Executive Board
JOHN BONES, Executive Director
Team Up Academy was born from John’s desire to provide opportunities for people who seek to improve their education and employment outlook through training and guided job placement. As a consultant and administrator for many large automotive equipment tear-outs, rebuilds, and sales programs, John has witnessed first-hand the phenomenon of newly hired employees quitting jobs that they had just been placed in. From that, the idea of a 30-day soft and hard skills training boot camp and job placement service began to grow and take shape. Equipped with a mighty work ethic, Boy Scout Leader ideals, and an education from Northern Michigan and Michigan State University, John will use his business and entrepreneurial background to guide Team Up Academy forward.
Dr. Barry David, Senior Pastor of Landmark Church
Actively serving as senior pastor for Landmark Church, Dr. David will utilize his 12 years of pastoral experience and 40 years of business know-how to counsel and mentor Team Up Academy candidates. He is passionate about this distinctive training program because it gives great importance to both building character and teaching trade skills. Pastor Barry understands the curveballs that life can dole out and he looks forward to meeting and helping to guide the future workforce. Dr. David holds a BS in business management from Upper Iowa University; a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from La Salle Law School; and a Doctorate of Religious Studies from Trinity Theological Seminary.
Dr. Tamara Jefferson
Dr. Jefferson was born and raised in Detroit Michigan. She is a Graduate of Goldman Sachs 10KSB, Southeast Michigan, a member of Women United, the Oakland County Child Care Council, and an Empire member of the Childcare Success Company. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism from Oakland University, a naturopathic doctor certificate from the Michigan Institute of Natural Health, and she holds many certifications and licenses in various industries. Prior to her career in childcare, she spent time writing for various publications and newspapers and also dabbled in public relations and marketing. Dr. Jefferson is Co-Owner of three locations of Joyful Tots Childcare Learning Centers (Oak Park, Roseville, and Warren) and Ology Kids, a school-age site in Oak Park that was designed to accommodate the academic and extracurricular needs for Joyful Tot’s school-age children. In February 2023, construction on the third Joyful Tots in Warren began. Joyful Tots-Warren will be connected to Team Up Academy, and will serve as the free childcare site for our training candidates. Dr. Jefferson is a humanitarian, giving to countless charitable organizations that focus on early education missions and helping families in Metro Detroit live a healthier lifestyle within their own homes and in their communities.
Mariah Manuel-Berry
Mariah Manuel-Berry is a consultant, professional speaker, trainer, and organizational development expert with over a decade of expertise in cultivating learning cultures and empowering individuals to excel in their careers. As the Founder and CEO of Knowledge Career Experts LLC, she specializes in coaching, leadership development, and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB), using data-driven techniques to foster collaboration and organizational growth.
A proud Michigan native, Mariah attended Cass Tech High School, Eastern Michigan University, and Oakland University. She is actively involved in her community, including service at Second Ebenezer Church.
Her extensive background includes leading transformative programs for companies like Rocket Mortgage, where her leadership development program achieved a 92% satisfaction rate, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.
Mariah’s dedication to community service and mentorship aligns perfectly with TeamUp Academy’s mission to improve lives, enhance the labor pool, and give back to local communities. Her expertise will be instrumental in developing responsible and skilled citizens for the manufacturing and industrial sectors.
Thomas Nichols
Advisory Board
Justin Al-Igoe
Justin Al-Igoe is the Executive Director of the Macomb/St. Clair Workforce Development Board. He has been employed in various Workforce Development occupations since 2008. Prior to that, he worked for several years on Community Action programs in Washtenaw County. Al-Igoe holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Michigan and a Master’s in Business Administration from Indiana Wesleyan University. He is also an Officer in the United States Navy Reserve and has received commendations for his service during deployments to the Middle East and Africa. Al-Igoe serves as Chair of the Macomb Community Action Advisory Board. Originally from Hawaii, he has lived in southeast Michigan most of his life. Justin will utilize his experience to assist Team Up Academy with the formation of future employee development programs.
