Staff
We are blessed to have a dedicated team of staff passionate about serving our local youth.
- For general inquiries, please call our main office at (615) 430-9583
- For specific questions, please see the staff directory below
Meet our Staff
Ron Shepherd
Executive Director
(615) 430-9583
Ron joined Y.F.C. in April of 2011 as a member on the Board of Director team. In June he accepted the role of Executive Director for the organization. He is a full time volunteer with us and he has a passion to see people of all ages become disciples of Jesus Christ. Prior to joining Y.F.C. he served as a Executive with McDonald's Corporation for 35 years. He served in many different positions throughout his career. He was involved in Operations, Training and Development, Human Resources, and Real Estate roles.He became a "born again" Christian in 1993 and immediately sensed that God was calling him to do international mission work. He and his family lived and served in the former Soviet Union for a year, Toronto, Canada for a year and half and he's done a number of short term mission trips to places like Africa and Iraq. He has been married to his High School sweetheart for 32 years and has three children that all reside in the Nashville area.
Melissa Sheridan
Campus Life/City Life Coordinator
Melissa Sheridan joined Y.F.C in February of 2012 as Campus Life/City Life Coordinator, assisting with Y.F.C Teen Moms. She is a humanitarian at heart, with a strong desire to serve others. She is excited to be part of the Youth For Christ family because of her deep passion to share Christ with others and compassion for the broken.
She is a graduate of Kentucky Christian University and has served as the Assistant Director in both youth and senior citizen programming. She is currently involved in her local community through Donelson Hermitage Leadership and serves on the worship team and women’s ministry at Lakeshore Christian Church.
She is married to her best friend Andy Sheridan and they live in the Nashville area with their dog Minnie Mouse and their adopted family Wendy, daughter Kylie, and dog Ozzy.
Kenneth K. Berry
CityLife/Juvenile Justice Ministry Coordinator
Kenneth hails from Nashville, TN. He joined Youth for Christ as a part time employee on August 1, 2012. He attended Faith is the Victory Theological Seminary and has a degree in Biblical studies and theology. Kenneth was ordained as a minister in 2005.
He currently Pastors a church in east Nashville(New Creation Ministries). The church was founded on 2 Corinthians 5:17 "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature."
Pastor Berry is married (Annette Berry - 7 years) and he has three daughters and two sons. Pastor Berry is a great addition to the Y.F.C. staff and is already helping us to fulfill God's call for this ministry.
Shaunese Gleaves
Campus Life Leader
Shaunese Gleaves joined Y.F.C. in February of 2013 as Campus Life Leader. She has always had a passion for youth. She has worked in the youth ministry at her church for the last 5 years.
In 2008 she formed a group of young ladies by the name of J.E.W.E.L.S. (a ministry to adolescent girls and young women of Nashville). In December of 2010 she launched the second part of this ministry entitled GENTS (to minister to young men).
Shaunese has an Associates of Science degree in Business Administration and Management and she is the proud parent of two young men.