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MEET OUR TEAM

FOUNDER & PRESIDENT

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DARREN MYERS

FOUNDER & PRESIDENT

After receiving a B.S. in Music Education, Darren Myers served in the pastorate for 28 years. He was the founder and administrator of Landmark Christian Academy.  For 7  years, he led his congregation to host the PATRIOT DAY RALLY in Rolla, MO, celebrating "One Nation Under God" and honoring those who defend freedom.  With a high attendance of 5,000, the rally pointed citizens back to the Creator and America's founding principles using choirs, outdoor videos, reenactors and fireworks.  Over 100 local businesses contributed to this community rally, which included static displays from the fire department, law enforcement agencies, Homeland Security, and military branches.

In 2015, Darren and his wife, Tammy and son, Daniel established FREEDOM FOCUS and began traveling.  Through preaching, singing, multimedia presentations and outdoor rallies, Darren and his family have been presenting truth to preserve freedom.  Speaking in churches, public schools, private schools, camps, colleges and civic events from California to New York, he has encouraged thousands to understand and defend Biblical freedom.

The Myers family has produced the FREEDOM JOURNEY SHOW since 2017.  This theatrical presentation, filled with live music and quotes from America's founders, has been presented annually at theaters in Branson, MO, during the Veterans Day celebration week.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

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LARRY MOSIER

Joplin, MO

Operations Manager, Jayhawk Fine Chemicals

Chemical Engineering, B.S. 

University of Missouri, Rolla

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JASON TUCKER

Rolla, MO

Pastor of Landmark Baptist Church

Metacllurgical Engineering B.S.

University of Missouri, Rolla

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MATTHEW WILKERSON

Dallas, TX

Pastor of Galilean Baptist Church

Masters of Ministry

Crown College, Powell, TN

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SCOTT MYERS

Springfield, MO

Accounting Analyst, Jack Henry & Associates

Finance & Accounting B.S.

Tennessee Temple University, Chattanooga, TN

PROJECT TEAM

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BILLY ONG

PROJECT MANAGER

Billy Ong, an industry expert with more than 35 years of successful experience in developing amusement parks and attractions, has a proven ability to take multi-million dollar projects from conception to operation.  With a background in architecture and development managing,  Billy has an extensive repertoire of skills in the areas of concept development, design development, construction document, construction administration, and operations.

During his 25 year tenure at Herschend Family Entertainment Corporation he was responsible for the development of:

Silver Dollar City (Winner of the Applause Award in 2000, the theme park industry’s top award of excellence for the best theme park in the world)

•Dollywood (Winner of the Applause Award in 2010)

•Dolly Splash Country (Winner of Top Water Park in the world in 2009)

•White Water

•Branson Belle

•Celebration City

•Stone Mountain Park

Passages Traveling Exhibit was developed by Billy for the Green family, owners of Hobby Lobby.  Passages was the forerunner of Museum of the Bible in Washington, DC.  He most recently developed Fritz’s Adventure in Branson, MO.

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DOT SOLDAVINI

CAPITAL CAMPAIGN

GENERAL CHAIR

Dot Soldavini worked in the corporate sector for over 30 years, while volunteering for numerous nonprofits. She has served on nonprofits boards in a number of roles, including board president  for a large nonprofit in St. Louis. After retiring from the corporate environment, she worked in the nonprofit sector in various roles, including fund development and as an Executive Director. 

 

Dot’s areas of expertise include constituent/customer relationship management; grant research/writing; process improvement and benchmarking; strategic analysis and execution; nonprofit leadership; cultivation of client, vendor and donor relationships; and cross-cultural and virtual team management. 

 

Driven by her passion for helping faith-based nonprofits, Dot is using her professional experience and strong work ethic to provide consulting services for Freedom Encounter, particularly in the area of fund development. 

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JOHN SCHMITZ

CAPITAL CAMPAIGN

DIRECTOR

John Schmitz represents the Steier Group, a national, capital campaign fundraising firm based in Omaha, Nebraska, with offices in Arizona, California, Colorado, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, Oregon and Texas.

 

The Steier Group has been contracted to oversee the capital campaign on behalf of Freedom Encounter. Having already conducted a planning study, John and his team are designing and overseeing the "Forwarding Freedom Capital Campaign" which will run through May of 2021.

The campaign seeks to raise $5.5 million dollars for the purchase and renovation of the Freedom Encounter property in Branson, MO.

 

The Steier Group, founded in 1997, has grown exponentially, having served more than 1,300 nonprofit organizations across the country. Since their inception, the Steier Group has conducted successful capital campaigns ranging from $400,000 to more than $50 million, raising 115 percent of their fundraising goals.

