bachelor’s degree in Communications. Spencer has previously worked as the Mentor Program Coordinator with Black Child Development; group facilitator for the Domestic Violence Intervention Program; Case Manager with Alcohol & Drug Services; and Investigating Officer for the NC Department of Corrections. Originally a native of East Orange, New Jersey, Spencer is married to Guilford County’s an Elementary School Teacher of the Year Nominee and the father of three young children.

Wise Guys Educator: Ted Sikes has a BA in English, with a concentration in Creative Writing from High Point University. He served for two years as Resident Director for High Point University, where he coordinated health and substance awareness programs for college students. Ted also taught Language Arts at the Middle School level for Guilford County Schools before joining the Family Life Council. Ted is married and the father of three young children.

Wise Guys Administrative Assistant: Cynthia Blackmon received a BA at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, AR. She has done administrative work for eleven years and marketing for eight years.  Cynthia has supported many local non-profits through volunteering and working.  She has resided in NC since 2000.

Fatherhood Educator: Walter Johnson  has a B.A. degree in music from North Carolina A & T State University . He is an ordained Elder for Yadkin Grove Church in Salisbury, NC , where he carries out varied ministerial duties. He served as youth pastor for four years in High Point, taught for the Alamance school system for four years, where he directed an after school program teaching drama, chorus, and basic computer skills, and has worked with at-risk youth for over 8 years. Walter is a husband and father of three children.

Jovenes Sabios Educator: Jorge Alonzo is the Jóvenes Sabios Educator for the Spanish language version of Wise Guys. Jorge came to the United States in 1999. He received a law degree from Universidad Federico Villarreal and teaching certification for English as a Second Language from the University of Cambridge. His background includes work as a Spanish teacher for St Pius X Middle and Elementary Schools; an interpreter for the Guilford County Health Department in the Adult Health Clinic, primarily dealing with STD and HIV cases and street outreach.

Parent Educator: Sebrina Cooke-Davis  has provided services for youth in Guilford County for 10 years in the areas of both treatment and prevention. She works with both pregnant and parenting teenage girls. She is currently pursuing her doctorate in psychology, is happily married and has two children. Sebrina is a NC certified substance abuse prevention consultant, Certified North Carolina Parenting Educator, and Certified Birth Doula(DONA).

Parent Educator: Natalie Tackitt has a Master’s Degree in School Administration from UNC-Greensboro, a Master’s in Education of the Deaf from Smith College and a Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education from Bloomsburg (PA) State University.  She has over 25 years of experience in a variety of educational settings, including education of deaf and hearing impaired students and their families aged preschool through high school, elementary classroom teaching and elementary and middle grades school administration.  She is married with two teenage children. 

Jovenes Sabias Educator: Teresa Wellendorf earned her bachelor’s degree in Medical Technology from the University of North Carolina, Greensboro and is currently pursuing her master’s degree. She teaches the female version of Jóvenes Sabios (Wise Guys for Spanish-speakers) and offers parenting programs to Latino parents as well. Teresa has taught as an adjunct instructor at GTCC and was nominated for the Excellence in Teaching award. She continues to contribute as President of the Medical Advisory Board. Now that her two children have reached adulthood, she is better able to address both parent and adolescent concerns and may be able to share some lessons learned.