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Mount Carmel Youth Ranch
Troubled Teen Staff Credentials
Not all programs for struggling teens are created equal.
The staff at Mount Carmel Youth Ranch are all committed to one goal. Our Teen Boot Camp/Wilderness Alternative & School for Troubled Teens are headed by gifted individuals whose main objective is to guide young men to the right path through positive behavior improvement and character building through reality therapy and life enriching activities.
Matthew Schneider – Executive Director and Co-Founder of MTC
Bachelors of Arts degree in Psychology. Certified Mandt Trainer (Conflict Resolution, De-escalation methods). Boxing Coach. Ranch Owner. Twenty-three years experience as a mountain cowboy.
Raised on the very ranch, that has become Mount Carmel, Matt knows the values that can be learned from a real working cattle ranch and the hardships involved in the cycles of ranching and how it can be utilized in helping troubled youth. Matt has the unique ability to apply life lessons that he learned growing up here to the lives of the boys that are arriving at the troubled youth camp today.
Matt has been boxing since the age of eight, and has won numerous state and regional boxing titles. He is an experienced boxing coach and enjoys passing this and all knowledge onto the boys. Matt is a devoted husband and the proud father of five.
Penny Gifford – Addiction Therapist. Professional Counselor.
Master of Science degree in Rehabilitation Counseling, Licensed Addiction Therapist, Master Addiction Therapist and Licensed Professional Counselor. Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology.
Penny is a Wyoming native who was raised on a cattle ranch near the Big Horn Mountains. She completed her Master's degree at MSU-B in Billings, Montana. During her final year in college she became employed as a drug and alcohol counselor at Yellowstone County Mental Health in Billings, Montana. In 2000 she returned to Wyoming to work as a drug and alcohol counselor at Cedar Mountain Center. While employed there she obtained her license as a mental health counselor. She currently works in private practice in Powell, WY serving adolescents and adults with behavioral health and drug/alcohol problems. She is also working toward her PhD in psychology.
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Lester A. Dumm – Program Director, which includes: Equine Therapy, Cow Camp, and the Frontier Program
Masters degree in Agriculture, Extension Education at Colorado State University. Bachelor of Science, Agricultural Education, Agricultural Extension Education. Associate of Applied Science degree in Education and Instruction Technology. Over forty five years experience in the horse industry in raising and training horses
Lester has a broad understanding in youth development, communication, agriculture, outdoor skills and natural resources. His degree(s) include classes in animal science and communication and behavioral sciences from education in vocational and adult education. Lester has over forty hours in equine education and forty years experience in the equine industry. Lester is an experienced riding instructor, teaching classes at the college level in horse management, ranch horse training, and class development in horsemanship, showmanship, reining, pleasure, trail and horse communication skills. He has presented clinics to 4-H members and to the public in beginner, intermediate, and advanced disciplines.
Lester is a retired Air Force Master sergeant and has twenty-five years of experience in the training and education career field. Lester has served in Turkey, England, and various areas of the United States. During his career in the Air Force, Lester was a medical specialist during Vietnam helping with reconstructive surgery on wounded patients. He also worked at the Emergency room and with pediatric patients for four years. Lester also worked as a supervisor for the Ohio Department of National Resources with the young adult conservation corp. He has worked in Extension Education in 4-H, coached youth in all aspects of sports, taught hunting safety, and is an all-round cowboy. Lester has developed programs that involve human and horse physiology and animal communication. This aspect is therapeutically incorporated in all aspects of the ranch program.
Lester's life philosophy is part of Mount Carmel’s program for troubled teens, in the belief that the development of the person comes through a sound work and moral ethic, as well as developing solid Christian faith values. Lester can be found just about anywhere on the ranch. From helping students work on their PHD (post hole digging), to assisting a young man through a personal challenge.
Lester is married to Robyn, who also works at Mount Carmel as the Education Assistant. They have two children, and six Grandchildren. Lester feels that MtC is a continuation of his own family and promotes those feelings through the boys entrusted to him.
Tom George – Special Projects Manager
Family Life Coach
Master of Arts Degree in Education with a focus on Religious Studies. Bachelor of Arts Degree in Physiology, Certified Marriage Mentor.
Tom George has made it his life mission to serve God in the Catholic Church. Along with his wife Susan and their eleven children, he has served the Catholic Church in mission to God’s people as a lay missionary member of the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity (SOLT) for over twenty years. Tom worked for six years as the International Regional Director of SOLT, directing the activities of Priests, Religious and Lay faithful within the Society. Tom has also served as the Director of Formation for families preparing for service in the SOLT foreign missions, providing him with invaluable experience in family and youth apostolate. In addition to this experience, Tom has been director of a family life apostolate outreach for the SOLT community. Tom and his wife Susan are both Certified Marriage Mentors.