Cyndi-Logli Bones
Cyndi has over 35 years in sales, sales training, and marketing in the health and fitness industry. She is a profit-minded, creative professional with proven experience in the conception and execution of programs. Her strategies for sales and sales training include building image awareness, participation, and revenues. Resourceful, results oriented achiever with a record of accomplishments in the areas of territory development, media relations, event planning, and sponsorship development. She attended Pace University, New York, NY where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in business administration with a minor in marketing. Cyndi plans to use her savvy sales skills to help Team Up Academy reach its goals.
Tom Elkins
Tom is a retired attorney who practiced law for 46 years in Minnesota and Michigan. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Dartmouth College and a JD law degree from Minnesota Law School. With an interest in the non-profit sector, he has sat on numerous non-profit corporation boards, and leant his legal expertise to prepare the Articles of Corporation and organizational bylaws for Team Up Academy.
Torri Hicks
Brad Malear
Brad has 25 years of experience in tax and accounting. He is an Enrolled Agent licensed to practice in front of the U.S. Department of Treasury in all 50 states. His practice is involved in helping with accounting for non-profit entities. He has sat on numerous non-profit corporation boards and serves as treasurer for several. He has and will continue to use his experience to keep Team Up Academy compliant with federal, state and local taxing authorities.
Michael Relph
Michael’s 40+ years of experience as a technologist, educational development engineer, and quality systems implementation expert serves to provide process and procedural structure to Team Up Academy. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in applied mathematics and computer science from Lawrence Tech University and has minors in chemistry and physics. Being a proponent for small business, he has utilized his network marketing skills to assist over 300 entities in obtaining point-of-sale, warehouse, and e-commerce systems. Mike has also helped to train employees to fill vital roles, helping businesses thrive.
Patrick J. Thompson
Pat is a retired banker who has served in many senior management positions. He obtained a Bachelor of Science degree with a concentration in business/finance and management from Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan. During his 50-year banking career, the bulk of his responsibilities were in the commercial construction lending arena. The final chapter of his formal employment history was with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) where he examined financial institutions for safety and soundness relative to depositor investments. In addition to his formal banking/educational training, Pat obtained a journeyman electrical license that he regularly renews and maintains. Using his project management skills and electrician knowledge, Pat is responsible for managing all project build-outs of the recruiting/intake office and the church of Team Up Academy.
Fred Wolf
Fred Wolf has been the president and owner of his company, Enterprise Capital Partners, LLC, for the past 25 years. He is also the director of new business development for the Southeast Michigan Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Wolf has over 30 years of investment management experience managing over $100,000,000 of corporate, individual and municipal accounts.
Fred is a true supporter of his community and a current and long-standing member of organizations such as: Knights of Columbus, Alhambra, Polish Century Club of Detroit, and he is a Detroit Athletics Club senior member of 31 years. Fred has always had a gift for seeing talent in others and connecting them with the right people and organizations, resulting in positive outcomes for all involved. It is evident that Fred lives by his personal philosophy to “never underestimate the importance of one individual”.
He resides in Macomb County and was born in Detroit, Michigan. In 1974, Fred graduated from The University of Detroit, with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics. Fred’s driven and focused goal for Team Up Academy is to identify and connect capital to grow the organization, and to arrange client partners.=
Joseph F. Yamin
Joe is an attorney with over 30 years of experience, as well as partner and owner of the Troy, Michigan law firm, Lambert Leser. He represents a diverse range of local, national, and international corporate and individual clients. He has advised and represented cases with a wide array of legal circumstances including: business creation, contract negotiation, dispute resolution, business mergers and acquisitions, commercial purchase and sale of real estate, government compliance, litigation, and trial practice, as well as a wide variety of other legal matters. Joe has been named to numerous prestigious lists, some of which include: Super Lawyers, Crain’s Detroit Business Top Lawyers in Michigan, and America’s Most Honored Professionals. Joe’s skills will be used to enhance and guide the Team Up Academy agenda and assist in achievement of its many goals. He attended the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor) for his undergraduate studies and Michigan State University College of Law and the London School of Economics for his legal studies.