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2024 MAIN EVENT
before a live audience and panel of judges, seeking capital, resources, and exposure.
Program
Thursday, October 10, 2024
Highlands College, Birmingham, Alabama
4:30 – 6:30 PM The Lions Den Main Event
The Lions Den is proud to announce the 2024 presenters and panelists!
Kingstone Studios
Art Ayris, CEO
Don Russell, Chairman
Kingstone is a central-Florida based media company focused on producing and distributing products to reach the next generation. Kingstone Comics is our publishing imprint for the faith market and is best known for the Kingstone Bible which is the most complete graphic adaptation of the Bible ever done and is in 70 languages and growing. The U.S. Comics publishing imprint was released July 4, 2024 to provide products for the educational market to teach the next generation of Americans about the true history of America. This year the company signed a development agreement with NBC Universal to bring Veggie Tales back into theaters. Kingstone is at Lion’s Den with an offer to sell equity in the company to help expand into animation to reach the next generation.
Adele Health
Mark Norton, Co-Founder and CEO
Half of Americans are diabetic or pre-diabetic.
Many patients struggle to manage their diabetes effectively because diabetes management is hard. Devices are clunky to use, software and apps are difficult to understand, and figuring out how diet, exercise, sleep, stress and every other aspect of life impacts a patient’s health is exhausting.
The team at Adele Health is working to change that. While solutions today miss that bigger picture, Adele Health’s platform is a seamless combination of data and insights that empowers patients to take control of their health. With cutting edge technology and advanced AI, Adele Health makes it easy for patients to see, understand, and act on their health. It’s why the most common refrain the team hears from patients is, “this will change my life.”
The company was founded by best friends Tyler Boyd and Mark Norton. Together they have over 20 years of engineering experience, and have brought to market some of the world’s most advanced consumer and wireless technology. The pair met while serving on the worship team at Church of the Highlands in Auburn, AL. The company has over 1,100 people on their waitlist, patents pending worldwide, and a team of executives and experts from Fortune 10 companies building a better way to manage diabetes.
Dark Watch
Noel Thomas, Founder and CEO
Dark Watch is a cutting-edge enterprise focused on combating organized crime, human trafficking, and financial crimes through its modular SaaS platform, the Dark Watch Virtual Command Center. This AI-driven solution offers banks a proactive approach to managing the growing regulatory and reputational risks associated with human trafficking and money laundering. By providing real-time risk assessments of potential clients and transactions, Dark Watch A.I. strengthens due diligence processes, helping financial institutions avoid costly fines and negative publicity.
The platform flags high-risk entities, ensuring compliance with evolving regulations while fostering a more ethical and transparent financial system. This capability not only supports banks in attracting and retaining socially responsible investors and customers but also positions Dark Watch A.I. as a crucial partner in mitigating financial crime and enhancing the global banking system’s integrity. The company’s profound social impact lies in disrupting the trafficking ecosystem by empowering businesses to identify and address risks, thereby protecting vulnerable individuals and contributing to a safer, more just world. Additionally, Dark Watch’s efforts reflect faith-driven values, demonstrating how business practices aligned with principles of human dignity and justice can effectively address global challenges.
2024 Lions
Chuck Welden, Principal, WeldenField Development
Chuck holds a B.S. from the University of Alabama in Commerce and Business Administration, Law Degree from George Washington University, and Master of Law in Taxation from New York University. After practicing law at the Birmingham law firm of Burr & Forman, Chuck joined WeldenField, a Birmingham based family real estate company.
He has served as a member of the Young Executive Board of Directors of Compass Bank and currently serves on the Board of the Alabama Wildlife Federation and the National Christian Foundation of Alabama. At WeldenField, he focuses on both alternative investments and real estate opportunities which include both acquisition and development opportunities in multifamily, single family, hotel, active adult and land.
Chuck and his wife, Lauren, reside in Birmingham, Alabama and have four children.
Tome Lowe, MacLellan Foundation
Last year, after eighteen years, Tom retired from the Maclellan Foundation as their Chief Investment Officer. Prior to Maclellan, Tom capped off a fifty-five year career consisting of a year teaching high school math, fifteen years as a banking commercial lending executive, seventeen years as a CFO in and consulting to private industry, and four years as CEO of a financial services business with over eight hundred employees.
Tom’s banking career was primarily focused on lending to small to medium size private companies while his thirteen years as a CFO was to private businesses operating in manufacturing, industrial gases and welding supplies, and financial services. In his roles as CFO and CEO, he oversaw the acquisition of tuck in acquisitions, oversaw the ultimate sale of the companies to public entities, and led restructuring of management to optimize profitability.
Tom has lived in Chattanooga for the last forty-one years, and is married with four daughters, a stepson, thirteen grandchildren and one great grandchild. He is an elder emeritus in the PCA and serves on the Investment Committee of Covenant College and the Board of Trustees of King University.
Kate McCombs, Assistant Professor of Management, Samford University
Kate McCombs, an assistant professor of management at Samford University’s Brock School of Business since 2021, combines her academic expertise with active civic involvement. She teaches leadership, human resource management, and entrepreneurship, focusing on leader development. Her professional background includes finance and sales roles and her research spans leadership, identity work, and gender roles.