Being a gifted teacher, Tom is often a featured speaker at youth seminars, and retreats. Speaking to young people from a Christian faith base, he talks about character formation, healthy relationships, substance abuse, and abstinence. Tom imparts moral truths in a way that teens can understand and relate to easily. The gift he brings to our troubled teen program is his example as a husband and father, and as a man of God. In this way he is able to give the boys in our Program a powerful example of Christian manhood. Through honest hard ranch work, Tom leads the boys in establishing a work ethic that has helped many of the young men discover their true potential. The young men on the ranch really look up to Tom and view him as a role model of a man who truly lives his faith in God.
Tom brings many other very valuable experiences and skills to the program. His many personal accomplishments include serving at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado, as a strength coach for the Olympic athletes. Tom coached in the areas of boxing, judo, twenty six mile marathon, and Lugar. Prior to his experience at the Olympic Training Center, Tom was an assistant coach at the University of Wyoming in football, basketball, baseball, and track and field. Tom also taught school at St. Joseph School in Beeville, Texas, sharing his gifts as a teacher in the subjects of Science, English and Religion. He also brings ten years of experience as a carpenter, and over eleven years of experience in ranch work to share with the boys in the Program.
Susan George – Certified Christian Counselor. Family Life & Abstinence Educator.
PSSP Certified Breakthrough Parenting Instructor. Certified Marriage Mentor. Home schooling mother of eleven children.
Like her husband Tom George, Susan is dedicated to living and teaching her Christian-Catholic faith. She is a trained Family Life, Abstinence, Breakthrough Parenting, Relationship & Communication skills instructor. Susan is gifted at imparting a deeper understanding and respect for the gift of their sexuality to each of the young men who come to Mount Carmel Youth Ranch. Susan teaches the credited Life Skills courses every Friday to all of the young men who come to Mount Carmel Youth Ranch. Her classes are eagerly attended and respected by the teens.
Previously Tom and Susan worked for over eight years as formators for the religious order; The Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity (SOLT). This is an order of Priest, Religious and Lay faithful, who serve together on teams. Tom and Susan were responsible for the training of the laity to prepare them to go out into mission. They were also responsible for the formation of families and the family life apostolate outreach for the SOLT community. Tom and Susan are also Certified Marriage Mentors and Breakthrough Parenting Instructors.
Julie Ley- Office Manager/Admissions Coordinator
A.A.S. Office Technology/ Administrative Assistant. Certificate Degree in Microsoft Word. Graduated with honors.
Julie has not only had adequate experience in office technology/office administration, but also in the care of children. She ran her own licensed childcare business while providing care for her own two children. She loves customer service and has a lot of experience, including working as a customer service representative at a very busy international call center. Julie feels her job as the Office Manager/Admissions Coordinator is fulfilling in every way. "I am able to help parents during a very emotional and difficult time in their lives as well as run the office."
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Mark Schneider – Ranch Manager. Vocational Educator.
Experienced mountain cowboy, farmer, and business owner/operator.
Mark is truly the vocational “rock” of Mount Carmel. His experience comes both from the classroom, and from the field. Born and raised on the ranch, it is in his blood. From early morning feeding to late nights on a tractor, Mark knows how to work. He has to, as the success of the ranch is on his shoulders; and he humbly carries the load. He quietly and patiently teaches the boys that come to Mount Carmel Youth Ranch, how to work, and they see through him that work will make them happy. They learn the value of a job completed, and find that a job is only done, when it is done right.
After the “troubled teen ranch” type work is completed, Mark might be found coaching the boys on boxing, which he has been doing since the age of eight. He is the proud father of two, and devotes himself to his family. Mark's vocational knowledge reaches beyond the ranch and he is able to teach the boys many more trades. Having owned and operated a successful drywall business, Mark understands construction and the inner workings of a business. Through him, the boys have this knowledge and experience available to them as they make their career choices.
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Dan "The Gentle Giant" Burrs – Cook. Tradesman. Dorm father. Mentor/Counselor.
Extensive culinary experience. Eighteen years trades experience. Business owner.
Dan's extensive background offers much to the Mount Carmel troubled youth. His greatest desire is to be able to pass on as much of his knowledge as is possible. His hope for each troubled youth that attends this teen boot camp alternative is that they can find the one wholesome thing in life that fulfills them. He helps them to discover this by providing experience in a wide range of fields, including culinary training, and most of the construction trades.
Dan got his experience the old fashioned way, by living it. At 6'2” and 290 lbs, Dan truly is our “gentle giant.” After high school he was a first string linebacker for the University of Minnesota, he studied at Lakewood Community College, and at the Electrical program at Northwest College. He learned the art of cooking, that we all enjoy, from working in a wide range of restaurants, studying culinary arts in school, and working under a presidential chef. He has worked in the construction trades for over eighteen years and has enjoyed guiding fishing trips, and teaching the art of tying fishing flies, here at our teen boot camp alternative.
Having firsthand knowledge of the devastating effects of addiction, Dan offers a unique perspective on the subject. He understands the emptiness of spirit that accompanies addiction, and is able to relate at a very personal level with the boys; helping them to understand the pain, and heartache that their addiction causes.
