Jade Chamness, Founder & CEO

Jade is the founder and CEO of Break Through the Static, a non-profit organization exclusively supporting teens affected by suicide. The dream for Static began while Jade was listening to the radio during a solo car ride in New Jersey, three years after her father’s sudden suicide. She began to think more openly about how the suicide had touched and shaped her own life, and was soon determined to find a way to help others cope healthily with a similar tragedy. In 2006 Jade became involved with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention in New York City, where she volunteered, made connections and spoke publicly at a fundraising event she co-organized, sharing her story. Jade brought her purposeful ambitions to the San Francisco Bay Area when she moved back to the west coast and in July 2009, Static was founded. Jade's personal journey and passion for youth combined with her strong spirit and leadership abilities have poised Static to make a positive and meaningful impact in the lives of teenagers and their families that will stretch for generations, leaving a legacy of hope and healing.

Jade holds a BA in Elementary Education and English, and has extensive experience in youth development in a summer camp setting.

Chris Brady

Chris is the Lead Pastor at The Journey Church in San Francisco (journeysf.com). Chris lost both his father and brother to suicide.

Tracy Monts - Secretary

Tracy has worked in recruiting for the past 4 years for global corporations and currently works for Levi Strauss & Co. She has 12 years experience mentoring teens, coordinating events and leading at summer camps and conferences. She is excited to use her gifts of administration and her heart for teens in her work with Static.

Olga Rosales

After the loss of her father as a teenager, Olga Rosales, has been emotionally invested in the opportunity to help survivors of suicide. With 10 years of major market radio experience and having founded Vetted Word (vettedword.com), a Community of Expression, Rosales brings her media savvy and passion for the arts to the forefront of Static.

Jarrod Shappell

Jarrod is a social environmentalist. No, he doesn't work with plants, he works to create social environments that encourage greater connection to humanity and positive change in the city of San Francisco and the world. You can read more about one of his projects at ikonsf.com. Jarrod graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelors in Business Administration, then changed courses with a Masters in Theology from Mars Hill Graduate School in Seattle.

Taryn Shappell

Taryn received a master's degree from the Columbia University School of Social Work in 2009, specializing in pediatric health and mental health, and is currently employed with the social services department at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital in Palo Alto, CA. Taryn has four years of experience working with children and adolescents in a variety of settings, doing event planning, program design, and individual and group work, and is excited to see how Static will positively impact Bay Area youth.

Stephen Homs

Suicide and it's affects on kids is an issue very close to Stephen as he lost his own father at the age of eleven. Stephen will be directing Static's web development and assisting with general operations.

Ryan Axelson

Ryan brings over 12 years of experience in Marketing and Sales. He is currently Client Executive at a hi-tech consulting company and in the past he has owned a marketing company focused on taglines, content and branding. Ryan's aunt committed suicide when he was young and he wants to provide support to families surviving this experience.

Aaron Monts

Aaron is a writer, speaker, and founding pastor of IKON Christian Community (ikonsf.com located in San Francisco. He graduated with his Masters in Contemporary Theology and Philosophy in 2008 and is passionate about leadership and teaching, always looking to equip people to make a difference in the lives of others. His dream is to be a part of movements that ultimately impact the world.

 

Kari Hayden

Kari has 10 years in nonprofit experience. She currently serves as the Director of Corporate Partnerships at DonorsChoose.org and received her Masters in Public/Nonprofit Management at New York University's Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service.

Randy Miller

Randy founded Ready & Motivated Minds (www.readyminds.com) in 1997 to improve the way individuals think about their personal and career growth, and to provide a quality distance career counseling program designed to maximize each client's opportunity to determine and secure an occupation best suited to their particular talents, needs, and life goals. A frequent commenter on careers, counseling, and coaching issues, Mr. Miller has co-authored numerous publications in the field, been profiled or featured in articles in The USA Today, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Chronicle for Higher Education, and Newsweek.

Doug Perkins

Doug Perkins is the Executive Director of the San Diego Association of Non Profits, and the President of Pacific Gateway Group, a San Diego based PR and Consulting firm with offices in Sacramento. With over 30 years of public involvement and civic activities, Doug has been involved with and served in leadership positions for numerous nonprofits located in San Diego and throughout California.

Frank Callele

Frank is the co-founder of Five Days for the Homeless (www.5days.ca), a charity campaign in which university students live "homeless" for five days on their campus to raise money and awareness for a local charity. Founded in 2005, the “5 days” event has grown to include 16 universities across Canada. Frank holds an MBA from the University of Alberta and he is currently working in resort development in Morocco.