Dr. McCombs actively participates in local professional organizations such as Momentum’s Upward Early Career Program and the Rotaract Club of Birmingham, engaging with community leaders and expanding her students’ networks. In the summer, she led students to Rwanda to collaborate with Bridge2Rwanda, integrating global experiences into her teaching. In her personal life she loves spending times with her kiddos and husband hiking, being outside, and traveling.
Dr. Laurent Mbanda, Archbishop, Anglican Church of Rwanda
Dr. Laurent Mbanda was born in Rwanda and raised in Burundi, where he lived until he was 20. In 1970 he dedicated his life to Christ and felt God’s desire to make his life’s purpose to care for people in need. He followed God’s calling into international and Christian service, which propelled him to serve in various roles of leadership at Campus Crusade, Director of the African Fellowship Ministry at International Students Inc., Africa Director for Christian Aid Mission, Christian African Leadership Ministries, Inc., and Compassion International.
In 2005, after spending 21 years in the United States, Mbanda and his family returned to Rwanda, where he and Chantal cared for orphans at New Hope Homes, the ministry they founded. In 2010, Mbanda became Bishop of the Shyira Diocese in Northern Rwanda and now serves as Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Rwanda.
His ability to combine Biblical principles with business fundamentals has helped the Church become more sustainable with great impact on the lives of its members. His connections and relationships in the business world, international non-governmental organizations (NGOs), churches, and Christian organizations, have provided Mbanda with the platform to advance the Gospel on many fronts.
Mbanda and his wife Chantal have been married more than 39 years, with four children and two grandchildren.
Sally Morson Kennett, Middle East
Sally Morson Kennett was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama. After studying Supply Chain Management with the intention to serve directly in BAM work, she moved abroad. She has spent over fifteen years working internationally across the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and Asia. Sally has experience serving missionally and within the private and non-profit humanitarian sectors.
Most recently, Sally has managed large-scale relief and development programs financed by international agencies and the United Nations, supporting conflict-affected communities in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen. These programs have, in part, supported recovery through the provision of grants to small and medium enterprises (SMEs), creation of business plans, and coaching. Additionally, she serves as a consultant with IBEC Ventures.
Sally resides in Amman, Jordan with her husband Tim, and two children.
2023 MAIN EVENT Video
2022 MAIN EVENT Video & Recap
2022 Presenters
Jonathan Josephson, CTO and Founder
Quantum Interface (QI) is a technology company with 37 active patents either owned or licensed. QI generates revenues through products, servicing, and licensing, although the core product is a company-built immersive interactive interface (QIVX – Quantum Interactive Virtual Experience) that was released this year. This has been adopted by the USAF and is moving into more DoD areas, as well as non-DoD sectors. QI also builds flagship AR/Mobil products for large Biopharmas, which primarily include Merck (Germany) and Takeda. All products use proprietary IP.
QI stewards what God has provided on a minute-by minute, thought-by-thought basis, seeking direction from Him. QI partners with other technology companies on spiritual integration and using QIVX to create new ways to share the Word. 20% of company ownership is dedicated to ministries that are sharing the Word, to deliverance, and to praise and worship. The culture of the company is one of acknowledgment and thanks to God, where employees and staff openly speak of Him to customers and stakeholders.
Paul Rider, CEO and Co-Founder
SALT is a dating and relationship app with a vision to connect Christians globally and support them as they build Godly and loving long-term relationships.
SALT aims to equip and empower Christians on their relationship journey. More than an app, SALT creates helpful / advice content, runs online events and devotions / bible studies to build community and encourage users. It is currently live in over 20 countries globally and will be launching in the US in 2022.
SALT is targeting the 40%+ of couples which now meet online (vs 2% in 1995). There are over 200m+ single Christian adults globally who want to meet someone who shares their faith. It can be hard to meet someone outside your church circle and online dating is now considered the new normal. On the whole, Christians don’t want to use secular apps like Tinder, Bumble and Hinge where faith is an after-thought and where they’re not given the opportunity to communicate their whole identity and what their faith means to them.
SALT enables Christians to truly live out and grow in their faith as they prepare to date, begin dating and then build a long-term relationship. It combines a Jesus-centric product with a commitment to creating leading technology, content and solutions.
Pat Brown, CEO and Founder
Surv is the monthly membership platform that enables loved ones to age in-home, caring for their basic health and honey-do list needs. Currently in 10 markets, Surv has grown tremendously in recent months.
One-fifth of America, or approximately 65m people will be 65+ by 2030 and 90% plan to age in place. This 65+ demographic is Surv’s target customer. There’s limited solutions that help the aging population with practical tasks around the home that don’t fall into traditional “home care.” Surv has sold over 100K hours of service with an 86 NPS score. and the market opportunity is massive. At the beginning of 2022, Surv launched a subscription service Surv+ and it has gained excellent traction. Through referrals, digital and print ads, local news, and relationships with real estate agents and mortgage lenders, the customer growth has exceeded 130% MoM. Additionally, Surv targets children of seniors who want to make sure their aging parents are well taken care of.