Dan has an uncommon, humble way about him. What brings him to work each day is not the paycheck, but rather the chance that he may change the life of even one troubled youth.
Christopher Bogowith – Mentor/Counselor
Chris has experience in home construction and brings this skill to the troubled youth. He grew up the eldest of 7 boys, so he knows what it means to take on a leadership role. Chris enjoys working with the troubled youth at teen boot camp, MTC, and seeing the positive changes come about in their lives.
Chris leads by example and uses a simple proverb to help the boys; “A wise man learns by his mistakes, an intelligent man learns by somebody else’s mistakes”. This along with a focus on God enables Chris to guide the boys in proper decision making.
Nancy Woolard – Part-Time Administrative Assistant;
Nancy brings her experience from owning her own business and working as a secretary for a fabric company to Mount Carmel. Nancy and her husband started their own successful trucking business and were on the road together for thirteen years before deciding they were ready to stay in one place.
Nancy really loves being able to do such a variety of things for the ranch. She enjoys working in the office, talking to parents, as well as being around the boys and seeing them improve on a daily basis. Nancy says “God has really opened up doors for me to be able to work at MTC. It is like it was meant to be and really a dream come true for me”.
Founders Of Mount Carmel Youth Ranch
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Gerald Schneider – Founder of Mount Carmel Youth Ranch and Wilderness Interventions Inc. Dorm Parent.
Jerry and Mickey Schneider, The Founders of Mount Carmel Wilderness Interventions were awarded "Parents of the Year" award in 2002, as well as the distinguished service award from "Who’s Who in America". They were recently awarded the “Fidelity Award” from Catholic Central in Michigan for the unwavering dedication to the Catholic principles of education of this distinguished private school.
Perhaps the first ideas for some of the Mount Carmel philosophies came from Jerry's childhood where he was taught by the Brother's of the Holy Cross in the all boys' school that he attended. Or maybe it was the all men’s college where he earned his engineering degree. Wherever the ideas came from, only a man with the determination, perseverance, and humble nature of Jerry Schneider could have realized the vision.
After two years working as an engineer, Jerry decided that he was called to something different. He traded in the office chair for the saddle, and in 1967, started ranching in Wyoming. It took a few years before he found his home, but that happened in 1973 when he purchased the land that would one day be a Youth Ranch, Mount Carmel. It was on this piece of land that he and his wife Mickey decided they would raise their family of six children.
Jerry's long resume shows the tenacity and hard work of a Wyoming cowboy. Jerry has worn many hats over the years, from a college instructor to a boxing coach. He has owned and operated five different businesses and has been a Wyoming rancher for nearly forty years.
He learned about raising children by being a father to his own six children; Angie, Susie, Danny, twins: Matt and Mark, and Luke. Each of the Schneider children have grown to desire giving to God in their own way; from working with troubled youth, living the missionary life, becoming a priest and Carmelite monk, to obtaining an MBA, each lives to give back.
Mickey and Jerry have always felt that their calling was to be parents. Since 1967, when the first troubled youth came to live with them, they have extended this parenting beyond their own family. Over the years, more troubled youth who were in need of some help would come and stay with the Schneider's. Then in November of 1991, while working cattle on the mountain, Jerry's horse somersaulted over the top of him. He awoke in the hospital to find that he had lost movement on one side of his body. Knowing how unforgivable Wyoming can be to a cowboy, and how even the strongest, sometimes can't make it, Jerry wondered how he could continue to run his ranch with a disability such as this.
The origin of Mount Carmel Youth Ranch: After thinking and praying about it, a couple young men offered their assistance, to help the ranch stay afloat. After those original two troubled youth, they just kept coming. Through his accident, Jerry learned that his true calling was in helping troubled youth find themselves, the way that God created them. He found the rewards of this greater than those found raising cattle, “so now we do both”.
Mickey Schneider – Co-Founder of Mount Carmel Youth Ranch and Wilderness Interventions Inc.
Michaeleen Schneider (Mickey) was born August 2, 1945 and is the oldest of 12 children. Mickey and Jerry married in 1963 and had 6 children of their own. Mickey was a CNA for two years before deciding to become a stay at home mother. Mickey and Jerry started taking troubled youth into their home in 1992 and Mount Carmel Youth Ranch was formed in 1996. Mickey says that "my own children were troubled youth so I really understand how helpless other parents feel; the guilt, the “what did I do wrong?” question and all the whys." Mickey's experience with her own children as well as the troubled youth she has helped guide through the years has made Mickey an invaluable member of the MTC family.
Do you know an at-risk teen? Call Mount Carmel Youth Ranch for more information on our Wilderness Program and School for Troubled Teens. We can help!
Admissions Office 1-866-971-3322
Reach us by email at admissions@mtcarmelyouthranch.com
copyright (c) 2009 Mount Carmel youth Ranch. All rights reserved
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