Executive Director

Mandy Majors​

Mandy grew up in a divorced home in a small Indiana town. She survived many bad teenage decisions, landed at Indiana University and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Criminal Justice with a minor in Psychology. She’s been married to Matt for 25 years, and they have two kids (college & high school). Prior to writing books and starting nextTalk, Mandy previously worked in the legal field for 15 years and volunteered in various positions at her home church with a focus on serving families and leadership development.     
           

This whole nextTalk adventure started when Mandy’s oldest child asked a highly-sexualized question in 2013. Her daughter was nine and in the fourth grade. This awakened Mandy to a new reality: even though her daughter didn’t have a phone, she was still exposed to pornography. This set Mandy on an unexpected path into unchartered territory. She created a moms’ group in her church that grew from 20 to 200 within three semesters. At the same time, her online group exploded with moms from all over the world (no marketing, just word of mouth). Mandy was also asked to speak on TV and radio.      

Mandy wrote her first book, TALK: A Practical Approach to Cyberparenting and Open Communication, in 2017; it was awarded first place in family/parenting category by the 2019 Illumination Awards (alongside best-selling authors Bob Goff, Anne Graham Lotz, Kathie Lee Gifford, Pope Francis and Lysa TerKeurst).                

After traveling and speaking to thousands of parents throughout the United States, Mandy wrote her latest book, Keeping Kids Safe in a Digital World: A Solution That Works, which was also recognized by the 2021 Illumination Awards. Mandy records new shows regularly on the nextTalk podcast, which is now rated in the top 2% of over 3.5M podcasts with listeners in 60+ countries.          

Mandy loves to hear your parenting wins and gives out mom hugs regularly if you need to cry. One of her biggest passions is helping parents realize … you are not alone, and YOU. CAN. DO. THIS. We can keep our kids safe online! Connect with her via email, Facebook, Instagram or X.

Board Member

Michael Perkins​

Michael Perkins is the Managing Partner and CEO of local accounting firm, SPR. His primary areas of focus include counseling owners and executives of closely held businesses and other high net worth individuals on their personal financial issues, including estate planning, wealth transfer, and income tax planning techniques. Michael is also experienced at providing external audit services for clients in a variety of industries and oversees the firm’s audit department. He also plays the role of a virtual CFO for many of his clients. His favorite thing about SPR is the people. He considers his team his extended family, and that makes all his hard work so much easier. 

In his pre-partner days, Michael worked in the tax consulting group at Ernst & Young after earning his BBA and MPA (Master in Professional Accounting) at the UT Austin Red McCombs School of Business. While in school, Michael received two endowed scholarships, received the Federation of Schools of Accountancy Award in recognition of superior academic achievement, leadership, and professionalism in post-baccalaureate accounting education, and was consistently on the Dean’s List. He also earned the “Top Ten Award” from the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy for scoring one of the top ten cumulative scores in the State of Texas on the CPA exam.

These days, when he is not partner-ing, he enjoys spending time with his family – especially in the great outdoors. He loves to water-ski and reminisces about his days on the UT Water-Ski Team in college. He also loves to snow-ski, and one of his all-time favorite vacation spots is the slopes in Whistler, British Columbia. He can’t wait until his two sons get a little older so that they can take birthday “man-trips” together – all three of them were born on the same day!

Operations Manager

Merideth Zingelmann

Merideth graduated from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and has been a licensed Registered Nurse in Texas for almost 30 years. She has been married to her husband, Neal, for 29 years and they have successfully raised three kids who are now young adults. After 10 years of hospital nursing, she helped her husband build a real estate company from the ground up where she has managed the operational side of the business for 20 years. As she was building their business, she fueled her nursing passions by serving her community. She led a group of women who chartered a Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) group at Community Bible Church (CBC) in San Antonio. That team produced new leaders and groups, so she oversaw that growth and served as a liaison counsel to the women’s pastor. As Merideth’s children grew, she served her local school community and helped bridge gaps for the student’s learning, and focused on getting moms and dads more involved by implementing new programs. As she worked with students, parents, and teachers, she saw the need to dig deeper into the online world and its effects on children. As her kids got older, she expanded her service to high school where she served as the president of her kids’ school athletics booster club and helped re-engage the community post-COVID. Now that her kids are grown and out of the house, Merideth is focusing her time on our nonprofit, behind-the-scenes running the daily business operations. She’s a huge football fan and can easily talk football positions and scores with the best of them.  Believing that God has called us to engage with our community to be His hands and feet, Merideth has made it her life’s mission to help others and encourage those around her to fulfill God’s plan for their lives.