Surv sets itself apart from the competition by being value-forward, taking pride in finding the best workers in order to allow our customers to feel safe. Workers aren’t just there to work, get paid, and never see the customer again. Surv intentionally emphasizes the relationship building aspect of allowing someone into your home and giving them access to your life. Additionally, the Business-in-a-Box franchise model allows Surv to effectively scale and have deep market penetration.
Customers want a relationship with someone they can open their home up to, share stories with, and rely on to complete high-quality work. By providing a trusted brand, rigorous interview and background check procedures, local oversight, and tight team relationships, Surv is able to provide this. Christians and non-Christians work together to serve others selflessly, often stepping into rather sensitive situations like divorces, downsizes, and death. They love the customers well. These shared experiences build valuable relationships between workers, often spawning community Bible studies and addressing the loneliness often found with older individuals living alone.
2022 Panelists
Chuck Welden – Principal, WeldenField Development
Chuck holds a B.S. from the University of Alabama in Commerce and Business Administration, Law Degree from George Washington University, and Master of Law in Taxation from New York University. After practicing law at the Birmingham law firm of Burr & Forman, Chuck joined WeldenField, a Birmingham based family real estate company.
He has served as a member of the Young Executive Board of Directors of Compass Bank and currently serves on the Board of the Alabama Wildlife Federation and the National Christian Foundation of Alabama. At WeldenField, he focuses on both alternative investments and real estate opportunities which include both acquisition and development opportunities in multifamily, single family, hotel, active adult and land.
Chuck and his wife, Lauren, reside in Birmingham, Alabama and have four children.
Dwight Nordstrom – Chairman, PRI
Dwight has 30+ years of experience doing business in China. Since 1990, he has been the Chairman (initially President) of PRI, a US manufacturing-holding company with 30+ equity investments in China. PRI looks at an average of 10-15 investments per year in order to select 1-2.
Mr. Nordstrom has been General Manager of 8 factories and businesses in China with employment ranging from 30-750. He is passionate about using these businesses to transform lives and provide opportunities to share the Truth.
Leda Shelburne – Founder & President, Media 7
Leda came to the Lord as a teenager, right after the fall of the communist government in Albania, through the program of “700 Club.” She worked with Albanian Public Radio and then as producer and programming director for the first Christian radio station in the country.
In 2001 Leda and her husband founded Media 7, now the biggest Christian media organization in the Albanian language. Media 7 owns five Christian radio stations reaching 90% of the population and two radio stations in Kosovo, reaching 80% of that country. In 2017, Media 7 launched the first Christian TV station in the country of Kosovo, and later on in Albania and other Balkan countries.
Besides radio and television, Media 7’s humanitarian arm serves widows, orphans, and marginalized people while sharing the love of Christ in action. Through skills training, small business start-up funds, food and medical outreaches, thousands of people have been reached. Leda has a Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership from Regent University and believes strongly in servant leadership. Today, her passion is to reach Albanians for Christ all over the world.
Leda and her husband Shayne and son Andrew live in Tirana, Albania.
Will Thomas – Managing Director & Founder, Ambassadors Impact Network
Will has been investing in companies led by disciple-makers since 2013. As Managing Director of Ambassadors Impact Network, he has built a network of Christian investors who have collectively invested over $16M in more than 30 gospel-advancing organizations since 2018. He also serves on the board of two publicly-traded companies and previously on the board of eleven private companies. He served as interim President and as Chairman of the board of Marketplace Chaplains.
Formerly, Will spent six years making investments with a private equity firm, and eleven years as a pilot and in various leadership positions in the United States Air Force. He graduated from the United States Air Force Academy and has an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School
He and his wife are blessed by three exciting children and live in Dallas, Texas.
Rusty Yerkes - Associate Professor of Finance, Samford University
Dr. Rustin T. (Rusty) Yerkes is the RMI Advisory Board Fellow, Medical Properties Trust Faculty Fellow and Associate Professor of Finance at Samford’s Brock School of Business. He teaches Corporate Finance, Financial Statement Analysis and Risk Management & Insurance courses in the Masters of Business Administration (MBA), Masters of Accounting (MAcc.), and undergraduate finance programs. His research interests are in venture capital, municipal finance and mortgage markets and he has published articles in The Journal of Housing Research, The Financial Review, Journal of Investing, The Journal of Biblical Integration in Business, Journal of Private Equity, and Journal of Trading.
Dr. Yerkes received a PhD in Finance from the University of Alabama, MBA in Finance from Auburn University Montgomery and BS in Economics and BS in Operations Research from the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He has served as an officer in the USAF and a portfolio manager for AmSouth Asset Management. Dr. Yerkes holds the CFA, CFP, and FRM designations and is the founder of Peregrine Advisors, LLC, a forensic economics and financial analysis consulting firm.
In his free time he enjoys road and mountain cycling, golfing, fishing, fiction and non-fiction reading, and volunteering with Junior Achievement of Alabama.