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Dustin Myers is the founder of Longitude° Design in Springfield, MO. He has created and developed the methodology and process known as BrandGPS®.  Longitude specializes in 

Discovery, Research & Analysis, Concept Development, Identity Design, Brand Standards, Print & Digital Collateral, Packaging & Labeling, Photography, Video & Films, Branded Merchandise, Reputation Management and Content Creation.

Longitude's  portfolio includes clients such as Sheraton, Hilton, Museum Hotel, The Maramara, Marriott, Hyatt,  Finley Farms, NFL Hall of Fame's Restaurant Experience, and Johnny Morris' Camp Long Creek.    

Dustin will lead Freedom Encounter's design team, from branding and marketing to designing the visual content of the museum.

DUSTIN MYERS

VISUAL DESIGN DIRECTOR

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RICK HINTON

TECHNICAL DIRECTOR

Rick Hinton serves as the Technical Director for Freedom Encounter.

Rick has 30 years of practical knowledge as an Information Technology professional, and nearly the same in music and theater production as a performer, and both sound and lighting design and engineering. This experience has well prepared him to join Freedom Encounter in developing and maintaining this state-of-the-art theater and museum attraction.  Once a touring musician, this gifted, singer, actor, and engineer now brings a technical advantage and creative flare to every aspect of  Freedom Encounter productions.

Rick has served as the Technical Director of the Freedom Journey Show in Branson, MO for the last 3 years.

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Daniel Myers is the founder and director of Freedomists.usThrough YouTube and Instagram, this online community puts America's founding philosophy and timeless principles into the language of Millennials and Gen Z.  The Freedomist goal is to help provide the mental framework young people need to think for themselves and to preserve the blessings of liberty.

Daniel is currently employed by Prager U. He and his team are producing videos for the newly launched PREP Program which can be viewed through the Prager U app.

Daniel, a gifted composer, song-writer, videographer, and producer orchestrated the score for Branson's Freedom Journey Show.  Having produced multiple videos and documentaries, he will oversee the audio and video content of the museum.

DANIEL MYERS

AUDIO/VISUAL DIRECTOR

ADVISORY TEAM

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DR. WILLIAM FEDERER

HISTORICAL CONTENT ADVISOR

William Federer is a nationally known speaker, best-selling author,  and president of Amerisearch, Inc., a publishing company dedicated to researching America's noble heritage.  

Bill's AMERICAN MINUTE radio feature is broadcast daily. His FAITH IN HISTORY television show airs on the TCT Network on stations across America.  He has appeared on CSPAN, FOX, Hannity & Colmes, O'Reilly Factor, NPR, MSNBC, ABC-Time Warner Affiliates, CBN, TBN, INSP, TCT, FamilyNet, FamilyLand TV, The Eric Metaxas Show, Prager U, Todd Starnes Starnes Country-FOX Nation, Coral Ridge Hour, 700 Club, AT&T Cable, Charter Cable, Danny Fontana Show, iLife TV, FOX Strategy Room with Brian Kilmeade, CTN with Herman & Sharron Bailey, Andrew Wommack's The Gospel Truth, and numerous television documentaries.

Author of 20 books, Bill's first book "America's God and Country Encyclopedia of Quotations" has sold over a half-million copies.  William's perspective on faith in history is a valuable and ongoing asset to Freedom Encounter.

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David Gibbs serves as legal advisor for Freedom Encounter.  He is the founder and president of Christian Law Association.  Since 1969, CLA has provided legal assistance to Bible-believing churches and Christians who are experiencing difficulty in practicing their religious faith because of governmental regulation, intrusion, or prohibition in one form or another. CLA receives in excess of 100,000 phone calls annually for assistance.

 

Dr. Gibbs is a nationally known speaker and author of several books including "One Nation Under God: 10 Things Every Christian Should Know About The Founding Of America".

Dr. Gibbs is a personal friend to Freedom Encounter, offering counsel from a legal and historical perspective.

RECOMMENDATIONS

“Darren Myers came well prepared and captivated the congregation with the message of the Founding Fathers, the constitution and God's plan for the nations.”
-Mark Cooley, Burgess Road Baptist Church, Pensacola, FL

 

“One of the most patriotic functions I have had the privilege to attend. An outstanding demonstration to youth of what a great America they live in and the sacrifices so many made to make our freedom possible.”

-Woody Williams, Semper Fi and GBU, Medal of Honor Recipient, Iwo Jima

“A celebration of America’s Heritage. Events such as this serve to educate the public and bring our community together.”

-Sergeant Dan Crain, Missouri State Highway Patrol

“One of the finest events ever to come to our community. An opportunity to put politics aside and come together as Americans, celebrating our heritage and patriotism.”
-Vicki A. Brady, Columnist/Owner, The Kaleidoscope Weekly

“Wonderfully inspiring music and video presentations. It really lift’s your spirits and renews your faith in our country.”
-Ron & Linda Turner, Business Owners

DR. DAVID GIBBS, JR.

LEGAL ADVISOR

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