Board Member

Joseph Schuetze

Joseph Schuetze co-founded PAX Financial with aspirations to provide an exceptional experience for clients of all portfolio sizes and an opportunity for financial professionals to provide real value to clients. In the years since he has worked to build a robust team dedicated to providing the same support to their 250k portfolio clients as their 25 million portfolio clients. 

At PAX their mission statement is to guide others in all stages of life to adopt prudent financial practices, so their clients can live a more meaningful life.  Joseph is exceptional at providing sound advice and outstanding service. Most of Joseph’s clients have worked with him for many years, relying on his expertise to tackle complex financial problems and prepare them for retirement. 

Outside the office, Joseph is leader in his community & in his home. Joseph teaches a Bible study curriculum through Christ Is Life Ministries and worships at Community Bible Church. He has been a C12 board member for the past 10 years transforming PAX to be run through a biblical perspective. Joseph serves as the fundraiser chairman on the San Antonio Christian School Booster Club, he supports local charities and participates in community service events.  

He and his wife Stacey have supported nextTalk since the very beginning & have implemented the nextTalk practices in their own home. Joseph is a nextTalk dad to two teens and believes that open communication is key in raising kids today.  His commitment to living a life in service of others supports the core values and strategic objectives of PAX Financial and the Schuetze home.

Administrative Assistant / Event Coordinator

Kim Nichols

Kim has been married to her college sweetheart, Derek, for 26 years and is the proud mother of three fantastic young adults (23, 21, and 16). After graduating from Southwest Texas State University with a teaching certificate, she moved with her husband, Derek, to San Antonio where she began her first teaching job as a second-grade teacher. She taught for twelve years; spending most of her time as a 3rd grade teacher.  When her son was 2 years old, she had the opportunity to be a stay-at-home mom and help nurture her kids through all the ups and downs of their K-12 experiences. During that time, she spent several years participating in and leading small group bible studies at her home church, Community Bible Church, where she has been a member since arriving in San Antonio. This work transitioned into leading a small group with the nextTalk team. She and her husband had been raising their children with open and honest communication for years and she connected immediately to the mission of nextTalk. Kim’s strong belief in the work that nextTalk does and the close friendships she made with the team led her to take on the role of Admin/Event Coordinator where she proudly works with organizations across the United States to schedule nextTalk speaking engagements.

Kim is the author of Love Rises The Journey from Fear to Love-Focused Parenting.She encourages parents to use their past experiences as strengths to parent from a place of love rather than fear.  

Kim enjoys sharing her story with other parents and helping them understand the benefits of open communication and love-focused parenting. She loves engaging in emotional conversations where she can make a heart connection with parents. Kim also enjoys mentoring young adults as they learn to navigate life, love, and career choices.

Treasurer

Megan Perkins

Megan is a Certified Public Accountant with a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Master in Professional Accounting from the University of Texas at Austin.  She began her career at KPMG, LLP where she enjoyed the public accounting environment and learning the ins and outs of tax returns. After 4 years, Megan changed directions and began a new career at Rackspace where she had the opportunity to develop and lead the tax department of a rapidly growing tech company.  After 10 years of working while raising her family, Megan decided it was time to officially “retire” so that she could be home full time with her 3 children while continuing to support her busy husband, also a CPA.   

Megan loves the business world but is passionate about her family. As the Treasurer for nextTalk, she has found a way to combine several of her passions in life; parenting, accounting and giving back. Megan also loves photography, traveling and providing new experiences and adventures for her family.

Advisory Council

Jamie Mershon

Jamie, MA, LPC,  is a born and raised Iowa dairy farm girl. After graduating college with a teaching degree, she took an elementary teaching job in the Northside Independent School District of San Antonio, TX. It was in the classroom that God took hold of her heart and gave her the “why” to pursuing counseling! Jamie’s passion is meeting people in their brokenness and providing hope, healing and freedom through practical tools, scripture, and her 15 years of working with families! 

Through her private practice, One:6 Christian Counseling, Jamie works with a holistic approach & practice from the lens of mind, body & spirit. One:6 Christian Counseling is rooted in Philippians 1:6, which tells us that we are called to growth, not perfection. 

