Leadership Team
Meet our Staff and Board Members!
Our team members are selected from business and collaborative partners. They graciously choose to invest their time and talents, which are evident through leading organizations that embody integrity, compassion, transparency, and a determination to invest in the lives within their reach. They are the fuel, the engine, and every vital piece of what guides our mentoring mission.
Faith Brightwell
Executive Director
I am incredibly blessed and excited to join Mentoring Partners as the Executive Director! I truly believe this is a Divine Connection. With over 30 years of experience in education and youth advocacy, I have dedicated my life to serving youth and young adults in secondary and post-secondary education, as well as in communities.
I hold a Master’s degree in Student Development, Counseling, and Administration from Indiana Wesleyan University and am a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, equipping me with a solution-focused mindset and a passion for continuous improvement. My background spans mental health, urban outreach, program development, and mentorship.
One of my greatest joys in this role will be recruiting, coaching, and supporting mentors, mentees, and their families—helping them move beyond transactions into meaningful, life-changing relationships. I look forward to this journey with Mentoring Partners and all those we serve!
Paul Gillman
Board of Directors
Paul has a great passion for the outdoors and has visited and hiked national parks all over the United States. He loves his wife and family foremost but has a great deal of passion for serving those in need. He has served as a board member for a national academic institution, is a fractional CFO for quality businesses, and brings much integrity to all he does. Mentoring Partners is grateful for his persistent passion, expertise, and commitment to our organization's ongoing pursuit of impact and excellence.
Teresa Hardin
Board Member
I am driven by a clear ministry calling to inspire and uplift individuals in their faith journey. My passion lies in offering guidance and counsel.
With a unique blend of gifts, I possess a strong aptitude for administration, allowing me to effectively organize and coordinate efforts. My discerning nature
enables me to provide insights that aid in navigating life's complexities.
At the core of my beliefs is the foundational scripture Proverbs 3:5–6, which reminds us to trust in the Lord wholeheartedly and lean not on our own
understanding. This scripture guides my approach to both ministry and life, reminding me to seek divine guidance in all endeavors and trust in His
unwavering wisdom.
I am a proud wife of 35 years, mother of 3 remarkable children and our beloved dog who brings us immense joy. Holder of an Associate degree in Business
Administration, Bachelor's degree in Arts & Science and Master's in Clinical Mental Health from Xavier University.
Jason Wilkes
Board Member
My life’s goal is to love and serve the LORD Jesus Christ in the fellowship, calling, and capacities for which He’s created me. Graciously, He’s allowed me to live out this focus across a myriad of secular and ministerial opportunities, the most recent being the honor of serving as a Mentoring Partners Board Member. I have a passion to see people flourish in their unique giftings and strengths, and recognize this is oftentimes impossible without the dedicated support of an invested mentor. Such mentors have provided me with the support needed to serve my wife, my family, and the Greater Cincinnati Tri-State community across educational, corporate, non-profit, and medical sectors alike. It is a treasured joy to be able to help others connect with the invaluable mentoring relationships needed to reach their fullest potential.
“And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ (Matthew 25:40)
Matthew Marcum
Founder
Matthew has been married to his wife and friend Ashley for 20 years. Their marriage and family of 6 children is their main mission and extends into the community. Matthew spent 15 years as a registered nurse in hospice care prior to transitioning to develop and direct the mentoring program. From a background of relational isolation and struggle himself, Matthew's heart is made full as he introduces mentors who champion impact in the lives of the students and families they serve. Relationships are everything... ​