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Joni Downey
PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER
Joni has spent over 35 years in the schools including being on the elementary school Reading Team, an inclusion teacher assistant and an elementary teaching assistant for many years. Joni also taught preschool for six years.
After Piloting the Characters and earning a National Promising Practice Award, Joni decided to share her Ph.d. Passion, Heart and Determination to Make A Difference In The Life Of A Child.
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Tina Smith
VICE CHAIRMAN
As of 2021, Tina was the President of Kreischer Optics, celebrating 70 years of manufacturing custom glass lenses used in medical equipment, entertainment, defense, etc. She is also an Executive Director for John Maxwell, certified to train the Maxwell Method of selling, leadership, coaching and speaking, as well as coaching, training and speaking, myself. Tina has certification in training the DISC style personality assessments, which she uses in coaching and advising churches, families and business leaders. Tina is most proud to be a Homeschool mom for 4 of 5 children (all now graduated).
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Darby Turman
TREASURER
Darby Turman is a CPA and an Audit Manager at Elliott Davis, an accounting firm based in the southeast. He is excited to join the board of directors for Characters of Characters because he believes in the positive impact that learning good character traits can have on a child’s life in the present, but also set them up for success in the future.
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Krystal Haseltine
SECRETARY
Krystal found a passion for children as a teen being a babysitter and later as a full-time nanny and assistant teacher at a local daycare near Chicago. Moving to the Tennessee area in 2013, she welcomed her first child. She began using the Characters of Character curriculum to help strengthen character building skills not only in her daughter, but within the household. Krystal obtained a Bachelor of Social Work from Austin Peay State University in 2020, graduating with honors. During this time Krystal focused her studies on ACE’s (Adverse Childhood Experiences), addiction, and mental health. She was fortunate to intern with our local state representative, working on the secretarial side of state legislature. Here she was able to understand the inner workings of state government and understand the importance of macro work. Because of this work, Krystal was honored with TN House Resolution 328, specifically citing her dedication and hard work, in the 2020 legislative session. Krystal began working in crisis care on a COVID-19 response team, which lead to her current position as a crisis counselor on a multi-state suicide prevention lifeline.
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Claire Buchanan
ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER
Claire is currently a student at Belmont University studying Music (Classical Voice). Claire is passionate about helping others and sharing her love of music. She loves working with children and hopes to do so in her future career as a therapist. She holds several leadership roles on campus including Belmont's Student Government Association and Panhellenic Council. In her spare time, Claire enjoys spending time outdoors, going to concerts, and exploring art exhibits with friends.
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Ann Knipp
ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER
Over the last 10 years, she has served as Treasurer on several non-profit boards in the McHenry County area including Huntley High School Fine Arts, Huntley Grid Iron Club, and Huntley Community Radio. She is happy to join the advisory board for Characters of Character because she believes in programs that leverage the positive use of media to enhance the growth of a child's mind, heart and spirit.
Not to mention that Ann is a published children's book author, too!
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Karen Gregg FUNDRASIER CHAIRMAN
Karen has been working with nonprofits for over 20 years. Her roles have varied but mostly fall under event planning and fundraising on any level.
She loves the mission of Character of Characters and is excited to be a part of it. Karen currently resides in Nashville, TN.
Behavior Bear
Behavior Bear teaches children that good behavior is a characteristic to portray at home, at school, and at play. Be a role model, use good behavior each and everyday.
Do’er Duck
Do’er Duck teaches children about perseverance and what it means to never give up. Do’er Duck also assists in instilling why it’s an important character trait to carry on in life and knowing the difference between when it’s okay to walk away and when you could continue striving.
Friendship Frog
Friendship Frog teaches children what a healthy friendship looks like, how to be a good friend to others, and why having friendships is so important in life.
Healthy Hippo
Healthy Hippo teaches children that having a healthy mind is also important when it comes to maintaining healthy habits.
Manners Monkey
Manners Monkey teaches children what being polite means and how to display good manners in every situation from home to play, and everywhere in between.
Respectful Rabbit
Respectful Rabbit teaches children what it means to show respect to people, places, and things. Respectful Rabbit reminds everyone that respect is earned - and why it’s such an important character trait in our every day lives.
Responsible Rabbit
Responsible Rabbit teaches children what being responsible means and that we are each responsible for our own actions and behaviors. Responsible Rabbit also reminds children that they are responsible for cleaning their own room, their own attitude, and why being responsible for our things and actions is so important.
Self-Esteem Elephant
Self-Esteem Elephant teaches children to like who they are and be proud of the person they are becoming. Self-Esteem Elephant encourages children to be confident with the decisions they make - including their own behavior.
Warm-Hearted Walrus
Warm-Hearted Walrus teaches children to be kind, compassionate, and warmhearted. Warm-Hearted Walrus helps children understand and internalize what being kind truly means and how they can make the world a kinder place.