She also practices Cognitive Behavior therapy, which is effective in treating both anxiety & depression. She is also trauma-informed and  was recently trained in ETT (Emotional Transformation Therapy.) This technique is highly effective when working with trauma, emotional distress, and even pain carried in the body. 

Jamie is a mom to three little gals and wife to her gentle giant husband, Michael (he’s 6’8)! When she’s not at home loving on her littles, you can find her in the counseling chair as a licensed professional counselor with coffee in hand

Advisory Council

Annie Viers

Annie Viers, MA, LMFT-S, LPC-S, is a native Texan who in 2008 joined forces with a childhood friend, Celeste Inman, to create The Vine Wellness Group, a collaborative mental health and wellness private practice that focuses on the holistic treatment of individuals and familes. In 1998, Annie earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Baylor University (Sicem’ Bears!) and continued with earning her Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy, which she received from St. Mary’s University in 2001. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and is an LPC clinical supervisor for Master’s Level Interns who are accruing their practice hours for Texas licensure, as well as an LMFT supervisor for LMFT Associates. Along with her colleagues, Annie enjoys spending time outside the office speaking on a variety of mental health and wellness topics to the community and other professionals. In her free time, we enjoys traveling with her family and sharing a meal with her life long friends!

Advisory Council

Charles Elerick

Charles graduated from the University of Hawaii with a BA in accounting, obtained his teaching certificate and then earned his master’s degree in educational leadership from the University of Texas at Tyler. Charles has taught various subjects from Bible to Math and Science as well as coached middle and high school students in public school for 18 years. He currently serves as a Pre-k thru 12 Principal at a private school. Charles has volunteered with nextTalk speaking at schools, as a podcast host and guest, and currently as a member of our advisory council. 

When he’s not on a school campus, Charles enjoys lifting weights and spending time outdoors with his family,  fishing, hiking and biking. He has been married to his college sweetheart Kim for 20 years, and they’re raising three kids, ages 12, 10, and 7 in San Antonio, TX.

Advisory Council

Celeste Inman

Celeste Inman, MEd, LPC-S, RPT-S, has a passion and joy working with youth. Celeste is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Registered Play Therapist Supervisor and is a Clinical Member of the Association for Play Therapy. With a dedication of giving back and being involved in the community not only has Celeste served on the nextTalk board, but has severed on several others boards which include Collaborative Divorce of San Antonio, Greater San Antonio Chapter of Texas Association for Play Therapy and Positively Impacting Communities. Celeste also co-owns, alongside with best friend and business partner Annie Viers, The Vine Wellness Group, a collaborative mental health and wellness practice in San Antonio. She was born and raised in San Antonio, is married and has two children.

Board Member

Megan Leonard

Megan Leonard is CEO of her household and is dedicated to serving those around her and in her community. She is currently on the board of the Advancement Committee at San Antonio Christian School. The Advancement Board oversees the fundraising efforts and capital projects of the school, providing inspiration and accountability as well as guidance. Previously, Megan served for 2 years as the chairman of the Annual Fund Committee, leading the school’s fundraising initiatives for philanthropic giving as it relates to priority projects and program enhancements. She loves volunteering for the school and being where her kids are during the day. She has been a parent at SACS for a decade now and considers it another home and the people there are just like family!  In addition to her work at SACS, she is currently serving on the A.E. Leonard Family Giving Council which exists to distribute funds from their sister companies to organizations in need in our local communities that share our values. The A.E. Leonard FGC has awarded over 250 grants to local nonprofits and supported over 250 scholarships since 2007.

Megan attended the University of Texas at San Antonio and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. She put herself through school, worked full time, and remained on the Dean’s list while finishing college. Before deciding to become a full-time mom, Megan worked at USAA insurance and then worked at St. Jude Medical specializing in spinal cord stimulators. Her favorite part of her career was her days in the operating room and making a difference in patient’s lives. 

Today, Megan and her family live in Boerne, TX and enjoy spending time together in their small town. One of Megan’s hobbies include running, where she has run 5 half marathons so far. Her fastest half marathon was during covid. Megan is also learning to golf with some of her friends in the neighborhood. Megan and her family enjoy going to the lake, taking family vacations together, ski trips and going to the movies. She is a mother of 5 kids and 1 daughter in law! Her oldest son is 25 and her youngest daughter is 4. Having children of all ages keeps Megan and her husband, Neal, on their toes at all times! They have a goldendoodle named Bogey who the entire family loves and adores! 

