STAFF

SCOTT DAWSON
Founder and CEO

Scott began this ministry in 1987 by giving simple testimonials, speaking at youth rallies and church revivals.  Since then SDEA has grown into an outreach organization that has allowed him to speak to over 500,000 people, influencing their lives by proclaiming the peace and hope found in Christ. 

Scott and his wife, Tarra have two children, Hunter and Hope.  They reside in Birmingham, AL.

DR. JOHN CORTS
Transitional President

John served nearly thirty-five years with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, and brings a wealth of knowledge and administrative experience to this new SDEA position.  After a short hiatus to pastor a church in Florida in the 1980s, he became the Chief Operating Officer of the BGEA in 1987 and President and COO in 1992.  Upon is retirement at the end of 2001, he worked with Bill Bright, in the Founders Office of Campus Crusade for Christ in Orlando.

John and his wife Joann reside in Orlando, FL. and attend Orlando First Baptist Church.

MIKE GREER
Office and Logistics Manager

Mike received his degree from Jefferson State Community College, where he played basketball and baseball and transferred to the University of Alabama Birmingham, majoring in Business Administration.  Mike has spent some 35 years in the golf industry as a golf professional, equipment sales representative, club manager, and facility general manager.

Mike is currently the Evangelistic Events Director at Scott Dawson Evangelistic Association. His duties include all aspects of crusades and events from planning to completion.

Mike and his wife, Linda, have two grown children and two grandchildren.  They enjoy spending all the time they can with family, especially two grandsons ,Mason and Cooper. 

Mike and Linda reside in Birmingham, Alabama and attend Church of the Highlands. 

BILLY HATLEY
Senior Adult Coordinator and Church Relations

Billy came to SDEA in 2004.  Before joining the team he served as a pastor for over thirty years.  He serves as Senior Adult Coordinator and is involved in church relations and decision follow up with the Safe at Home evangelistic ministry of SDEA.

He and his wife Gerrie, have three children and seven grandchildren.  They reside in Gardendale, Alabama and attend Gardendale's First Baptist Church. 

RANDY BRUNER
Church Relations

Randy is a graduate of Troy University with a degree in Environmental Science. He remained in Troy as a student minister for over five years, where he developed a reputation as an exceptional motivator and for his ability to build networks of people by building relationships. In 2003 he became vice president of Legacy Leadership Ministry where he proven himself as a leader of leaders by developing student ministers and adult volunteers into spiritual leaders. In 2005, Randy was called to one of the nations mega-churches at Cascade Hills Church in Columbus, Ga., to serve as Senior High Pastor. 

Randy serves in the Conference Department developing relationships with student ministers. 

Randy and his wife, Beth, have two children, Addison and Carson and one on the way.

Joey Hill
Church Relations

Joey is a graduate of Samford University with a degree in Business.  He served as a Student Pastor for over six years until God called him to be a student evangelist.  God has used Joey all over the country to help students shed defeated lives for the Glory of God through conferences, camps, revivals and missions.    

Joey serves in the Conference Department developing relationships and mentoring student ministers.

He, his wife, Brownie, their sons Maxon and Tyson and daughters Hope and Ivey live in Warrior, Alabama where Joey serves as Senior Pastor of High Point Community Church.

LINDSAY BREWER
Creative and Press Writing Consultant

Lindsay Brewer came to SDEA in September of 2006 after working as a reporter and photographer for a weekly newspaper in Enterprise, Alabama. Her role at SDEA includes writing newsletters, general correspondence, President’s Report, press releases, and any other general writing needed. Lindsay graduated from the University of Alabama with a degree in visual journalism. 

Lindsay and her husband, Adam, reside in Birmingham, Alabama. They attend New Prospect Baptist Church in Marbury, Alabama, where Adam serves as Pastor.

PAUL DAWSON
Director of Financial Department

After working 45 years in the transportation industry as a customer service representative Paul has retired and now working in the office for SDEA . Paul has worked accounts receivable and payables for SDEA since 1987 as a volunteer and is responsible for the financial department of SDEA. 

