Board of Directors
Jessica Burkhamer
President
Jessica Burkhamer, MSW, LICSW, DBTC is a Clinical Social Worker, National Speaker, Author of Before Time Out-The CHOICES Program. Specializing in Neurobehavioral Disorders with Children and Adolescents ages 0-18, DBT, Experiential Therapy, Trauma Focus CBT, Parenting/Coaching, and IEP/504 Advocate. She has been actively involved in educating the public regarding exploitation of adolescent sexual trafficking. for 6 years.
David Leckie
Co-Founder
David Leckie is CEO of Thrive Productions Group and Co-Founder of Rising Hope Foundation. In operating a trucking company for several years and seeing firsthand the devastation of Human Trafficking in truck stops and businesses my desire to make an impact in the lives of these victims grew.
I knew at that point there was a larger plan, so I made a change and became a Concert Promoter which led to the desire to start a nonprofit with my wife Vicki called Rising Hope Foundation. My prayerful desire is to be a small part of a larger team of passionate individuals that together can continue build safe housing for young girls to give them Hope and Freedom they truly deserve.
I knew at that point there was a larger plan, so I made a change and became a Concert Promoter which led to the desire to start a nonprofit with my wife Vicki called Rising Hope Foundation. My prayerful desire is to be a small part of a larger team of passionate individuals that together can continue build safe housing for young girls to give them Hope and Freedom they truly deserve.
Dave McGaffey
Board Member
Dave McGaffey is the Pastor at Community of Hope Church of the Nazarene in Brainerd, MN. He and his wife Jodi have three adult children. Micah and his wife Greta live in Brainerd, Hannah is attending college in Kansas and Josiah works and lives in Baxter, MN.
In his spare time, Dave enjoys ball hunting on a golf course, firing up the smoker and cooking, as well as spending time with friends and family. His passion is to help people understand that they are created by God on purpose and for a purpose. Being a part of the Rising Hope Foundation fits into this passion by helping to bring hope, healing and restoration to individuals enslaved by human trafficking.
In his spare time, Dave enjoys ball hunting on a golf course, firing up the smoker and cooking, as well as spending time with friends and family. His passion is to help people understand that they are created by God on purpose and for a purpose. Being a part of the Rising Hope Foundation fits into this passion by helping to bring hope, healing and restoration to individuals enslaved by human trafficking.
Jessica Metry
Board Member
Mrs. Metry is an attorney admitted to practice in Minnesota, North Dakota, and White Earth Tribal Court. Mrs. Metry practices primarily in the area of Estate Planning, Business Law and Equine Law. Mrs. Metry is married with one daughter and enjoys life with lots of children of the four legged sorts running amongst them. She and her family are members of Lakes Area Vineyard Church in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota.
Mrs. Metry’s passions in life entail being a cornerstone for the unfortunate which continues to evolve throughout her life. During her time at North Dakota State University, she used her spare time to volunteer as a leader for the non-profit organization Young Life Fargo Moorhead.
If Jess isn’t working, or volunteering, she spends her spare time in the saddle or going on adventures with her husband, daughter and their two beloved shepherds.
Mrs. Metry’s passions in life entail being a cornerstone for the unfortunate which continues to evolve throughout her life. During her time at North Dakota State University, she used her spare time to volunteer as a leader for the non-profit organization Young Life Fargo Moorhead.
If Jess isn’t working, or volunteering, she spends her spare time in the saddle or going on adventures with her husband, daughter and their two beloved shepherds.
Andrea Drake
Board Member
Andrea Drake is a retired business owner, currently living in the Pequot Lakes area. Andrea and her husband, Scott, have three children and six grandchildren. Her passion is the gift of entertaining and hospitality while enjoying time with family and friends. Over 50 years of experience in owning a business and President of the Minnesota Service Station Association, Andrea built an expertise in accounting and human resources. Assisting and mentoring young people to achieve and reach their full potential has been an amazing experience.
Participation and contribution to Rising Hope Foundation has allowed Andrea to share God’s love to all, especially children in need and this has become her bestowed passion moving forward.
Participation and contribution to Rising Hope Foundation has allowed Andrea to share God’s love to all, especially children in need and this has become her bestowed passion moving forward.
Joel Sheagren
Board Member
Joel, originally from Iowa, has been a Minnesotan for over 30 years. He is a veteran director, producer, and director of photography, who consistently has achieved award-winning visual stories across the globe, including a CLIO for a public service announcement titled, Shadowhands. He has served the advertising industry worldwide as the “go to” for his creative visuals, resourcefulness, expertise as a problem solver, and delivering superior production solutions since 1978. His current film CRACKED ICE just finished running on the Hulu network and is currently running on overseas networks.
Joel is the father of a son child with FASD. Embraced will help us all understand the truth about FASD — the risk to a child being born with a life-long brain injury because of prenatal alcohol exposure, how to better identify FASD very early in a child, and how to better understand and manage those with FASD. Embraced is the most exciting project he has been involved with because of the potential catalyst for starting a meaningful national conversation concerning FASD, the number one birth defect in the Western Hemisphere that few know anything about.
Joel is the father of a son child with FASD. Embraced will help us all understand the truth about FASD — the risk to a child being born with a life-long brain injury because of prenatal alcohol exposure, how to better identify FASD very early in a child, and how to better understand and manage those with FASD. Embraced is the most exciting project he has been involved with because of the potential catalyst for starting a meaningful national conversation concerning FASD, the number one birth defect in the Western Hemisphere that few know anything about.