Board Member

Thor Thornhill

Thor Thornhill is not only a seasoned leader in the field of civil engineering and surveying, but a multifaceted individual deeply committed to community service. As the President and CEO of HMT Engineering & Surveying in New Braunfels, TX, Thor’s professional journey is characterized by a unique blend of expertise, faith, and community engagement.

Thor is the Middle School track coach at New Braunfels Christian Academy, where he trains up and mentors the next generation. He serves as a business coach of individuals, guiding them toward success in their professional endeavors. His commitment extends to mentoring high schoolers where he provides valuable insights and support during a crucial phase of their lives.

A devoted member of Springs Community Church, Thor leads large group time in the Children’s Department, enriching the spiritual growth of the younger members of the congregation. His involvement extends beyond the local community, as Thor has been a member of C12 for over 10 years and played a key role in the Strike Force; launching new boards in other states. Thor has become a thought leader on the practice of bringing Christ into the workplace as evidenced by Weaton College doing a case study on his company.

Thor’s commitment to service is underscored by his extensive history of board memberships and leadership roles. He served as a former BSF leader for seven years, sat on the Howard Payne Board, and the Sophienburg Museum Board. Thor’s coaching also extends beyond the track, as he has coached middle school football, Upward basketball, and CYO basketball.

A recognized leader, Thor is a former member of the New Braunfels Rotary and a proud member of the Leadership NB class of 2008. He was selected for the prestigious “40 under 40” recognition, showcasing his impact and influence in the community.

Thor met his wife on the track team at A&M, where both were Lettermen in Pole Vaulting, highlighting their shared love for sports and each other. Together they have three children, Barrett, Coco, and Luke.

Digital Content & Social Media Coordinator

Kinsey Oates

Kinsey and her husband, Austin, reside in Texas (yeehaw!) They got married in 2019 and welcomed their first son, Vincent, in 2023.

Kinsey graduated from Sam Houston State University in 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in mass communications with an emphasis in multiplatform journalism (which is just a fancy way of saying she knows how to make fun posts on social media.)

Since becoming a Christ follower in 2014, Kinsey has felt a pull towards ministry, specifically ministry where her love for media could be used to make a difference, and that is why she is excited to work for nextTalk!

One of her favorite things is getting to watch her sweet Vinny grow up, and thanks to nextTalk, she is now able to be a stay-at-home mom and not miss a single moment!

Kinsey does photography on the side, loves having Saturday breakfast with her family, slays at carpool karaoke, and has seen The Office all the way through eight times.

Communications Project Coordinator

Darby Debusk

Darby is a native Texan! She graduated from the University of North Texas with her bachelor’s degree in communications and marketing. She’s passionate about strong communication and messaging for good- especially for non-profits and ministries, like nextTalk! As Communications Project Coordinator, she thrives on strategy and helping people take their best next step. Darby enjoys sparkling water, podcasts, and the notes app; but she’s most excited about helping people get to know Jesus.

Executive Assistant

Bailey Morton

Bailey has been in ministry from a young age as a missionary kid turned pastor’s kid. She has worked in her local church and was able to spend a few years in Italy as a missionary church planting and teaching ESL. After returning to Texas, she started dating her now husband, Charles, and working for a San Antonio based company. In 2017, Bailey and Charles tied the knot. Since Charles is a high school science teacher and football/wrestling coach, they relocated from New Braunfels, TX to Allen, TX (north Dallas) for his job. Quickly, they settled into a Plano based church, Chase Oaks, where they attend and serve weekly. In 2020, they welcomed their son, Hayes. Then, since having so much fun with their first, a short 16 months later, they welcomed their second son, Jameson, in 2021.

Bailey is passionate about cultivating excellence in everything she does. As a previous project manager, she wants things to flow seamlessly through each step of the process. As a futuristic thinker, her desire is to anticipate needs or any problems that could arise and have a plan for everything. She is excited to join the nextTalk team as an Executive Assistant and so excited to see where God leads this organization over this next season!

Bailey enjoys date nights with her husband or dinners with friends. You can find her in the stands at Friday night football games – cheering for the team but mostly her husband! She thrives when spending time with her little family. You can bet that Bailey is always thinking/planning the next party or event to host at her house – whether life group or a Galentine’s or anything in between.