SOS Staff
Michael Simants, Executive Director
Michael and his wife, Stephanie, first came to SOS as adult leaders in the summer of 2010. During that week they felt God calling them to missions and less than a year later found themselves in full-time missions serving in Central Asia with a predominate focus in Selçuk, Türkiye where he pastored Oasis International Church. During their years in missions, Michael served as an adult leader to SOS four times with two churches. He is not only a missionary, and former businessman, but also a theologian working on a Doctorate in Wesleyan Theology from the University of Durham in England. He serves on the editorial board of Wesley House, Cambridge’s Holiness Journal and is a contributor to the book Theology and Religion in Ted Lasso. Michael is married to Stephanie, and they have four children — Emily, Caleb, Elizabeth, and Lydia. They are happy to call Binghampton home.
Marlon “Big Dog” Brown, Assistant Construction Director
In 2004 Big Dog joined the SOS staff team as a Construction Manager for the summer and shortly after was hired as the Assistant Construction Director on full time staff. He is the former Mr. Millington (TN) High School and a college basketball star and still uses his sweet jump shot to school college summer staff on the parking lot basketball court at SOS. Marlon fulfills many rolls around SOS including assistant construction director, exposing folks to the life in our partner neighborhoods, and leading work teams. Marlon spends his free time reading, scuba diving, playing golf, and using his silver pickup truck to deliver goods to the less fortunate. In 2009 he married the love of his life, Jackie and together they enjoy bike rides & scuba diving.
Kelly Coon, Camps & Registration Coordinator
Kelly joined the SOS staff team in December of 2012. Here at SOS, she lends her talents to recruit, register, and manage all the details of hosting groups of campers. She has been married to Levi since 2015 and they have two darling girls, Mara and Julia. Kelly is a proud native Memphian who loves cooking/eating/talking about food, playing outdoors with her little ones and scavenging local antique stores.
Laura Haltom, Director of Accounting & Finance
After a short hiatus from the SOS full-time staff team, Laura decided she couldn't stay away! She served on SOS staff for ten years before moving with her family to Georgia in 2020. The Haltoms returned to Memphis in 2023, and Laura's excited to be back in the city she loves serving with the organization she loves! She met her husband, Drew, as summer staffers in 2006, and they have two children -- Graham and Jude. When she's not at SOS, you might catch Laura out on a walk in the neighborhood or at a ballfield cheering on her kids.
Mario Cole, Construction Director
Mario is a native Memphian who grew up between North Memphis/Orange Mound. Mario attended and graduated from The University of Memphis where he majored in Organizational Leadership. Mario is a long time supporter of all things Memphis, especially the Tigers. He and his wife Erin met in 2009 at FTK camp. They have a beautiful daughter named Omari Joy. Mario has a background in construction/education/youth development. After several years in education/youth development he pivoted to the construction/commercial facility maintenance industry getting his start in 2018 with Binghampton Development Corporation in their Construction training program and Moore Tech’s HVAC program. He made that move citing that “The trade industry could have changed my life if I was introduced to it as a teenager”. He’s excited that he gets the opportunity to do what Micah 6:8 says "is good" in the communities that raised him. In his personal time you can catch Mario reading a good book, working out, chilling with his family, or his new found interest in running/5k’s.
Brian Richards, Camp Director; SOS Academy Director
Brian grew up in the Memphis area, but gets his love for pizza from his Chicago hometown roots. Studying applied mathematics at the University of Tennessee drove him to a life of ministry and he has never looked back. Before joining the SOS full time staff, Brian worked in youth ministry for 8 years. Brian spends his free time in search of delicious food, cruising the open road on his motorcycle, coaching track and field, and finding any way to be active.
Kayci Ross, Office & Operations Manager
In 2008, Kayci, a native Texan, crossed the mighty Mississippi with her husband, Josh, and two sons, Truitt and Noah. They live in Binghampton with their dog, Grizz. Before joining the SOS team, she served as an Executive Assistant at Choose901 and Office Manager for the Levitt Shell. In her free time, she speaks at conferences for ladies and teen girls. She loves Mexican food, the Grizzlies and anyone that will let her eat chocolate. She is thrilled to be part of the SOS team!
Board of Directors
Class of 2025
Michael Davis, Evangelical Presbyterian Church
Michael Williamson, Diversified Conveyors International
Class of 2026
Alexia Adeshakin, Siskind Susser Immigration Attorneys
Jeremy Hannich, Huron River Methodist Church
Thomas Marino, First Horizon Bank
Catherine Gross (Board Chair), World Relief
Class of 2027
Will Frazier, SouthWorth Capital Management
Mac Plosser, Butler Snow
Kim Cook, Community Advocate
Eric Threlkeld, Salesforce
Jake Wiig, Seeding Success
Board Member Emeritus / Founder of SOS
Tom Marino, Poplar Foundation