He and his wife Ann have been married 45 years and have two sons and six grandchildren.  They reside in Leeds, Alabama and attend Shades Mountain Baptist Church.

SCOTT LENNING
Senior Director of Conference and Evangelism Departments

After 19 years of work and living in 20 different US cities, helping communities prepare for Billy Graham Crusades, Scott and his family moved to Birmingham in July of 2005 to work for SDEA.  Scott gives direction to developing the annual SDEA calendar and then gives oversight to the preparation for these events. 

Scott and his wife Tami and three children live in Birmingham, AL and attend Valleydale Church.

GINA HANDLEY
Conference Administrator

Gina Handley came to the Scott Dawson team in 1997 after attending a Strength to Stand Student Bible Conference. She began as a volunteer and has since become a full-time team member.  She is now the Director of Conference Administration and is responsible for overseeing registrations for the Strength to Stand Conferences and Pathfinder Mission Events. Her job also includes the planning and completion of Conference and Mission Trip events.  She graduated from the University of Alabama in Birmingham with a degree in Early Childhood Education.

Gina resides in Hayden, Alabama and attends New Temple Baptist Church.

TAMI LENNING
President's Summit Coordinator

Tami has lived in 22 cities, providing a home for her husband and their children.  In addition to working at home she has served as the Volunteer/Project Coordinator in various Billy Graham Crusade Cities as well as coordinated the program for Kids Gigs.  Tami is now serving with SDEA focusing on preparations for the Annual SDEA President’s Summit.

Tami and her husband Scott, along with their three children live in Birmingham, AL and attend Valleydale Church.

CHARLIE NICHOLSON
Church Liason Counselor Training & Follow-Up

Charlie Nicholson came on board January, 2007. He served as pastor for 41 years. The last 13 of those years he served bi-vocationally. During the bi-vocational years he was Director of Professional Relations for Atlanta Dental Supply Co.

Charlie graduated from Samford University with a BA in Religion, and from Samford again with a Masters in Theology. He also graduated from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary with a Masters in Religious Education. His last degree was a Doctor of Ministry Degree in Psychology and Counseling from Luther Rice Seminary in Jacksonville, Florida.

Charlie has been married to Cindy for 38 years. They have 3 married children and 5 grandchildren.
He is serving as Counseling Coordinator in the Safe at Home department.

Charlie and Cindy are members of Valleydale Church in Birmingham. They reside in Chelsea, Alabama.

JENNI SCOTT
Development

Jenni Scott joined the SDEA team in Nov of 2006 to work in Fund Development and serve as an Advocate Liaison for Safe at Home. She graduated from Baylor University in 1993 with a BA degree in Speech Communications and Business. She has served in many volunteer capacities at The Church at Brook Hills as women’s event coordinator, and as the Christmas Market Coordinator for the Early Learning Center. Jenni has also served on numerous committees at Brook Hills and has served on the ifoundhope Counseling Center Board, where she worked in development and fundraising for them.

She and her husband, Dennis have three children, Austin, Ashton and Avery and currently live in Birmingham. They are active members at Brook Hills where Jenni continues to participate on Vocal Teams and work with Children’s Celebration Choir.

GAIL SAPPINGTON
Volunteer Extraordinaire

Having moved from Hattiesburg, Mississippi to Birmingham in 2005, Gail wanted to become involved in a group ministry that was both innovative and held a passion for making Christ known.  She seeks to bring her creativity to SDEA in the area of volunteering. 

Gail graduated from Mississippi State University with a BA in Social Work and has two grown daughters and one granddaughter.  She resides in Helena, AL and attends Shades Mountain Baptist Church. 

BRYAN TAUNTON
Safe at Home Coordinator

After having experienced success in the cooperate world, Bryan decided to adhere to the call to ministry Christ had on his life.  Bryan joined the SDEA Team in 2006.  He serves with SDEA as a Safe at Home Coordinator.

Bryan and his wife Laura live in Sylacauga, with their two wonderful kids Lauren and Hunter where Bryan serves as an Associate Pastor and Minister of Music at Brown's Chapel Baptist Church.